1 Corinthians Summary and Application

I broke the book down to a few mega themes (with the help of commentaries).

Loyalties
The Corinthians were rallying around various church leaders and teachers—Peter, Paul, and Apollos. These loyalties led to intellectual pride and created a spirit of division in the church.

Application
Our loyalty to human leaders or human wisdom must never divide Christians into camps. We must care for our fellow believers, not fight with them. My allegiance must be to Christ.

Immorality
Paul received a report of uncorrected sexual sin in the church at Corinth. The people had grown indifferent to immorality. Others had misconceptions about marriage. We are to live morally, keeping our bodies for God's service at all times.

Application
I must never compromise with sinful ideas and practices. We should not blend in with people around us. You must live up to God's standard of morality and not condone immoral behavior, even if society accepts it. As much as I think I am safe now, I might fall into the sin one day, therefore, I must always be watchful.

Freedom
Paul taught freedom of choice on practices not expressly forbidden in Scripture. Some believers felt certain actions—like eating the meat of animals used in pagan rituals—were corrupt by association. Others felt free to participate in such actions without feeling that they had sinned.

Application
We are free in Christ, yet we must not abuse our Christian freedom by being inconsiderate and insensitive to others. We must never encourage others to do something they feel is wrong just because we have done it. Let love guide my behavior. There are some things that I guess I do that might stumble others, therefore, when I am with them, I will not do what might stumble them (referring to stumbling issues, not right or wrong issues here).

Worship
Paul addressed disorder in worship. People were taking the Lord's Supper without first confessing sin. There was misuse of spiritual gifts and confusion over women's roles in the church.

Application
Worship must be carried out properly and in an orderly manner. Everything we do to worship God should be done in a manner worthy of his high honor. Make sure that worship is harmonious, useful, and edifying to all believers.

Resurrection
Some people denied that Christ rose from the dead. Others felt that people would not physically be resurrected. Christ's resurrection assures us that we will have new, living bodies after we die.

Application
Since we will be raised again to life after we die, our life is not in vain. We must stay faithful to God in our morality and our service. We are to live today knowing we will spend eternity with Christ.

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My take of Love

I feel that love should be the motivation for all actions. Our love should first be toward God, then toward people. In my sharing, I've mentioned that sometimes I just wanted to do what is right, yet many times, I wonder how much of my actions are based on love. Then came the question, if I don't love people, do I love God? Do I truly love God? Can I say that? If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 cor 13:1)

I continue to search God for an answer, because if my actions are not based on love, I pray that the Lord will guide me towards that. If my actions are based on love, I pray that my attitude will change towards others. It's not unknown that I am strict, but am I in the position to be so strict with others? How about extending more grace? How about being merciful?

Practical actions? Thinking twice before I do anything, is it out of love? Or just out of a sense of my own self-righteousness. Then be quick to love, slow to judge. That's all.