1 Corinthians Week 8

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 4:5 

⁵ So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 

Paul urged believers not to judge people ahead of time. They should leave the judging to God who knows about secret motives and can reward accordingly. This makes the point that although actions can be judged, motives cannot be. It will be evident in 1 Corinthians 5 that Paul wanted them to judge the actions of a person, but he does not refer to his motives. 

REFLECT 

Does it help you to know you should not judge a person’s motives even if the person’s actions should be judged? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Romans 14:1-10. This passage shows what Paul wrote about not judging someone regarding the person’s diet or day of worship. Talk with your friend about following Paul’s advice. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 4:6-7 

⁶ Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. ⁷ For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? 

Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to judge who they thought was the best leader at the expense of another leader. He did not want them to be proud of a particular leader that would put another leader in a bad light. Speakers are gifted by God in different ways. To be critical of leaders, therefore, is to be questioning God.  

REFLECT 

Do you accept various Bible teachers as those gifted by God with different approaches? The same Word of God is shown through various personalities. 

RESPOND 

Chapters in the New Testament concerning spiritual gifts can be thought of as two 12s and two 4s. 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4. With a friend, search for the verses in each of these chapters that tell about gifts and gifted people. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 4:8-9 

⁸ You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. ⁹ Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. 

Paul scolded the Corinthian believers who thought glory would come before suffering. He contrasted their thoughts with what the apostles were experiencing. To him, it seemed like the apostles had become a “spectacle to the entire world.” He realized that suffering came before glory. 

REFLECT 

As a believer in Jesus, are you suffering now for your faith? If so, you can count on rewards and glory later. 

RESPOND 

Read Romans 8:18-25 with a Christian friend. This will encourage both of you as you realize whatever you are experiencing; glory will follow.  

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 4:10-11 

¹⁰ Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. ¹¹ Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 

In contrast to what the Corinthian believers seemed to be thinking, Paul thought the dedication of the apostles must make them look foolish. The apostles were experiencing hardships while the believers in Corinth were not experiencing suffering. The contrast seemed extreme. 

REFLECT 

Are you discouraged as you compare your circumstances with what others seem to be experiencing? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in praying for what some are going through as they seek to serve Jesus. Some live in areas of the world where it could cost their lives if they claim to be His followers.  

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 

¹² We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. ¹³ We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. 

Paul expressed what the apostles were experiencing. They were working hard to earn their living. Yet, instead of having a bad attitude about others, the apostles were blessing others even while they were being mistreated. Paul said the apostles were being treated “like everybody’s trash.” REFLECT 

Imagine what Paul and the others felt like as they sought to teach what Jesus taught and live to honor Him. Have you sometimes felt like this? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about what Paul said how he thought of his present position in Christ in contrast to his previous life. Read Philippians 3:5-11 where Paul wrote about this. There was nothing that would cause Paul to want to give up what he had in knowing Jesus as Savior.