- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 25
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 12
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 26
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 22
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 37
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 39
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 40
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 41
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 42
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 19
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 43
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 44
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 45
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 50
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 14
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 12
- Acts 1: The Ministry of the Gospel
- Exodus 13: Paying the Price
- Acts 2: Faith Founded on Fact
- Exodus 14–18: When Security Vanishes
- Acts 7: Eternal Glory
- Exodus 19: The Covenant to Come
- Acts 8: Counterfeit Gospels
- Exodus 20: The Holy Splendor of God
- Acts 9: From Persecutor to Proclaimer
- Exodus 32: God’s Inexpressible Glory
- Acts 10: The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles
- Leviticus 16: The Holiness of God
- Acts 13: Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Numbers 13: The Book of Wanderings
- Acts 15: How Are We Saved?
- Numbers 14: The Faithfulness of God
- Acts 16: Interrupted Plans
- Deuteronomy 1: “Beware Lest You Forget”
- Acts 17: How to Spread the Good News
- Deuteronomy 2: Knowing God
- Acts 18: Encouragement through Fellow Believers
- Deuteronomy 3: Mercy and Judgment
- Acts 19–20: The Power and Word of God
- Acts 20–21: The Cost of Following Christ
- Deuteronomy 4: Leaving a Legacy
- Acts 22: Common Ground without Compromise
- Deuteronomy 5: The Purpose of the Law
- Acts 23: The Centrality of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 6: The Pitfalls of Prosperity
- Acts 24: Living in Light of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 7: Warnings about the World
- Acts 25: The Witness of Waiting
- Deuteronomy 8: Our Daily Bread
- Acts 26: Agents of Eternal Change
- Deuteronomy 27: A Covenant of Obedience
- Acts 27: Surviving the Storm
- Deuteronomy 28: Idolatry of the Heart
- Acts 28: Service and Encouragement
- Deuteronomy 29: Anticipating the New Covenant
- Romans 1: A Practical Theology
- Deuteronomy 30: God’s Merciful Covenant
- Romans 2: The Universal Moral Law
- Deuteronomy 32: Learning from the Past
- Romans 3: Righteousness in Christ
- Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses
- Romans 4: The Grace of Justification
- Joshua 1: Listening to the Lord
- Romans 5: Reconciliation with God
- Joshua 2: Rahab’s Faith
- Romans 6: Fighting the Flesh
- Joshua 3: Relying on God
- Romans 7: A Struggle with Sin
- Joshua 4: Setting Up Memorials
- Romans 8: Living in the Spirit
- Joshua 6: Obeying God
- Romans 12: Putting Faith into Practice
- Joshua 23: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
- Romans 13: Christians and Government
- Joshua 24: Reviewing God’s Purposes
- Romans 14: Harmony in Diversity
- Judges 2: A Pattern of Idolatry
- Romans 15: Who Are We?
- Judges: In Need of a King
- 1 Corinthians 1: The Foolishness of God
- Judges 6–7: Severe Mercy
- 1 Corinthians 2: Relying on the Spirit
- Judges 14: Resisting Our Flesh Signature
- 1 Corinthians 3: Only One Foundation
- Judges 15: The Power of the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 6: A Call to Imitate Christ
- Judges 16: The Consequences of Disobedience
- 1 Corinthians 7: Marriage and Celibacy
- Ruth 1: A Faithful Remnant
- 1 Corinthians 8–10: Tempering Knowledge with Love
- Ruth 2: A Cameo of Grace and Goodness
- 1 Corinthians 9: Surrendering Our Rights
- Ruth 3: Behind the Scenes
- 1 Corinthians 13: The Love of Christ in Us
- Ruth 4: The Backstory of a King
- 1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection of the Dead
- 1 Samuel 1: Presenting Our Prayers to God
- 2 Corinthians 1: A Ministry of Comfort
- 1 Samuel 2: A Humble Honor
- 2 Corinthians 4: Living Letters
- 1 Samuel 3: When God Speaks
- 2 Corinthians 5: Groaning for Glory
- 1 Samuel 8: Hope for the Future
- 2 Corinthians 8: The Generosity of Christ
- 1 Samuel 9: Trusting the True King
- 2 Corinthians 9: Radical Generosity
- 1 Samuel 10: Our Gracious King
- 2 Corinthians 12: Evidence of the Faith
- 1 Samuel 15: A Rebellious Redefinition
- Galatians 5: Freedom from the Law
- 1 Samuel 16: The Deception of Appearances
- Galatians 6: What Is Salvation?
- 1 Samuel 17: Spiritual Excellence
- Ephesians 1: The Blessing of the Father
- 2 Samuel 5: Hidden Sins
- Ephesians 2: Peace in Uncertainty
- 2 Samuel 7: Honor God in Your Work
- Ephesians 3: In Christ
- 2 Samuel 11: Midlife Crisis
- Ephesians 4: A Worthy Walk
- 2 Samuel 12: The Discipline of the Father
- Ephesians 5: Being Imitators of God
- 1 Kings 1: Our Transient Yet Purposeful Life
- Ephesians 6: The Armor of God
- 1 Kings 2
- Philippians 1
- 1 Kings 3
Growing in Christ
We’re called not only to know Christ but also to grow in Him.
Paul was concerned that the Corinthians were still “infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). They apparently knew Christ, but they were not growing in Him. Paul’s concern over this reveals an important truth: If the gospel has penetrated our hearts in a real way, it will change us. We will not continue acting and thinking as we once did, but our minds will be transformed so that we act according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
We have a choice how we will invest our time, talent, and treasure. These will all perish, but it is possible to leverage them by investing them in the two things that will endure—the Word of God and people. In this way we can build on the foundation of Christ and not on the sinking sand of the things of the world (1 Corinthians 3:11–15).
It’s Only About One Person
The Corinthians displayed their spiritual immaturity by orienting themselves around human personalities. “One says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos’” (1 Corinthians 3:4).
It is good to follow the lead of sound teachers, but there is a danger when we center ourselves around that person. If we do not dig into the Word ourselves and become people of the Word, rather than people of a merely human teacher, we quickly forget that our faith is only about one person—the Lord Jesus Christ. Our pastors and spiritual leaders are servants of the one Lord, just as each one of us should be (1 Corinthians 3:5).
As servants of Christ, then, we must not become people-pleasers in our effort to bring people to Christ. It is Jesus Himself that people need, and so we must elevate Him alone as the center of all things. We have nothing to offer; Christ has everything. Our task is to be agents of grace in this world who point people to this one Source of life.
Evangelism is a Process
As we do this, it is easy to become discouraged when we do not see quantifiable results. But Paul goes on to remind us that evangelism is a process. In an agricultural metaphor, he tells us that God might use one person to prepare the ground, another to plant the seed of the gospel, yet another to cultivate the ground as the seed takes root, and finally one to reap the harvest of a transformed life. Yet it is God alone who causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). By His grace, He invites us to participate in the process of bringing people to Himself.
This means that each step of the process of evangelism is equally vital and equally utilized by God. Therefore, we should not become discouraged if we do not see results. We may be preparing the ground for others to plant. Likewise, we should not become puffed up when we do see a harvest since we are not the ones who change hearts. Instead, both the preparer of the ground and the harvester should glorify God. “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
This teaching is based on Ken’s Handbook to Scripture.
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