Pauls Letters To A Troubled Church

Your faith is challenged daily. We live in a society that has few absolutes, where “truth” is defined by personal philosophies. It’s really not so different from the culture of Corinth during the apostle Paul’s ministry. Believers were struggling with the “gray areas” of life, so Paul wrote letters—1 and 2 Corinthians—to remind them of what God intended as black-and-white. In Letters to a Troubled Church, Bible teacher Ray Stedman uses Paul’s epistles to guide us through difficult matters.

Discipleship is one of the main elements of Jesus' ministry. While the Lord spent a lot of time teaching, preaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons, Jesus made sure to set aside time to disciple the twelve men whom He had chosen to closely work with Him in His ministry. This is one of Paul's most spirited letters -- harsh in some spots. It is probably Paul's most important letter for understanding what a healthy church should look like. More than anywhere else in Paul's letters, you'll find instruction on church unity, balanced worship, church discipline, the resurrection, and Christ's coming, and marriage. The Letter contains numerous notable verses. Here's just a sampling: "We have the mind of Christ." (2:16) "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (9:22) "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man...." (10:13) "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (11:1) "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread...." (11:23-26) "Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (12:7) "Love is patient, love is kind...." (13:4-8)

Annotation In this intriguing discussion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Dale Martin contends that Paul's various disagreements with the Corinthians were the result of a fundamental conflict over the ideological construction of the human body (and hence the church as the body of Christ). This led to differing opinions on a variety of theological viewpoints--including the role of rhetoric and philosophy in a hierarchical society, the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, prostitution, sexual desire and marriage, and the resurrection of the body. Book jacket.

Douglas Campbell has made a name for himself as one of Paul’s most insightful and provocative interpreters. In this short and spirited book Campbell introduces readers to the apostle he has studied in depth over his scholarly career. Enter with Campbell into Paul’s world, relive the story of Paul’s action-packed ministry, and follow the development of Paul’s thought throughout both his physical and his spiritual travels. Ideal for students, individual readers, and study groups, Paul: An Apostle’s Journey dramatically recounts the life of one of early Christianity’s most fascinating figures—and offers powerful insight into his mind and his influential message.

Empowering the Church In his second epistle to the Corinthian Church, the apostle Paul empowered the church by affirming that God's strength and power is revealed and works in our weakness. The apostle empowered the church with God's strength after having confronted the immorality, doctrinal confusion and frequent disputes that had become commonplace among the Corinthian believers. Paul's message to this church was simple yet powerful: Consider the values of Christ's redemption and realign your thinking with God's instructions. Although this letter was written to admonish, instruct and encourage the early church, they are just as relevant to us today. This verse-by-verse devotional study, complete with engaging commentary and practical life applications, will challenge you to pursue a closer walk with Jesus Christ and grow in the faith.

The Bible is simply a love letter compiled into sixty-six books and written over a period ofsixteen hundred years by more than forty authors living on three continents. Although theauthors came from different backgrounds, there is one message, one theme, one thread that runs throughout the entire Bible from the first book, Genesis, to the last book, Revelation. That message is God's redeeming love for mankind--a message that is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago.Paul's Letters to the Churches (Romans, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, and Second Thessalonians) were written by Paul over a period of fourteen years to seven churches scattered throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. These churches were in different stages of maturity and all needed instruction from the great apostle. Though Paul did not found all of them, he was looked to for leadership as these churches moved through various seasons of growth and challenge.As we will see, these letters contain both doctrine and practical explanation. The apostle took the great truths of the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ and explained and applied them for the members of these newly established centers of Christian worship and witness. Because of the different circumstances into which Paul sent these letters, each has its own flavor and emphasis. However, the Spirit of God and the purpose of the Scriptures make them as applicable today as they were nearly two thousand years ago when the apostle originally penned them.

What is a Love Letter? Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines love as an unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2): brotherly concern for others b: a person's adoration of God. Love Letters; Paul's Epistles and Ministry to the Early Church is the epitome of this type of love. For Paul's letters to the early church illuminated his love for God manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as his true affection for the Jews and Gentiles who were establishing the early Bodies of Christ-the church. This book chronicles the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys through the Roman Empire teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to both Jewish Christians and Gentiles. The epistles, letters, written to the early churches served several purposes. They contained heartfelt greetings, praise, thanksgiving, words of encouragement, and when necessary, chastisements. But more importantly, the Love Letters conveyed the unconditional love of Jesus Christ for the believer. The epistles to the early churches also helped to form doctrine, church order, conduct and traditions plus accepted leadership qualities along with responsibilities. The tone of the letters was infused with Paul's genuine benevolent concern for and loyalty to the early Christians establishing churches in a hostile environment. Love Letters; Paul's Epistles and Ministry to the Early Church while serving as an examination of the early church and its formation, it also can be a template for the church today as it meets the challenges of the contemporary world.

This informative survey of Paul's epistles is conversant with the latest scholarship but written in an engaging style that emphasizes practical application. In each chapter, Gregory MaGee asks and answers a vital question for understanding Paul's letters while prompting the reader to consider the discussion's personal implications. These questions get at the heart of understanding, interpreting, and living out the Pauline letters: · Why listen to Paul? · Were all thirteen letters really written by Paul? · How does Paul interact with the Old Testament? · What are some specific interpretive challenges in Paul's letters? · How can I wisely apply Paul's teachings? · What are the experts saying about Paul these days? · What ideas were especially important to Paul? Students and other thoughtful Christians wishing to dig deeper into Paul's letters will benefit from this contemporary overview, and will be challenged to grow spiritually and apply Paul's teachings and example.