King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Chapters: I Corinthians 1-4
Message: I Corinthians: Christ’s Ministers
Hello My Friend,
As we take a pause from the reading of Acts, we come to I Corinthians, we learn that no matter how we choose to live our lives after we are saved we need to make sure that we all agree that the Gospel is the only way to be saved, [1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.]
We also learn that it is the Holy Spirit in us that convicts us in living the life that we do live. Those who choose to ignore the will of God in what the Holy Spirit directs them to do only have themselves to blame for any hardships they face, [1 Corinthians 3:16-18 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.]
Well, the service for my mother was lovely, I felt the sense that she was looking down on us and crying those happy tears of joy as she saw just how loved she was. My mother always felt like she never mattered even though her kids and grandkids adored her, but she really did touch a lot of lives. I watched a woman who struggles with tremors make her way down the aisle to attend the service who never really knew her but that touched me in ways that she will never know. This all came from God with the assurance that we are all united by one hope and that is our faith in Christ, [Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.]
The Book of 1 Corinthians was written by Paul to all believers, but directed to those in Corinth, the timeline is about 59AD. The purpose of the book was to address doctrinal problems that brought division between the Corinthian believers. What we are to learn from the book is that Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, indwells and works in every believer through the Holy Spirit, [1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.]
As re just read, Paul spent two years in Corinth, preaching the Gospel with great success, it was there that one of the first Christian churches was formed of both Jews and Greeks. After he left, a conflict arose as to what doctrine was being taught, and this caused a great division among the members. As he begins the letter, he commends them at least for their all be in one accord according to the Gospel of Christ.
[1 Corinthians 1:1-2,4-6 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:]
Sosthenes, was a converted Jew at Corinth who accompanied Paul to Corinth, probably because he was well known to the Corinthians and respected by them. Paul, used him to reach the Corinthians to show them that they were both in agreement with the doctrine of the Gospel. So, in other words, even if they are divided in what doctrine they are following, the one thing they all agree on is that they are saved by grace through their faith in Christ. What they did not agree on was who’s teaching to follow. Paul, goes on to remind them that there ought to be no divisions within the church.
[1 Corinthians 1:9-13,17 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.]
You see, some of them were following the teaching of Paul, others of Apollos, other of Cephas, and yet some just said they were only going to do what Jesus taught. Keep in mind that these were not false doctrines, they were different ways of teaching how they were to live as Christians, like one taught that all the women needed to wear dresses, one taught them not to eat pork, while others were more liberal. Paul, is trying to convey to them that it is all about Christ, not the man of God whom has been teaching them the Word of God.
[1 Corinthians 1:19-23 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;]
I love this, while there is no foolishness with God, what the world things as being foolish is the very thing that gives great wisdom to all who receive Christ as their Saviour. God, does not expect us to be in agreement with how we choose to live our lives, that needs to be worked out between you and God. He does expect us to be in agreement with biblical doctrine and living our lives through His Word. When the Church gets away from biblical doctrine and adds restrictions that go way beyond what is biblical or starts compromising with the world, that is when church splits happen. The wisdom of this world, especially when it pertains to God, truly is foolish in that it goes way too far in what is accepted or denied by God Himself. Paul, goes on to explain how the Gospel itself is actually the power of God to the Jew and Greek.
[1 Corinthians 1:24-28 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:]
Do not confuse the foolishness of preaching with foolish preaching. While there is definitely a lot of foolish preaching in the Church, the wisest preaching is what sounds like foolishness to the world, and that is the Gospel. God, makes it simple, believe in the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of His Son alone and be saved. For some reason that is just absurd to both Jews who think they are saved because they are of the lineage of Abraham and the world who thinks they are saved by their own righteousness. In fact, Jesus Himself said that those of the seed of Abraham had no place with God.
[John 8:37-40 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.]
To the world, a man coming to earth and sacrificing His life to save those who believe in Him from hell does sound foolish, but that foolishness is exactly what draws those who do believe to Christ. Paul, goes on to iterate just how we come to Christ through this simple Gospel.
[1 Corinthians 2:1-2,4-8 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.]
Paul, is referring to the religious crowd who thought they knew God but had they really known Him they would not have been a part of those who crucified Christ. This is not referring to those who teach us true biblical doctrine rather those who oppose or attempt to philosophize it. The world over does it, they will either go too far in their attempt to prove that God does not exist or portray Him as this tyrant who wants to control your every move. This is why God does not save those who have faith in Him but not enough to accept that His Son is the only way to Him. If they are not willing to go to Him through Christ then God will not have anything to do with them. As for those who do receive Christ, God, really has more to show us than what we see or have seen, but in order to see it we do need to start putting our faith and trust in Christ alone and no one else.
[1 Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.]
Do you see why we are also to try the spirits? Not every doctrine is true. Paul, spoke to them as being carnal, meaning he reached them by teaching the Gospel without the use of a lot of Scripture, [1 Corinthians 2:13-16 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.]
This did not mean that he was carnal, he still honored God by living his life as a temple of God, he just knew how to reach them by giving examples based on every day scenarios. For example, he was a tent maker so he spoke in a way that someone who is also a tent maker could understand the Gospel. Paul, goes on to explain why.
[1 Corinthians 3:1-6,9 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.]
While I am no preacher, I am a minister as are all saints who serve Christ. And while I have my own convictions that keep me accountable, there are many who like the way I teach so I will continue as long as God tells me to. With that said, I know that I am no better than anyone else who ministers to God’s children for we truly are laborers together for God. God, help me if I teach or even live my life contrary to what I have been teaching.
[1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
These are some of my favorite verses, it is a reminder that even if we mess up a thousand times a day, we are still saved by grace. And we may lose everything we ever possessed, but as long as we are saved nothing else matters. Nothing we have on this earth is coming with us when we get to heaven. I often think about how my mother went up to heaven, we know from Genesis that God is the one who clothes us, and from Revelation that we will all be in white robes. So I picture her being clothed and running toward Jesus, something that she has not been able to do for a long time, [Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.]
Our walk with Christ is really not about how much we read the Bible or pray, it comes by many hands of Holy Spirit filled people who help guide and direct us. This is why a person who feels no need to go to church or fellowship with other like minded Christians do no go very far in their walk. We need the preaching, teaching, and singing of the hymns with one another. We need the leaning, confiding, and encouraging of one another. In other words, we need to be found as faithful ministers. Paul, stresses the importance of our being accountable ministers because after all, we are stewards of the mysteries of God.
[1 Corinthians 4:1-2,5-6 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.]
This is how we reach the lost, we just teach them by being like Christ. There are times when giving off a bunch of Scripture will do no good, people are not going to respond to a bunch of commands that we ourselves cannot even keep. We have no reason to be so arrogant to think that we deserve all that we have, what we are able to do, or who we are. Without Christ we are nothing but dead men walking around and we would never merit anything other than a trip to hell. In fact, the more faithful you are to God the more you realize that even on your best days you fall short. The apostles, as close as they were to Jesus, were no different than we are today, Paul, goes on to say how he felt as though they were made as spectacles.
[1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.]
To the world, and religious, we are just a bunch of animals in a cage for all to look at. We are made spectacles because we remain faithful to Christ, and the more faithful we are the more we are despised. Let me tell you, it literally takes the strength of Christ to do what we do as a Christian. Whether it is working in His ministry or in a grocery store, I rather be despised as a Christian than be a lover of the world, [Psalms 119:141-144 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.]
The important thing to remember is that without Christ we have no leg to stand on. We are all sinners saved by grace, and therefore, we are not to look at them as sinners, but souls who need that same grace that we are given. We answer to no one, but God, and while we may look like spectacles, we are no fools.
[1 Corinthians 4:14-16,18-21 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?]
Just like Paul and all the other apostles ministered the Gospel to the lost and showed the Church the correct way to worship God, we too are called to do the same. Christians, may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Whenever the Gospel is effectual, it comes not only in word, but in power by the Holy Spirit, [1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:]
Today’s Prayer: God, They may call me a fool for trusting in You, but I rather be a fool for Christ because I am more than a conqueror, I am Yours. When affliction comes my way, I admit, all I want to do it hide in a corner somewhere, and not talk to anyone, but when I come to my senses I realize that You are always there, ready to pick me up, and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me to think that I suffered when all I had to do was come to You. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the affliction, but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through it, and I thank You for that. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, let me be who You need me to be to reach the lost. I love You Lord and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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