Reading for September 23rd

 Read 1 Corinthians 3.1-23. In verse 1-9: Rightly viewing God's servants. In verse 1: Like infants, people of the flesh think only of their own needs and self-interests. In verse 2: Heb 5.12-14. In verse 3: Jealousy and quarreling are among the desires of the flesh (Gal 5.20). In verses 5-9: The emphasis throughout is on God's initiative. In verses 10-17: Paul as master builder. In verse 10: Paul experienced the grace of God when God called him (15.10-11; Rom 15.15-16). In verse 11: Eph 2.19-22; Mt 16.18. In verse 13: The Day of judgment is often envisioned as destruction of the world by fire (Mal 4.1; 2 Thess 1.8). In verses 16-17: The building metaphor now becomes specific: God temple. You refers to the congregation. in 6.19-20. The individual's body is a temple. In verses 18-23: becoming truly wise. In verse 19: Job 5.12. In verse 20: Ps 94.11. In verse 21: Rather than following human leaders who claim to be wise, belonging to Christ gives them all they need. Comments or Questions..