Mark preached yesterday from 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. The basic idea: “If you sue your brother, everyone loses.”

Not many teenagers are actually going to be suing anyone, although it was an occasional threat around our house, when either my sisters or I demanded that the others share the last of the ice cream. So it was really helpful when Mark explained that the issue isn’t so much lawyers, but conflict as an experience; underneath every lawsuit is a relational conflict. In other words, many of us might not take someone to court, but the anger and bitterness that leads someone else to go to court might be there in our hearts, too. Mark gave us three points from these 11 verses to help us understand:

1. The problem (vv.1-8)
2. The danger (vv. 9-10)
3. The solution (v. 11)

I was especially helped when Mark explained the Apostle Paul’s rhetorical question, “Why not rather be wronged? ” Why not just overlook an offense? Here are a couple reasons:

• Because I want to be right
• Because I want the other person to know I’m right
• Because I want an apology
• Because I’m proud

Can you relate to any of these? I do any and all of them at some time or other. This is why it was so helpful for Mark to point us to the gospel in verse 11: “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” We’ve not only been set free from lawsuits by the gospel, we’ve been set free to forgive by the grace of God.

In his book, The Peacemaker, Ken Sande reminds us of the four promises of forgiveness:

• “I will not dwell on this incident.”
• “I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.”
• “I will not talk to others about this incident.”
• “I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.”

Talk to your parents if you are doing a good job extending forgiveness to them, to your siblings, to your friends. Be humble, and go back to people to forgive them if you need to.

If you sue, everyone loses. If you forgive, everyone wins.

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Yesterday, Mark asked, “Are You Spiritual?”, a message from 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. He began by explaining that spirituality is in, and it is big, but it is not a return to orthodox Christianity. Sadly, about 2/3 of evangelical Christians believe that there is more than one path to God (there isn’t; see John 14:6).

Then Mark made two simple points:

1. A spiritual person is wise. (2:6-9)
2. A spiritual person has the Spirit (2:10-16)

Mark joined these two points into one profound statement: “A spiritual person is one who has received the gospel through the Spirit.”So, that should be our test for spirituality. Want to know if you’re Spiritual? Ask: Do I have the Spirit?

This quotation is outstanding:

“We never therefore move on from the cross of Christ–only to a more profound understanding of the cross.” David Prior, 1 Corinthians, p. 51.

Application questions for teens to ask their parents:

• In what ways do you think I am tempted to move on from or forget the cross of Christ?
• What is one thing I can do this week to remember the cross of Christ?

Parents, for further consideration:

• Look for ways to encourage your teen as they try to keep the gospel central.
• How can this passage provide content for your encouragement?

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We were given an early Christmas gift yesterday in the form of CJ’s message “The Transforming Effect of a Divine Perspective.” CJ preached on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 as part of our Connect series on 1 Corinthians. (The very first thing you do after reading this post should be to download CJ’s message and listen to it again. Click here to start the download while you finish reading.)

CJ explained that Paul’s exemplary attitude and affection for the Corinthians was created by his divine perspective of the Corinthians in:

1. his understanding of God’s call.
2. his recognition of God’s grace.
3. his confidence in God’s faithfulness.

The main point of this message is that seeing people and situations from a divine perspective allows us to see more than just the deficiencies, failures, and sins of others. The transforming effect of a divine perspective allows us to see where God is at work in others people. This will change our attitude toward those around us, creating affection for them and appreciation for what God has done in their lives. It requires no gifting or discernment to see deficiencies in others, but seeing evidences of God’s grace in others is a mark of spiritual maturity.

Start with your parents and your siblings and ask them:

• “Do you think I am more aware of God’s prior activity in you or am I more aware of your present deficiencies?”
• “Do you think I have faith for you or do you think of me as frustrated with you?”
• “Do you leave my presence aware that God is at work in your life?”

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Mark preached from 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 yesterday, telling us that “When God goes to work, His grace changes everything.” (You can listen to it here.)

He showed us how the grace of God works in the lives of believers, resulting in a changed allegiance, a changed community, and a changed confidence.

I was most affected by the idea that Christians will be found guiltless on the day of our Lord Christ Jesus. How we feel about the last day is irrelevant, it is the facts of the gospel that will determine what happens on that day. What will come into view on the last day, if we have turned from sin and trusted in Christ for eternal salvation, is Jesus’ blood substituted for us! Mark encouraged us to resist and speak to the thoughts and feelings that lead us to fear the last day.

Mark also recommended that we find specific ways to connect the gospel with our conduct, giving us three examples of how it could work: correcting others, prayer, and thinking about the future. Talk to your parents about what behavior in your life needs to be connected to the gospel: in other words–what you should write on your post-it note.

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Is the gospel functioning in your life? That was Mike Bullmore’s basic question for us yesterday. If you didn’t hear this message, you need to listen to it as soon as possible. If you did hear it, listen to it again. Get it here.

Mike explained that “all of our behavior must flow out of the gospel. In fact, it’s a big part of our lives as Christians to make the connections between gospel and conduct: this is how we harness the power of the gospel.”

I love the concentric circles diagram.

• In the center is the gospel itself: “Christ died for our sins” 1 Cor 15:3.
• The second circle contains gospel truths: doctrines that are true because of the gospel, such as Rom 5:1, Rom 8:1, and Rom 8:32.
• The third circle represents gospel conduct: behavior that results when the gospel is understood and applied. We see examples in 1 Cor 6:18-20, Eph 4:32, Eph 5:25.

Mike then gave us four implications of these circles:

1. The functioning gospel must operate in our own private lives.
2. We must look for the functioning gospel as we receive teaching. We must pursue “the continual rediscovery of the gospel.”
3. We must use the functioning gospel in our care for one another. We have to help each other make the connections!
4. We must be careful not to just pick up the vocabulary. Don’t be content with mere words.

Two applications questions for you to take to your parents for discusssion:

1. What part of the gospel do you think I need to grow to understand better?
2. What is one area in my life that I need to connect to the gospel?

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