Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
01/17/2016, by John Kincaid
Lesson 849: Why Give? Pt.5
2 Cor.8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia
In this verse, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to help their fellow Christians in Jerusalem, who were starving during a severe famine.
1 Cor.12:4-7 there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Cor.12:18 God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
1 Cor.12:25-27 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Paul understood that this would not be easy. How can we learn to show concern for others?
Paul answered this question a few verses later, with the love chapter: 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Cor.13:3 If I give away all I have… but have not love, I gain nothing.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.