Critical Success Factors

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 9, 2022

Critical Success Factors 

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, 

all the parts are glad.

1 Corinthians 12:26

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:21-26

In explaining how all the spiritual gifts are interrelated and needed to make the Body of Christ whole, Paul again turns to the human body as a metaphor for spiritual gifts. Have you experienced that delightful state where something has raised your spirits, and then a favorite song comes on the radio or stereo? You feel like dancing, rejoicing. Your entire body is joining in your raised spirit. Or the opposite when you are experiencing physical pain. The pain may be in one place in your body, but all of you, your mind, will, emotions and physical body are affected by the pain. So it is within a healthy church, the Body of Christ.

Gary was a grocer in his community and active in his church. He sang in the choir, served on committees, and took responsibility for unlocking the church on Sundays. Included in this responsibility was unlocking the cabinet for the sound system and turning it on. One time, Gary decided to take a few days off and he and his wife went to the beach for the weekend. He didn’t tell anyone he wouldn’t be in church that weekend. No problem. Other people had keys and unlocked the church. But no one had a key to the sound system cabinet, and even if one was found, no other person knew how the sound system was operated.

My Takeaway: Critical Success Factors are those factors that determine the success of every mission or program. Identifying what factors, both human and mechanical, are critical to success and properly planning for their success is essential. Especially important is identifying those factors that may seem unimportant.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Earnestly Desire

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 8, 2022

Earnestly Desire 

But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit,

and we all share the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13b

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

First, I want to back up to the last verse in yesterday’s meditation:

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (v.11)

As disciples of Jesus, seeking the life in Christ as our way of life, our mantra is: my life belongs to God. By creation and redemption, my life belongs to God. As we submit our lives to the authority of God, we appreciate and accept the Holy Spirit alone decides which gift a person should have.

Paul goes to great length to demonstrate the need and value of each spiritual gift. However, the portion of today’s passage that caught my attention is verse 13b quoted above. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, but he would say or write the same the same thing to the churches in Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, or the churches of Galatia. We have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. This is true of fully-devoted followers of Jesus who worship as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, or in nondenominational churches. Jesus intends that by the Holy Spirit, we are one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until he, Christ Jesus, comes in final victory.

My Takeaway: It is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples of Jesus that forms Christ in the disciples. This same Holy Spirit empowers the disciples to be one in Christ and one with Christ in ministry to the world. I started today by backing up a bit. I’ll close by jumping ahead a bit:

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

(v.31) Emphasis mine.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Gifts

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 7, 2022

Spiritual Gifts 

God works in different ways,

but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

1 Corinthians 12:6

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The issue of secular class distinctions was so important to Paul in building up the church in Corinth, he spent all of what is designated as chapter 12 teaching on it. And we will spend the rest of this week on chapter 12.

As I read our passage for today, I recalled a Symphony Band concert my wife and I attended. It was a wonderful evening, and after the concert the evening got even better. We brought three of the musicians’ home to spend the night with us – after making a visit to our favorite ice cream shop for frozen custard. They were delightful young women, and each had a different role in the band. One was violinist and soprano and was featured prominently in the band. Another was a percussionist and was in the back of the band. The other played brass and sat sort of in the middle of the band. All were vitally important to the band’s performance.

We sat around our kitchen table visiting and enjoying our frozen custard. From the way our guests talked and conducted themselves, it was very clear that they loved Jesus. If I had not been to the concert, there was no way I could discern which woman had what role in the band. That is a bit unusual for members of a band or orchestra. Usually there is most definitely a pecking order relating to which instrument is more important and who sits where. Our guests were different. They weren’t interested in individual recognition because they were playing for the glory of God.

The most difficult part of forming the church in Corinth was learning to set aside the class distinctions that were ingrained in their culture. In the previous chapter, we learned that the Corinthians struggled with these class distinctions as they celebrated the Lord’s Supper. Today their struggle with self-importance over which of the gifts of God was most important is revealed.

My Takeaway: Paul is teaching the church that when our purpose is to glorify God, and to help each other, the class distinctions dissolve. 

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

What I Received from The Lord Himself

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 6, 2022

What I Received from The Lord Himself 

That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread

and drinking the cup.

1 Corinthians 11:28

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Paul’s letters were probably written before the Gospels were written. That means that Paul’s statements about Holy Communion are the one of the earliest records we have of how the church understood the significance and meaning of The Lord’s Supper.

For me, verse 23 is very insightful regarding Paul’s entire ministry: “For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself.” Paul reveals in Acts 26 that he had an extensive encounter with Jesus. In other places, Paul refers to God revealing to him the message he was to take to the nations. I remember that Jesus said that what he proclaimed to the world is what God the Father had told him to say. Paul says that what he teaches is what Jesus told him to teach.

In teaching about the Lord’s Supper, Paul reveals two insights about the body of Christ. The Body of Christ is the church, the people of God gathered for worship. The bread of the communion service is also the body of Christ, representing the very presence of Christ among the worshippers. In Corinth, the church incorporated the ‘Lord’s Supper” into a full meal as it was first observed by Jesus. In today’s text, Paul notes that the culture of his world was to divide people into classes and groups based on perceived social status and worth. To allow these ways of the world to divide the church is sin. To sin, in the context of the service of Holy Communion, is to sin against both the unity in the Body of Christ – the people of God - and to sin against the presence of Christ in the service.

My Takeaway: Most churches today do not openly allow cultural norms of status and worth to be practiced in the church. However, many churches have a rather casual and dismissive attitude about the sacrament of Holy Communion. It would be to our great benefit to have the Apostle Paul’s sense of reverence and awe for The Lord’s Supper.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Holy Communion

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 3, 2022

Holy Communion 

When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:20

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

One of my favorite story tellers is Garrison Keillor. In one autobiographical story, Keillor mentions his Uncle John. Every time Uncle John prayed, he would talk about the cross and every time he talked about the cross, he would cry. Keillor’s recollection of this event ends with his comment that “All of us knew that Jesus died on the cross for us, but Uncle John had never gotten over it.”

It is easy to get over important things, isn’t it? There is one part of our church life where we tend to ‘get over it’ more than other parts, and that is the sacrament of Holy Communion. The people who keep church attendance records will tell you that in many churches the least attended Sunday Service is Communion Sundays. That is so sad because a part of the liturgy in many Communion Services says that when we come together in faith to receive the bread and cup, we experience anew the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives as we look forward to his coming again in final victory.  How is it that we’ve gotten over the opportunity to experience anew the presence of Jesus in our lives?

Two years ago, churches closed. After not receiving Holy Communion for six months, we located a church that was open and offering a full Eucharistic service. The first time I knelt at their altar to receive the bread and cup, I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit and knew I had come home to the Lord’s Table.

My Takeaway: I recall reading that Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to the Sacrament as ‘food for the journey.” He was so right, as our participation in the Sacrament sustained us through the pandemic.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Instructions for Public Worship

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 2, 2022

Instructions for Public Worship 

But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

1 Corinthians 11:16

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Some of you may remember the expression, Sunday attire, or Sunday best. The thought was that when attending worship services, we would wear our very best clothing. I first recall seeing that norm fall away when I was officiating a formal wedding. One of the guests arrived late and was wearing jeans and a T-Shirt. Now, the norm for Sunday attire includes shorts and sandals as well as jeans and T-Shirts.

Suppose an issue developed in your church concerning the dress code. The issue includes the Sunday Service as well as the dress code expectations for the congregation when you are in public places. Your church cannot reach a consensus, so you write to other church leaders and ask for advice. How do you think they would respond?

In our text today, Paul is responding to a somewhat similar situation for the church in Corinth. I believe Paul was trying to blend social and religious traditions between his Jewish and Gentile congregation. His answer follows the same pattern we have seen in the last several passages: look not to your own interests and whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

My Takeaway: From my perspective, Paul is just saying for the church to err on the side of modesty in dress, and that the manner of our dress should be consistent with the people God created us to be. (By the way, the thing about the veil and head covering is still a big deal in the Middle East. Not so much so in the USA.)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Imitate Christ

Meditations in First Corinthians

June 1, 2022

Imitate Christ

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:23 - 11:1

Apparently, for those in Corinth who were seeking the life in Christ as their way of life, there were continuing conflicts between life in the fellowship of believers, and their interactions with the secular society. Not much has changed in two thousand years.

Paul’s counsel to the church was to not separate themselves from the secular society; rather, engage with the society, but always in humility regarding others as better than themselves, and with the willingness to look not to their own interests but to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4) Paul summed of this mindset in verse 31: “. . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Paul’s final thought is an affirmation of his understanding of God’s great plan of salvation for our lives:

“My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19)

My Takeaway: Paul’s final thought is God’s charge to each of us:

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.