Podcast Transcripts

Please enjoy this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Although efforts were made in editing, this transcript may include a few typos. It’s difficult to catch some minor errors. Enjoy!

Welcome to Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast where we help you develop spiritual disciplines in order to grow in love with God, your neighbor as yourself.

Hi, I’m Lyvita Brooks, Bible Teacher, Author, Blogger and host of Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast on a mission to equip and encourage Believers to do the work God’s especially designed you to do.

If this episode is a blessing to you than scroll down on your podcast platform and write a review and rate it. To receive updates, special events, and the biweekly blog click in the transcript of this episode or go to lyvitabrooks.com to subscribe.

Now, come walk with me, where we intentionally practice being in the presence of God. So stop what you are doing, “Cause it’s time to Hang Out With Jesus and me, Lyvita,

Saints, I thought my study of 1st Corinthians was for more me, but the more and more I studied it, the more I felt a tugging from Holy Spirit to share my findings.

Before I begin, if you can have your Bible opened to 1st Corinthians 1, a notepad and pen. Then find a comfy place to write. I’ll give you a few minutes to do just that. Oh yeah, this isn’t one of those episodes you can drive an do…Just an FYI

Are you ready? Cool. In the process of sharing what I found, I am going to show you one of my methods for studying God’s word. By the way, Bible Study is a spiritual discipline. It creates space for you to know what the Bible says and how it relates, applies to your life. When we begin Bible study you need to settle your mind, thoughts and body into being ready to hear Holy Spirit speaking through the pages of God’s word and your soul ready to understand and apply the truths to your life. This process is in 5 parts.

Step One: Let’s get focuses. Inhale and exhale deeply while pushing out all thoughts and noises in your head. Slowly roll your head in 360 degrees twice. Take your time. Breathe. Now say, “Lord, I’m here. I’m ready.”

Now let’s pray… Lord, let the word of Christ, have the run of this vessel. Instruct and direct me using godly wisdom as I seek to know, believe and understand that God is God and be able to apply what I’ve learned to advance the Kingdom of God. Open my eyes to see and ears to hear what Holy Spirit is sharing with me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

All you are doing in step one is preparing yourself to hang out with Holy Spirit, cause your arecovered in the blood of Jesus, so that you can talk to God.

Step Two: Let’s find out some background information about the book of 1st Corinthians so that we will know who’s speaking, to whom, and why. Get a sense of the culture during that time. Because words have a way of changing meaning during different cultures. For example, “bowl” is something you eat out of or something you wash in. It’s good to have those things straight before studying God’s word because remember this happened long time before 2021.

I did some research about the Corinth culture from my Bible, Bible Handbook, and Logos. I recorded my notes in a  small journal. So here are some of the things I wrote:

Paul wrote this letter to the believers living in the city of Corinth. We find that the Christians in Corinth pride themselves in having spiritual gifts and knowledge. They were getting trapped into “fan clubs” for religious leaders. For example, “I follow T.D. Jakes because he is so poetic.” Or, “I like Jentzen Franklin because he gets to the point.” Or, I only follow women preachers because they are more relatable.” That’s what is meant by “fan clubs”. The Corinth believers are doing their own thing and boasting about men instead of glorifying and pleasing God. They are a defiled nation, a divided nation and a disgraced nation of Believers. They are following the standards of the world and following a particular “school of thought” instead of being united, as believers, behind the gospel message. Sounds familiar?

Through my research, I found something new to me. This isn’t the original letter that Paul sent to the Corinthians. Check out 1 Corinthians 5: 9 – 11. He begins with, “I wrote to you” in verse 5 but in verse 11 he says, “But now I am writing to you.” Whoa. These folks were so hard headed they had to get a second letter from Paul? Historians and Theologians, from my research can’t find that first letter.

So that meant that the believers didn’t obey. We find that in Chapter 1 the reason why Paul is writing another letter to them while he is in Ephesus. The Corinthians were continuing to quarrel. It seems from 2:11; 12:14; 13:1 that Paul went to see them, but nothing changed. Paul then sent Titus which is indicated in 2 Corinthians 7:8-12 with this letter, which is 1st Corinthians. Things began to change. The leaders were disciplined, changed and began following the truth of the gospel.

So in 1st Corinthians chapter one we will find out the reason for this letter. Chapter one gives a clear picture. It’s almost like I didn’t need to do the research, because these folks were, so much like us, believers today.

Step Three: Let’s read 1st Corinthians 1 (ESV) because for this study we are looking at one chapter at a time, instead of verse or the entire book. Regardless of rather you are studying a chapter, verse or entire book always check out the background and for a verse read a couple verses before and after it to understand why it’s being said. (Read it – highlighting as you go things that stand out.)

Step Four: Let’s just sit and think about what we have just read. What thought seems to rise up in your mind? Let’s do that. (take 1 minute or less)

What thought or thoughts caught your attention? (pause) This is what I wrote in my mini-journal. It might be different for you and it may be that it crossed my mind also, but just wasn’t as loud for now. Remember Holy Spirit highlights what is needed for each of us that is unique to us.

Thought – Why aren’t Christians living up to their holy calling, but instead following the standards of the world? Believers are siding with people of the same political party, hanging out only with people that are vaccinated and drawing away from those that aren’t, agreeing with all that is LGTBQA, creating division in the church because of differing “schools of theology or philosophy”, being a part of “fan clubs”, pleasing themselves and boasting about “great men of god”, instead of being united behind the gospel message and glorifying God.

The Corinthians and many of the Believers today have lost their way. They have forgotten who they are and whom they serve. I can see my errors in these scriptures. Saints, can you?

Now back to my notes: The one that stands out is, found in verses 26 – 29. “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[c] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being[d] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[e] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Whoa, Paul just put them in their place. Just reminded them that they were nothing before God called them. It’s not what you know but about the one who saved you. No man can boast, unless he is boasting in the Lord.

Now Saints, I’m finished with my notes.

Saints, we are called to be holy. Meaning to be set a part, God’s people, for a specific mission, purpose on this earth.

“Fan Clubs,” “schools of thought, theology,” “siding with a political party or organization” causes division because they are focused on man’s wisdom and not God’s.

We are called by 1 God, God the Father, into 1 body of Christ, and empowered by 1 God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are to have 1 mind in Christ. Our goal, mission is to advance the Kingdom of God while seeking God’s righteousness.

Those who are not believers are only successful when they get a group of people working with them. You see numbers mean something when you have a group of people supporting you and not just with their money.  Believers it’s time to come together to glorify God and advance the kingdom, instead of being “politically correct”.

Recently, I listen to Tony Evans’ broadcast from the NRB convention. He is spot on about the division of the believers. I’ve attached the link. It’s worth listening to, and more than once.

It wasn’t until the believers came together that things started turning around. If you check the scriptures this is also true for the Israelites. Once they stopped following idols and turned back to God, as a people. Life got better. That could happen here in America, if only we believe in following God’s commands instead of man’s wisdom. But first many of us will have to crack open the Bible to read it. Would you agree?

Step Five: My last step. Pray and listen. So let’s do that.

Lord, I pray that you help me to continue to share the truth of your word as I apply it to my life. Let me not be a hypocrite but a God-pleaser who knows, believe and understands that you are God and advances the Kingdom of God with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that we all come into the unity of the body of Christ, speaking one message, and clear about the God we serve. In Jesus name, Amen.

Now Saints, I’d spend the rest of my time listening for Holy Spirit to speak. To just joy being in His presence. Just sitting and gazing. Cause He continues to speak.

Next Steps:

Well Saints, take some time this week to plan two to three days when you can spend 30 minutes or more studying God’s word. Start in 1st Corinthians where I am, if you don’t have a regular Bible study time. Now if you have a regular Bible study class you are attending, put some more effort into it. Do your studying before going to class on two or three selected days. Be there to contribute and learn. Not just to learn. And for those of you who have bible study regularly scheduled into your life and attend class.
Drop me a note in the comment sections below or write a review on your podcast platform.

I’d like to know what you gleamed from this brief study.

So until we meet again over the airwaves, intentionally and daily, hang out with Jesus.

Shalom! 

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