Daily Lesson for Thursday 16th of July 2026

The fact that we should not form cliques, especially around human leaders, does not mean we should not support our leaders. We are supposed to appreciate and help those who lead out in church work. God commissions people to do His ministry on earth. Church leaders who display a lifestyle that reflects the submissions represented by the Cross are worthy of being heard and followed.

And this is so because only the Cross has the power to reverse any manipulative form of control in favor of submission to God’s Word. Christlike leaders attribute the success of their ministry to God alone. In His earthly ministry, even Jesus as a human assigned glory to God (John 17:4).

Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com

According to Paul, faithful Christian ministry must be grounded upon what we can call a theology of the Cross. The Cross is God’s revelation of His wisdom and power to save. At the same time, it also displays human wisdom as foolishness. In 1 Corinthians 4:1-13, Paul makes it clear what such a theology of the Cross looks like. First, he indicates that it is God who sets the standard for Christian leadership (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Second, he points to the fact that suffering is the trademark of true Christian ministry (1 Corinthians 4:9,11-13). This second point deserves to be further developed.

Christian leaders follow the footprints of Jesus by being willing to suffer for their fellow brothers and sisters, and even if need be die for the sake of their ministry. Paul refers to himself and Apollos as “men condemned to death” (1 Corinthians 4:9, NKJV). They are portrayed as facing a lack of food and water, as well as being “poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless” (1 Corinthians 4:11, NKJV). In addition, they were also reviled, persecuted, defamed, and “made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now” (1 Corinthians 4:12-13, NKJV). Furthermore, by referring ironically to the Corinthians as rich, kings, wise, and distinguished (1 Corinthians 4:8,10), Paul demonstrates that pride must have no place in true Christian leadership, for it is the root of division in the church (1 Corinthians 4:6).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-03-a-lifestyle-that-reflects-the-cross/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-03-a-lifestyle-that-reflects-the-cross

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 15th of July 2026

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Paul hints that cliques result from a lack of spiritual maturity. However, before addressing this topic, he affirms, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16, NKJV). This phrase likely refers to Christ’s way of thinking and acting. In other words, the believer has “the mind of Christ” when he thinks and acts like Christ. Putting this mind into practice in all matters of life is not that easy, though, is it? In the Greco-Roman world, there was much competition among political figures, philosophers, thinkers, and religious leaders. The longing for cultural approval apparently led the church of Corinth to follow secular standards. This may be a danger for the church today, too.

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Just as in Corinth, divisions were also taking place in the church of Philippi (Philippians 2:1-4), perhaps to a lesser degree. Philippians 2:1-8 teaches us that a Christlike servanthood requires dying to self and to selfish ambitions, and seeking instead to bless others above ourselves, as did Jesus.

A Christlike servanthood is what Paul meant by the phrase “servants of Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:1, NKJV). This phrase can convey the idea that they serve Christ as assistants or subordinates. It is clear that a correct view of human leaders is based on Christ’s example of leadership. The servants are further portrayed as “stewards” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). A steward is a person who has been entrusted with administrating the property of somebody else. And whatever we have, it all belongs to Christ anyway.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-03-christlike-servanthood/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-03-christlike-servanthood