1 Corinthians 8 (résumé): Food sacrificed to idols

Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 8 attitudes to eating meat which had been part of sacrifices to idols. Paul recognizes idols are not gods at all and that there is only one true God, but he sees that not everyone feels this way so the Christian must care about the others on this matter and let love govern how this controversial issue is dealt with. Paul says: "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up... and food doesn't bring us near to God.. but be careful that exercising our freedom doesn't become a stumbling block to the weak... in which case your weak brother would be destroyed by your knowledge... so if eating meat causes my brother to sin I will never eat meat again!"

1 Corinthians 7 (résumé): Marriage

1 Corinthians 7 discusses Christian marriage, singleness and faithfulness to God under whatever circumstance we face. So Paul starts: "you wrote that it's good for a man not to marry... but no... faced with the rampant immorality it's good for each man to have his own wife and each woman to have her own husband... and husband and wife should fulfill their marital duties... with their bodies belonging to each other... and only abstain from relations for short periods for dedication to prayer... I wish that all men were single like me but everyone is gifted in different ways... the unmarried and widows should stay single unless they can't control themselves... but the married should not separate or divorce... and inter-faith marriages should stay that way... and the believer might be an instrument of salvation to their partner... and if you are a circumcised Jew stay that way... and if you are a slave stay that way unless you can gain your freedom... so each Christian should remain in the situation God called him to... time is short so live in the light of this reality because the world is passing away... so live in undivided devotion to the Lord... and avoid marriage if you can... but if you marry the partner must belong to the Lord". 

1 Corinthians 6 (résumé): Lawsuits among Believers

Paul starts chapter 6 criticizing the church for having legal disputes between each other and for seeking to settle their lawsuits in secular courts rather than resolving their differences amongst themselves. "For the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God", says Paul, "nor will the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes or homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, greedy, slanderers or swindlers... but you were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus... everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial... the body is not made for sexual immorality... flee from it!... don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... you are not your own. You were bought with a price. So honour God with your body". 

1 Corinthians 5 (résumé): Expel de immoral Brother!

I Corinthians 5 deals with a scandalous matter in the church at Corinth where a man was having a sexual relationship with his father's wife! What is more the church was criticized for doing nothing against this and even being "proud" of it. Paul tells the church to "hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature can be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord". "Stop boasting... and get rid of the old yeast of malice and wickedness... and replace it with bread without yeast of sincerity and truth... don't associate with sexually immoral people... or with greedy, idolatrous and swindling people... expel the wicked man from among you". 

Noise

The unbelievable noise from a political parade last night, which passed in front of our church during the service, was deafening! I can't describe how loud it was as you wouldn't believe it! Despite this Pastor Murilo managed to keep preaching with the sound turned right up and we outlasted the parade. He preached a good sermon on Jonah's prayer in Jonah chapter 2. The church was full.

I have written the summaries of the first quarter of 1 Corinthians.

Please pray for the Pastors and Leaders Family Conference at the Green Pastures Christian Conference Centre and Nature Reserve which starts on Friday with 120 expected.

I have just had my hair cut as I like to keep it short. I certainly don't have the problem of baldness which so many older men have. I hope you like it? 👨

1 Corinthians 4 (résumé): Apostles of Christ

Paul starts chapter 4 saying that "men ought to regard us apostles as servants of Christ... I care little if I am judged by you... for I have a clear conscience... but it is the Lord who judges me... when the Lord comes he will reveal what is hidden in darkness... so do not go beyond what is written... and don't take pride in one man over another... for everything we have we received from God so there is no room for boasting... but you feel rich as kings but us apostles are like men condemned to die... we are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!... we have become scum, the refuse of the world... so I am writing this to warn you... and I urge you to imitate me... because some of you have become arrogant... but don't think I won't soon be there to sort out the arrogant... because the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power!"

Cultura Inglesa Run

Cultura Inglesa is the name of our daughters' excellent English Language School which teaches children, youth and adults taking them to real fluency and confidence in the English Language. Yesterday evening they organized the 'Cultura Inglesa Run' to encourage physical exercise and publicize the school. Children ran for 1 km and youth and adults either ran 3 km or 5 km, so Liz and I went in support and walked 3 km. The event was brilliantly organized with everything bang on time, and I was gob smacked by the technology involved to give serious athletes their times, and the photography and filming including drones. Well done girls! A great crowd gathered to watch the about 500 athletes taking part. Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) won a second place medal in the woman's 3 km race.