“Judging All Things” -- I Cor.2,3

We are the ultimate insiders -- we have been given access to the “deep things of God” because God’s Spirit has been planted in and speaks to our souls. But many Christians don’t seem to hear the mysteries that the Spirit wants to reveal. Why not? Because other voices drown out the voice of God -- the culture, the devil, our friends, our family, our history, and even our churches. All of these sources can broadcast “the standards of this age” and keep us “infants in Christ.”

If we want to move beyond our spiritual pre-schools, we must learn how to recognize and reject these false standards -- wherever we find them. When our churches measure spiritual maturity by church attendance, by tithing, by service to the church, we must remember that you you can do all of that and still be a spiritual thumb sucker.

Our task then is to discern “worldly” thinking -- “the spiritual man makes judgments about all things.” (2:15) This is a learned skill -- developing the ability to discern the good and evil in “all things.” As you watch T.V. with your family (or by yourself) ask questions:

• What does this commercial teach about what it means to be a woman? what makes her happy? why aren’t there fat or homely women in commercials?
• What does this sit-com teach about the role of fathers? Is that the kind of father you would like to have?
• What kind of life do you think these professional football players live? How would you like to have your mistakes unveiled by instant replay to the whole nation? What would it be like to be cut when the team found a better player?
• What do you think it would be like if our family lost our home in a natural disaster? would God let something like that happen to us? should the federal government replace our home if we lost it?

It is God’s Spirit in cooperation with God’s word which helps us make accurate judgments about the world we live in. And these right judgments form the basis of a maturing, stable Christian faith.

Assignment: Practice making judgments as you watch T.V. this week.

This Sunday: We will complete I Cor.3, asking some of the following questions:

• How did Paul view his role in the Corinthians' growth toward maturity? What does this say about how we should be involved in others' lives?
• How will God judge my role as a discipler of others?
• How do I measure my success as a discipler of others? (4:1-5)

Next prayer fellowship: Oct.23 at Ed & Kristi Irvin's