Puzzled about Whether or Not to Have Sex?

1 Corinthians 7:1-6

November 12, 2023 • Brian Jones • 1 Corinthians 7:1–6

1 Corinthians 7:1-6


1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 


2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 


3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 


4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 


5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 

Puzzled about paying God's workers?

May 12, 2024 • Brian Jones • 1 Corinthians 9:3–14

1 Corinthians 9: 1-3 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?  2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 

Puzzled about how we do ministry for free?

May 19, 2024 • Brian Jones • 1 Corinthians 9:15–19

1 Corinthians 9:15-19 15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Puzzled about apostles?

May 5, 2024 • Brian Jones • 1 Corinthians 9:1–3

1 Corinthians 9: 1-3 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?  2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.