Category Archives: Daily Devotions

People seem to like a Sugardaddy God.  He views the world with all the warm-fuzzies that they have and then gives them pizza and ice-cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  When people suffer injustice the perpetrator should be punished by God.  When … Continue reading →

Paul confidently asserts his opinion and then backs away from dominating those who oppose him.  Although Paul could eat any food, he chooses to eat nothing offered to idols so as to maintain the peace.  Although Paul could receive pay … Continue reading →

Paul continues the theme of reward, but now emphasizes each person’s role.  In most races there is one winner.  Paul brings to mind all the training that goes into winning a race.  However, in his picture of competing it is … Continue reading →

These pictures just represent some of the ways I have changed to fit in with my context.  I was a pastor at a black church in Chicago for two years.  I had to be careful how I spoke about Democrats.  … Continue reading →

Paul wants a reward.  He receives the reward if he is unpaid for his services.  His reward is that the gospel is offered free of charge.  People here in America are very attuned to their rights.  They are frequently embroiled … Continue reading →

In the first part of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul has spent a lot of time explaining why a minister should receive a salary.  Now he switches his line of argument completely.  Although Paul is free to receive payment from those to … Continue reading →

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul makes the argument that those who are commissioned with a responsibility should receive pay for that responsibility.  Soldiers are paid by the government.  Planters of grapes get free grapes.  Goat herders drink goat’s milk.  This … Continue reading →

As I was surfing the web the other day I found a site that said you should not pay people for ministry.  It cited the words that Jesus said, “The man runs away because he is a hired hand and … Continue reading →

We are getting into a new problem here in chapter nine.  At the time of Paul, especially around Greece (Corinth is in Greece) itinerant philosophers would roam the land and find rich patrons.  The rich patrons would then influence the … Continue reading →

Looking at the whole chapter allows us to see how Paul’s argument builds.  He starts by asserting the importance of loving relationships when dealing with disagreements.  Secondly, Paul argues his side of the case on the issue.  He then advocates a … Continue reading →