Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.  Let’s go!

On verses 35-49:  In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, Paul addresses a question that people back then and people today have about resurrection: if Christians will physically rise from the dead, what kind of bodies will they have? Will we look the same way as when we died?  Will we look like zombies? Will those who died with wounds still show those wounds when they are resurrected? Will we look younger or older?  What about people whose bodies were cremated after they died? What will our resurrected bodies look like?

In response to these questions, Paul says: don’t expect your resurrection body to look just like the body you died in (v37). Rather, your resurrection body will have a splendour that is altogether different from your earthly body (v40).

Does that mean that guys who always wanted six pack abs will get it with their resurrection body? Does that mean the parts of your body which you wish were smaller or bigger will be your ideal size when you get your resurrection body? I can’t promise anything. But if we take a clue from how the disciples didn’t immediately recognize the resurrected Jesus after he appeared to them (for example, Luke 24:15-16), it’s very possible that when your loved ones see you in your resurrected body, your resurrection body will look different enough that they might not recognize you at first, but then when they realize it’s you they’ll be like, “Wow! It IS you!”

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV) 
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 
23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 

On verses 20 to 23:  As we near the end of his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about things that we as Christians can look forward to in the future.  The first thing that will happen as a pre-cursor to “the end” is that God’s people will be resurrected.  Just as death came to all people through one man, Adam, when Adam sinned against God, resurrection from death has been made possible for all people through one man, Jesus Christ, when he rose from the dead.  In other words, because of our connection to Adam the first man who sinned, like Adam we too were destined to die and be separated from God.  But because of our connection to Jesus the only man who never sinned and who rose from the dead, like Jesus we too will experience resurrection from the dead.  So when Paul says that Christ is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v20), he means that Christ is the first to die, rise from the dead, and never die again, and that we as people who have trusted in Jesus (“those who belong to him”) will follow in His footsteps and also be raised from the dead one day (v23).  Praise God!  For Christians, death is not the end.  For after death comes resurrection.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV) 
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

On verse 26:  The church of Corinth was full of creative and spiritually gifted people.  Everyone was eager to share what they felt God had placed on their heart, be it a song, a message, a vision, a tongue or an interpretation of a tongue.   Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth: check your motives before you share anything – always do it to build up the church, not to feed your own ego.  In the same way, whenever you’re sitting in any church gathering large or small, check your motives whenever you share with others.   Let it always be “for the strengthening of the church”, to exalt God’s name, not your own.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 (NIV) 
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two–or at the most three–should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

On verses 27-28:  This shows that Paul’s concern with tongues was mainly in regard to addressing the congregation publicly.  He says if there’s no one to interpret, go ahead and speak in tongues but keep it between you and God.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 14:1-12. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
1  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

On verse 1:  In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul has just finished showing us what is “the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31): it’s “the way of love” (v1).  But he also tells his church in Corinth to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts” (v1).  In other words, there are two things we should seek: (1) to love people with excellence and (2) to discover, develop and deploy our spiritual gifts.  Don’t just be busy trying to get “ministry success” in the eyes of people; be the best lover of people and of God that you can be.  Seek to be excellent in the way you love relationally and effective in the way you serve in ministry.  It’s not one or the other; it’s both.

On verses 2-12:  The church in Corinth was very passionate about pursuing and practicing spiritual gifts.  That is a good thing.  However, it appears that the church in Corinth emphasized the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues so much that they would let people speak in tongues as a way to publicly address the rest of the congregation.  Of course, without anyone to interpret, no one could understand what was being said!

Paul cautioned his church against this.  In 1 Corinthians 14, he is basically saying, “If you’re going to speak to people in the church, do it in ways that they can understand and appreciate.”

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:3. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NIV)
28  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

On 12:28:  Here Paul lists a number of roles and spiritual gifts that God has given various individuals in His Church.  Looking at the first three that Paul mentions, an apostle is someone who is gifted and commissioned to start new churches and ventures and oversee their development.  A prophet is someone who senses when the Holy Spirit is giving a message to strengthen, encourage or comfort other people and communicates that message effectively to the people.  A teacher is someone who teaches God’s people by interpreting, explaining and applying the Bible in a way that causes them to learn.  The teaching role can also involve the ability to equip and train other believers to serve God effectively.  Truly it takes different types of individuals and different abilities and gifts to build God’s church.