 In the 1960&apos;s, the Roman Catholic Church began a project of renovation  According to a friend of mine who is a priest, “Vatican II, opened windows to allow fresh air to enter the church”- in hindsight, we could say they missed a few dark corners(but perhaps the changes made then set in motion the way that the Roman Catholic Church handles those things today)• by the 1970&apos;s, the Evangelical movement was placed under the microscope◦ in 1970 Larry Richards published A New Face for the Church◦ in 1975 Howard Snyder, published The Problem of Wine Skins (religious systems that have become so rigid they are unable to accommodate the Holy Spirit)• they argued that the biblical design was more relational and less institutional- the church has always had its critics• but also, it has always had its problems◦ and it will always have problems, because the church is human

Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

1 Corinthians 12:1

I Corinthians 11:23

Paul has been circling the same issue since chapter 8Is it okay for Christians to eat food that has been devoted to an idol?– Paul has two answers, one rational and other relational• rational: idols have no meaning for us, so food is food• relational: some Christians are convinced that food presented to an idol is contaminated◦ take their concerns seriously and don’t “offend” them◦ at times love requires us to act contrary to reason or our rights– why did Paul give so much space to this issue?• I suspect that he anticipated a negative reaction from the Corinthians◦ he knew they were intelligent and enjoyed a good argument(they had written him regarding a number of controversies among themselves)◦ and he knew how difficult it would be for them to put others first• some of them would think, “It doesn’t make sense for those overly scrupulous believers to worry about idols and non-existent deities. Maybe they just need to grow up!”◦ so he labored to help them get a new perspective

1 Corinthians 10:23-26

I Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 8

If you have ever read this chapter and felt frustrated, you’re not aloneA few verses in it make good sense and are immediately helpful- but the rest is strange, confusing, or upsetting• this chapter is the reason some people give up on Paul• but you and I cannot give up on him◦ his spiritual insight has been too helpful to walk away now- so we take a deep breath, cool our heals, and pray• we ask God’s Spirit to walk us through the rough spots• in time, it will make sense

1 Corinthians 7

 Tracking how Paul was guiding these Christians to the mind of Christ- but when I came to this chapter, I felt disappointed• here, the subjects he addresses are so “unspiritual,” so this-worldly • a civil court, wrongdoers, and curbing sexual appetite- but then I noticed a revelation underneath the text• you know how a card might come with a sticker you have to peel off,◦ and when you do, you find a code?• looking underneath the text helped make sense of what’s on surface 

1 Corinthians 6:1-4

 Paul is considered Christianity’s first and foremost theologian  What is not always recognized–and is an embarrassment to some pastors–, Paul was also a mystic- this was Albert Schweitzer&apos;s assessment in his work The Mysticism of Paul the ApostleSchweitzer, “. . . when all is said and done, Pauline personal religion is in its fundamental character mystical. . . . its own essential life lies in the mystical.""Paul is therefore a mystic.”• I see this too – how could Paul not be a mystic, given his conversion encounter with Jesus Christ?◦ his letters are as mystical as they are theological◦ he fills them with the message of what had been revealed to him- this is why Paul can guide Corinthians into a deeper experience of God• they had a certain kind of religious experience and spiritual knowledge,◦ but still, Paul could not address them as spiritual people (1 Cor. 3:1)• what they needed was not more information or new information◦ but a new awareness, a new consciousness of God◦ he opens some of those doors for them in this chapter 

1 Corinthians 4:1-4

I’m sure most of you know the history of my dad’s ministryThe explosive growth of a small congregation into mega-church overnight- hippies poured into it from the streets, turning from drugs to Jesus• during that time of the “Jesus Movement,” several strange spin-offs appeared• cults and individuals who alleged they had been in Satanic cults- one young man gained notoriety for supposedly being a former Satanist• he claimed that his directors used him to infiltrate Calvary Chapel and attract hippies◦ he also said that the church of Satan funneled money through him to start Maranatha! Music◦ some churches were happy to hear his message• mostly those who doubted Jesus&apos; love for hippie freaks

I Corinthians 3:1-3, Primer In Things Unseen

1 Corinthians 2:1-10

My wife, Barb, and I were told something lives in our home,Something bad – and invisible to humans- so a guy came to our home with a small electronic device• it could supposedly detect the invisible presence• we had to take his word for it -- I had no idea how his gizmo worked- this was not a "haunting," and the technician was not a psychic• we had water damage to our home and it had to be treated for mold• the mold detector collected and measured spores in the air

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Luke 18:1

The Bible begins at the beginning – the story of creationIt is important that we read this passage as a story and not as a scientific account(I do not have a problem with people trying to harmonize it with science, but that was not how Genesis was written nor how it was meant to be read)- stories have a plot, characters, setting and mood• in this story, the universe does not merely exist by itself◦ it has an Architect, a Creator – and he has a purpose for it• each new addition as it unfolds, is inspected and approved◦ once the project is complete, all of it is very good- the goodness of the created world is repeated and celebrated in the Old Testament

Genesis 1:1

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24Intro: These verses come at end of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

For a voice declares from Danand proclaims trouble from Mount Zion.Warn the nations that he is coming;announce to Jerusalem,“Besiegers come from a distant land;they shout against the cities of Judah.Like keepers of a field are they against her all around,because she has rebelled against me, declares the LORD.Your ways and your deedshave brought this upon you.This is your doom, and it is bitter;it has reached your very heart.”

Jeremiah 4:15-21

Christian based teaching from Chuck Smith, Jr

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Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

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