First Things First

Our world is ever changing.

Whether we are progressing or regressing is a different question and may truly depend on the person but the truth remains our world is changing.

We live in a post-Christian culture.

This may be one of the biggest changes in the past 30 years. The majority culture is does not look like Jesus and His values.

How do we live in this world?

For me this is a natural outgrowth of living in a post-christian world. For the church to survive we must learn to live out our faith in a way that honors the Lord and has wisdom towards those around us.

What troubles you today?

What issues are pressing in your “world” today? Do you have physical issues? Are you worried about your job or lack thereof? Is there sin in your life you struggle with? Image. Personal worth. Conflict. Concerned about death or grieving and mourning the loss of loved ones. Trouble with finding a church or using your gifts in a church.

The early church dealt with these same issues.

Maybe not the exact same ones but the principles apply to even today, if we are willing to listen.

We must keep first things first and last.

In a world that is constantly changing and become less and less Christian we can be tempted to fight every bad thing happening around us. However, in so doing we run the risk of portraying important things as the most important thing.

First importance—Christ and his death and resurrection.

This is the foundation and pinnacle of our faith. To grasp this doctrine. To keep this doctrine as the most important will change everything else. It at least has the power to.

The resurrection changes how we live.

As some point out in the discussion of this chapter all of the issues the Corinthian church is facing needs to be seen in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Let your life be changed, again!

The believers in Corinth knew this truth but were be led down a slippery slope as they started to let this primary and first important truth get lost in the midst of other things.