1Corinthians 9
9Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?G1510G3756G652G1510G3756G1658G3780G3708G2424G5547G2257G2962G2075G3756G5210G3450G2041G1722G29622Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.G1487G1510G3756G652G243G235G1065G1510G5213G1063G4973G1699G651G2075G5210G1722G29623This is my answer to those who question my authority.G1699G627G350G1691G2076G37784Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?G2192G3378G1849G5315G2532G40955Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?G2192G3378G1849G4013G79G1135G5613G2532G3062G652G2532G80G2962G2532G27866Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?G2228G1473G3441G2532G921G2192G3756G2192G1849G3361G20387What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?G5101G4754G4218G2398G3800G5101G5452G290G2532G2068G3756G1537G2590G846G2228G5101G4165G4167G2532G2068G3756G1537G1051G41678Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?G2980G5023G3361G2596G444G2228G3004G3780G3551G5023G25329For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?G1063G1125G1722G3551G3475G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G3361G3199G2316G3199G101610Wasn't he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.G2228G3004G3843G1223G2248G1223G1223G2248G1223G1063G1125G3754G722G3784G722G1909G1680G2532G248G1680G3348G1909G846G168011Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?G1487G2249G4687G5213G4152G3173G1487G2249G2325G5216G455912If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.G1487G243G3348G1849G5216G3756G2249G3123G235G5530G3756G5530G5026G1849G235G4722G3956G3363G1325G5100G1464G2098G554713Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.G1492G3756G1492G3754G2038G2413G2068G1537G2411G4332G2379G4829G237914In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.G2532G3779G1299G2962G1299G2605G2098G2198G1537G209815Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.G1161G1473G5530G3762G5130G1161G3756G1125G5023G2443G1096G3779G1096G1722G1698G1063G3123G3427G599G2570G2228G2443G5100G2758G3450G2745G275816Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!G1063G1437G2097G3427G2076G3756G2745G1063G318G1945G3427G1161G3759G2076G3427G3362G2097G3362G209717If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.G1063G1487G4238G5124G1635G2192G3408G1161G1487G210G3622G410018What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.G5101G2076G3427G3408G3767G2443G2097G5087G2098G5547G77G1519G2710G3361G3450G1849G1722G209819Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.G1063G5607G1658G1537G3956G1402G1683G1402G3956G2443G2770G411920When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.G2532G2453G1096G5613G2453G2443G2770G2453G5259G3551G5613G5259G3551G2443G2770G5259G355121When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.G459G5613G459G5607G3361G459G2316G235G1772G5547G2443G2770G45922When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.G772G1096G5613G772G2443G2770G772G1096G3956G3956G2443G4982G3843G4982G510023I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.G1161G5124G4160G1223G2098G1223G2443G1096G4791G846G479124Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!G1492G3756G3754G5143G1722G4712G5143G3956G3303G1161G1520G2983G1017G3779G5143G2443G263825All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.G1161G3956G75G1467G3956G3303G3767G1565G2443G2983G5349G4735G1161G2249G86226So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.G1473G5106G3779G5143G3756G5613G84G3779G4438G3756G5613G1194G10927I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.G235G5299G3450G4983G2532G1396G3381G4458G2784G243G846G1096G96
1Corinthians 10
10I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.G1161G80G2309G3756G5209G50G3754G3956G2257G3962G2258G5259G3507G2532G3956G1330G1223G22812In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.G2532G907G3956G907G1519G3475G1722G3507G2532G1722G22813All of them ate the same spiritual food,G2532G5315G3956G5315G846G4152G10334and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.G2532G4095G3956G4095G846G4152G4188G1063G4095G1537G4152G4073G190G1161G4073G2258G55475Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.G235G1722G4119G846G2316G2106G3756G2106G1063G2693G1722G20486These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,G1161G5023G1096G2257G5179G1519G2248G1511G3361G2556G1938G2531G2548G19377or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry."G3366G1096G1496G2531G5100G846G5613G1125G2992G2523G5315G2532G4095G2532G450G38158And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.G3366G4203G2531G5100G846G4203G2532G4098G1722G3391G2250G5140G1501G55059Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.G3366G1598G5547G2531G5100G846G2532G3985G2532G622G5259G378910And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.G3366G1111G2531G5100G846G2532G1111G2532G622G5259G364411These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.G1161G3956G5023G4819G1565G5179G1161G1125G4314G2257G3559G1519G3739G5056G165G265812If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.G5620G991G1380G2476G991G3361G409813The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.G2983G3756G3986G2983G5209G1508G442G1161G2316G4103G3739G1439G3756G1439G5209G3985G5228G3739G1410G235G4160G4862G3986G2532G4160G1545G5209G1410G529714So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.G1355G3450G27G5343G575G149515You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.G3004G5613G5429G2919G5210G3739G534616When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ?G4221G2129G3739G2127G2076G3780G2842G129G5547G740G3739G2806G2076G3780G2842G4983G554717And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.G3754G2070G4183G2070G1520G740G1520G4983G1063G3348G3956G3348G1537G1520G74018Think about the people of Israel. Weren't they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?G991G2474G2596G4561G1526G3780G1526G2068G2378G2844G237919What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?G5101G5346G3767G3754G1497G2076G5100G2228G3754G1494G2076G510020No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons.G235G3754G3739G1484G2380G2380G1140G2532G3756G2316G1161G2309G3756G5209G1096G2844G114021You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.G3756G1410G4095G4221G2962G2532G4221G1140G3756G1410G3348G2962G5132G2532G5132G114022What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?G2228G3863G2962G3863G2070G3361G2478G84623You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial.G3956G1832G3427G235G3956G4851G3756G4851G3956G1832G3427G235G3956G3618G375624Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.G2212G3367G2212G1438G235G1538G208725So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.G3956G4453G1722G3111G2068G350G3367G350G1223G4893G122326For "the earth is the LORD's, and everything in it."G1063G1093G2962G2532G4138G84627If someone who isn't a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.G1161G1536G571G2564G5209G2532G2309G4198G3956G3908G5213G2068G350G3367G350G1223G4893G122328(But suppose someone tells you, "This meat was offered to an idol." Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you.G1161G1437G5100G2036G5213G5124G2076G1494G2068G3361G1223G1565G3377G2532G4893G1063G1093G2962G2532G4138G84629It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?G4893G1161G3004G3780G1438G235G2087G1063G2444G2919G3450G1657G2919G5259G243G489330If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?G1161G1487G1473G5485G3348G5101G987G5228G3739G1473G216831So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.G1535G3767G2068G1535G4095G1535G5100G4160G4160G3956G1519G1391G231632Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.G1096G677G2532G2453G2532G1672G2532G1577G231633I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.G2531G2504G700G3956G3956G3361G2212G1683G4851G235G3588G4183G2443G4982
1Corinthians 11
11And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.G1096G3402G3450G2531G2504G55472I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.G1161G1867G5209G80G3754G3415G3450G3956G2532G2722G3862G2531G3860G52133But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.G1161G2309G5209G1492G3754G2776G3956G435G2076G5547G1161G2776G1135G435G1161G2776G5547G23164A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying.G3956G435G4336G2228G4395G2192G2776G2596G2617G846G27765But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.G1161G3956G1135G4336G2228G4395G2776G177G2617G1438G2776G1063G2076G2532G1520G846G35876Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.G1063G1487G1135G2619G3756G2619G2751G2532G2751G1161G1487G149G1135G2751G2228G3587G26197A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God's image and reflects God's glory. And woman reflects man's glory.G1063G435G3303G3784G3756G2619G2776G5225G1504G2532G1391G2316G1161G1135G2076G1391G4358For the first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man.G1063G435G2076G3756G1537G1135G235G1135G1537G4359And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man.G1063G2532G3756G2936G435G2936G1223G1135G235G1135G1223G43510For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.G5124G1223G3784G1135G2192G1849G1909G2776G1223G3211But among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.G4133G3777G435G5565G1135G3777G1135G5565G435G1722G296212For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.G1063G5618G1135G1537G435G3779G435G2532G1223G1135G1161G3956G1537G231613Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head?G2919G1722G5213G846G2076G4241G1135G4336G2316G17714Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair?G2228G3761G5449G846G1321G5209G3754G1437G3303G435G2863G2076G819G84615And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.G1161G1437G1135G2863G2076G1391G846G3754G2864G1325G846G473G401816But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God's other churches.G1161G1536G1380G1511G5380G2249G2192G3756G5108G4914G3761G1577G231617But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together.G1161G5124G3853G1867G3756G3754G4905G3756G1519G2909G235G1519G227618First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it.G1063G3303G4412G5216G4905G1722G1577G191G5225G4978G1722G5213G2532G3313G4100G510019But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God's approval will be recognized!G1063G1163G1511G2532G139G1722G5213G2443G1384G1096G5318G1722G521320When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord's Supper.G5216G4905G3767G1909G846G2076G3756G5315G2960G117321For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.G1063G1722G5315G1538G4301G2398G1173G2532G3739G3303G3983G1161G3739G318422What? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God's church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!G1063G2192G3378G3614G2068G2532G4095G1519G2228G2706G1577G2316G2532G2617G2192G3361G5101G2036G5213G1867G5209G1722G5129G1867G375623For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some breadG1063G1473G3880G575G2962G3739G2532G3860G5213G3754G2962G2424G3571G1722G3739G3860G2983G74024and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me."G2532G2168G2806G2532G2036G2983G5315G5124G2076G3450G4983G3588G2806G5228G5216G5124G4160G1519G364G169925In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it."G5615G2532G4221G3326G1172G3004G5124G4221G2076G2537G1242G1722G1699G129G5124G4160G3740G302G4095G1519G364G169926For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.G1063G302G3740G2068G5126G740G2532G4095G5124G4221G2605G2962G2288G891G302G3739G206427So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.G5620G3739G302G2068G5126G740G2228G4095G4221G2962G371G2071G1777G4983G2532G129G296228That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.G1161G1381G444G1381G1438G2532G3779G2068G1537G740G2532G4095G1537G422129For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.G1063G2068G2532G4095G371G2068G2532G4095G2917G1438G3361G1252G2962G498330That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.G1223G5124G1223G4183G772G2532G732G1722G5213G2532G2425G283731But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.G1063G1487G1252G1438G302G3756G291932Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.G1161G2919G3811G5259G2962G3363G2632G3363G2632G4862G288933So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other.G5620G3450G80G4905G1519G5315G1551G24034If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.G1161G1536G3983G2068G1722G3624G3363G4905G3363G4905G1519G2917G1161G3062G1299G5613G302G2064
Dublin, OH
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