Day 327 - Servants, Purity, and Purpose: God’s Blueprint for a Holy Community

Welcome to Day 327 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.

In these chapters, Paul continues correcting the Corinthians by addressing pride, immorality, lawsuits among believers, and confusion about marriage and singleness. He emphasizes humility, accountability, and the seriousness of representing Christ as His servants. Paul rebukes the church for tolerating sin and reminds them that holiness is essential for those who belong to God. He also gives practical instructions about sexual purity, the believer’s body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the calling of marriage and singleness. Together, these chapters give the church a blueprint for godly living rooted in humility, purity, and devotion to God.

1 Corinthians 4

Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians that he and the other apostles are servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries, accountable first and foremost to God. He warns them against pride and judging God’s servants prematurely, explaining that the Lord alone will reveal every motive when He comes. Paul then exposes the spiritual arrogance of the Corinthians, contrasting their self-perceived wisdom and strength with the suffering and humility of the apostles. He urges them to imitate his example of servant leadership rather than boasting in human accomplishments. Paul concludes by preparing them for his visit, asking whether they desire him to come with gentleness or with corrective discipline, depending on their repentance.

1 Corinthians 5

Paul confronts a shocking case of sexual immorality—a man living in an incestuous relationship with his father’s wife—and condemns the church for responding with pride instead of grief. He commands them to remove the unrepentant sinner from their fellowship, explaining that a little “leaven” of sin spreads corruption through the entire church. Paul clarifies that his instructions apply to unrepentant sin inside the church, not to unbelievers outside, because God will judge those outside. His rebuke emphasizes the need for church discipline to protect holiness and restore those who fall into sin. Paul ends by urging believers to judge those within the church in righteousness, reflecting God’s standard of purity.

1 Corinthians 6

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for taking their disputes to secular courts instead of resolving matters within the church, calling it a spiritual defeat. He explains that believers, who will one day judge the world and even angels, should be wise enough to settle disputes among themselves. Paul also confronts sexual immorality, reminding them that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. He emphasizes that believers have been washed, sanctified, and justified, and therefore must not return to sexual sin. Paul concludes by teaching that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and must be used to glorify God rather than indulging sinful desires.

1 Corinthians 7

Paul addresses questions about marriage, singleness, and sexual relations within the church. He teaches that marriage is a God-ordained covenant that protects purity, but he also honors singleness as a calling that allows for undistracted devotion to the Lord. Paul instructs spouses to fulfill their marital responsibilities to one another and warns against using deprivation as a tool for manipulation or spiritual superiority. He gives guidance for believers married to unbelievers, encouraging peace and faithfulness where possible. Throughout the chapter, Paul emphasizes that each person should live faithfully in the calling God has given them—whether married or single—because the goal is wholehearted devotion to Christ.