1 Corinthians 16

22 If anyone won’t love the Master, throw him out. Make room for the Master!

23 Our Master Jesus has his arms wide open for you.

24 And I love all of you in the Messiah, in Jesus.

This seems like a good Friday message.  Jesus has his arms open wide for you.

BOOM! 

drop the mic

1 Corinthians 15

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

This portion of the chapter speaks to Paul's humble-ness, and his ability to "big-picture" think about his place.  He has a keen awareness of what his life means in total.  I think part of the reason he works so hard for Christ, is that he has so much in his past that he doesn't like.  Not that its a scorecard mentality, but a gratefulness for what Christ has done for him.
His mentality should be what we all strive for.

The other thing I REALLY like in this chapter is how he points directly at witnesses that saw Christ after his resurrection.  Then, he states how most of them are still alive.  That's HUGE!  It's really saying, "go talk to em.  they saw it for themselves.  they can give you a first-hand, eye witness account."

tp 

1 Corinthians 14

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

I don't have much to say about this chapter.  I've never really experienced the speaking in tongues.  It seems that Paul is giving clear direction that it shouldn't be wasted and it should be handled in a timely fashion.  Similar to how he encourages the organization of the rest of the church.  
We can't get anywhere if we are all "willy-nilly"

tp

1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Today is an easy take.  It makes me remember my wedding.  Its a great reminder.  But, where I want to take it today is in the context of the holiday season.  I think this time of year, people really need extra love and grace.  Its busy and nutty and stressful and people feel out of control.  I think we as believers/followers are called to have a different auro about us during the season.  We need to be celebratory for the gift that was/is given to us, but we also need to be patient, kind....even non self-seeking.

tp

1 Corinthians 12

 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 

So its important to know and understand my own gifts that I have been given so I can be effective as the part that God designed me to be.  No accidents, I am who I am with my gifts and where I am on this earth by his design.  

knut

1 Corinthians 11

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 

Don't just go through the motions but actually take time to do a little self evaluation and present before God the sins I know I have committed and truly ask for forgiveness.   Don't just chomp down the bread and slam the juice like a robot.  Sounds like doing that is worse than not even taking the elements of communion in the first place.

knut

1 Corinthians 10

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Nothing great today.  There's a lot written here about food and the purity of it having to do with idols and sacrifice.  I do like how the chapter ends.  No matter what you are doing....do it for the glory of God.  Do it in such a way as to bring the light to others, don't cause them to stumble.

tp

1 Corinthians 8-9

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

I've been reading these 2 chapters for a couple of days now.  In 8, to me, the jist is to be careful not to do things that will cause others to trip and fall or question right/wrong.

The verse above is from 9.  Its a pretty famous quote.  I've heard many a sermon on it, and I think the message is still great....especially in a society that values sports/athletes so much.  We spend so much time and energy on something that doesn't matter.  

Question for myself:  Am I running the race of life....to win?  By winning, I mean in the guise of what Paul is talking about.  Not in the way Charlie Sheen talks about it.

tp