Closer To Heaven
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20 July 2026 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Isn’t it the church’s responsibility to teach believers to walk in the Lord’s statutes? Why is every member left to decide on their own on things like dress? For example, no one insists we women cover our heads during worship, which is clear instruction in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. […] Source: https://atoday.org/aunty-im-upset-that-women-dont-cover-their-heads-in-worship/
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 21st of July 2026
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Paul continues his discussion on how Christians should approach issues involving people in the church.
The Greek word pragma in 1 Corinthians 6:1, translated as “matter” in the New King James Version, is a generic term meaning “thing.” Here, it refers to a legal matter. It is important to remember that 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 does not refer to a criminal case. The authority of civil courts for criminal matters is affirmed in Romans 13:1-5. Paul addresses a case of litigation right after a case of sexual immorality, just as Moses did in Deuteronomy 22:22-24. This demonstrates how much Paul’s manner of dealing with problems in the church is based upon the Scriptures.
Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
The fact that the case in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 is bracketed by passages that deal with sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20) may suggest that the “matter” in 1 Corinthians 6:1 regards sexual immorality, too. We don’t know for sure what the case is, whether a minor civil issue, such as a property dispute, or a sexual problem.
Whatever the pragma ultimately was, Paul was not happy to see church members taking it to a civil court. Could not they, as Christian brothers and sisters, have worked it out among themselves, rather than bring the issue before “the unrighteous” (1 Corinthians 6:1, NKJV)?
It is also possible, as some suppose, that the litigants of 1 Corinthians 6:1 are the father and the son of 1 Corinthians 5:1. In any case, it is unnecessary to understand the issue to understand the point. Paul cared about the church’s identity as a Christian community as seen by outsiders. Christians should not air dirty laundry in public (1 Corinthians 6:6). Neither should they use secular means for judging inside matters. In the Roman world, individuals of a higher rank of wealth or political function tended to be favored in a court. Conversely, Christians must perform a Christlike judgment and distinguish themselves from secular standards.
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Think about Paul’s catalog of vices in 1 Corinthians 5:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Why does he list sexual sins along with other sins such as idolatry, thievery, greed, and extortion? |
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Nel Vangelo si racconta di un giovane ricco che incontrò Gesù in cerca di risposte. Quell'incontro gli fece capire una verità profonda: la salvezza non si conquista con i propri sforzi. Gesù disse: «Agli uomini questo è impossibile; ma a Dio ogni cosa è possibile». Ciò che da soli non riusciamo a fare, Dio può renderlo possibile. 🙌 Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/un6bofJdwy4
Why Is Sexual Sin So Powerful? Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 4 – Sin in the Church. It’s the fastest hour of the week! Get this week’s keyword workbook HERE.
A few years ago, I was talking to an elder who had rushed to judgment and taken it upon himself to take “executive” action against another church member. I asked him if he had followed the counsel in Matthew 18 and talked to the member first. He boldly told me he did not need to follow any of the steps in Matthew 18 because he already knew, from one source, exactly what was going on. When he said that, my heart sank! I was talking to a Seventh-day Adventist head elder, boldly telling me that he did not need to follow the Bible, and why! I wish I could say that is the only time that has ever happened, but it is not. I still believe these are inspired words…..
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15-17
This counsel rarely ever gets followed. How much better our world and church would be if people would follow this counsel from Jesus.
Here is what I have seen happen too often. Someone actually tries to follow this counsel, but at step 2, when he tries to get a brother to go along, the brother perceives it as gossip and does not want to meddle in the situation, even though this is exactly what Jesus says to do. Or, instead of being neutral, that person gets an earload from one side and goes into the meeting very biased.
Even more sadly, I have talked with church leaders who passed judgment on another member without ever hearing that person’s side of the story or going to them personally first. They clearly admitted they did not follow the counsel of Matthew 18 because they already had all the evidence without needing to follow Matthew 18.
What? You don’t need to follow Bible counsel because you already have the full scoop? Since when was following the Bible optional? Apparently, it happens all the time. To me, this is the saddest of the three situations, because the people who aren’t following Matthew 18 know they are not following it and don’t care. However, they still think they are fit to be church leaders while intentionally ignoring Bible counsel.
Before many churches can heal and move forward in proclaiming the gospel, they need to make sure they are following the gospel themselves. We need to make sure we follow Matthew 18 when a problem arises and go to our brother or sister one-on-one without anyone else knowing.
Most problems can be resolved at step one. If not, then step two means we should bring along another party who can hear both sides of the story at the same time and not get an earful from one side before even hearing the other. Talking to another person and stacking the deck in one’s favor is very easy for humans to do, but with God’s grace, we can avoid this temptation – especially if we are honestly wanting truth to win.
The third step is to take it to the church. At this point, the church should not be afraid to handle the matter. It is not gossip at this point; it is Bible counsel. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul tells the church that it will be judging angels and needs to judge its own issues.
When we reject Bible counsel, everyone loses. When we follow Bible counsel, there is redemption for all.
The Biblical Person of the Day
Elkanah – the man who faithfully went to Shiloh
Profile
Short StoryElkanah lived during the period of the judges and was a man from the hill country of Ephraim. He is best known as Hannah’s husband and Samuel’s father.
Year after year, Elkanah went with his family to Shiloh to worship the Lord and offer sacrifices. This habit shows that worship held a permanent place in his life.
However, his family was not free from pain. Elkanah had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah remained childless for a long time.
This situation brought much suffering into the household. Peninnah hurt Hannah, and Hannah suffered deeply because of her unfulfilled longing for a child.
Elkanah loved Hannah especially and tried to comfort her. Yet his comfort could not completely take away her pain.
After Hannah poured out her heart before God in Shiloh, Samuel was later born. Elkanah supported Hannah’s vow and walked alongside her when Samuel was dedicated to the Lord.
His story shows that faithfulness in everyday life matters. It also makes clear that love must listen and take another person’s pain seriously, even when it cannot fully resolve it.
The Decisive MomentElkanah supported Hannah’s journey of faith and accepted that Samuel would be dedicated to the Lord.
7 Special Things About Elkanah
Strengths & Weaknesses
faithful in worship
caring
devoted to his family
supported Hannah’s journey of faith
his family structure created tension
he did not always fully understand Hannah’s pain
The Mistake That Shaped HimElkanah loved Hannah, but he could not fully understand her deep pain over being childless.
His story shows that love must not only comfort, but also take the other person’s pain seriously.
Key Verse“Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh.” (1 Samuel 1:3)
The Life LessonFaithfulness in faith and support within the family can create an important space in which hope can grow.
Application for TodayBe faithful in your faith and attentive to the pain of the people close to you.
A Question for YouWho can you not only comfort today, but truly take seriously and walk alongside?
ContextElkanah lived during the period of the judges, shortly before Samuel appeared as a prophet and judge of Israel.
ConnectionElkanah was Hannah’s husband and Samuel’s father, one of Israel’s most important prophets.
Elkanah shows that faithful habits, family support, and a lived-out faith can create an important setting for God’s work.
See you tomorrow with the next biblical person!
The Story of His Life The Life Story of Elkanah – Faithfulness, Family, and a Child of Promise 
A Man from the Hill Country of EphraimElkanah lived in Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He belonged to a time when Israel was often spiritually and socially unstable.
Many people followed their own ways, but Elkanah remained committed to the habit of regularly going to Shiloh. The sanctuary was there, and there he offered sacrifices before the Lord.
His life is not described through great events, yet his faithfulness in worship shows that faith was not only occasionally important to him, but had a permanent place in the yearly rhythm of his family.
A Family with Inner TensionElkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. This family structure created great tension because Peninnah had children, while Hannah remained childless.
At that time, childlessness was often associated with deep shame, social pressure, and personal pain for a woman. Hannah suffered especially because of it.
Peninnah used this situation to hurt Hannah. As a result, family life became difficult for Hannah year after year.
Hannah’s PainElkanah loved Hannah deeply and gave her a special portion during the sacrificial meal. He wanted to show her that she was precious to him even without children.
Yet Hannah’s pain could not simply be removed through kind words or visible affection. Her longing for a child was deep and remained.
Elkanah asked her whether he was not worth more to her than ten sons. These words showed his love, but also that he could not fully grasp the depth of her inner pain.
The Journey to ShilohYear after year, Elkanah went with his family to Shiloh. For Hannah, that place became not only a place of worship, but also a place where her distress became especially visible.
One day she could no longer bear it and prayed in tears. She poured out her heart before God and made a vow.
Elkanah was not at the center of that prayer, but his faithful journey to Shiloh created the setting in which Hannah could experience that decisive moment before God.
The Birth of SamuelGod answered Hannah, and she became the mother of a son. She named him Samuel because she had asked the Lord for him.
For Elkanah, this birth brought great joy. The son Hannah had long desired became a special gift to their family.
Yet Samuel’s birth was also connected to Hannah’s vow. This child was to belong to the Lord.
A Father Who Had to Let GoWhen Samuel was old enough, Hannah brought him to Shiloh to dedicate him there to the Lord. Elkanah supported this path and did not oppose Hannah’s decision.
This also meant letting go for him. Samuel was not only Hannah’s son, but his son as well. Yet Elkanah accepted that this child had a special calling.
Through this willingness, he became part of a story that reached far beyond his own family.
The Importance of His FaithfulnessThe Bible does not describe Elkanah through great speeches or extraordinary heroic deeds. His importance lies more in his steady faithfulness and in his role within the family from which Samuel came.
He was not the prophet, not the judge, and not the main character of the story. Yet his life formed an important background for God’s work in Hannah and Samuel.
Sometimes significance does not consist in standing at the center, but in faithfully creating the space in which others can find their way with God.
The Lasting Message of His LifeElkanah shows that faithful habits and family support are important. His story makes clear that a person cannot always solve everything, but can still accompany, support, and remain steadfast in faith.
It also reminds us that love must learn to take another person’s pain seriously, even when it does not fully understand it.
Final ThoughtElkanah was a man who went to Shiloh year after year and led his family into the presence of God. He loved Hannah and became the father of Samuel, a man who would play a decisive role in shaping Israel.
His life shows that quiet faithfulness and support in the background can have great importance.
His life story shows that whoever remains faithful in faith and walks alongside others can become part of a story greater than their own life.
FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS
Lesson 4: Sin in the Church
4.2 Dealing with Scandals
Correction with the Goal of Restoration
1. IntroductionIn 1 Corinthians 5, Paul shows that a church must not respond with indifference to open and serious sin. The scandal in Corinth was not only the sin of one individual, but also the wrong attitude of the entire congregation. Instead of sorrow, prayer, and spiritual responsibility, the church displayed pride and false tolerance. Paul therefore uses very serious words because the situation threatened the purity, identity, and credibility of the church. Nevertheless, his goal is not revenge or destruction, but repentance and restoration. Biblical correction is always serious, but it should be carried out in love and lead the person back to God.
2. The Biblical FoundationPaul writes:
“And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:2
Then he says:
“Deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:5
Paul continues with a warning:
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” 1 Corinthians 5:6
And at the end he commands:
“Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:13
These verses show that Paul calls for clear correction, but with the goal of bringing the sinner to his senses and leading him to salvation.
3. Connection to Our TimeChurches today also find it difficult to deal properly with scandals, especially those involving sexuality, abuse of power, or public sin. Some want to conceal such matters out of fear of conflict. Others react harshly, without love, or with self-righteousness. Paul shows a different way: sin must not be minimized, but the sinner must not be treated as though there is no hope. The church must reflect both the truth of God and the saving love of Christ. Especially in a time when “acceptance” is often valued more highly than holiness, the church needs courage, wisdom, and humility in dealing with sin.
4. Central Message of the Lesson
The church must take serious and open sin seriously in order to lead the sinner to repentance, protect the community, and visibly preserve God’s holiness.
5. Theological FocusThe central idea of this lesson is that biblical church discipline does not arise from harshness, but from spiritual responsibility. Paul does not view the sin in Corinth as a private matter that concerns no one else. It affects the entire church because it is publicly known and tolerated by the congregation.
Paul demands that the man be removed from the church. This may sound harsh to modern ears, but it shows how seriously sin must be taken when it is openly practiced and not repented of. The church must not pretend that everything is fine when God’s Word is being clearly violated.
The expression “delivered to Satan” means that the man is placed outside the protective sphere of the church. He is meant to recognize the consequences of the path he has chosen. Anyone who deliberately lives outside obedience to God also places himself outside the spiritual protection offered by fellowship with Christ and His church.
Yet Paul also states the goal: “so that the spirit may be saved.” This is crucial. Correction is not meant to destroy, but to save. It is intended to awaken the person so that he recognizes where his path is leading and returns to God.
Here we see the serious love of God. God takes sin seriously because it destroys people. A love that ignores sin is not saving love. It allows a person to continue along a dangerous path. Biblical love warns, corrects, and calls people to repentance.
Paul uses the image of leaven. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. In this way, he shows that tolerated sin has a spiritual effect on the entire church. When serious sin is publicly known and not corrected, it changes the thinking of the community.
The church may begin to think: sin is not really so serious. God’s standards are not that important. Love means tolerating everything. This is exactly the attitude Paul wanted to prevent. The church was not to be shaped by false tolerance, but by Christ, truth, and holiness.
It is important to note that Paul is not saying Christians may no longer have contact with sinful people outside the church. Otherwise, they would have to leave the world. He is speaking about someone who calls himself a brother while deliberately living in open sin. In such a case, the church must preserve spiritual clarity.
The theological focus, therefore, is the connection between holiness and restoration. God’s goal is a holy church, but also the salvation of the fallen person. Correction without love becomes harsh. Love without correction becomes dangerous. The gospel brings both together.
6. Spiritual DeepeningThis lesson challenges us to reflect on how we deal with sin. Many people are afraid of correction because they have had bad experiences with harshness, control, or condemnation. Yet Paul shows that biblical correction must be different. It is not carried out to shame someone, but to save them.
At the same time, it is dangerous to reject every form of correction out of fear of abuse. A church that never corrects often leaves people alone in their sin. It may appear kind, but it loses its spiritual responsibility.
Paul wants the church to grieve. This sorrow is important because it protects against self-righteousness. A person who grieves over sin does not see it as an opportunity to place himself above others, but as a reason to humble himself before God. A church that corrects others must itself remain under the cross.
We must never forget that every one of us needs grace. No one can stand before God by their own strength. Therefore, correction must never be carried out with arrogance. It must come from people who understand: I too live only by the mercy of God.
Nevertheless, grace must not be confused with indifference. Christ did not die so that sin could be minimized, but so that people could be set free from it. When we tolerate sin that God calls destructive, we contradict the purpose of the cross.
Dealing with scandals requires great wisdom. It requires prayer, spiritual leadership, clarity, protection for those affected, and the courage to speak the truth. Especially in serious cases, the church must not conceal or downplay what has happened. Truth is part of healing.
At the same time, the way back must remain open when genuine repentance takes place. Paul’s goal is restoration. When a person recognizes their sin, repents, and turns away from it, the church should not reject them permanently, but forgive, support, and help them.
This balance is difficult, but necessary. Some churches are too quick to exclude and condemn. Others are too quick to minimize sin and show false leniency. The gospel calls us to a path that is both holy and merciful.
A scandal in the church is always painful. It can destroy trust and hurt many people. That is why it is important for the church to act transparently, spiritually, and responsibly. The goal is not to protect its reputation, but to uphold truth, bring healing, and honor God.
This lesson also reminds us how serious our personal lives are. My decisions do not affect only me. They can influence my family, my church, and my testimony. Therefore, I need daily closeness to Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The best protection against public sin is an honest life before God in private. Anyone who regularly examines their heart, confesses sin, and seeks help before problems grow protects both themselves and others from great harm.
Paul therefore does not call us to fear, but to spiritual vigilance. A church should be a place of grace, but precisely for that reason it must also be a place of truth. People should not be affirmed in their sin there, but renewed in Christ.
7. Application in Daily LifePractical steps:
8. Reflection QuestionHow can I help my church take sin seriously while also remaining a place of grace, healing, and restoration?
9. Final ThoughtPaul shows that dealing with scandals in the church requires clear spiritual responsibility. Open and unrepentant sin must not be tolerated out of false tolerance, because it endangers both the individual and the entire church. Yet biblical correction never aims to destroy people, but to lead them to repentance and salvation. A church that belongs to Christ must hold truth and love together. It must take sin seriously, but it must not leave the sinner without hope. When correction is carried out in the spirit of Christ, it can become a path toward restoration.
“So that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:5 
July 20, 2026
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Daily Bible Reading: 
Job 24
When Justice Is Delayed
Why does God not intervene immediately?
Read online here
IntroductionJob continues his response and reflects on a difficult question: Why does God allow injustice to seemingly go unpunished? He describes the suffering of the oppressed and the success of violent people. Job chapter 24 reveals the honest struggle of a person who does not doubt God’s justice but does not understand its timing.
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CommentaryJob begins by asking why God does not appoint fixed times for judgment, so that people may clearly recognize His justice. He wonders why so many crimes seem to remain without immediate consequences.
He then describes many examples of injustice. Powerful people move boundary stones, steal flocks, and take away the possessions of the weak. Orphans and widows are exploited, while the poor are driven from their land and deprived of their means of survival.
Job vividly portrays the misery of the needy. They are forced to work in the fields of others, go hungry despite their hard labor, and sleep without sufficient clothing or shelter. While others live in abundance, they struggle simply to survive.
He then turns his attention to people who deliberately choose evil. He mentions murderers, adulterers, and thieves who seek the darkness of night to hide their deeds. They believe they can remain unseen and escape responsibility.
Yet Job does not claim that God approves of evil. He knows that God sees everything and that, ultimately, no one escapes His judgment. His difficulty is that this judgment is often not immediately visible. Reality seems to contradict the simplistic explanations offered by his friends.
In this way, Job makes it clear that God’s justice does not operate according to human expectations of time. God’s patience does not mean that He is indifferent to injustice. His judgment will come at the appointed time.
Job remains honest before God with all his questions. He does not ignore the suffering in this world, nor does he settle for superficial answers. This is precisely what makes his faith credible.
Job chapter 24 reminds us that we live in a fallen world where not every injustice is punished immediately. Nevertheless, God remains the righteous Judge who sees everything and will one day establish perfect justice.
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SummaryJob 24 describes the suffering of the oppressed and the apparent success of the wicked. Job asks why God’s judgment is often delayed, yet he continues to hold firmly to the truth that God sees everything and will judge justly.
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Message for Us TodayEven when injustice appears to go unpunished, nothing escapes God’s notice. His patience is not indifference. He sees the suffering of the weak and will act with perfect justice in His time. Until then, we are called to live justly, mercifully, and faithfully.
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ReflectionDo you trust that God acts justly even when His intervention seems delayed?
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