Daily Reading Week 14
Sunday
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Discover:
A debate started with the Jesus Movement of the 1960s, but really gained traction in the 1980s, between those who love traditional worship services and those who prefer a more contemporary style. Often, this choice is seen as a battle between "liturgical" and "non-liturgical" worship, but the difference isn't always clear-cut.
A liturgy is just an order of service, so technically, every worship service is liturgical. When people come together to worship, they need some kind of structure to keep things organized. Some liturgies are quite detailed, with elements like responsive readings, kneelings, an introit, creeds, hymns, and a sermon. Others, like at the Rock, are simpler, maybe just a few songs, a prayer, and a sermon. But no matter the style, there's always an order to follow. The Bible shows us that having an organized form of worship is important, as seen in David's assignment of Temple duties (1 Chron. 23–26) and Paul's instructions.
When people talk about "liturgical" versus "non-liturgical" worship, they're usually comparing the more formal liturgies of traditional Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches with the style of worship found in many modern evangelical churches. High liturgies sometimes get a bad rap for being lifeless, but it's important to remember that any style of worship can become just a routine if we're not careful. Whether we prefer traditional or more informal services, we should strive to worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Take a moment today to reflect on the liturgy used in our church. Have its different elements become routine for you, something you do without much thought? Or do you take the time to consider the meaning behind the words you say and the actions you perform? What about the sacraments? Do you expect to encounter Jesus in a special way when someone is baptized or when you participate in the Lord's Supper?
Respond:
1. How do you contribute to creating an orderly and welcoming environment in your church?
2. What does it mean for you to respect God and others in your worship practices?
3. How can you balance freedom and order in your personal worship time?
Monday
1 Corinthians 11:1-16
Discover:
The way God created us establishes some differences between men and women. While men and women are equal before the Lord when it comes to salvation, this equality doesn't remove the hierarchy of authority in the church, where only qualified men are appointed as elders to lead local congregations. This teaching is consistent throughout the New Testament, as seen in passages like 1 Timothy 2:8–15 and Titus 1:1–9.
Paul doesn't want husbands to become prideful about their authority in their homes or for men to wield authority in the church in a tyrannical way. That's why he reminds us that while the husband is the head of the wife, he is not independent of her. God made the first woman from the side of the man, but since then, men come from women. All men since Adam have mothers. Husbands and wives must come together to create new life. Men and women are distinct but inseparable and interdependent. Male chauvinism, pride, and abuse of authority deny this fundamental principle and must have no place in the home or the church. Such attitudes arise from a failure to recognize that authority is meant to serve others and that men need women to fulfill their vocations. John Chrysostom writes, "In the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. . . . Each one of the two is the cause of the other, God being the cause of all."
Men and women need each other to fulfill their shared vocation of taking dominion over the earth for God's glory. We follow the order of authority and submission in the church and home because it reflects the mutual need of the sexes for one another and is established by God as the way to best glorify Him as the Lord of order. By respecting loving male leadership and mindful female submission, we bear witness to the one true God.
Respond:
1. How do I view the roles of men and women in my church and home?
2. Do I respect the distinctions and hierarchy established by God, and how do I ensure that my actions reflect this respect?
3. How do I approach authority and submission in my relationships?
Tuesday
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Discover:
Paul tells us that we must not eat the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, or else we risk bringing judgment upon ourselves. This teaching reveals several important points, including the fact that sacraments do not automatically convey grace to everyone who partakes in them. In fact, sacraments can become means of cursing and judgment for those who approach them improperly. Since spiritual realities of blessing and cursing occur when the Lord's Supper is administered, there must be a true spiritual presence of Christ in the sacrament. If congregants were not lifted up to heaven to commune with Jesus, there could be no blessing or cursing, as these spiritual realities presuppose that the Lord's Supper brings us into our Savior's presence.
Naturally, we want to be blessed and not judged when we visit with the Lord Jesus Christ at His table. This means, according to the Apostle Paul, that we must examine ourselves before partaking of the bread and wine to ensure we are worthy of coming to the Lord's Table. Worthiness does not require sinlessness, as the sacrament is for sinners who have repented and turned to Christ for salvation (1 Cor. 11:28; 1 John 1:8–9). The Heidelberg Catechism explains that those who may freely come to the table are "those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins" but who trust that they are pardoned in Christ and yearn for the strength He provides through His Spirit in His Supper.
John Calvin says that worthiness "consists chiefly in faith, which reposes all things in Christ, but nothing in ourselves; secondly in love—and that very love which, though imperfect, is enough to offer to God, that he may increase it to something better, inasmuch as it cannot be offered in completeness" (Institutes of the Christian Religion 4.17.42). Our Father values "faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6). He welcomes all who put their trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation and then, by the Spirit's power, show this trust through love for God and neighbor.
Self-examination before partaking of the Lord's Supper involves determining whether one is a Christian. We should consider whether we are trusting in Christ alone for salvation and repent for the unbelief that remains in our hearts. We should repent of our sin and seek reconciliation with others wherever possible. As we do these things, casting ourselves on Jesus Christ, we are welcome at the Lord's Table.
Respond:
1. How do you approach communion, and what does it mean to you personally?
2. In what ways can you prepare your heart for communion to make it a meaningful
experience?
3. How does reflecting on Christ's sacrifice impact your daily life and decisions?
Wednesday
Acts 2:1-41
Discover:
Theologians have pointed out that the Old Testament promised the Holy Spirit would bring worldwide repair and restoration. While the Holy Spirit was active even before Pentecost—in the world, in His Word, and in the hearts and minds of believers—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marked the beginning of "the last days".
In Acts 2, Peter explains the significance of Pentecost. We often associate Pentecost with the Holy Spirit's activity, but interestingly, Peter's first Pentecost sermon in Acts 2 focuses on Jesus Christ. Peter's main point is that the events of Pentecost show the world that Jesus Christ is ruling and reigning at the right hand of His heavenly Father. Jesus, our King, received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and poured the Spirit out on the church. For Peter, these events are proof that Jesus now reigns as the King of glory. The old days of promise have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and the new era of the last days has begun in Him. God's people are now living in the time of Christ's Spirit-wrought repair and restoration.
In these last days, the world is being repaired and restored in the same way it fell and was broken. Dennis Johnson in his book “The Message of Acts” highlights the two stages of fall and redemption: brokenness and repair. In the fall, Adam first died spiritually because of his sin, and only after that did he die physically. Adam's spiritual fall led to physical brokenness that extended to all of creation.
But in God's amazing redemptive plan, Jesus came into the world and, through His death, repaired our spiritual brokenness, bringing us from death to life and into God's family. One day, Christ will extend this repair and renewal from our spiritual lives to our physical lives in the resurrection of our bodies and eventually to all of creation. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit signals that the last days have arrived, days of repair and restoration in Christ. Therefore, in light of the coming restoration, "we do not lose heart" (2 Cor. 4:16–18).
Respond:
1. How do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life and the lives of those around you?
2. What role does preaching play in your spiritual growth and understanding of God?
3. How can you be open to the Spirit's leading in sharing your faith with others?
Thursday
Acts 2:42-47
Discover:
Acts 2:42 gives us a great glimpse into the early practices of the Apostolic church. When the first Christians gathered for worship, they were dedicated to "the apostles' teaching." This included both the Apostles' teachings from the Old Testament and any new revelations given by Christ that would later be written down. This shows just how important the teaching and preaching of God's Word were for Apostolic worship. Acts 2:42 also tells us that the earliest Christians were devoted to "the prayers." This likely included prayers from the book of Psalms, since the first believers were from a Jewish background, and probably the Lord's Prayer and prayers modeled after it, as Jesus taught the Apostles to pray.
In addition to teaching and prayer, Acts 2:42 shows that the Apostles also administered the sacraments during worship. They were committed to "the breaking of the bread." It's unlikely that Luke was simply talking about ordinary meals, so this specific mention of bread almost certainly refers to the Lord's Supper. Early Christian worship likely included the Lord's Supper as part of a larger fellowship meal. 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 makes it clear that the Lord's Supper was a key part of worship in the Apostolic era.
It makes sense that the sacraments were part of public worship, given what Scripture says about them. For example, the command to baptize is given alongside the command to teach all nations to observe everything Christ has instructed (Matt. 28:18–20). Since teaching and preaching Christ's commandments happen in public worship, baptism should too. Both the institution of the Lord's Supper and Paul's description of its practice in 1 Corinthians 11 show that partaking of the bread and wine was always a public act done with other disciples.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper complement other aspects of worship. They are visible representations of gospel truths proclaimed as the Word of God is taught, reinforcing the preached message and being explained by it. In the sacraments, we also meet with Christ, and meeting with the triune God is one of the purposes of worship.
Respond:
1. How do you engage with your church community in worship and fellowship?
2. What practices can you incorporate into your life to strengthen your faith and community?
3. How does living in community with other believers impact your spiritual growth?
Friday
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Discover:
Since much of 1 Corinthians focuses on addressing specific issues in the Corinthian church, it's important to identify these problems as clearly as possible. Sometimes this can be tricky because Paul doesn't always name the problem directly. However, by paying close attention to his arguments, we can understand what was happening in Corinth. For example, the amount of space Paul dedicates in 1 Corinthians 14 to praising prophecy and highlighting the weaknesses of the gift of tongues in corporate worship suggests that the Corinthian Christians were overemphasizing tongues and using the gift improperly.
In verses 1–5, Paul explains that the gift of tongues is less beneficial than prophecy in a corporate setting because tongues don't have the same ability to build up the congregation in Christ. Verses 6–12 clarify that Paul is specifically talking about uninterpreted tongues, which are problematic in corporate worship due to their unintelligibility. He uses analogies to musical instruments to make his point. Just as you can't tell a flute from a harp unless each has a distinct sound, and you can't know it's time to prepare for battle unless a bugle's call is clear, unintelligible speech is impossible to appreciate or understand.
The issue with uninterpreted tongues is that not everyone understands the language being spoken. Paul notes that there are many languages in the world, each intelligible to its speakers. If someone hears a language they don't speak, they are like a foreigner who can't understand what's being said. Paul's argument supports the idea that tongues or glossolalia are actual human languages and emphasizes that understanding what's spoken is necessary for comprehension and edification. Without interpretation, the only people who benefit from tongues are those who know the language, which might be no one. Matthew Henry comments that speaking in unintelligible languages is "altogether unedifying and unprofitable."
Respond:
1. How do you use your spiritual gifts to serve and build up your church community?
2. In what ways can you ensure that love is the driving force behind your actions and words?
3. How can you be more intentional about allowing the Spirit to guide your interactions with
others?
Saturday
Psalm 150
Discover:
The book of Psalms is like a hymnbook for God's people, teaching us how to pray and sing in a way that pleases our Creator. Worship and praise are the main themes of the Psalms, so it's fitting that the book ends with a hymn calling everyone to exalt the Lord. Psalm 150 wraps up the book by urging us—and all living things—to praise God's name.
The placement of this psalm at the end of the Psalter shows us the true goal of obeying God's law. Throughout the Psalms, there are several hymns that highlight the importance of God's law and how it guides our lives. These include Psalms like 1, 19, and 119, which talk about the blessings that come from keeping God's commandments. But the Psalms also show that obeying God's law isn't meant to be an end in itself. Instead, worshiping the Lord is the ultimate goal of our obedience. A life governed by God's law and all of Scripture will lead to heartfelt worship and praise. The adoration we see in Psalm 150 comes from those who have been redeemed and truly want to please God. We've truly kept His commandments if we worship our Maker. The purpose of God's law is to produce the worship described in Psalm 150.
Psalm 150:3–5 shows that it's appropriate to worship God with various musical instruments. No instrument is inherently unsuitable for worshiping God; it's how we use the instrument that matters. With the instruments we have, we should praise and worship the Lord for His character ("his greatness") and His work ("his mighty deeds"). This requires proclaiming His Word so we can know Him and what He has done for His people.
Verse 6 calls on all creatures to praise the Lord. The book of Psalms isn't just for the worship of the Jews; its hymns are meant to be sung by all people to the one true God. John Calvin comments that the psalmist looked forward to a day when these hymns, once used only in Israel, would be heard worldwide, and this has happened in Christ. "In this prediction we have been joined in the same symphony with the Jews, that we may worship God with constant sacrifices of praise, until being gathered into the kingdom of heaven, we sing with elect angels an eternal hallelujah."
Respond:
1. How do you express your praise to God in your daily life?
2. What creative ways can you incorporate praise into your worship practices?
3. How does praising God impact your perspective and attitude towards life?