TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:36-49
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations. - Luke 24:46-47
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the great preachers of the ancient church, John Chrysostom, rejoiced at Easter: Hell “is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory? Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!”

The church of Christ is founded upon His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Today's reading immediately follows the Emmaus road episode in yesterday's devotion. The two followers were telling their story to the eleven remaining disciples, and at that very moment Jesus appeared to them all. One might think hymns and praise choruses would spring spontaneously from everyone's lips, but in fact an uncomfortable silence fell on the room. They were “startled and frightened,” and Jesus had to take considerable effort to persuade them He wasn't a ghost—His hands and feet had nail holes, they could touch Him, He ate broiled fish. He also “opened their minds” and gave them the same Scripture lesson He had given the first two (vv. 44-45).

Why was Christ's resurrection so difficult to believe? Even Jesus' enemies had understood His prophecies (Mark 10:32-34; Matt. 27:62-64), so why had the disciples remained clueless? After all, what had happened was exactly what He had said would happen. Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection are the gospel message, the good news of repentance and forgiveness that is still being preached to all nations (vv. 46-49).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One question emerges naturally from today's devotion: How did Christ teach and train His disciples? How did He prepare them to be the first leaders of His church? A classic book that offers many insights into this question is The Training of the Twelve, by A. B. Bruce, first published more than a century ago and recently reissued by Kregel Publications. Topics including servanthood, leadership, and discipleship are addressed from the perspective of, to use Bruce's phrase, “the infant church in its cradle.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 16:13-23
I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. - Matthew 16:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last year, the centuries-old city gate of Seoul, South Korea, was destroyed by fire. The 600-year-old Namdaemun, or “Great South Gate,” had been a prime tourist attraction, national landmark, and symbol of Korea, regarded in much the same way as the Statue of Liberty is by Americans. Despite the best efforts of more than one hundred firefighters, the wooden structure burned to the ground on the night of February 11, 2008. The cause of the fire was unclear, but the country's Cultural Heritage Administration promised to spend three years and $21 million to rebuild the historic gate.

Thankfully, the foundation of the church cannot be destroyed in such a way. We've identified Scripture and the Resurrection as two of its foundational truths—another is the leadership of the Apostles. Some interpret today's reading as an appointment of Peter as the preeminent Apostle, but the original Greek language indicates a bit of wordplay instead. When Jesus said, “You are Peter,” the word is petros, meaning “small stone”; when He said, “upon this rock,” the word is petra, meaning “bedrock” (v. 18). He was telling Peter that the church needed a better foundation than a man who confessed the Lord one moment (vv. 16-17) and tried to deter Him from the Cross the next (vv. 21-23). Christ Himself would be the bedrock or cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6-8), not Peter, even though the Apostles did have an important role to play.

What then are the “keys”? They are symbols of authority and power. They might be held by the one wielding the power, as when Jesus holds the keys (Rev. 1:18), or they might be held by a messenger, as when angels (Rev. 20:1) or persons (Matt. 16:19) are given keys. The point in this case is that Jesus held authority and power over hell and death, which He would soon prove by His death and resurrection. This is the powerful message entrusted to the church!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We will examine the topic of church leadership in more detail later this month (March 21-26). In the meantime, we encourage you to follow up on today's devotional by doing additional study about a particular biblical leader. You might choose Peter, John, or Paul from the New Testament, or such figures as Deborah, David, or Daniel from the Old Testament. Consider the quality of this leader's faith, how he or she lived it out in action, and what set this person apart as a servant of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:15-23
He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead. - Colossians 1:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sequacious may be a new word to you. It means “inclined to follow rather than lead, conformist, following others in thought and behavior; pliable, flexible, easily molded.” The word sequel has the same root. Although the word's connotations tend to be negative, as when people mindlessly follow the latest fad or fashion, it has positive meanings as well, linked to continuity or consistency in such areas as music, a train of thought, or a line of argument. When it comes to following Christ, the Head of the church (v. 18), “sequaciousness” is definitely a virtue! As the church's bedrock foundation and “chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20), He is the Head in the same sense that a physical head controls a physical body, that is, He is the supreme leader. We follow Him; He is the center—hard truths for prideful beings like ourselves to remember. Christ's authority over the church is in fact part of His authority over all things (Eph. 1:22; Col. 2:10). His Headship follows or flows from the doctrines of creation and redemption. In terms of creation, He made and sustains all things, including all physical and spiritual beings and realities in heaven and on earth (vv. 16-17). He is the Creator and “image of the invisible God,” that is to say, God Himself (vv. 15, 19). In terms of redemption, just as He is “firstborn” or preeminent over creation, so also is He “firstborn” from the dead, that is, He conquered death and opened the way to heaven. Sin made us enemies of God, but through the blood of Christ we can have peace with Him (vv. 18-22). The supremacy of Christ is the lynchpin between His work of creation and His work of redemption. Only the fullness of God could have done all this! The great wonder is that He is doing His work not only in us but also through us as together we proclaim the gospel message (v. 23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Throughout the next worship service you attend, reflect on the spiritual truth that Jesus Christ is the Head of your church and every church. At every moment, whether singing, praying, giving, or hearing the sermon, call to mind the fact that everything that is happening is about our Lord and Savior. It's not about “doing church,” critiquing the people up front, or proving your piety to your pew neighbors. It's about obeying Christ and bringing Him glory!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 2:42-47
All the believers were together and had everything in common. - Acts 2:44
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus People USA (JPUSA) is a Christian community of about 500 people on the north side of Chicago. Like the believers in today's reading, they hold their goods and property in a common fund. They own and operate several businesses, including a roofing supply and a record label. These businesses help fund the community's ministries, including a senior citizens' home, shelter for women and children in crisis, and neighborhood outreach to school kids.

JPUSA views their community life not as a necessity for everyone, but as one option for committed discipleship. We know from today's reading that the early Christians in Jerusalem were also trying to figure how to live as a community of Jesus' disciples. As we've explored this past week the origins and foundations of the church, you might be wondering what Pentecost and Peter's sermon mean for your local church. Today's reading provides a look at the daily life of the early church, or what it looked like to be a Christian after some of the initial drama and dust had settled. Some of their activities included giving, praise, evangelism, and practical expressions of unity.

Primarily, they devoted themselves to four spiritual practices or disciplines (v. 42). The verb “devoted” indicates a continuous action, a constancy of commitment and attention and readiness. First, they dedicated themselves to the apostles' teachings, that is, to the oral history of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as passed on by eyewitnesses. Since we now have the New Testament in written form, the modern equivalent is for the church to be dedicated to the preaching and teaching of the Word. Second, they dedicated themselves to the fellowship of believers. Notice they were not in love with the abstract idea of “fellowship” but with the fellowship, a concrete noun, the group of people with whom they worshiped. Third, they dedicated themselves to breaking bread together, probably indicating both hospitality and the celebration of the Lord's Supper. And fourth, they dedicated themselves to prayer.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many churches have something called an “elders' offering” or a “deacons' offering,” which is specifically designated to help fellow believers with physical needs such as food and housing. A good way to respond to the example of the early Christians in today's reading would be to give an extra financial gift to this fund or offering in your church or denomination. Don't take it out of your regular giving—let it be a freewill gift, prayerfully give above and beyond your usual contribution.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 5:13-16
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
We're familiar with several uses of salt—it flavors food, melts ice, and relieves a sore throat. You might know that it can be used to preserve meat, smother a grease fire, and clean a kitchen cutting board. But did you know it can help soothe a bee sting, kill poison ivy, and keep windows free of frost? It can also be used for a number of specialty cleaning jobs. You can even use it to test for rotten eggs: Put two teaspoons of salt in a cup of water, then drop in the suspect egg. A rotten one floats, but a fresh one sinks.

Obviously, salt is a versatile and highly useful substance! For about the next two weeks, we'll be studying what Scripture says about a healthy church's activities and responsibilities, both general and specific. The first of these is to be salt and light to the world. The metaphor of “salt” (v. 13) seems to have been used mainly to suggest salt's properties of flavoring and pre-serving, especially once we know that the phrase “loses its saltiness” is elsewhere translated “has lost its taste” (ESV). This might include the relationship the church should have with the general culture, but the emphasis is on the uselessness of not being salt—that is, the uselessness of being a Christian who does not actually follow Christ. Christianity without discipleship is an absurd and empty phenomenon.

The metaphor of “light” (vv. 14-16) has mainly to do with witness and righteousness. Light helps those walking in darkness see the truth (Isa. 9:2). It also represents goodness and holiness as opposed to “deeds of darkness” (John 3:19). Again, there is an emphasis on the uselessness of not giving light—a hidden lamp is of no use to anyone. What we should be doing is shining our light everywhere we can, meaning that part of our business as Christians is to do good deeds for the glory of God (Eph. 2:10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The church must always remember that we are a spiritual institution, not a cultural one, even though we exist in particular times and places. That means that the church is to be distinctive—salt and light—not simply carried along in the stream of “what everyone else is doing.” Could you, and your church, be described as doing the works of Christ that make you distinctive in the world? What “good deeds” are you doing that would bring glory to your Father in heaven?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 28:16-20
Go and make disciples of all nations. - Matthew 28:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf was a committed promoter of missionary work during the eighteenth century. Born a nobleman, he was inspired by German Pietists, as well as a painting of Christ wearing the crown of thorns, to a life of Christian service. The painting contained an inscription, “All this I did for you, what are you doing for me?” which resonated deeply with the young count. He helped to found the Moravian church, used his money and prestige for Christian causes, and mobilized missionaries to go to people such as the Native Americans and places such as the West Indies.

Fulfilling the Great Commission is another core responsibility of the church. In all likelihood Jesus taught the Great Commission repeatedly in various forms in the days between His Resurrection and Ascension (see Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:8). In all the versions, the main idea is the same: Preach the gospel to all nations, and teach those who believe to follow Christ. We call these inseparable activities “evangelism,” “missions,” and “discipleship.” As in the days of the early church, they are to be done on the basis of Christ's authority (v. 18).

In today's reading, the Great Commission revolves around four verbs (vv. 19-20). “Go” involves movement, specifically, to follow wherever God leads even if we do not understand or agree (cf. Heb. 11:8). “Make disciples” implies that the goal of witnessing is not just to count converts but to train committed and obedient followers. “Baptizing” is a way of indicating that commitment, a solemn ceremony performed in the name of the entire Trinity (see March 13). “Teaching” shows again the centrality of the Word to the whole endeavor.

Just as the Great Commission began with Christ's authority, it ends with His presence and by implication, His enabling power. Best of all, “to the very end of the age” means the promise is for us too!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most churches have missionaries and missions programs that they support—are you familiar with the missions activity of your church? Perhaps you could “adopt” one or more missionary families and keep up with their ministry, birthdays, and family events through letters or e-mails. Or maybe you could volunteer to help sort food or clothing to donate to needy families. If your church has an evangelism team, they would certainly welcome additional prayer support. There's a way for all of us to be involved in missions!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:10-20
When I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only. - Philippians 4:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
The sweet smell of success, in the form of the 2004 Nobel Prize for medicine, rewarded the work of American researchers Richard Axel and Linda Buck. In 1991, they mapped out how the human sense of smell works, finding a family of proteins that enables the nose to recognize odors and the brain to sense and remember smells even when they are no longer present. When a smell enters a nose and activates an odor receptor, the brain creates a memory of the event. People can remember about 10,000 different odors, according to the research. Axel and Buck were the first scientists to explain how the sense of smell works physiologically.

In today's reading, the sweet smell of worship is pleasing to the Lord. Using imagery from the Old Testament sacrifices, the Philippians' worship is said to be “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” What was this worship? An enthusiastic praise-and-worship service? A citywide revival? No. Paul was referring to missionary support gifts he had received from the Philippian church's representative, Epaphroditus. So the worship was money? Not exactly. Paul was highlighting the long-distance partnership for missions he had formed with the believers in Philippi. Their generosity was a concrete manifestation of this important relationship, an act of service for which Paul commended them while simultaneously affirming his contentment in the Lord no matter what.

Today, money still matters (cf. 1 Tim. 5:17-18). We send financial support to missionaries and pay salaries to pastors, showing congregational care for those who have given their lives to vocational ministry. This is done not as a cold wages-for-services contract, but rather on the basis of a relationship that testifies that ministry is in a larger sense being done not by individuals but by the entire body of Christ. In the passage, this is also demonstrated in the sending of Epaphroditus, a personal connection with the distant local church (see 2:25-30).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Caring financially and in other practical ways for those in ministry is one of the church's core responsibilities. How is your church or denomination doing in this area? Some churches keep their pastors on “starvation wages,” reasoning that generous pay is worldly rather than understanding that it can be very godly. After all, Paul said he'd been content both in need and with plenty (v. 12). Be generous to your pastor in whatever ways you can, including prayer, encouragement, and financial support.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. - Hebrews 10:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
A classic hymn's title has been updated to “We Have Come to Join in Worship.” The lyrics read: “We have come to join in worship and adore the Lord our God. Let us come in prayer, expecting God to speak His mighty Word. All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down. Christians, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around. See them gather all around you, those He bought at such a cost; see the weary, see the hurting, see the lonely, see the lost. Be His hand, and touch the needy; be His gospel, let it sound! Be His body, and sweet manna will be showered all around.”

Meeting together for worship and encouragement is another core responsibility of the church. The first thing to notice about today's reading is that meeting together regularly is not a suggestion but a command (v. 25). It's all too easy to come up with excuses, perhaps by rationalizing that watching a preacher on TV or listening to one on the radio is “just as good as church.” It's not, of course—communal worship is at the heart of who the church is and what we do. This is more than just gaining information, however good, from hearing a sermon on TV or a tape.

The second thing to notice is the purpose of meeting together. We don't get together just to chat about the game or complain about work. We don't even get together just so our kids can benefit from a fabulous Sunday school program, or so that we can enjoy the musicians' amazing talents. The purpose is worship—church services should be God-centered. Part of that worship is encouraging one another to live in ways that please Him (v. 24).

One final thing to notice here is that this command is given in the midst of an exposition of Christ's redemption (vv. 19-23). In this context, to go to church is to celebrate with our fellow redemptees, to remind one another of the truths of the faith, and to support one another in living them out.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do the gatherings in your church help spur others on to love and good deeds? Or is everything outside the worship service just an opportunity for socializing, networking, or even complaining? There's nothing wrong with enjoying the company of other believers, but does our conversation reflect our shared purpose of lives focused on Christ? If you feel your speech could use some improvement in this area, pray that the Holy Spirit will show you what to say and how to live out today's verse as you interact with fellow believers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Everything comes from God. - 1 Corinthians 11:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Interpreting today's passage has been an exercise filled with controversy. Commentators wrangle over “headship” and male-female roles and relationships and how these relate to the value and equality of every person before God. Preachers get tangled up in the issue of head coverings and whether that was culturally specific for its time or whether it still has some relevance for contemporary headgear or (more likely) hairstyles. Others debate the mentions of creation and the “nature of things” (v. 14). Lost somewhere in the back and forth of the arguments is the main point—propriety in worship.

What does this reading teach us about congregational worship? One lesson it teaches us is that order or organization is important. Some might imagine a successful worship service as being something like a pep rally for God, with lots of enthusiasm and an atmosphere like that on live worship music CDs. And there's certainly a place for exuberant praise (see 2 Sam. 6:12-22). But doing everything decently and in order is equally genuine worship (see 1 Cor. 14:26-40). After all, God is a God of order, not chaos. There is therefore a “nature of things,” intrinsically right or proper ways for us to worship Him.

A second lesson from this passage is that submission is an element in worship. The spiritual realm includes hierarchy and authority, and behaving accordingly is no marker of weakness, but rather an embracing of who we are. If Christ, a full member of the Trinity, submits to the Father, then surely we can follow His example in our own relationships (v. 3). Though Paul's application of head coverings for women may have been specific to that time and culture (vv. 4-7), the creation roots of these ideas cannot be ignored (vv. 8-10). Lest we misinterpret these issues from a worldly perspective, Paul made an equally strong point about male-female interdependence (vv. 11-12). After all, the church's worship is not about us but about God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you invited a stranger to come to your church—perhaps a person who had zero background of church involvement or participation—what might they see? How would they perceive and interpret what happens on a typical Sunday morning? Would they see a social club? Hear great music? Enjoy an entertaining program? Or would they see an “extended family” who truly love one another (John 13:35)? Would their attention consistently be directed to our Lord? These are questions worth thinking about!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 6:1-4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that . . . we too may live a new life. - Romans 6:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology notes that baptism in the Old Testament was linked to purification. Later, it came to symbolize a proselyte's conversion to Judaism, or more generally, repentance, as when John the Baptist baptized people in the Gospels. Though He had no sins of which to repent, Jesus Himself was baptized by John, an act of obedience and part of His being “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). When the Apostles baptized new believers in Acts, the ceremony signified repentant faith, forgiveness or cleansing, and entrance into the family of God.

Baptizing is another indispensable responsibility of the church. In today's reading, it is part of an answer to a classic question, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” (v. 1). On the surface, the question seems difficult. God's forgiveness and grace are surely infinite, so what does sin really matter? In fact, wouldn't more sin call forth more grace (5:20)? Throughout the history of the church, the doctrine of justification by faith has attracted this accusation many times.

Paul's answer, however, is “By no means!” (v. 2). His response is vehement because this kind of “reasoning” displays incomprehension of what salvation is. Just as dead people cannot choose to bring themselves back to life, it makes no sense at all for living people to act as though they were dead. Can you imagine someone climbing into a coffin and asking to be buried—and claiming that this would multiply God's grace? Such an act is not healthy or normal; we would think that person was mentally unhinged or suicidally depressed and try to get some help!

Baptism symbolizes the theological reality of our salvation in Christ (vv. 3-4; cf. John 3:3-7). It signifies death and resurrection—our spiritual rebirth into new lives of discipleship and obedience. The question in verse 1 is revealed as nonsense by the complete transformation that is the work of God's grace.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every Christian denomination holds baptism to be one of the “sacraments,” meaning that it is an especially important or sacred ceremony that signifies obedience and union with Christ and the church. (Some churches prefer the term ordinance, though they maintain the importance of baptism.) If you have never been baptized, talk to your church leaders about this step of obedience. Through baptism, you testify to the church and to the community that you belong to Christ and that He belongs to you, just as today's verse proclaims.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Do this in remembrance of me. - 1 Corinthians 11:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Franz Joseph Haydn composed The Seven Last Words of Christ for Passion Week services in 1785 at the cathedral of Cádiz in Spain. The church was darkened and the walls hung with black cloth—the light from a single lamp hanging from the ceiling created a quietly dramatic atmosphere. The service included seven brief sermons, one on each of Christ's last words from the Cross, with a musical interlude between each one. Haydn's work has nine parts in all: an introduction, the seven musical meditations, and a final “earthquake” movement. For two centuries his composition has been a deeply meaningful part of many Easter celebrations.

When we take communion in church, whether or not at Easter, we are to remember with reverence and joy the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. This ceremony is also known as the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Table, the Eucharist, the “breaking of the bread,” and by other names. Many American evangelical denominations read verses 23 to 26 from today's passage as a kind of liturgy. It seems clear that Paul quoted here from a received oral tradition (cf. Luke 22:14-20). Bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Jesus, the inauguration of a new covenant. To take communion is not only an internal or meditative action, but also an external proclamation of the gospel.

Paul had to remind the Corinthians of the purpose of communion because they were doing it wrong. They took communion when they were disunified as a church, thus dishonoring the memory of Christ's sacrifice (vv. 17-19, 30-34). They treated the Lord's Table as a mere church potluck, eating greedily and not even waiting for everyone to arrive (vv. 20-22). Their actions despised the body of Christ, mocked the poor, and disrespected Christ's love and sacrifice. To sin against the symbol is to sin against the reality; their violations against the practice of communion were violations of their communion with Christ and each other. Taking communion is spiritually serious business, to be preceded by self-examination and confession of sin (vv. 27-29).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take some time today to listen to the musical work described in the illustration—The Seven Last Words of Christ, composed by Haydn. Numerous recordings are available, including a notable album by the Vermeer Quartet (a string ensemble). Other versions include a full orchestra and choir. Check your local library or music store for available options; for those with mp3 players, this work may also be purchased and downloaded from such Web sites as http://www.emusic.com.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 5:3-16
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows. - James 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nebraska's “Safe Haven” law was passed to protect life. Rather than killing or abandoning their babies in life-threatening ways, new mothers could drop them off at designated hospitals, and the children would be cared for by the state. Lawmakers, however, neglected to write in an age limit, and an unintended result was that parents dropped off much older children, including teenagers, some coming from as far away as Florida and Michigan to do so. Before the law was amended last November, 35 children had been left in Nebraska's care.

Even in affluent societies, people under pressure sometimes feel they have nowhere to turn. Within the church, serving fellow believers in need is another core responsibility. The criteria in today's reading for determining widows' support are plain and practical. Family must be the first option. If the widow has children or grandchildren, they should be the ones taking care of her. Dumping family responsibilities on the church takes resources away from the truly needy and shows one to be worse than unbelievers. In addition, a deserving widow doesn't live for pleasure but by faith and prayer. She should be known for her faithfulness during marriage and her good deeds.

What about the age requirement? Younger widows would want to remarry, and they should be free to do so. The implication is that older widows supported by the church are “married” to Christ and fill their time with acts of hospitality and service. Younger widows would not have had a lifetime to develop spiritual disciplines and maturity. For them, the temptation to idleness and gossip would be too much. It takes time to grow into a Dorcas (see Acts 9:36-42).

Why inside the church? For the same reasons as the family's responsibilities toward widows—inner circle obligations come first. But “love your neighbor” and many other biblical texts encourage us to do good works to those outside the body of Christ as well.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's Bible reading makes it clear that caring for widows is first the responsibility of the family, and only secondly the responsibility of the church. In light of this, what is your family's plan for when a parent passes away? Looking in the other direction, what is your family's plan for young children in case of parents being tragically killed? Such planning isn't morbid—taking this responsibility is both prudent and caring. These plans need to be written up in a will, living trust, or similar legal document.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 18:15-20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. - Matthew 18:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Seminary professor Duane Elmer once gathered a group of international students and asked them how reconciliation and forgiveness were done in their cultures. Several themes emerged: A mediator helped resolve conflict and restore the relationship while being fair to both sides. Extended families got involved; problems were not seen as merely individualistic. And there was often a feast or party to celebrate the reconciliation and signify genuine forgiveness.

We could learn a lot from these examples! Dealing with conflict in the church is never easy, but today's reading shows us how to do it. We are the body of Christ, but we are still in the process of sanctification. Until the day of glorification and perfection in Him arrives, there will be the need to deal with sin and conflict among believers.

A four-step process is outlined. First, talk to the sinner one-on-one (v. 15). Try to show him how he's sinned, privately and quietly. If you succeed, a situation has been nipped in the bud. Second, talk to the sinner with witnesses present (v. 16). As a matter of integrity, involve others who can help you try to persuade the person to listen to reason. Third, “tell it to the church” (v. 17). If the sinner remains unrepentant, a public announcement of some kind must be made. This alerts the congregation to the backslidden state of their brother and puts more pressure on him to let go of his pride. And fourth, “treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” The sinner's relationship with the church is cut off—this is not a cessation of civility or kindness. But the person has renounced Christian discipleship and can no longer be counted among the members of the church.

Every step in this process provides opportunities to repent within relationships of loving and just accountability. The goal is to restore sinners to fellowship (Gal. 6:1) in a gentle spirit of “there but for the grace of God go I.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The source for today's illustration is Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility, by Duane Elmer (InterVarsity Press, 2006). It is organized into three sections—Basic Perspectives, Process (virtues of servanthood), and Challenges (temptations against servanthood)—and culminates in a chapter dedicated to the Old Testament example of Joseph. One missions leader said, “This book should be required reading for every Christian seeking to serve cross-culturally.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Are you not to judge those inside? - 1 Corinthians 5:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
The American principle of “separation of church and state” has been a battleground issue through the years. Some think it makes religion a private issue, while others argue religion can still play a role in public life. Many are concerned about whether government funds or practices such as school prayer constitute support for specific religions. Others worry about politics in the pulpit, government interference in religious institutions, and overall religious freedom. In the past, many colonial pastors supported the notion of “separation of church and state” based on their history of religious persecution, a primary reason they came to the New World. In addition, they cited today's Bible passage.

First Corinthians 5 indicates that when dealing with sin, the church—not some outside authority—needs to take care of its own business (vv. 12-13). The sin in question in today's reading was sexual immorality, about which the believers in Corinth had done . . . nothing. Perhaps they were “proud” because they considered themselves nonjudgmental or tolerant. Assuming the steps listed in yesterday's devotion had been taken, what the church needed to do is clear—expel the sinner (v. 2). His unrighteous choices and lifestyle denied everything the church of Christ is about!

How does a church “put out” someone from fellowship? It should be done by the assembled congregation, under proper authority, with the power of Jesus present (v. 4). The guilty person is handed over to Satan, meaning that the protection of the church is removed from that person and the consequences of the person's sin take full effect. Isn't this rather heartless? No. The purpose is hopeful and loving—to destroy the sinful nature and save the spirit (v. 5). Suffering is the only thing left to drive such a person to repentance. For its part, the church cannot tolerate sin, which will surely spread and corrupt (vv. 6-8). This is not to say that the church should separate itself from the world; rather, it's about not extending the identity of the body of Christ to habitual sinners (vv. 9-11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Given the difficult topic of today's devotion, we suggest prayer as a fitting response. We know that the church is not immune to sin, and some surveys have shown little difference between the world and professing Christians in areas such as viewing Internet pornography or rates of divorce, so there is a great need to pray for the holiness and purity of the church. Christ enables us to live righteously, and He is honored and glorified when we do so. Pray that this will be true in your life and in your church!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-5
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent book entitled What Really Sank the Titanic offers a small solution to this large mystery: rivets. When the Titanic was under construction, the builder could not obtain enough high-quality rivets. They often settled for No. 3 instead of No. 4 iron rivets, and were able to use stronger steel rivets only in the middle section of the ship. Scientists studied rivets recovered from the wreck and found impure, poorly tooled materials. They also studied the builder's corporate archives to reach their conclusions. Better rivets might have kept the Titanic afloat long enough for rescuers to arrive. As it was, some 1,500 people died in the tragedy.

Small things are important. It's true about rivets in a ship, and it's true in the body of Christ as well. In today's passage, this is one of the key truths behind spiritual gifts—every gift is needed, every gift makes a difference. First, it is important to remember that spiritual gifts are gifts; we don't get to choose what our gift may be, and they are supernaturally given to us by the Holy Spirit (v. 11). Second, we should also remember that spiritual gifts are spiritual in nature and purpose, and they should be understood and used on this basis. Their bottom-line purpose is to serve the church (v. 7). Some of these gifts are listed in verses 7 through 10. They include wisdom or decision-making, knowledge or theological discernment, faith for specific needs or situations, healing and other miraculous signs testifying to the truth of the gospel, and others.

Unity-in-diversity is the phrase that best describes spiritual gifts and the church (vv. 4-6). There are different spiritual gifts, all under the unity of the Spirit. There are different forms of service, all under the Lordship of Christ. There are different ways to go about God's work, and in all of them God does the work. There is no room for pride or selfish ambition—the focus always must remain only on glorifying God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's easy to become focused on ourselves when we think about spiritual gifts. We might approach it in the same way as taking a personality test, with the idea of learning more about who we are. Interestingly, Scripture doesn't spend much time telling us how to discover our gift. Instead, it puts the discussion of gifts right next to the exhortations to love (see 1 Cor. 12:31-13:11). Our gifts are never about us; they are always about serving the people of God in love and bringing Him glory.