First Baptist Church of Diana, Texas

The Order of the Risen

1 Corinthians 15:29-34

Memory Verse:  On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:2

The greatest hope of Christ’s resurrection is the hope of our own resurrection.

A couple of weeks ago, Carolyn and I enjoyed a day at Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida. As we stood in line to board several different exhilarating amusement rides, we would see the faces of those who had just completed the experience. As we approached one particular ride, we must have been cautioned no less than 25 times that if we had weak stomachs when it comes to these type adventures, we would probably want to excuse ourselves from this ride. As the warnings were sounded, I continued to think about the faces of those who had gone before us. They had survived and none of them came out holding the little bag provided at every seat on the ride in case someone’s stomach erupted. It was this hope that encouraged me I could handle this just as well as they could.

The author of our text for today, points out a couple of primary results of the resurrection of Christ. First and foremost, Jesus is resurrected and he is the first and only human to ever experience eternal resurrection. Yes Jesus is God, but let us not forget He is 100% man as well. This body that rose most likely is a  picture of what our resurrected bodies will be like. Others had been raised by the dead in the ministry of Christ and in the ministries of the Apostles. But none of these had escaped death. They had all, or all would, experience again the taste of physical death. But not Christ. His resurrection is for always. Verse 20 points to the fact that He was the first fruit leaving the probability of other fruits to follow. That is for you and me.

Second, we see the order of things to come. Every human will be raised, but not all will be raised to the same order. The text reminds that all will be in subjection to Him both believer and unbeliever. On that day all will believe. But then comes judgment. There are two orders. One order is to eternal fellowship with God the other is to eternal damnation apart from God. Which order are you? Which order is your neighbor? Which order is your spouse? Which order are your coworkers? Time is short.  May we today be gloriously grateful for our salvation and broken to the point of action for the salvation of those we know, and for that matter, those we have never met.

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

 What did I say to God?

Yes, Christ Was Resurrected

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Memory Verse:  On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:2

As I write these words my mind is awash in preparation for many responsibilities. There is a message on Sunday from Hebrews dealing with approaching the Lord in prayer with boldness because through the resurrection Jesus opened up a way for us to access God. Next week I will be teaching our teenagers in Bible study things about God that are unbelievable apart from Holy Spirit enlightenment. One of those subjects is the resurrection of Christ. This wonderful truth is like all truth in this rationale age we find ourselves participating in; it is hard to explain to unbelievers.

As you read our text for today, you will discover the author going to great lengths in order to substantiate the historical record of Christ’s resurrection. This is without a doubt one of the core doctrines of Christianity. If one rejects this doctrine they are truthfully rejecting Biblical and historical Christianity. In fact, according to verse 14, believers find their entire purpose for life wrapped up in the truth of the resurrection. Without the resurrection our faith is in vain and we are all false witnesses. Beyond that, without the resurrection there is no forgiveness for sins.

What a wonderful day to glory in the resurrection of Christ. Have you given much thought to it lately? In this great doctrine we find all the hope of the believer. It is this hope that boosts our confidence when a loved one passes away. It is this hope that boosts our confidence when we face difficult days. Contemplating this great truth could lead us to have a hallelujah fit right in the quietness of our time alone with God. He is worth your praise today. He is worth your allegiance today. We owe everything to Christ. As the old African American preacher said some years ago on Easter morning, “Let us praise God today because He got up.”

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Read your Life Group lesson in your Learner guide today.

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

The Mark of Disciple of Jesus Christ

John 13:34-45

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

The weather was cold and the open roof of the football stadium offered little relief from the howling wind. Forced fan heaters drew crowds of players as they tried to protect their hands and noses from frost bite. As the camera surveyed the crowd, those watching on TV identified a few men as either die hard fans or idiots. These men had taken their shirts off and painted the colors and initials of their favorite team on their chest. Some would say they bore the marks of true fans or team disciples. Several years ago I took a trip from the rural Texas Panhandle to Kansas City, Missouri. On Sunday morning I went to a restaurant across the street from my accommodations. I could not believe the sea of red shirts. Kansas City Chief fans were wearing the marks of their discipleship.

Christians sometimes wear T shirts with Scripture as a witness of their faith. The fish symbol has been used since the early days of the church as a signal to fellow believers of faith in Christ. Jesus taught His followers the true mark of a Christian is demonstrated love for others. The true mark of a believer is not faithful attendance to church.  Although, true Christians will be faithful in church attendance in obedience to Hebrews 10:25 which tells us to assemble together. As a matter of fact, church attendance will be one demonstration of our love for others. But church attendance without encouraging and serving others is a further demonstration of selfishness rather than love. The true mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ is not the theological language they use or the songs they sing. The true mark of Christian discipleship is how we relate to and treat others. Let us love today in word and in deed.

Our teenagers will be returning from camp today. Pray for their safe return and for God to seal the commitments they have made. Remember to pray for your Life Group leadership and your church staff as they complete their preparations for services this week.

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Enduring Love

Psalms 118:1-4

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

A few years ago our oldest son decided it was to time to marry. His choice of mates met his mothers approval as well as my own. We had known Rebecca for several years and it was especially satisfying to our hearts to know Jesus is a priority in her life. Even so, how do you love a son-in-law or daughter-in-law like you love your own children?  God is teaching me a valuable lesson through this experience of life. I have learned that my ability to love my daughter-in-law hinges on two other loves in my life. First it is the love I have for my son. Because I love him, I can more easily love someone whom he loves. Because he loves Rebecca dearly and demonstrates it in his actions toward her, love and respect naturally grow in my own heart. And then there is this little matter of a granddaughter. Should I say more? Grandkids capture the hearts of the grandparents. How can you not love the parents of your grandchildren?

As you read the first four verses of Psalms 118 you will see the everlasting quality of God’s relationship with his children. The King James translation uses the word mercy while the NASB uses the word love. There is no need for alarm here in some contradictory way. The concept of God’s mercy is bound up in the concept of his love. It is difficult to separate the two. As we have learned this week, the characteristics of love reveal a strong commitment. Romans 5:8 reminds us that while we 

were yet sinners Christ died for us. His justice was satisfied in the crucifixion of Christ which demonstrated not only his love, but his mercy as well. He withheld from us what we deserve and in our place poured it out on the Lord Jesus.

If God loves others so much, how can we not love them as well. Just as I love my daughter-in-law first because my son loves her, we must also first love others because God loves them. And then there is that quality of endurance. God’s love is not deterred due to disobedience or rebellion. If it were, according to the Scripture, we would all be the objects of His wrath rather than the recipients of His mercy. How can you love your enemies? How can you love those who despitefully use you?  Only by knowing Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the strength of His commitment to love, can we truly love. The Psalmist indicates our need to be thankful for God ‘s enduring love. As you continue in worship this morning, may the assurance of His love overcome your heart to pour out your thanksgiving to Him.

Today will be our final session of Bible study for our teenagers at camp. Pray particularly for their commitments during the invitation time of the worship service tonight.

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Exhibit Love’s Permanence

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

I am fascinated by those who run marathons. When it comes to going 26 miles in one setting, I am partial to vehicles with motors. Even though I have no desire to run for that long a distance, I admire the determination of those who exercise such discipline reminding us of the capacity of the human mind and body to endure. As a matter of fact, humans have the ability to endure great periods of suffering as well as great periods of enjoyment.  Even with these capacities noted, they pale in comparison to the command God has given us when it comes to enduring love. The Bible describes true Christian love as something that endures the test of time and has no end. Be sure you read our focal passage for today.

Can you think about some things that have no end?  Usually we think of things that are round like a beach ball or in a circle like a rubber band. We use a wedding ring to symbolize the intensions of marriage to have no end. Jesus is the supreme example of love and we are told His love endures forever. Love that endures forever cannot be lost due to circumstance. Jesus also commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Since God’s character is enduring love, these qualities can be translated to believers who strive to walk with Him every day.

As you look at the last verse of today’s reading, you will find three commitments that never end, or, remain as may translation says. They are faith, hope, and love. I believe it is because of faith and hope that we can have the capacity for enduring love. Faith in a God whose love is enduring reminds us of the depth and width of His love even when we are undeserving. Hope reminds us that there is hope for every person. Hope to be changed. Hope to be loved. Because of the hope we have in Christ, we can gain love for others. But don’t miss the identification of the highest, it is love. We Christians often seek a greater faith and work to maintain our hope. But the Bible says love is the greatest. Perhaps if we set our sights on love, faith and hope would tag right along for the journey.

Our teenagers will be in their third day of camp today. Again pray for Brother Gary as he teaches the Bible study and for LUMINATE, the worship band and Chase Bowers, the preacher. It will likely be hot this week so please pray for their safety. I long to see our teenagers grow in a sold out relationship to Jesus Christ. Would you pray that our youth will hear from the Lord this week?

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Demonstrate Love’s Qualities

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

Love is difficult to define. The same English word has been used to describe about the American love affair with French Fries, the way we feel about another person, and the way we feel about the Lord. The Greek language uses multiple words for this one English word. One such word is phileo which is brotherly love. Another is eros which is sensual feelings. A third is agape love which was used to describe the love of Christ demonstrated through His sacrificial life.

Sometimes ideas are best described by saying what they are not. For instance, in our Scripture passage for today’s reading, the Bible explains love with seven positive characteristics and eight negative characteristics. The positive consist of patience, kindness, rejoicing in truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hopes all things, and enduring of all things. The negative include absence of envy, lack of boasting, no conceit, no improper actions, not selfish, no record of wrongs, and no joy in unrighteousness. 

The King James translation highlights the selflessness in love by translating the Greek word used in this text as charity. In our day charity may relate more to a deduction on our income tax than strong feelings and actions of commitment to serve one another. Again the Bible teaches its second most primary theme, love for others. Thankfully, God gives us a description of what He means by the word love. God’s thoughts in this passage are not about sensuality but about self-giving love. Sensuality is about fleshly pleasure. Love, as we are commanded to demonstrate to one another, is all about being considerate and benevolent to others.  May God teach us daily how to love one another. Our world would be different if we could practice and teach this concept to all mankind.

Please remember our teenagers at church camp in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Pray for Brother Gary as he teaches the Bible Study for them this morning. Please also pray for the sponsors to be sensitive to the hearts of the students, for LUMINATE, the worship band, and for Chase Bowers,  the camp preacher for the week.

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Understand Love’s Importance

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Memory Verse:  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

Nothing, that is what is left after a bubble pops. Our Scripture reading for today says that is what you have when you do not love and the amount of profit you gain when you do not love. Most of us want something to be left after all else is gone, so according to the Scripture, we better understand something about love.

As you start reading chapter 13, it would serve you well to read the last verse of chapter 12. Here Paul says, “And I show you a still more excellent way.”  The emphasis of chapter 12 has prepared us to receive something better in the discourse to follow. The short lesson: it is better to have love than to have eloquence of speech. It is better to have love than prophecy, knowledge of mysteries and faith. It is better to have love than to have given all possessions to the needy.

But now wait a minute. If you gave your possessions to the needy wouldn’t that be  demonstration of love? Now we are coming to the heart of the matter. It is not just the action that counts but the true emotion and commitment of love. It is a sincere compassion deep inside for others based on the love Christ has for us that should serve as the motivation for helping the needy, for gaining knowledge to help others, to walk in strong faith, and to speak with great persuasion.

These three short verses call us to examine our motives. May God’s spirit bear witness with our spirit if we are faithful in our actions and serve on the basis of love. May that same spirit convict us and teach us where we are serving from selfish motives.

Reflection 

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

Read your Life Group lesson in your Learner guide today.

Prayer Challenge:
Reflect on the week and thank God for His protection and His provision. Thank Him for the opportunities you had to intersect the lives of others with encouragement from the Lord and ask Him to show you those opportunities you missed. Ask for His forgiveness and the privilege of another chance.

Ministry Challenge:
Pray for God to raise up strong leadership in the fellowship of FBC.

Mission Challenge:
Pray for God to send workers into the harvest. 

Reflection

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or prayer time?

What did I say to God?

1 Corinthians 11–What you Need to Know and Do

The concepts presented in the last verses of chapter 11 further magnify the overarching theme we have considered this week. That is, we are to be sensitive to others and their needs when considering how we live.

A few weeks ago, we showed a video in the morning service from the organization called World Vision. This video outlined the work of this organization to provide basic need for children in corners of our world where they experience very substandard living conditions. We were challenged to sponsor a child by making a monthly donation. This concept should cause us to examine our financial practices. We are asked to give at every turn. We believe, practice, and teach 10% of our income should be given to the local church. We believe, practice and teach giving above the tithe to mission work around the world. We believe, practice and teach giving above the tithe to special projects in the local congregation like the building fund.  Have we turned Christianity into an expensive endeavor?  Actually, Jesus said it would cost us all to follow Him. Most of us know what we define as poverty in America is actually great wealth in other cultures.

The Bible points out the hypocrisy of Christians living in comfort and luxury while others in the world are suffering because of what they do not have in terms of a basic standard of living.  He actually says we despise the church of God when we do such things. In actuality, we destroy our witness and forfeit the privilege of taking the good news to the world.

It is time for a little self inspection.  As you develop your family budget and plan your purchases, would you consider the way in which you give to others?  How we approach these subjects is a major indicator of how serious we are about surrender to the God who created us who is also the one who sustains our physical lives.

Prayer Challenge:
Pray for God to reveal to you either a challenge to give or  confirmation of the ways in which you currently give. Pray for the work of Southern Baptist in hunger relief around the world and please remember to pray for our missionaries.

Ministry Challenge:
Call someone who has been absent from your Life Group meetings for a while and invite them to attend this week.

Mission Challenge:
Today  is prayer walk Friday. As you approach your place of employment today, be sure to pray for the salvation and spiritual awakening of the employees where you work.

Reflection 

What did God say to me from this Scripture reading, devotional, and or  prayer time?

What did I say to God?