3 Minute Devotional: 1 Corinthians 9:1-3

"Am 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? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is my answer to those who question my authority." 

(9:1). The word for “ministering” means basically a compassionate love toward the needy within a Christian community. Paul states that his purpose in writing is concerning the ministering or providing for the saints. The Corinthians had been taking up offerings for poor believers. This noble practice had caused Paul to hold them up as examples of generosity. Paul writes to the “saints.” The word here used for saints means holy, set apart, consecrated, separated, sanctified or devoted to God. Paul states that it is a privilege for him to be able to write.

(9:2). In verse two Paul lets the Corinthians know that he has been using them as role models to the Macedonians. He encourages them by saying that he knows of their willingness or forwardness to give. Paul then goes onto tell them the results of their willingness that he describes as “zeal”. The results of this zeal had “provoked very many”. The context of this verse has to do with giving so we must logically assume that those who were “provoked” were influenced to give in like manner.

(9:3). The word Paul uses for “brethren” means brother or one who has a general camaraderie based on a common origin. Paul says here that he send some of the believers so that the Corinthians would not be caught off-guard when the Macedonians arrived. Paul realized the potentially disastrous situation that could result if the Corinthians were found to be unfaithful. The Macedonians had been repeatedly told that the Corinthians were the role models for giving. If when they arrived and found the Corinthians to be greedy, selfish and stingy it would have the potential to destroy Paul’s reputation to the Macedonians and cause them to stumble. Paul uses a word to describe what his lifting up of the Corinthians would be if they were found to be unfaithful. That word is “vain” which means empty or void.

Giving reveals our heart.

As Paul talks about the power of giving, what are areas of your life that God wants you to be more generous?

Our giving should set a Righteous example (9:1-2). Our giving should be substantial (9:2) Our giving should be willing (9:2).

We should be always Ready to give (9:3). We should be alert to opportunities to give (9:3).

Evernote and Student Ministry

Evernote is my favorite tool to stay organized in student ministry. I'm always looking for tools to help me become more productive. It is best to work smarter and not harder.

Why?

It is free. It is clean. It is cloud based. I can edit and save on my iPhone, iPad or Macbook. You can save multiple files, web clippings, audio notes and more.

I use it as my to-do list each day with check boxes. I find that I have moved away from having multiple pads of paper with random notes scattered on my desk. The way I use evernote is to have different notebooks within Evernote.

For instance: Ministry. Personal. Finances. Speaking. Blog/Writing.

Within each notebook, I have different notes.

One notebook is titled, "Message series planning." I save all ideas and thoughts on teaching series. I find it is easier for me to organize my scatter brain within Evernote rather than having it on different pads of paper. I do use a notepad for quick ideas to jot down, but I try to always keep track in my "ideas" note so I don't forget!

To read more about how to use Evernote, check out this blog post by Michael Hyatt.

What tools do you use to be effective in ministry? What tips do you have in utilizing Evernote? 

Source SM Recap: Volume #23

Current Series: “Awaken a Generation” Main Thought: The most important thing about us is how we think about God. The Word: Isaiah 6:1-4, Psalm 34:8, Ephesians 1:21. Bumper Video:

Awaken A Generation Bumper from Source Student Ministries on Vimeo.

Message explanation: Do you know what it feels like when something or someone gets your attention?

How many of you have had a rude awakening before? In all of our lives, we have abrupt wake up calls. Tonight, we are going to take a look at Isaiah 6. We will see that the most important thing about us is how we think about God!

The prophet Isaiah had a wake up call. He was CONFRONTED with God.

Isaiah 6:1a - “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord.

Teaching Point #1 - Trust in God is learned when we go through troubling times.

Until we see God for who He says He is, we will never understand life. Jesus revealed that He knows pain as He still has scars to this day. Jesus knows about rejection, even his hometown. Jesus knows about loneliness when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before the cross. Jesus knows how it feels to be abandoned by His own followers when times became tough.

 Teaching Point #2:  God does not waste the pain in our lives.

Isaiah was awakened to the fact that God was still on the throne! Tragedy is one of the ways God wakes us up! Uzziah started as a king at the age of 16 and reigned for over 52 years. Isaiah was awakened to the fact that God was still on the throne! Isaiah was at church, he was in the right place. 

Why do we run from persecution/pain? We will suffer if we live for God. The pain that was done to you does not define you. You are not defined by what has happened to you. You are defined by the God of the universe.   

^“ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:8

Isaiah 6:1b-2–He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.” Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.”

Why is Jesus sitting on the throne?  God isn’t running around frantic when painful circumstances happen in life.

 Correcting our false view of God: Is God a big tyrant ruling the universe who is waiting to blast us? Is God a giant teddy bear that only wants me to be happy?

Isaiah 6:3-4 -  “³ They were calling out to each other,“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.”

The universe displays the majesty of God.    - The sun [an average sized star] is a million times the size of the earth.

i. 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes only seconds for the light to reach the Earth 93,000 miles away iii. A million times the size of Earth= iv. If the Earth was the size of a golf-ball the sun would be 15 feet in diameter v. 960,000 Earths fit inside the sun

The Sun is just one of the billions of stars in the Milky Way, which is one of hundreds of billions of  galaxies in the universe.

Psalm 33:6-9 “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. ⁷ He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. ⁸ Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. ⁹ For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.”

 Worship is not about us. It is giving God what He deserves as a thankful response!

Teaching Point #3: God’s holiness leads to hope. 

Explanation: “Holy, Holy, Holy” We all need a completely new understanding of the holiness of God. Hebrew word for “holy” means set apart.

^“Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.” Ephesians 1:21.

 How will you respond to the presence of God?

 Are we on the throne of our lives or is God on the throne? Isaiah realizes that the whole earth points to a Creator. He is outside of the universe. God is outside of time. He is the creator of all but also intimately close to the details of our lives.

Have you become like Isaiah and realized how amazing God is?

Element of Fun: We had a PB&J eating contest with leftover egg nog! We showed a video after the contest of how we made the sandwiches with feet! P.S. just kidding it was a joke.

Music: Awaken Me, Lead me to the Cross, One Thing Remains, Give Me Faith, Psalm 24 (closing).

 Favorite Moment: Hearing stories of students opening up in small groups and embracing the pain in their lives. It was also great to see more volunteers joining the team to serve students!

What’s Next: We are continuing our new series, “Awaken a Generation” through Isaiah 6:5-7!