Malachi 1:1-14

HONOUR THE LORD ALMIGHTY

Keywords 1:14b

For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.

 

1. The Lord declares his love (1-5)

Malachi’s prophecy starts as all prophesy should—with the direct word of the Lord. The Lord proclaimed his love for his people. But people in Malachi’s time doubted the Lord’s love for them. They asked how he had loved them. The Lord had demonstrated his love for his people in his choosing Jacob over his twin brother Esau. Much later, the Lord punished Esau for his sin and pride. We cannot always understand the Lord’s ways. But when he proclaims his love, we can be sure we are loved.

 

2. “My name will be feared…” (6-14)

The people doubted God’s love because they held the Lord in contempt. They held him in contempt by their offerings, which were lame and diseased. They offered to the Lord sacrificial offerings they wouldn’t have offered to their governors! The Lord doesn’t want offerings. He wants our hearts. When we come to the Lord with a contrite heart, he accepts us, even if we make a heart offering that is worth only a fraction of a penny (Mk 12:41-44). He is worthy of our love and honor and devotion and fear, because he is our great king. His name should be feared by all nations.

 

Prayer Father, Thank you for your love. Bless us to love, honor and fear you as our great king.

One Word The Lord is our great king

1 Corinthians 14:13-25

BE ADULTS IN YOUR THINKING

Keywords 14:20b

but in your thinking be adults.

 

1. Five intelligible words to instruct others (13-19)

Paul says to pray in a tongue in a church gathering when they are interpreted. It is to edify the church. If we pray or sing in a tongue, people are not able to understand and respond to God through our message. In order to edify others in the church Paul would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in tongues.

 

2. Stop thinking like children (20-25)

If we insist on speaking in tongues in our worship service, instead of our own personal devotion, unbelievers will be put off by it. Paul says, “Stop thinking like children.” However, if we all speak the words of prophecy, reveal the truth of the gospel clearly, it can convict unbelievers of their sins, help them to repent, and worship God and acknowledge that God is truly among us. When we outgrow our self-centered way of thinking and speak to strengthen, encourage, embrace, and comfort others around us, we can be a blessing and build up the church. That’s why Paul urges us to desire the gift of prophecy more than the gift of tongues.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for the gifts of the Spirit given to edify the church. Help me to use my spiritual gifts to edify the church and to share the gospel of Jesus with others.

One Word Five intelligible words rather than ten thousand words in a tongue

 

1 Corinthians 14:1-12

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT TO EDIFY THE CHURCH

Keywords 14:12b

to excel in gifts that build up the church.

 

1. Eagerly desire the gift of prophecy (1-5)

Paul urges Christians in Corinth to pursue the way of love and eagerly desire the gift of prophecy. Speaking tongues is directed only to God and no one understands them unless interpreted. Paul says to seek spiritual gifts that build up others such as prophecy. In the New Testament, the emphasis of prophecy is not predicting the future, but revealing Christ through God’s word to strengthen, encourage, and comfort others. If we speak tongues, it edifies only us, but if we reveal Christ through God’s word, it builds up the church. In exercising our spiritual gifts, we need to consider the edification of the church first.

 

2. Excel in gifts that build up the church (6-12)

Without interpretation, speaking in tongues is like playing musical instruments out of tune that confuses people. Therefore, we must use intelligible words to communicate with others. That’s why Paul wants us to ask the Spirit for the gift of prophecy that builds up the church instead of for personal edification like speaking in tongues.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for the spiritual gifts given to the church to edify it. Please grant me the gifts of the Spirit necessary to serve and build up your people.

One Word Spiritual gifts to edify the church

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

Keywords 13:13b

But the greatest of these is love.

 

1. Without love (1-3)

The gift of speaking in tongues is like empty noise without love. The gift of prophecy is valueless and so is the gift of faith without love. Even our self-sacrificing philanthropic work gains nothing without love. Love matters far more than our spiritual gifts. Love must be the motivation in all we do; otherwise, all our efforts lose meaning.

 

2. Love is…love is not… (4-13)

Christian love is based on God’s love for sinners. It is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Verses 4-7 describes love in a practical way: Love is patient and kind; it always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. However, love does not envy, boast, dishonor others, delight in evil; it is not proud, self-seeking, easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs, but rejoices with the truth. In contrast to prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, love never fails and will endure forever. Spiritual maturity comes when we grow in the love of God and practice it. Faith, hope, and love remain, but love is the greatest of all, for love is foundational.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, who set the example of love. Help me to know your love, grow in this love and practice it in my daily life.

One Word God is love

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Keywords 12:13a

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body

 

1. Baptized by one Spirit into one body (12-26)

Just as our body is made up of many parts, so it is with the church. All Christians are baptized by One Spirit into One body of Christ and each person is a part of the body. Each member is interrelated and interdependent. God doesn’t want us to feel inferior or superior to others by comparing our gift or talent or ability with that of others, for each person is precious to Christ and indispensable for the whole body. Therefore, we need to respect and care for each other instead of competing with or ignoring each other so that there may be unity within diversity. Each part of the body must accept its role and place to live in unity in the body of Christ.

 

2. Diversity of God’s gifts in the body (27-31)

In the body of Christ, there are diverse gifts and ministries. Each person must accept God’s sovereignty in equipping members of the body with diverse gifts and learn to work together to build up the body of Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for the unity and diversity in the body of Christ. Help me to respect and love each person in the body of Christ and use the spiritual gifts to build them up.

One Word One body; Many parts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Keywords 12:4

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

 

1. Jesus is Lord (1-3)

At one point, the Corinthian Christians were led away to serve idols, but Paul’s ministry brought them to Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit as well as spiritual gifts from him. However, many were still ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit and the church was divided by the opposing ideas about the gifts of the Spirit. Paul set clear criteria to discern true gifts from false ones. We receive the Holy Spirit when we confess that Jesus is the Lord, but we must remember that the Holy Spirit works differently in each person. The most important work of the Holy Spirit is to lead sinners to repent, accept the gospel, and confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

 

2. The manifestation of the Spirit (4-11)

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, types of service, and works of the triune God. The manifestation of the Spirit to each person is diverse (8-10). No one’s gift is superior to that of others, but the Spirit distributes the gifts to each believer as he determines. The gifts of the Spirit are given not to make us feel good or proud, but to serve for the common good of the body of Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for the saving work of the Spirt in my life. Help me discover and use the gift to build up people in faith and love for your glory.

One Word The same Spirit, diverse gifts

 

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

THE LORD’S SUPPER

Keywords 11:25,26

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

 

1. A rebuke from Paul (17-22)

The Corinthian Church had a practice of coming together and celebrating the Lord’s supper as sort of a “pot luck” meal. Some people had a lot to bring, some had nothing, and could not bring enough even for themselves. So, some would eat heartily and get drunk, while others had nothing to eat. It became more of a party than a celebration of the Lord’s supper. Paul had no praise for this practice. The Lord’s Supper should honor God. Instead, it showed they despised the Lord.

 

2. Do this in remembrance of me (23-34)

Paul reminded them of the real object of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus Christ gave his body and his blood for the salvation of the whole world. The Lord’s Supper is practiced as a remembrance of this. It is a holy and sacred thing. The Corinthians should treat it as such. We should also treat it as such!

 

Prayer Father, Thank you for Jesus’ broken body and spilled blood for our sins. Help me to remember him in all things.

One Word Do this in remembrance of me