1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-12 - WEEK 5 - VICTORY OVER DEATH

WEEK 5 - VICTORY OVER DEATH

Friday

1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-12

1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. 12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

PROVISION FOR THE CHURCHES

As Paul is wrapping up his letter to the believers in Corinth he reminds them about how to handle their resources. Usually we tend to see the money we have as resources we spend on ourselves. But as followers of Jesus, we recognize that everything we have is f rom Him and therefore, we need to allow God to have control over our resources to advance the gospel through the community God has placed us in. To see the gospel integrated into every area of our life must include Him being Lord over our finances.

QUESTIONS

What event is discussed in 16:1-4? What are Paul’s instructions?

What is your practice of financially giving to the church look like? Does it match with Paul?

What treatment did Paul say they should give Timothy and why?