1 Corinthians Week 40

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 16:5-6 

⁵ I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. ⁶ Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 

It must have been encouraging for the Corinthians to read that Paul planned to visit them. Macedonia was in the north and then he would come to the south to visit the believers in Corinth. He did not plan just a short visit and thought he might stay with them all winter. Think how much they would have learned from the apostle if he stayed that long. 

REFLECT 

Consider how wonderful it would be to spend a few months with the apostle Paul.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about what it might have been like to spend time with an apostle or even Jesus Himself. Remind yourselves that there is even a greater privilege today because God’s completed revelation is available in the Bible. Believers also have the Holy Spirit living in them to teach them the Bible. See John 16:7-15 to see what Jesus said before His ascension to heaven. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 16:7-9 

⁷ This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. ⁸ In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 

Paul again expressed his desire to stay with the Corinthians for a long visit. Verse 8 in this passage is the one that says the place from which Paul was writing 1 Corinthians to them. The Festival of Pentecost was an annual celebration even from Old Testament times. Paul had an open door of ministry in Ephesus, but he also had many adversaries.  

REFLECT 

Have you noticed when you have opportunities to witness there is also some opposition? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend to talk about opposition and blessing in ministry. Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 and Ephesians 6:10-12 to read why you have opposition.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 16:10-11 

¹⁰ When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹ Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers. 

Timothy was a dear companion of the apostle Paul. He wanted the Corinthians to treat him with great respect. Paul looked forward to seeing Timothy again when he came with other believers. Paul’s affection and discipling of Timothy causes some Christian leaders to say, “Everyone needs a Paul, and every Paul needs a Timothy.”  

REFLECT 

Do you have a close companion in ministry as Paul had with Timothy? Ask God to give you one. 

RESPOND 

Read about Timothy in various Scripture passages. See Acts 16:1-3 for when Paul first met him. Read Romans 16:21; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 2:20-22; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:1 to see Timothy was often addressed in letters along with Paul. See 1 Timothy 1:1-3; and 2 Timothy 1:1-3 to read how Paul addressed Timothy in his personal letters to him.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 16:12 

¹² Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity. 

Remember in 1 Corinthians 1:12 Paul wrote that the Corinthians were divided about whom they should follow. Apollos is mentioned there but in 1 Corinthians 16:12, as well as in other places, Paul reveals there was no competition between them because he was glad to recommend him to others. 

REFLECT 

Have you noticed that sometimes people think there are more differences between Christian leaders than there really are? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading further about what Paul said about Apollos. Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 to notice how both Paul and Apollos were doing the Lord’s work. As you plant spiritual seed in the lives of others with your Christian witness, pray others will come along later and water and some will be able to pick the spiritual fruit.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 

¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. ¹⁴ And do everything with love. 

Paul continued his concluding remarks to the Corinthians by urging them with four commands. Notice he added a fifth command that they should “do everything with love.” They had been guilty of not showing love at the Lord’s Table and with exercising spiritual gifts. That’s why he wrote what he did in 1 Corinthians 13.  

REFLECT 

Have you noticed that some who emphasize truth do not speak it with love? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how important it is to love the truth, but to speak the truth in love. Review your past week and ask how you could have done it better.