Take It Home

 

Memory Verse: ?Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

I Corinthians 8: 9  

In our culture FREEDOM becomes a standard that designates RIGHTS. Often, in our consumer oriented perspective, that conversation gets reduced down to CHOICE. Each individual wants to design their own freedom. The FREEDOM we have in Christ gives us new perspectives of RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILTIES. When we understand our Identity in Christ, the Spirit gives us a new compassion for Our Culture. We are given a Mission of bridge building, but it must be done with care. There are actions that will make an impact positively, and those that will build a wall instead of a bridge. We can enter a conversation to bring influence, and we can also end up being influenced.

Each week, these devotional pieces will help you sift through a section of 1st Corinthians to discover your Identity in Christ, understand Our Culture, and set careful plans for Your Mission.

Your Identity in Christ:
Before we talk about freedom, take a minute to reflect on the passages below:  

…through whom we live….Christ, who is your life….He is the vine, you are the branches…

Describe how Christ sees you according to these passages:
Jesus is our life!  He is everything!   We live through Him and for Him, branches in the true vine.

Your Mission: Read I Corinthians 8 

God teaches us how to love one who is seeking the Lord but who has a weak conscience.  There’s a point in his faith walk where, if he had grown more in the wisdom and knowledge of God, in this case, eating food sacrificed to an idol, he would know idols are nothing, God is everything.  

In today’s world, it might be lifting up a famous spiritual leader, looking at the Virgin Mary as someone more than a faithful sister in Christ, or keeping a church tradition.  Our mission is to love that person enough to put away any spiritual “puffiness” and to bear with that person.  Love them as Christ loves us.  Take them where they are. Walk together with them in Christ, as two branches in the true vine.   We are free from the bondage of sin.  We grow in knowledge through the work of the Holy Spirit as we read, hear and inwardly mark His words.  Let us never use that freedom to weaken the faith of another through our pride.

 

Our Culture
Our culture of freedom wants us each to be free in individual choices, yet to blend every one together.  Be tolerant of every kind of behavior.  Read I Corinthians 8 again.  In verses 7&8, we hear of a person who does not yet understand a point of Scripture.   He’s not intentionally trying to sin, just the opposite, he’s trying to please God in his own way.  We are told to be sensitive as we engage him, as fellow sinners -- to take him where he is at -- to help him on his way to a fuller knowledge of God and closer walk with his Lord. 

As the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of those we meet, may we be ready to share the freedom and joy we have in Christ, with words and actions.  May we also be ready when we see the hearts of people in our culture that are not ready to receive His gift of grace, to stand firm against sin, and to love them enough to let them wander in their bondage a while longer while we  pray for them. 

 
Jesus set us free on the cross of Calvary. 

Amen

 

Take It Home is written each week by the Take It Home team.  If you have any comments on this weeks guide to the Big Idea, or wish to become a part of the Take It Home team, contact Marge Franzen.

 

 

PEACE-STRIFE-PEACE

 

Memory Verse: I Cor. 7:15b “God has called us to live in peace.”

Holy…Outrageous…and Trustworthy – Totally!

 

Holy

Peace –what a beautiful word – human state – gift from, God! Marriage is a holy state –God’s wonderful gift and idea. (Genesis 2:18-24) He sees it as a living symbol of Christ and the Church. It is to be honored by all (Heb. 13:4) and he intends it to be a lifetime commitment. The gift of marriage should give God’s children great joy and peace. But what happens when that joy and peace leaves? What occurs when strife, anger, hurt, fracture and sin enter a marriage? Paul tells us God’s children should do all they can to save a marriage – to continue to see it as a lifelong promise. Sometimes, however, a marriage fails and a divorce happens. Divorce is not a part of God’s perfect will; even Jesus recognized it as part of a sinful world. (Matt. 5:31) Unfortunately in our present day, divorce is often seen as something the majority of marriages end in. It’s an easy out from a commitment which has become stale, inconvenient and old. For a Christian, it should never be an easy out. God calls us to work at our marriages. Even when they become difficult, we push through to his peace with each other. Divorce happens only after all else fails and after much prayer and wise counsel from other believers.

 

What holy part of your relationship would God be willing to fight for? How do you value it? Is there a friend who needs your support while they struggle to find God’s value in their marriage.

 

Outrageous

I was raised a Lutheran Christian (of the strictest form) from birth. I was taught that marriage was holy and that it was permanent – absolutely – period!!!! Divorce was seen as a very serious sin – one to be avoided at all costs. So…..when I found myself in an abusive marriage – one which made my life almost unbearable – I stuck with it. I had no peace. Finally, when I could bear it no longer, I left and got a divorce. I knew my decision wasn’t in line with God’s perfect will, but I saw no other way. After the divorce, I still found no peace. I felt guilty, unworthy and a failure. I couldn’t imagine how God could forgive me. I prayed and read scripture, often focusing on passages which condemned divorce, especially those in the book of Matthew. Finally, I spoke with my Pastor. He agreed that divorce was something which wasn’t part of God’s perfect plan but reminded me that God loved me; he forgave me (Ps.51) and wanted me to embrace his peace. (Rom. 6:18) I was directed to many passages in scripture which confirmed these things. My Pastor also encouraged me to move on and seek God’s will for the rest of my life. What wonderful joy and peace I found!

 

What outrageous words of peace can you share with someone?

 

Trustworthy

Psalm 9:10 promises that God will never forsake those who trust in and seek him. This includes those who are married, those contemplating ending a marriage, or those who have experienced divorce. I can attest to this promise from personal experience. God honored my desire to seek his will for my life after my divorce. He gave me a new life and a wonderful husband who loved the Lord. We now have been married for almost 40 years. Our marriage only gets better each day we are together and brings us both joy and peace as we focus on its center – Jesus Christ. We also know we aren’t alone in our marriage. We have Christ. We also have the support and love of a Christian community. We look to its members for love, support, prayers, living example and good counsel. Others going through marriage strife and/or divorce receive love and care also. Jesus’ love and care is provided through his people. Yes, peace is a gift from God, given not just when all is going well, but especially when we encounter sin, worldly views and actions, guilt and heartache. We are loved, forgiven and set on new paths! In Christ and the life he gives, there IS peace.

 

Have a conversation with God about the parts of your relationship that feels unsettled and trust him to see you through.

 

 

With “single and looking”- “staying single”- “single again”

 

Be Proud: You are Called

 

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:17: “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”

Holy…Outrageous…and Trustworthy – Totally!

 

Holy

God has created us in his image…Read Colossians 3:9-10 – we have a new self, renewed in knowledge, created in the image of our creator. How we relate to ourselves, our bodies, and each other is knitted together with how we see ourselves. More importantly, this is rooted in how God sees us – and it is beautiful/handsome and completely worthy of the best!

 

God calls us all to higher living… Read Romans 12:1-2  In the body of Christ, we all are called to treat ourselves and our decisions on a similar level as we do in worshiping him…putting his word and will first and seek to be united in spirit and body with Truth.

God has a plan in singleness… “All the single ladies, All the single ladies…now put your hands up!” And guys :) Okay, so yes, quoting a Beyonce song was so, not where I thought I would be going for a biblical focus…but run with me for a moment (and try to ignore the lyrics to the rest of the song). God has a plan in singleness and it is awesome. You know, we can have some pretty H.O.T. power during this time, including the opportunity for laser vision! See 1 Cor. 7:34

 

Outrageous

What’s surprising? I thought this conversation was going to be all about sex…about a list of do’s and don’ts….especially for the single. Quite the opposite! Paul, comfortable in his singleness, sets it apart as a distinct use of giftedness. Check out the “Gift from God” in 7:7 and on to vs.8. Paul lists the focus and commitment that is fixed on the Lord in singleness as a benefit, something that may not be as loyal when attention is rightly required by a spouse.

There is one don’t in 7:9 – Don’t Burn! Ha! Really? Actually, Paul intends this statement to be helpful. If the physical desire to be with someone is so intense that it is consuming, it can distort your focus.

Another shock is Paul’s statement, “those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this” (7:28). Paul wasn’t talking about the old “ball and chain” groaner. Rather he indicated that when you are married, you have divided focus – that for another. But singleness allows for focus, being “concerned about the Lord’s affairs…to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit” (7:34a).

 

List specific opportunities for serving God that would be made possible by being single. Single or married, what is currently distracting you from a Godly focus.

 

Trustworthy

When it comes to decisions surrounding sex and decisions about choosing or not choosing relationships, I’ve found it is oh, so helpful to be really intentional and consistently mindful of God’s loving plan for me – especially well in advance of the heat of the moment. Here’s an example.

 

If I trust my own decision in the heat of the moment I may find I’ve already decided. When helping a classmate of the opposite sex who stated they needed help with their homework, a desire to be helpful can go off track. In a quiet place of course… alone… really? Totally asking for trouble! Boy was I surprised when the text book was closed and I found myself dodging a teen in heat making a move! Shocker!

 

With foresight, trusting God’s truth, I can make decisions and avoid the heat. Choosing a semi-public place or with a door open when I meet with someone of the opposite sex can build a foundation of trust, without the shame that “heat of the moment” decisions can yield. This is trusting God’s wisdom, no matter what age you find your singleness occupying.

 

God desires lasting joy for us. Scripture speaks truth about choices that can either contribute to lasting joy or choices that may feel good temporarily, but yield hurt later on. We can also rest on confidence and perks because of who we are tied with in heavenly and earthly community (Philippians 2:1-4).

 

Pray for the courage to take a trusting stance that shows your unity with God’s Holy, Outrageous, and Trustworthy will.

 

 

Memory Verse: I Corinthians 7:4 “The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.”

Hot! Hot! Hot!

That’s a phrase you often hear in music or in the media when referring to a person. Sexuality so quickly enters into the perceptions foisted on us from our culture. We invite you to read 1 Corinthians 4-7 these weeks, that’s full through in one sitting every week, sifting for the topic of the week, and listen for what God thinks is HOT:

Whether you’re married, single or divorced, we all are connected into lives in all those states. Consider these words as words to hear and words to share

HOLY

Walk through Genesis 2 with me. What must it have been like for Adam in the Garden of Eden before the fall? Sinless Adam, walking each day with God, had perfect intellect as he surveyed God’s creatures and went about naming them. Adam and creation in perfect harmony, all very good, except that Adam was alone.

Adam wakes up from his deep sleep. He feels the spot in his rib cage and wonders what has happened. Then, God is there, with a broad smile. He has brought Adam the greatest gift He could give, short of Himself. Can you imagine Adam looking upon his wife for the first time, radiant and beautiful? How about Eve looking upon her husband for the first time, handsome and ruddy?

Adam says, “Bone of my Bones!” He recognizes that his wife was taken from his very own body. Their “belonging” is physical and emotional. And the no clothes part? Just another indication of a no-barriers relationship.

When you think of the love between you and your spouse, begin with God’s design. You’ve been bought with a price by the Creator to restore you to that perfect fit he created you for. When the world twists your view of sexuality that is self gratification, wrench it back toward God’s design of belonging.

Thank God for this holy design of mutuality in marriage.

 

OUTRAGEOUS

Two things might surprise us about God’s design for marriage after our fall into sin.

 

First -- He never wavers from his original view of the right relationship between husband and wife in the area of erotic love. If you have any doubts about this, read Song of Songs 5:1 & 2. Even though man has rejected God and fallen into sin, God still gives a beautiful picture of marital love.

 

Second -- He gives us an unconventional idea for married couples. Read 1 Corinthians 7:3-5. To see such intimacy in God’s design -- husband and wife -- two bodies that are temples of the Holy Spirit -- living in such close union that they actually belong to each other and give to each other as each has need -- beautiful but I think you would agree, very different from what the world would say.

 

Married people need all the help they can get. Pray that God would give them an outrageous reverence for Christ and mutual submission.

 

TRUSTWORTHY

The one thing we can trust is God’s love for us. Ephesians 5:1,2 urge us to imitate that love. Trusting God’s love brings us to that same giving-of-self point in marriage. Loving God with all our heart, soul and mind -- Loving our neighbor (and spouse) as ourselves -- This is the highest calling -- This is what unites us in Christ and brings his holiness to our life of love together.

 

Some spouses may feel that a central placing of love for God somehow diminishes their place with their spouse. It’s no competition. The truth of Christ’s model of love is trustworthy in our marriage. In 1Corinithians 7:5 Paul suggests that trusting God’s model of marriage, we belongs to each other is a foundation that can build trust in a marriage. It cuts off temptation before it even comes, and we know in our culture it will come.

 

There are so many ways to give yourself to your spouse; give deference, give preference, give attention, give presence. Listen to the Holy Spirit point you toward a giving moment today that will demonstrate this week’s memory verse.

 

 

Let’s Talk About Sex!

 

But, why?

 

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:20 “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

 

Hot! Hot! Hot!

That’s a phrase you often hear in music or in the media when referring to a person. Sexuality so quickly enters into the perceptions foisted on us from our culture. We invite you to read 1 Corinthians 4-7 these weeks, that’s full through in one sitting every week, sifting for the topic of the week, and listen for what God thinks is HOT:

          Holy – these chapters convey the holy uniqueness of a godly identity. Find indications of who He is, your identity in Christ, and our identity together as the Body of Christ

       Outrageous – God has some radical things to say to us in these chapters that fly in the face of our culture. Make note of the surprises, wonderful comforts, and challenging goals he offers.

       Trustworthy – These are God’s Words and even as we puzzle our way through their meaning, we know they are true. Make note of what you can rest on, what you intend to act on, and what you can offer to others as support.

Whether you’re married, single or divorced, we all are connected into lives in all those states. Consider these words as words to hear and words to share.

 

Holy

“We should just elope!” This became the refrain of our engagement. Why? While some seemed to enjoy dissecting minute details of dress, procession, and menu, we were not interested. The goal was to be married, right? What kept us on course for beginning marriage blessed before God by our Christian community? The strong belief that it wasn’t just about us (or the dress): God places marital unity in the context of community. Full blessing was worth the wait.

 

Read Paul’s words to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:18 – 6:20) with an eye to identity.

With what tone does Paul write to them (4:18 – 4:21)? Who are God, Christ and the Spirit to Paul in the larger selection?

 

As a valuable purchase by God, who are we called to be, individually and as a church community? What do you need to let go of, to fully embrace your new identity in Christ? Your place in community?

 

 

 

Outrageous

While dating, I had a boyfriend who smoked. A few years after our relationship ended, I had become a Christian, but still stayed in contact with him and our friends. I found that my worldview had changed, but I struggled to find words to express how I now felt about smoking, the ways my friends altered their physical appearances, and my own body. Finding the courage to talk about sexuality as a baby Christian seemed even more daunting!

 

It is counter-cultural to think and act like our bodies belong to the Lord, let alone one another. Because of our worth to God, he calls us to live as a community that embodies unity and blessing.

 

What insight into community in 1 Corinthians 4:18 – 6:20 do you gain by reading another letter by Paul, Ephesians 2:18-22 and 4:1-6?

 

It seems surprising that Paul progresses from fatherly tones in 4:18, to sexual sin and pride in 5, to lawsuits and back to sexual sin and the body in 6. What connections do you see?

 

Where in Trinity are we behaving in ways that clearly communicate our worth to God and the Kingdom? Where could choices about your body better communicate that Christ lives in and through you?

 

 

Trustworthy

We knew we broke trust with each other and God. Before marriage, we struggled with physical intimacy. A sister in Christ, Christine, met with us. She heard our confessions, extended Christ’s forgiveness, and held us accountable… radically different from our non-Christian friends, who would brush it off, or brag about it. Our Christian community lovingly showed grace through accountability, and caring about our relationship to God and each another. They reminded us that God’s design for sex and marriage was worth striving for, and celebrated our wedding with us.

 

How does Paul characterize life in Christian community (4:18 – 6:20, especially 5:6-8)?

 

How does life at Trinity look to your friends and neighbors? Do they know about it? Are they curious to know more as you grow in Christ-likeness? Christ’s death as the Passover Lamb makes the Christian life one long Passover celebration (paraphrased from N. T. Wright). Read Revelation 19:6-9, then imagine you are throwing a party. How could you celebrate a milestone in someone’s faith journey?

 

We all have a bit of Beast still roaring around in us. God welcomes us into a trusting relationship where we can see those rough spots and open them to his smoothing touch. Read one of these passages and spend some confessing time with our loving God.

 

Ephesians 5:15-21

Leviticus 19:1-18

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Luke 11:37-52

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Luke 16:19-31

Galatians 5:19-2

 

In Christ, our beastliness is transformed, thanks be to God! Look with God’s eyes to see your Beauty.

Reflect on these passages and offer some praise and thanksgiving.

 

Zephaniah 3:17

2 Corinthians 5:17

Romans 8:16,

Ephesians 2:8,9

Galatians 3:27

Romans 8:1,2 

1 John 4:18 & 19,

1 John 3:1-3

Galatians 4:4-7

Galatians 5:22-24

 

 

 

Unity in the Mind of Christ

When conflict arises, who do we follow? Where do we get our advice? These are the questions that will determine the accuracy of the truth.  Often we allow worldly wisdom to influence our decision making or perhaps we look to our leaders to resolve the matter.  But the real answer to restoring unity is, together guided by the Holy Spirit, we seek the mind of Christ, which is our true wisdom. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that we may instruct him?”

 

Reading for the Week: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

 

Memory Verse for the Week: 1 Corinthians 2:12

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

 

Day 1

Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

 

I am afraid that I don’t have knowledge about the entire Bible, except what Jesus did for me on the cross.  Therefore, I don’t speak as a scholar.  I simply share my story to demonstrate the Spirit’s power in my life, so that our faith will not rely on the world’s wisdom but on God’s power alone.

 

Write a note about:

O -Observe and record the meaning of Paul’s message in this text:

N - What strikes you as New and particularly relevant in Paul’s message:

E - What specific action will you take so you can Experience its truth this week? OR Who will you share this message with so they can Experience its truth?

 

Day 2

Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

 

We have a message of wisdom that differs from the world’s viewpoint and most people, even our world leaders don’t understand it because it comes from God himself who reveals it to his children through Christ Jesus.

 

Observe

 

New

 

Experience 

 

 

Day 3

Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

 

We all benefit and receive awesome rewards as God’s children since He has revealed it to us through his Spirit.

 

Observe

 

 

New

 

 

Experience 

 

Day 4

Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:11-13

 

We have the Spirit of God living in us. So, when we let the spirit of the world influence our mind,  we rely on human wisdom to teach us and deny the power of God’s Word to discern the truth. 

 

Observe

 

New

 

Experience 

 

 

Day 5

Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

 

I recognize that I am different.  I know that my ways are not the most popular because they aren’t always fun, practical or convenient.  However, I know that God’s ways are foolish to those in the world because they don’t understand. Therefore, I don’t worry about other’s opinions.  I have learned to enjoy walking in bold confidence because I have the mind of Christ.

 

Observe

 

New

 

Experience 

 

This Week’s Reading: I Corinthians 1:10-31

 

This Week’s Memory Verse: I Corinthians 1:10

“I appeal to you brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Reading for Day 1 : I Corinthians 1:10-12

Paul’s appeal for unity speaks loudly to us in the 21st Century.  We only need to look around us to see examples of divisions and strife in God’s church today.

 

Write a note about:
O    Observe and record the meaning of Paul’s message in this text:
N     What strikes you as New and particularly relevant in Paul’s message:
E     What specific action will you take so you can Experience its truth this week? OR Who will you share this message with so they can Experience its truth?

Reading for Day 2:  1 Corinthians 1:13-17

When we let our divisions influence our focus, the power we receive from Christ’s work on the cross is compromised. We become handicapped in our call to carry the Word to the world.
Observe-
New-
Experience-

Reading for Day 3: 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

Many in today’s world see our Christian faith as mere foolishness.  But God takes the wisdom he gives us fools and uses it to save us eternally.
Observe-
New-
Experience-

Reading for Day 4: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Science, influence, humanism, proof positive – this is the “stuff” of the 21st century.  This stuff often excludes God and his wisdom.  But Paul reminds us - “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom”.
Observe-
New-
Experience-

Reading for the Day 5: 1 Corinthians 1:23-31

We are chosen!  We are saved!  All this, “our righteousness, holiness and redemption” comes to us from God through Christ.  In this we find our UNITY!
Observe-
New-
Experience-


This guide has been prepared for you by Trinity’s Take It Home Team. We’d love to hear your constructive feedback so we can assist you in your private use of God’s Word. Contact Marge Franzen