This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Personal Responsibility", 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 3/27/2022

 PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

 

PERSONAL LIBERTY

V:12 "Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-but God will destroy them both.

A.    We can do most things that we imagine.

1.     The problem is that some things that cross our minds are not

Beneficial to us.

2.     There are some things that we have the liberty to do that are detrimental to us.

3.     Everything that feels good is not good for us.

B.     If we don’t control our thoughts and actions, they will control us.

1.     I love to eat all kinds of food.

2.     However, too much eating can destroy my health.

Philippians 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

C.     In America, you can have what you can pay for.

1.     Everything I can pay for is not good for me

2.     We have a personal responsibility to do only that which is

Beneficial to us and those around us.

3.     We are the masters of our souls, not the stuff we can obtain.

4.     If we don’t control our appetites, we become a slave to our

Desires.

D.    An athlete must focus all his/her energy on excelling in the sport.

1.     Christians must focus all their energy on excelling in God’s

Righteousness.

2.     All the fleshly stuff we desire will be destroyed by the Lord.

3.     Heaven and earth will be consumed by fire but God’s word

Is eternal.

 

Matthew 5:18-19

 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

 

 

OUR BODIES ARE FOR THE LORD

V:13. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

A.    Corinth was a city where sexual immorality was the norm.

1.     1000 prostitutes were at the service of the public in their temple.

2.     When prostitution is culturally accepted by everyone around you,

The desire is hard to get rid of.

3.     With the power of God, the desire to sin can be eliminated.

B.     We recognize that any man in Christ is a new creation.

1.     The problem is a change in attitude takes time.

2.     We need to be reminded from time to time that we are

Part of the body of Christ.

3.     We can glean from Paul’s letter that participation in normal

Sexual activities of the community were happening among

Church members.

4.     Putting Biblical doctrine into practice requires us to speak to the

Issues that are displeasing to God in the Church.

C.     Understanding that our bodies are the temple of the Lord is

Important.

1.     The process of sanctification was begun when we were baptized

Into the death of Jesus.

2.     We were raised into the newness of life with his resurrection.

3.     The sins of the world are the dead things to us.

4.     Sexual immorality of any kind is one of the dead things to believers.

5.     We should not bring dead things into the temple of the Lord.

6.     Sex with a prostitute is joining as one with him/her.

7.     We cannot unite ourselves with prostitution.

a.     To do so is to deny Christ control over our lives.

b.     To do so also is reject our commitment with Christ.

c.      To do so also is to make ourselves slaves to sin.

d.     To do so also is to reject the saving grace of Christ.

 

UNITED WITH CHRIST ONLY

V:16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."  17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

A.    We have two choices in life that count.

1.     Unite with Christ

2.     Or stay united with the world.

B.     To unite with Christ is to change our attitude.

1.     From an attitude of sinfulness to an attitude of righteousness.

2.     To unite with Christ is a change in our destination.

From a destination of hell to a destination of heaven.

3.     To unite with Chris is a change of ownership.

From being owned by Satan and his demons to being owned

By Christ.

4.     To be one with Christ is to be one with the eternal spirit

Of life.

5.     To be one with Jesus is one with all wisdom

6.     To be one with Jesus is to be one with all power.

7.     To be one with Jesus is to be one with the universal creator.

C.     To be one with Satan is to be one with eternal hell.

1.     To be one with Satan is to be one with eternal darkness

2.     To be one with Satan is to be one with a defeated foe.

D.    All believers are married to Christ.

1.     Christ is the bridegroom, and we are His bride.

2.     Consider this; adultery is detrimental to any marriage.

3.     To be united to sexual immorality is spiritual adultery.

4.     Sexual immorality is self-destructive.

 

KNOW THE REALITY OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY.

V:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

A.    There are sins inside the body and sins outside the body.

1.     Sexual sin is a sin against one’s own body.

2.     Sexual immorality grieves the Holy Spirit that indwells us.

3.     We cannot be one with a man or woman we are not

Married to and one with the Holy Spirit at the same time.

B.     Sexual immorality grieves God the Father who call us out of darkness into

His marvelous light.

1.     The lust of the flesh pulls the believer back into the darkness                   he/ she was freed from.

C.      Sexual immorality grieves the God the Son who died on the cross

 In payment for our sins.

1.     We are not our own. We belong to Christ.

2.     Because of the destructiveness of sexual immorality, we are commanded to flee.

3.     We are commanded to honor God with our bodies.

 

THANK GOD WHO GIVES US THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT IMMORALITY.

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Building God's House", 1 Corinthians 3:10-23, 3/20/2022

 BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE

(Live Bible Study Sunday Morning at 8:45Am)

    Meeting Id 868 4359 7978, Password joy)

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-23

 

LAYING A FOUNDATION

V:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

A.    It is the favor of God that each of us is given the Word of God.

1.     We were not given the Word just for ourselves.

2.     The Word of God is the foundation of our faith.

3.     We were given the Word to draw others to Christ.

4.     Faith is built on God’s word.

5.     We must pay attention to the directions given by the Word.

6.     It is very important that we spend time meditating on the Word.

7.     We have a teacher which is the Holy Spirit.

8.     The Holy Spirit guides our understanding.  

B.     We must be careful not to mix hearsay, opinions, or personal agenda’s

With the Word of God.

1.     The Bible is complete, according to Revelations ;          

Revelation 22:18-19

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

 

 

2.     When we add anything to the Word, we corrupt the foundation.

3.     When we corrupt the foundation we lead others astray.

C.     Many of our preachers monetize the gospel.

1.     Much peaching magnify the blessing of God without

Without change or repentance.

2.     Much preaching magnify the glory of God without sacrifice

Of the fleshly body for the new body in Christ.

3.     The Word of God is the silver, gold and precious stones.

4.     Heaven and earth with pass away in the fire, but the Word of

God remains forever.

5.     Wood and straw are the corrupt doctrines of the world that will not

Stand test of fire.

6.     The corrupt doctrines of the world will not stand against the truth

In the day of judgement.

7.     The true architect uses the right building material that stands the

Test of time.

8.     The false builder uses cheap material that looks good on the surface

But falls apart under test.

D.    According to verse 14, there are two types of Christians.

1.     There are those who accept the Gospel truths and live by the truth.

a.     Those who live by the Gospel truths store up treasures in heaven

By their sacrifice and works.

2.     There are Christians who accept the Gospel truths but have no true works.

a.     These stores up no treasures in heaven.

b.     These are void of sacrificial works.

c.      These never get in game of spiritual growth, but remain on

Bench of carnal living.

 

 

 

 

 

BUILDING GOD’S TEMPLE

V:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

A.    There are two who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1.     One is a true believer and the other is a pretender.

2.     The true believer is the temple of God growing in the

Spirit.

3.     The true believer lives by the spirit.

B.     The pretender has never accepted Christ as Savior and remain

Unchanged.

1.     The pretender is full of lies and deceptions and caused divisions

In the body.

2.     The pretender like Satan disguises himself as an angel of light

With the intent of destroying the body of Christ.

3.     The true believer has a place in heaven.  The pretender has

A place in hell.

 

TRUE WISDOM IS IN THE TEMPLE

V:18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness";  20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

A.    True wisdom is found only in the Word of God

1. Psalms 111:10

                The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

     all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

     To him belongs eternal praise.

3.     Wisdom does not begin in the world.

God is the master, creator, and giver of wisdom.

4.      A man without God has knowledge but not wisdom.

B.     God controls the future

1.     God knows the consequences of any action.

2.     Man knows what happening now, but not what will

Happens next.

3.     The wise of the world collect stuff for today but store no

Treasures in heaven.

4.     The wise of the world are secure in themselves, but lack

Security in heaven.

5.     The man of God is secure in God who controls his future.

C.     The thoughts of the wise of the world are futile because

They can end in nothing.

1.     The foolish in the Lord are guided by His wisdom and ends

In success.

2.     They that humble themselves before the Lord will be lifted up.

John 12:32

 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 

BOAST IN THE LORD

V: 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

A.    God created all things for the love of man He created.

1.     In the Garden of Eden God gave Adam dominion over

His creation on earth.

2.     We have no need to boast in any individual because we

Are all servants of God.

3.     We were all created equal in God’s sight.

B.     If we boast, we boast in the Lord.

1.     The Lord is the owner of everything and the controller of everything.

2.     Our boasting in the man is futile because they control only

What the Lord allows for our good.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

BUILD GOD’S HOUSE BY FAITH

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Bible Study Series: Dealing With Grief

 DEALING WITH GRIEF

 

GRIEF IS NORMAL

Millions of people around the world have died as a result of Covid 19.

All of us will or have experienced the loss of family members or friends

At some point in our lives.  The normal human emotion to the loss of

A loved one is grief. All of us experience grief in different ways and at

Different times.  Grief is the emotional suffering at the loss of someone

Or something. It is deep distress or sorrow.

 

GRIEF EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE

Throughout the Bible God has presented us with people who have

Experienced grief.

 

People react and respond to grief in different ways.

 

Isaac and Rebekah grieved because of the actions of their son

Genesis 26:34-35

34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

 

The mother of Samson grieved because she could not conceive a child.

1 Samuel 1:15-17

"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

 

Sometimes people are grieved by what they know

Ecclesiastes 1:18

18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief.

NIV

 

People grieve at the loss of loved ones.

Genesis 38:12

12 After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.

 

The disciples grieved when Jesus told them that He would be crucified

Matthew 17:22-23

"The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief.

 

 

Even God experiences grief when we are disobedient to Him.

Ephesians 4:30

 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

My main point is your grief is normal. The key is to know that God knows your grief and is with you.

John 16:22-23

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

 

God will make a way for your recovery

 

REASONS FOR GRIEF

People grieve for many reasons. Here are a few:

1.     A divorce or relationship breakup

2.     Loss of health

3.     Losing a job

4.     A miscarriage

5.     Death of a pet

6.     Illness

7.     Loss of safety after trauma.

8.     Moving to a new city

9.     The loss of a loved one.

 

REACTIONS TO GRIEF

Some normal reactions to grief are;

     Anger

     Anxiety

     Crying spells

     Depression

     Fatigue, lack of energy

     Guilt

     Loneliness

     Pain

     Sadness

     Trouble sleeping

 

BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE

We should never minimize someone’s grief.  We should learn to recognize

When someone is grieving and be there to support them.

 

Don’t try to fit someone's grief into your way of thinking. Their grief is

Unique to them.

 

Some cope with grief by ignoring the pain

Some people are emotionally stronger and not deeply affected

Some people express their grief by crying

Some people eternalize their grief without any outward signs.

Some people get through the grieving period faster than others.

 

RECOVERING FROM GRIEF

The grief and lost website helpguide.org give some suggestions on

How to cope during the grieving process.

1.     Acknowledge your pain

Say it out loud

Call on the Lord

2.     Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions.

3.     Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you.

4.     Seek out face to face support from people who care about you.

5.     Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically

6.     Recognize the difference between grief and depression.

7.     Plan a distraction

8.     Start a new tradition

9.     Make a donation in the name of the lost loved one,

10.  Pray

 

STAGES OF GRIEF

According to the same website, there are five stages of grief.

1.     Denial:  This can’t be happening to me.

2.     Anger:  Why is this happening?  Who is the blame

Mary and Martha blamed Jesus for Lazarus' death.

Lord If you had been here, he would not have died

3.     Bargaining: Lord make this happen and I will be alright.

Jacob on his way to find a wife made a vow to God

That if He would protect and provide for him, that he

Would serve and give a tenth all he earned to the Lord

4.     Depression: I and too sad to do anything.

Some people seem to be stuck where they are and accept

Satan lies that any effort is useless.

5.     Acceptance: Be at peace with what has happened.

Accept the fact that God knows best,

 

GRIEF GOD’S WAY

As Christians, we must find a way to refocus on the Word of God.

It may be very difficult to believe God is with us when we are

Grieving.

 

It may be hard to let go of our pain and let God control our emotions.

Yet the truth is God is with us always through all things.

That is easy to say than to put into practice.

 

But when faith takes charge of our minds, we will be drawn back to

His great love.

Lamentations 3:32

 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,

so great is his unfailing love.

 

The Lord has such compassion for us that He makes all

Promises to our wellbeing.

 

 

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

 

Before you got into your grieving situation, God was already there

Directing your way.

 

In the case of the loss of a loved one, we must remember the Words

Of our Lord:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

 

In the case of sudden death or accident ,there can be tremendous

Financial burdens.  When bills are piling up the grieving process is

Heighten and can be prolonged.

 

How do you handle the additional financial burden?

That is when you have rely on your faith and put the

Finances in God's hands.

Matthew 7:7-8

7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Your recovery is based on your efforts.

You have to ask before God will give. You have knock before God opens the door

You have to seek before God puts what you need to be found.

 

John 16:23-24

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Again ask, then God gives

 

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Prayer is a key tool to your recovery.

 

All of this may be hard to believe when you are grieving.

You have a choice.  You going to believe something.

You can believe in gloom and doom, or you can believe that

God is going to make good out of your grief.

 

Believe in the good of the Lord rather than the lies of the devil.

 

 

YOUR GRIEF IS NORMAL

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

 

GOD IS WAITING ON YOU TO ASK FOR HIS HELP

 

YOU WILL RECOVER

 

Rev. M. Mitchell