By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-24

Many years ago, there was a mass-marketing push to get people to drink more milk. Part of the push contained an ad campaign with the catchy phrase, “Milk, it does a body good.” The obvious connotation was that drinking milk is good for the health of one’s body.

Of course, a popular metaphor in the Bible for the local New Testament church is that of the human body, with every member in the church contributing as they do their part. In our text for this week, the Apostle Paul uses this kind of language to remind a divided Corinthian church that their success as a congregation depended on their health, and that health is seen in their unity in diversity. [Read more…]

By Tim Frank
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 54-58 

It is no coincidence that the Lord has orchestrated this lesson for this time in our nation’s history. Most, if not all, churches are still in the online-only format following Executive Orders and States of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of the shutdowns and fear, God’s Word of hope and peace echoes through the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.  [Read more…]

By Tim Frank
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in the history of mankind. As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this year, let us realize its utmost importance and stand firmly on the truth that Jesus is alive from the dead!

The resurrection is the climax and the conclusion of the gospel message.  Paul states that he preached to those in Corinth the resurrection as truth. They received it as truth. They stood on it as truth. They were saved by the truth of the resurrection. Thinking of the New Testament, the Gospels record it as truth. The disciples proclaimed it as truth. The witnesses declared it as truth. Every Christian has believed it as truth. So, it is vital to examine the evidence that substantiates the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The truth of the resurrection is found in the empty tomb. Paul writes in II Corinthians 15:1 that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. This is the central statement of the gospel of Christ. After Jesus was killed, He was buried in a tomb, and the stone was rolled across the door. On Sunday morning, the women came to the tomb and found it was empty. Jesus’ body was not there.  Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24 record angels telling the women that Jesus was risen from the dead. One of the arguments against the resurrection is that in their grief the women simply went to the wrong tomb. The fact that the disciples, the women, the religious officials and a squad of soldiers knew the location of the tomb makes this argument null.   [Read more…]

By Tim Frank
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 

Several lessons ago, we focused on the word “holy.” It is one of the chief descriptors of God. It is also an adjective of everything associated with God, such as the holy temple, the priest’s holy garments, and the Holy Bible. The word “holy” simply means to be set apart. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be holy people. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made just as if we had never sinned, justified.

Paul says in I Corinthians 6:11 that through Christ believers are washed, sanctified and justified. A person is washed clean through the blood of Jesus. A person is justified by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 5:1). These are completed at salvation.  [Read more…]

By Jerry Price
Retired Pastor, Spring Hill

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 

The following illustration comes from Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, WordSearch Bible Software. 

“A modern army is fitted with a strategic mix of various weapons to maximize its effectiveness in fulfilling its purpose. Some soldiers receive a rifle and some are given pistols or ride in a tank armed with a cannon and machine guns. Others operate missiles, jet fighters, bombers or ships. To win the war, it takes the unified effects of all these weapons, operated by the shared efforts of all the variously equipped soldiers.

“God, as the wise Commander-in-Chief in our spiritual warfare, has likewise given to each of His children in the body of Christ spiritual gifts so that they can work together to be effective in fulfilling His will. And, as in a physical war, if Christian “soldiers” work together and use their gifts, the task of the church on earth will be accomplished.” [Read more…]

By Jerry Price
Retired Pastor, Spring Hill

Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Pastor and author Gordon MacDonald once wrote, “I used to struggle with [overconfident intelligentsia] while living in Boston. I would leave the town of Lexington, where my family and I lived, and I would drive past the towers of Harvard University. Another mile down the road, on the left, sits the campus of MIT, and to the right, the campus of Boston University. Straight ahead were the towering headquarters of many great multinational corporations.

“There were moments when I was tempted to be intimidated by these unmitigated, unadulterated symbols of power. Here were great world leaders being trained in the business school at Harvard. [Read more…]