1 Corinthians 15:33-58

Paul described our resurrected bodies as being different from our earthly bodies. Our resurrected bodies will be glorified, strong, and eternal. We cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven unless we put on these resurrected bodies because our earthly bodies were not made for heaven.

It is a great comfort when our bodies are feeling run down, weak, and tired that we can look forward to the day when we will not grow older, get tired, sick, or hungry. All of the physical problems we have now will be gone when we get to heaven. Praise God that he has designed an eternal body for each of us who believe in and accept His Son.

1 Corinthians 15:1-32

Paul responded to those who said that there is no resurrection of the dead. He said those who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead then cannot believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, and effectively call God a liar. Furthermore, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, we have no salvation - no eternal life - and may as well live for the moment.

This is the cornerstone of Christian theology. Either there is a life we will be raised up to after this one or there is not. Either Jesus died and rose again both as an example of resurrection and for the payment of our sins or He did not. To deny either of these truths is to deny the gospel message. What we believe affects how we act and without believing there is a life after this one, there is no motive for righteous behavior in this life. We must always remember that the Earth is not our home. Our eternal home is with God in heaven and all of our actions should reflect that.

1 Corinthians 14:20-40

Continuing the comparison of tongues versus prophecy, Paul turns to how each is viewed by unbelievers. The unbeliever may be convicted by prophesy that he can understand and turned off by speaking in tongues, thinking the person is crazy. Paul counseled for an orderly worship service where the speaking of tongues was limited and always accompanied by an interpretation.

People think Christians talk strangely enough already. Why compound it with something that would sound completely crazy to someone who doesn't know what's going on? At all times, when we talk about our faith, we should do so in a clear and easy to understand way so that everyone can understand what we say and benefit from it. Our worship services should not be an insiders' club where only members can understand what's going on. If we are to reach out to our community, we must make sure they feel welcome and are able to follow what is being said.

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Paul encouraged the pursuit of spiritual gifts, but only in order to benefit others, not to benefit oneself. Comparing the gift of prophesy to the gift of speaking in tongues, he said that prophesy was more useful because people could plainly understand it and be built up by it where tongues were only useful if there was an interpretation.

Whatever gifts we are given should be used for God. We should desire the gifts God has for us in order to lifts up others rather than lift ourselves up. Once we receive and identify our gift, we then need to determine what God wants us to do with it and then go out and do it.

1 Corinthians 13

Paul turned his attention to love and said that whatever we do is nothing if we don't do it out of love. He listed some attributes of love, like patience and kindness; love does not seek its own agenda or keep a list of wrongs done by others. All the spiritual gifts from the previous chapter will end one day, but love will last forever. It is important to have faith, hope, and love, but love is the most important.

God is love, so it is no surprise that He wants us to love Him and love one another. Love needs to be at the core of everything we do. Without love we cannot please God. When we exhibit the characteristics of love, God shines through us and is glorified.

1 Corinthians 12

Paul wrote that each of us receives a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. We all have different gifts that work together within the body of Christ. No gift is unnecessary, so we should not feel like we cannot contribute because we see our own gift as less than someone else's.

Each of us has something unique to contribute. The exact gift is not as important as what we do with it. Our gifts come from God and He must have had a reason for each one He has given to people. To not use our gifts because we don't see them as important is to believe that we know more than the God who gave them to us.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Paul had gotten reports that the Corinthian church was divided. Even during the remembrance of the Lord's Supper, some would gorge themselves, not leaving enough food for others and some would become drunk from the wine. He reminded them that the Lord's Supper was to be taken solemnly after self-examination and preparing one's heart.

The Lord's Supper was not meant to be a party where people go to excesses with food and drink. It is something we do to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. When we make it about anything other than Christ's body and blood, disrespect everything He went through for us. Not just our actions, but our hearts as well need to honor our Savior each time we come to His table to do this in remembrance of Him.