1 Corinthians Week 21

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:3-5 

³ All of them ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 

Paul wrote about Israel’s experience in the desert. The “spiritual food” was the manna from which “all” benefitted. The “spiritual water” was what God provided from the rock and at other times, from which all benefitted. Paul said that rock prefigured the Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of these miracles “most of them” perished in the wilderness because God was not pleased with them. 

REFLECT 

Does it concern you about benefitting from the promises of God and yet not pleasing Him? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Exodus 16:1-5 that tells about the manna. Also read Exodus 17:1-5 that tells about water from the rock. For another time with water from the rock, read Numbers 20:6-12. Discuss why Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:6-8 

⁶ These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, ⁷ or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” ⁸ And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 

Paul wanted the believers in Corinth to realize that what occurred to the Israelites should serve as an example for them. When God calls believers to Himself He wants them to be sanctified; that is, set apart from the world unto Him. This passage also reveals that actions have consequences. Paul said this should serve as a warning to his readers. 

REFLECT 

Give serious thought to the fact that your actions result in consequences. This is true for both your good actions as well as your bad ones.  

RESPOND 

Discuss with another believer how you are set apart from the world to serve and please God. Read Romans 12:1-2 to aid in your discussion. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:9-11 

⁹ Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. ¹⁰ And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 

Paul continued with what happened to the Israelites that should be an example to present-day readers. He also urged them not to grumble. It seems that one could write across the book of Numbers “God hates grumbling.” The Israelites seemed to never learn that lesson. Paul knew believers in the Body of Christ also needed to learn that lesson.  

REFLECT 

Have you learned not to grumble at circumstances and instead do as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands? You can learn this by believing Romans 8:28.  

RESPOND 

In 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 Paul referred to two incidents found in Numbers 21:4-9 and Exodus 12:22-23. Read these passages with a friend to learn more about what the apostle Paul was referring to.  

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

¹² If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ¹³ The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

Paul had been writing about weak Christians. Here he warns those who think they are strong to be careful not to fall. Some think that the temptation they face is different than what others have faced. Not so, says Paul. Notice that God does not necessarily remove the temptation but shows a way one can endure it.  

REFLECT 

Are you facing a trial now that you are praying about? Ask the Lord to lessen its intensity that you may be able to bear up under it. The Lord has promised to do that.  

RESPOND 

With a friend read Romans 5:2-4 as you discuss trials. Talk about what the trials help to produce in your life. Ask God to do this for you. 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:14-16 

¹⁴ So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. ¹⁵ You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. ¹⁶ When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 

Paul returned to treating the problem about idols. He wants believers to flee from them. Paul then begins to write about the Lord’s Table, or what is commonly called “The Lord’s Supper.” What was in the cup symbolized the Lord’s blood; the broken bread symbolized His broken body. Believers in Jesus share in the Lord’s Supper and in this way remember the benefits of what Jesus has done for them. 

REFLECT 

As a believer do you look forward to the time at the Lord’s Table? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the name of the communion service. It is called “The Lord’s Table” or “The Lord’s Supper.” It is not said to be the table of a particular church or denomination. Look forward to more details about this in 1 Corinthians 11.