Hello! How are you guys doing? It's been a pretty cool season so far. We've got the Olathe Invitational this weekend, and then the St. Louis Top Ten tournament is coming up here in about a month. The 2017-2018, 1-2 Corinthians quiz season is moving fast - but we don't have to get nervous or discouraged if we're not where we would like to be. There is still a lot of time to figure out, and then implement how we're going to get there. Today, I'm just going to talk a little bit about the matter of understanding our quiz material this season. So here's how we can practically go about understanding what Paul writes...
He gave us the Holy Spirit as a comforter, and as a teacher - to explain the Word to us, as we're seeking God. We have to go into it (studying for quizzing and in general) with an attitude of "I'm going to understand this", and not, "I probably won't have any idea what this is talking about, but I'm just going to have to study it anyway". As awesome as 1-2 Corinthians is, and as much truth is in it, it won't profit us anything if we don't really know what it means - and a lot of it is confusing to begin with. PLUS, if we really understand the material, we will be able to challenge, rebut, appeal, and answer questions from that firm foundation.
I didn't realize that I needed to do this my first one or two years of Bible quizzing, and because of that, it didn't really do anything for me. But when I started to try and see it as the Bible (imagine that :P), it began adding to my motivation to study and do well in quizzing. There's this verse in Psalms, that says "the Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory". I don't know about you, but the Lord being "my strength and my song" makes me think of two things: 1) marching into battle with the singers up front, and totally demolishing the enemy, and 2) singing, and as you do, being filled with so much confidence, and inspiration, and passion, and love, and awe for God. Whoo. That's such an awesome verse. BUT ANYWAY The Word of God has a life that no other book in existence has ever had, or will will have. That life is what causes the change in our hearts (and thereby our lives) as we learn from it, and meditate in it. That life is the only way that we're going to start living the kind of life that God wants for us - a life full of joy, prosperity, love, and healthy friendships and relationships. Of course, how can I say all of this without John 1:1 and John 14:16, where Jesus is described as "The Word", and, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life". I would invite you to go back a reread the last paragraph with this in mind, before reading the next one, because I'm making an illustration. The Word, being Jesus, has a life that no other person in existence has ever, or will ever have. That Life, "THE Life" (Jesus), is what causes the change in our hearts and lives, as we learn from Him, and spend time with Him. That Life, Jesus, is the only WAY that we're going to start living the kind of life that God wants for us. Bible quizzing, as fun as it is, is an instrument of God in our lives that He wants to use to lead us deeper into His love - not just while we're kids, but in a way that will carry over into the rest of our lives. If you're struggling to find motivation to quiz, try looking at it as the Word instead of quiz material. Because God's Word is the most perfect, most EPIC source for long-lasting, and deeply-rooted motivation.
This is probably one of the TOP ways that I've been able to start to understand some of what is in 1-2 Corinthians this season. One of the hardest things for me so far, has been what (if taken just at face value) sounds like misogyny (dictionary definition: hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women, or prejudice against women). But I know my God - that's the important thing. I know that my loving Father and Friend would never oppress me, or cause me hurt, or force a way of life on me that is anything less than beautiful and happy. Why? Because I'm His baby, not His vessel. He loves me so much, His favorite shirt has a picture of my face on the front of it! :P Remembering who I've grown to know my God to be, reading these tough verses and passages is less crushing. On the contrary, I'm learning to not react with anger when I come across a verse like 1 Corinthians 11:7, but rather take a breath and smile, and know that God has PERFECT reasoning in what His Word says. We just can't take the Word at face value. We have to dig in and seek God's heart, before jumping to any conclusions, and causing ourselves unnecessary hurt that God never intended. In the next part of this series, I'm going to give you some practical steps to take to understand 1-2 Corinthians, when you come across a weird verse/passage. But until then, I love you guys so much, and our Father loves you so much too. He calls you blessed coming in and going out, He calls you the head and not the tail, He calls you highly favored in His sight. He has lifted up His countenance upon you - He has smiled on you - He is singing and dancing over you right now, and He has given you incredible, in-explainable peace. Because of that, you have the right, you have the capability, you have the blessings, to quiz and live victoriously. And through you grabbing on to that victory, God is going to explode through you with insane, blackout love for His people, and send tidal waves of change through the world. Have an awesome week, guys, and I will see you at Olathe on Saturday! Keep calm and quiz on (and out)! Your fellow quizzer, Mallory
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Trending Posts:Author:Mallory is a graduated Teen Bible Quizzer originally from the Southern region, moved to the Northwest, coaching quizzing over the book of Matthew. Check out our
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