1 Corinthians 16:8 What Christianity does for a Man. I. Christianity made Paul courageous. "There are many adversaries." A very good reason for leaving Ephesus, but, some of us would have thought, a bad one for remaining there. Paul looked at the "door" first, and at the adversary next. II. Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 16:9 I. "The door is great" by reason of the commanding position of Ephesus in Asia. To Ephesus, as the capital of the Roman province, and the centre of provincial life, there poured multitudes daily from every quarter of Asia. Hither Gentiles and Jews alike hastened continually on err... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 16:13 Christian Fortitude. Consider the necessity and the true grounds of Christian fortitude. I. The necessity of it may perhaps not pass altogether unquestioned. It is well known that the Christian must be meek and lowly; poor in spirit, a peacemaker; not returning evil for evil, n... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 16:21 Anathema and Grace. I. This passage shows the terror of the fate of the unloving. II. The present grace of the coming Lord. III. The tenderness caught from the Master Himself, in the servant who rebukes. A. Maclaren, _The Unchanging Christ,_p. 260. References: 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]