On the Road with Paul

Lesson 11:  U Turn?   (I Corinthians 1-4)

Lesson 11: U Turn? (I Corinthians 1-4)

Before offering counsel about the chaotic situation in their church, Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christianity looks at things much differently than the rest of their world.  “The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…. For since, in […]

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Lesson 12:  Don’t Drink and Drive (I Corinthians 5-10)

Lesson 12: Don’t Drink and Drive (I Corinthians 5-10)

I have always had a hard time making sense of chapters 5-14. Paul seems all over the place, going hither and yon in his reasoning and counseling. After a lot of struggle, I decided to take Paul at his word. There are no laws. Jesus grants us his Spirit which gives us freedom. The only […]

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Lesson 13  Keep Control of the Wheel   (I Corinthians 11- 14)

Lesson 13 Keep Control of the Wheel (I Corinthians 11- 14)

After discussing moral issues Paul turns to worship. Again we see the freedom of the Spirit. Although he speaks of tradition (I Corinthians 11: 2) this does not appear to include a formal liturgy. Five years earlier he said, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, do not quench the Spirit (I Thessalonians […]

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Lesson 14:  Elephant in the Road   (I Corinthians 15)

Lesson 14: Elephant in the Road (I Corinthians 15)

If religions deal with ultimate questions, they eventually have to deal with death. As Paul says, it is the last enemy, the elephant in the room, or to keep our metaphor, the elephant in the middle of the road. No matter what we do, death is ahead. Paul might have put off the task in […]

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Lesson 15: The Best Road Map Available

Lesson 15: The Best Road Map Available

Romans 1-8 Salvation: by Faith Active in Love I am going to look at Romans as the best road map for the modern age, emphasizing how much better “faith active in love” is than the religious law which has failed us so miserably. It enables us to adjust appropriately to the diverse situations before us. […]

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Lesson 16: You Do Not Travel Alone (Romans 8)

Lesson 16: You Do Not Travel Alone (Romans 8)

In the last lesson I spoke about “faith active in love” being the best roadmap for living in our time. Paul sometimes describes it as living “in Christ”, sometimes as living “in the Spirit”. He is obviously talking about the same thing. “What is the Holy Spirit?” was a very common question throughout my ministry. […]

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Lesson 17: Special Responsibilities for Exceptional Drivers (Romans 12 -15)

Lesson 17: Special Responsibilities for Exceptional Drivers (Romans 12 -15)

The last paragraph of Bob’s comment sets the stage for Romans 12. “Christ lived on earth, died, and was resurrected. Through the Holy Spirit He is among us now. The post-resurrection life is not simply something in the indeterminate future; it is a reality in which we can participate now. Our participation in this life […]

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Lesson 18: Rules of the Road (Romans 13: 1-7)

Lesson 18: Rules of the Road (Romans 13: 1-7)

Often our discussions have ended accepting Paul’s positions for the church but asking how they relate to the larger world out there. It is hard enough for Christians to live by love in their private lives, as eyfishpaw and Bob Nordvall remind us. How can we do it in our public lives and how can […]

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Lesson 19: Women Drivers

Lesson 19: Women Drivers

My apologies to the Sunday School class at Good Shepherd for reusing a session I thought covered the topic. My apologies to the rest of you for making a longer than usual post. I think the subject warrants it. Whenever Paul is mentioned at mainline churches in the past 30 years, someone expresses distaste. He […]

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Lesson 20: Use the GPS

Lesson 20: Use the GPS

We’ve come to the end of the online course. I have learned a lot about Paul and also about online learning. A number have asked Frontline to offer more online classes. I suspect we shall, but that we shall keep them much shorter. Scott suggests his group finds this works better. I, also, think it […]

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