What’s the essence of the Christian faith? Is it honoring God with your life? Living a life of integrity? Not being selfish? Helping others? Can you love God, be sincere and ignore Jesus altogether? The whole heaven and hell thing – is that a misguided or outdated question, as many church-attending people now think and many church leaders, authors and speakers would now contend? In the first part of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul helps us to understand this issue more thoroughly.
Chuck Smith in his book Charisma Versus Charismania begins with a story of the abuse of the gift of tongues that he witnessed as a young man. The church in 1st Century Corinth bore some similarity to the church of Chuck Smith’s 20th Century youth. It seems some of things that made Chuck uneasy made the Apostle Paul uneasy too. Today’s chapter deals with a church’s prioritizing and use of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
Around Christmastime there is an awful lot that can draw our attention away from Jesus. There is decorating to do, parties to go to, presents to buy. Santa Claus can almost singlehandedly steal the show. But Christmas is the day that Christians traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus matters because Jesus matters.
I was at Calvary Chapel in Crawfordsville, IN, this morning. Paul Velazquez spoke at Horizon Central, bringing a message from James 4. Here it is.
Central Reflections 