When Paul attempted to motivate the Corinthians, he compared them to the Philippians, who were more generous with what they had than the richer Corinthians.

Each Christian must develop godliness through righteous behavior and service, adding virtue to their faith.

Christ's final marching orders to His disciples was that they love one another, sacrificially sticking together in service to one another.

Although selfless service is not valued today, it is at the core of God's character and a trait we must emulate to go to a higher level of Christian living.

Christianity has both an inward aspect (building godly character or becoming sanctified) and an outward aspect (doing practical good works).

We tend to forget how different holy days offerings were under the Old Covenant. However, the important part of giving offerings remains the same.

Most people are not aware of the motivations that drive their behavior. Are we cognizant of our own motivations? Are we analyzing their activation and intensity?

Paul appealed to his old friend Philemon after his slave Onesimus ran away, stealing his money, running to Rome to assist Paul during his imprisonment.

God can take satisfaction that He is doing the right thing, and thus His rejoicing can even come from painful judgments. Sacrificing and rejoicing are linked.

We must put our lives, treasure, and honor on the line, picking up our cross daily, declaring our independence from carnality, evil and bondage to sin.

Martha used her gifts, but to an excessive extreme. Jesus had to reel her in, setting her on a more productive course. We must use our gifts responsibly.

We live in a time when people have acquired a weak sense of obligation to family, society, or nation. Because sin cannot be undone, all are debtors to God.

Church government should reflect God's government, typified as a family, with Christ as the loving husband and the church as the submissive wife.