1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Paul explained that God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman. Each of us must recognize and respect the one who has been placed in a position of headship over us.

The concept of headship shows that God made an order to the world. We respect God when we acknowledge this order by showing respect to those with headship over us.

1 Corinthians 10:14-33

To clarify his earlier statements that it was not sin to eat meat sacrificed to idols, Paul warned that it didn't mean they should take part in the idol worship in order to eat it. Eating the idol meat that was purchased in the market or served at an unbeliever's house was one thing, but only if the meat wasn't specifically represented as such. There was no need to inquire of every piece of meat, but if someone felt it worth mentioning, they probably ascribed their own feelings to the eating of that meat and would likely ascribe the same feelings to anyone else who ate it.

Once again, the issue comes back to the heart. Ask yourself why you're doing something before you do it. If you know that what you're doing has some meaning that is in opposition to the Christian walk, walk away. Even if it has no meaning to you, but it does to someone else, think of how that affects your witness to them when they see you doing something they believe is wrong.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Paul writes that we should learn from the example of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and subsequent rebellion against God in the wilderness. He notes specific examples of their sins and the resulting punishment from God. He concludes by assuring us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist and He always provides a way to endure the temptation.

As we deal with temptation in our lives, it is good to know two things: We're not the first ones to ever be tempted and we can look to God to resist the temptation. Temptation is a universal problem with one surefire remedy - trusting in Jesus to guide us through every trial. When we have a personal relationship with Him and He lives in us, doing the right thing becomes more and more natural.

1 Corinthians 9

Paul, having just addressed stumbling blocks and putting aside one's rights in love to others, states his rights as an apostle. He said that as a preacher of the gospel, he basically had the right to receive support from the ones who received his message. After laying out his rights and the Biblical basis for those rights, he stated that his intent was not to claim those rights, but that he had purposely given them up so no one could say his motivation for preaching was financial. Even though he was not beholden to any, he preached to all at their level without compromising his own values.

Motives are often scrutinized when evaluating what others are saying. Knowing this, we need to make sure when we witness to others, our motives are clear; first in our own minds, and second in the minds of others. If we are motivated by anything other than love, our witness is compromised - both in the eyes of God and the person we are trying to reach.We need to make sure we work with transparency so that our love is evident and there is no trace of any ulterior motive.

1 Corinthians 8

Paul begins a section on stumbling blocks by reminding us that knowledge makes us arrogant, but love builds us up. He goes on to talk about meat sacrificed to idols and whether it is alright to eat it. His conclusion is that while there is nothing inherently sinful in the act, if it causes someone to stumble in his walk with the Lord, it is still wrong because of the damage done to the other person. Paul then recommends putting aside our own rights when those rights could cause problems for others.

It is more important to be loving than to be right. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should do it. We need to be sure we take into account how other people view things so that we don't give them excuse to violate their own conscience by following our example. Therefore, we must be careful of our actions around those we know are struggling in particular areas in their lives and not do things to make them struggle more.

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Paul recommends to the Corinthians that due to the current trials facing them it may be best to remain single so that married life might not become a distraction from the Lord, but took care to note that it was not so preferable that married people should separate.

It seems that Paul meant this advice specifically for the Corinthian church due to some particular trials facing them at the time, but the basic reasoning might be extended to anyone seeking marriage. Marriage, like anything else, if not properly framed and put in perspective to our relationship with God can take our focus away from Him. We need to make sure that nothing - not even our spouse - keeps us from seeking and serving the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:1-24

Paul's instructions on sex and marriage were that married couples have a responsibility, one to the other to ensure that sexual satisfaction is found in the marriage bed so that there is no temptation to indulge in extramarital relations. It is not better or worse to be married or single, but if you choose to be single, you must remain celibate. If sexual temptations are such that you can't remain celibate, get married so as not to be tortured. If you find yourself as a Christian living with an unbelieving spouse, don't leave them. As long as they are willing to remain married, you should too. Your influence may be what leads them to the Lord. If the unbelieving spouse wants to divorce, they should be allowed to go.

Simply put, sex belongs within the confines of marriage. Any sexual relations with someone other than your spouse constitutes sin in God's eyes. The marriage bond is sacred. Once you enter into a marriage, you are committed for life. If you become a believer after you marry, that is no reason to dissolve the marriage. It does not change the definition of marriage or absolve you from your commitment. Quite the opposite, you now have a commitment to pray for your unsaved spouse and witness to them in the hopes that one day they will gain salvation as well.

1 Corinthians 6

Paul said the way to handle disputes between two Christians is within the church. If one believer has wronged another believer, the resolution should come from within the church, not from the secular court system. If the problem cannot be solved within the church, Paul said you may as well take the loss rather than submitting to a secular court.

As Christians, we share a unique bond in Christ. That bond should allow us to settle differences among ourselves in peace and love. When disputes cannot be settled in this way, the real loss is the opportunity to show Christ's love - even to one another.


Paul also said that even though something may not technically be a sin, we still need to look at it to see whether it is good for us to be doing. We can become slaves to anything done to excess - food, music, TV, etc. He particularly warned against sexual immorality reasoning that when we become one with Christ, He dwells in us and we become His temple. By indulging in sexual immorality, we defile not only ourselves, but Him as well.

As humans, we are good at rationalizing things. We try to come up with logical arguments that make whatever we want to do OK with God. Paul stated in very clear terms that this kind of thinking does not make wrong things right. We need to seek God's will in all things and not just give in to the desires of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 5

Paul told the Corinthians not to associate with those who call themselves Christians, but still openly and unapologetically continue to sin. Such people should be ejected from the church if they will not repent. Pretending everything is OK isn't going to help them at all.

We should no tolerate sin inside the church. It is one thing when someone slips up - we're still prone to sin after all - but another when they continue in their sin without seeking to repent and change. We do no favors when we act like nothing is wrong with such people. The loving thing to do is to gently counsel them and allow them to repent and if they don't, make sure they can't go on acting like everything is fine and have you play along. Only when someone is made to feel like what they are doing is wrong will they ever feel the need to repent.

1 Corinthians 4

Paul warned about setting aside church leaders as being higher than everyone else. Leaders in the church are to be stewards of God's word, not above it. Leaders need to leave behind arrogance and be willing to live a humble life as an example to others.

While church leaders deserve honor and respect, it is only because of the responsibility given to them by God. There is nothing inherently better about any Christian above another. When we look at ourselves and one another through God's eyes, we're all the same: sinners in need of a Savior. On the other side of the coin, leaders must take care to not become arrogant and think better of themselves because of their position. Every one of us needs to keep this in mind because even if you don't have an official title or position at your church, you're leading someone. That someone may be a spouse, you child, student, co-worker, or even just the new believer who is looking to you as an example of what a Christian is supposed to act like.

1 Corinthians 3

Paul showed that anything done to build up the church must have Jesus at the heart of it. Each person's work will be tested by God to see if it measures up. Even when the right thing seems foolish to the world, do it anyway; don't be afraid to look foolish for God.

God sees into our hearts and sees not just what we do, but why we do it. Take care to ensure your actions are in line with God's will and that love for Him is the central motivator. Using this guideline as your measuring stick for everything you do may not make you look cool to your friends and family, but they're not the ones you need approval from.

1 Corinthians 2

Paul reminded the Corinthians that he did not teach them by trying to convince them with smooth talking or superior logic. He simply let the Spirit of God be seen through him. It is the Holy Spirit that brings wisdom and truth and acceptance of the word of God.

We cannot convince others of the truth of God if we rely on ourselves. We must allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing and let the overflow spill out to others. This is the only way the gospel can be spread. Not by anything we can do in and of ourselves, but by what God does in us and through us.

1 Corinthians 1

Paul started off his letter to the Corinthians telling them not to be divided. The only one we are to follow is Christ because our salvation is in His crucifixion - no one but Christ has died or can die for the forgiveness of sin. He also wrote that the wisdom of God seems to be foolishness to those who try to reconcile the cross with the conventional wisdom or traditions of man.

Everything we do as Christians should be because we are following Christ. Even when we take instruction from others, such as pastors, we still need to keep our eyes on Christ as the reason for everything we do and the source of everything we believe. Even when the rest of the world tries to tell us Christianity can't be true, we must remember to put our faith in the One who died for our sins.

Romans 16

Paul ended his letter to the Romans by sending greetings to many people there. He reiterated that they should keep an eye out for anyone who is causing division within the church or teaching something contrary to scripture. He ended by sending greetings from himself and many people who were with him.

Personal relationships are very important. We can learn all sorts of things about how God wants us to act, but the only way to put the lessons into action is by interacting with others. As we grow in our faith, it is also important that we have strong Christian bonds to help us remain strong and maintain accountability.

Romans 15:17-33

Paul made it clear that the only thing he had to be proud of was what Christ had done through him. All of his accomplishments were because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul said that he had wanted to come to Rome for some time, but since he was committed to spreading the gospel in places that had never heard it, he hadn't been able to visit yet. He said he was coming now by way of Jerusalem and on to Spain and asked for the prayers of the Roman believers that he would be spared any problems in Jerusalem.

The only reason any of us has to be proud is what Christ has done in each of our lives. The only things that matter for eternity are those things done when we allow him to work in our lives for His glory and honor. Paul's commitment to taking the gospel to new places showed how seriously he took his service to Christ. He didn't want to ride on the coattails of others, but gave the glory to Jesus by going to places where His name was not known so there were many more lives touched. We can do all things through Christ. The only thing holding us back is us. Pray to God and ask what amazing things He has in store for you.

Romans 15:1-16

Paul again emphasizes that we should not live solely for our own pleasure, but that we should strengthen one another and accept one another just as Christ accepts us. We should hold each other accountable, but we need to make sure that we are correcting one another out of love for one another.

Older siblings have likely heard more than once in their lives to be an example to their younger siblings. It is the same with brothers and sisters in Christ. More mature Christians have a responsibility to set an example for those who are new(er) to the faith and look to them for guidance. Mature Christians should realize this is a position of servitude - not lordship - and act accordingly. Advice or criticism should always be based on solid Biblical teaching and come with an attitude of love, not condemnation or superiority.

Romans 14

Paul wrote that Christians should not judge one another harshly for some of the non-essential beliefs that are held differently within Christian circles. Whatever we feel convicted to do, we should do for the Lord and not for anyone else. Each of us answers to God in alone for our actions, so we shouldn't look down on someone for doing things differently than we do. At the same time, we need to be sensitive to the convictions of others and not be overt in the liberties that we may enjoy that they have determined are wrong for them. It is sin when any Christian does something they believe to be wrong even if God hasn't made a clear prohibition against it.

Some Christians decide that they need to abstain from alcohol. While nothing in scripture says we may not drink alcohol, nothing in scripture requires that we do either. God will not condemn the person who has determined that alcohol is all right, nor will He condemn the person who has decided to abstain. But, if the person who has decided not to drink goes against that conviction, they have sinned. We need to respect others decisions in these things even when we don't hold the same view. As long as it is not a difference in essential Christian teaching or something the Bible very clearly addresses, we should take care not to offend people with our actions when we know their feelings. At the same time, if we think something is wrong, we must be careful not to condemn others for it. If God does not condemn a thing, neither should we.

Romans 13

Paul wrote about the importance of government. He stated that government receives authority from God and is therefore to be obeyed. He also reminded us to love one another.

Obeying the laws of whichever government we find ourselves living under is a way of showing love. Insofar as possible, we should live at peace with all people and disobeying the laws of the land does not foster living in peace with the government. Our ultimate allegiance is to God and to His law, but as long as we are living on Earth, we need to be abide by the laws of man.

Romans 12

Paul compared the church to the human body: Each of us has a different function to do. We each have a different gift given to us by God and we are expected to use it to the fullest. We are to show love to each other and to those around us. Even if people wrong us, we should not retaliate, but instead respond with kindness. Leave the payback to God.

God made each of us differently, not to divide us, but so that our differences would complement one another. We need to make sure that as the body of Christ, we work together for His will and purpose. Together we need to share the love of Christ with those around us so the world can see Him in us.

Romans 11:22-36

Paul reminds Christians not to become puffed up about our position in Christ. Israel may have rejected Jesus and been cut off from God as a result, but God still has plans for them to be redeemed and grafted back into His family.

It is important to see the big picture that God has. Israel has always been a part of His plans and still has a part to play in the grand story. As Christians, we should pray for and support Israel. God has not forgotten them and neither should we.

Romans 11:1-21

Paul clarifies that just because the majority of the Jewish people had rejected God didn't mean that God had rejected all of Israel. There were some that still belonged to Him through faith, but the widespread lack of faith opened the door for the Gentiles to receive the gospel and be made right with God. This does not mean the door of salvation was shut on the Jews. The door is always open for those who believe. Paul then speaks to Gentile believers with a warning against looking down on Jewish non-believers. After all, he reminds them, the source of their righteousness is Christ, not themselves.

Christ died for every one of us. When we believe in Him, we become part of the family of God. While this is a wonderful thing, we must not lose sight of the fact that we have done nothing to deserve it. The only thing that separates believers and non-believers is the grace of God. There are many people today who have heard the good news and have rejected it. This does not mean they can never change their mind. If you know someone who continually rejects Christ, keep praying for them and witnessing to them as the Holy Spirit leads. Never give up hope.

Romans 10

Paul strongly desired that all of the Jews would be saved through Christ; this was his prayer. He went back to the prophets to show that it has always been faith in God - not adherence to the law - that brings us into a right standing with God. This message had been given to the Jews, but they had not accepted it. Now that the Messiah has come, this faith is expressed by belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and His resurrection. This is the message that needs to be taken to the world - Jews and Gentiles alike.

The gospel spreads by people who have heard and believed telling other people the good news of Christ. As believers, we should care enough to tell others the message of salvation. Like Paul said, how will they believe unless they hear? And how will they hear unless someone tells them? Tell someone about God. Don't worry about whether they'll believe or not - leave that up to God.

Romans 9

Paul makes the point that we are not God's children by physical birth; we are grafted into His family through God's mercy. Therefore, not all Jews will enter into God's promise, but some Gentiles will. God can extend His mercy to whomever He pleases and it is not for us to second guess Him in these matters.

Many people want to paint God as unfair because of the way they perceive He deals with us. The problem is that we can't apply our standards to the actions of God. He knows and understands infinitely more than we ever will about the world we live in, His plan of salvation, and each of us individually. We may not have all the answers to all of the questions, but one thing we must believe is that God is fair. For us to say that God is unfair is for us to second guess the omniscient Creator of the universe.

Romans 8:18-39

Paul wrote that the sufferings of the current life are nothing compared to the wonderful things that are to come in the next life. All of the sufferings in the here and now are like the pains of childbirth - they're nothing when compared with the joy of what is to come. The Holy Spirit helps us through the tough times, interceding for us in prayer. God is at work in everything working things out for the ultimate good of those who love Him. Once we are saved through Jesus, nothing can take us away from Him.

No matter how bad things look, God is still in control. Even when we're going through rough times, God is there for us to depend on. He doesn't love us just for a time. He doesn't leave us to fend for ourselves. He truly cares for each of us and wants the best for us. Remember, in times of trouble, God is there for you. Call His name and He will give you the strength to overcome whatever comes your way.

Romans 8:1-17

Paul wrote that Jesus' death on the cross freed us from the condemnation of sin. Jesus took on flesh so He could pay the penalty of sin for each of us. When we accept Jesus, the Spirit of God dwells in us. Our desires change and we crave the sins of the flesh less and desire the peace and life that God gives. When Christ is in us, we become children of God and are welcomed into his family, inheriting all the good things He has in store for us and also sharing the sufferings of Christ.

Jesus suffered and died on the cross to save us from sin. God sacrificed His only Son so that we could be freed from sin and reconciled to Him. He wants us to be a part of His family and to be with Him for all eternity. We accept His offer by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. Then we are filled with His Spirit and the focus of our lives changes from the base desires of the flesh to the desires of the Spirit - being at peace with others and living this life in preparation for eternal life with God. If we are truly walking with Christ, we will experience suffering (just as He did), but we will share in the great gifts awaiting us in heaven as well.

Romans 7

Paul writes that when we accept Christ we are no longer bound to the law, but bound to Christ. When we die with Him, we die to our old self and just like a marriage is dissolved upon death, so is our bond to the law. We become united with Christ and are raised up to do great things for Him. The law was made to open our eyes and show us what we're doing wrong, but can have the opposite effect if our rebellious nature takes over and wants to do the things that are wrong for the sole reason that they are wrong. Even when we agree with God's law, and want to do what is right, we still have an internal battle between our desire to do right and our human nature.

Even though we are not bound to the law as a means of making us right with God, that doesn't excuse us from following it. The punishment has been taken away for all those who have been made new in Christ, but the law remains as a guideline for how we are to live. Jesus reaffirmed the law and even showed how it goes beyond our actions and applies to what we think in our hearts. The law is on each of our hearts and we want to follow it, but our sinful nature gets in the way and we wind up doing the exact opposite of what we know we should do. This is not an excuse for bad behavior, but a reminder to always look to Christ for strength and to pay attention to our actions.

Romans 6

Paul wrote that being saved through Jesus is not a license to sin as much as you want. When we come to Christ, our old self dies and we have a new life in Jesus. Before coming to Christ, each of us was controlled by sin. After coming to Christ, we should allow ourselves to be controlled by Him, and if we are wholly controlled by Him, we will not want to sin.

Once you become a Christian, you can't go on living your life the same way as before. You don't get a free pass on all your sins and you definitely don't get permission to ramp up the sin level. True acceptance of Christ brings about a change inside of you that should make you want to sin less. This doesn't mean you won't ever sin again - you won't become perfect overnight - but the draw of sin lessens the closer you get to Christ.

Romans 5

Having made the case that we need salvation that can only come by believing in God and receiving His grace, Paul then pointed to Jesus' death as the means by which we are justified. He showed that sin entered the world through Adam and the consequences of sin were removed by Jesus.

Sin goes back to the Garden of Eden and every one of us is born sinful because we have all descended from Adam. Jesus came to die on a cross to pay the debt for every sin that anyone ever committed. Each of us is invited to accept Jesus and the offer of eternal life that He gives. We have all sinned. We all need a Savior. There is only One who can save us and His name is Jesus.

Romans 4

Paul used Abraham as an example to illustrate that we are saved through our belief in God and not by our works. He quoted scripture that said Abraham was considered righteous because he believed. He noted that this was said of Abraham before he was circumcised. Therefore, the act of circumcision was not the source of his salvation. It is the same for each of us. We are brought into the same promise given to Abraham not because of how well we keep God's law, but by believing in Him, accepting Him, and following Him.

How good do you have to be to get into heaven? Where is the pass/fail line on God's measuring stick? If there were one, it would be at the 100% mark - perfection. Only one man has lived a perfect life and His name was Jesus. We can't possibly hope to hit the mark of perfection, so God made a way for us to be considered righteous through belief in Him. Apart from that, there is no salvation. We can perform all the religious ceremonies we want, donate all our money to the church or to the poor, memorize scripture, and any number of other things in order to please God, but without taking the first step of believing in him and trusting in Him, it doesn't amount to anything in His eyes.

Romans 3

Paul laid out more clearly that the Jewish people were not going to get special treatment from God. Their place as the chosen people was that they received His word. Even so, God's word is not nullified if some of the Jews chose not to believe it. God can even use unbelief to glorify Himself. This does not give license to disregard God by saying disbelief will be excused because God can make something good come out of it. No one is given a free pass by God because of what family they were born into or what church they go to. Everyone of us is on a level playing field when it comes to sin. We all sin. We all miss the mark of perfection set by Jesus. Therefore, none of us has a reason to feel superior to anyone else because of what we've done.

The lesson here is to not be concerned with what other people are doing or how they're being treated by God. When we compare how we perceive God is treating the people around us to how we feel we're being treated we either come away feeling smug and superior, thinking God is favoring us, or carrying a grudge because we think God is favoring someone else. Spend some time with God and make sure your life is pleasing to Him. Don't expect that you're going to be treated differently because of some perceived status you have. Remember, He's looking at your heart. He's not impressed by power, position, or the things you do if you're not doing them for the right reasons.

Romans 2

Paul warned not to condemn others for their actions while leaving our own actions unexamined.
God is not distracted by us pointing out the faults of others; each of us will answer for the things that we have done. Knowing what is right is not important if you are not doing what is right. Ignorance of God's law is no excuse as he has given each of us a conscience to help us determine the difference between right and wrong.

If you know God's law, you should lead by example and not say one thing to others and then do the opposite when you think no one's looking. Paul went on to state that a circumcised man who breaks the law of God is symbolically uncircumcised while an physically uncircumcised man who keeps the law of God is symbolically circumcised.


Throughout this chapter, Paul is stressing that actions speak louder than words. We cannot get into God's good graces by saying all the right things or looking the right way - wearing a cross around your neck does not make you a Christian. We cannot escape His judgment by making Him look at the faults of others. God knows us inside and out and He judges us for what we think and what we do. Each of us will stand before Him one day and be held accountable for what we did with our lives. Think about that day and how your actions will be judged. If there are things in your life you know are not pleasing to God, ask for His forgiveness and He will make you whole.