August 31-September 6

Paul Continues His Letter to the Church at Corinth
Shirley Ann James
Jonesboro, Arkansas

Chapter 13

Commonly referred to as the “Love Chapter”, we see how necessary love is. We know that God’s love is perfect because He is love (I John 4:8) and we must strive to be like Him. While we are not required to love their deeds, as Christians we are to love even the unlovable if we are to follow in His steps.

Paul tells us that whatever we do (speak in unknown languages, have all knowledge and have faith to move mountains, give to the poor, etc.), if it isn’t done in love, it is meaningless. He reemphasizes this in Colossians 3:14 where he tells us that love is the virtue that binds us together.

Paul also stresses the importance of maturity. We are encouraged to put away childishness in our talk, in our thinking and in our reasoning. We aren’t necessarily mature just because we are growing older. We must make positive efforts to put our childish ways behind us. As we accomplish this we are to put on what will make us mature in Christ (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:14).

Chapter 14

Paul addresses several areas in this chapter.
(1) We are to follow the way of love (vs 1)
(2) We are to become mature in our thinking (vs 20
(3) God is not the author of confusion (vs 23)
(4) All things are to be done for the strengthening of the church (vs 26)
(5) Women are to be submissive to men (vs 34)
(6) Everything is to be done in a fitting and orderly way (vs 40)

Chapter 15

How can we deny the resurrection of Christ? After His resurrection He appeared to Peter, to a large group of believers, to James, to all the apostles and to Paul. Without the resurrection of Christ our faith is useless (vs 14). But because Christ was raised from the dead, we too shall live (vs 22) As children of God, we have begun a life that will never end. Death is merely a passage from one phase of existence to another. We know that our bodies will be resurrected (Romans 8:23; I Thessalonians 5:12, II Corinthians 5:4). We don’t know what that body will be like but we shall bear the likeness of the man from heaven (vs 49).

Chapter 16

Paul gives direction for collections to be taken on the first day of the week for the saints in Jerusalem. He tells the Corinthians his plans to visit them and perhaps spend the winter. He also expresses his thankfulness for Timothy, Apollos, the household of Stephanas, Fortunatas and Achaicus.

The devil is out there trying to lure us away from what is good. But in verse 13 Paul gives an admonition to all of us: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

[Shirley Ann James has been married to her husband, Gary, for 55 years. They currently worship at Southwest Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Arkansas, after having lived in numerous locations.

While she is very involved in ladies’ ministry at Southwest, one of Shirley Ann’s greatest joys is teaching the fourth grade class (with Gary) and continuing those relationships through the years as these young people grow in their Christian walk.]