1 Corinthians 15

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. vv.51-52

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This chapter is packed with all sorts of foundational truth like resurrection, no macro-evolution, spiritual vs. natural, etc.  I decided to focus today on some of the end verses that are a turning point of how you view our future hope.  Now this chapter is known as the resurrection chapter.  It talks about how Christ was raised from the dead and this had to happen or else our belief in Him and our salvation is nothing, it's dead.  We can't just believe that Christ died for our sin, we must believe that He was raised from the dead too.  This gives us hope of our resurrection from the dead.  But wait a minute, why do we need resurrection if we go to heaven when we die?  Somethings not quite right with those two beliefs.  This chapter clearly says we will be raised from the dead and given spiritual bodies.  There are also some that won't experience resurrection because not all will sleep (v.51), but still be changed in a twinkling of an eye with a spiritual body.  Now a spiritual body is not just some floating matter that we won't be able to recognize people, but a spiritual body is a body without corruption of sin and death working through it.  It is of God and not of the dust (vv.47-49).  Now the challenge for you with this passage: Paul is speaking to believers at that time saying they won't all sleep, but we don't see any of them walking around today, so when will this take place?

1 Corinthians 14

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? v.7

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If someone speaks in a tongue, what is it you first think of?  Babble right? Unintelable sounds?  Many Christians and churches are said to "speak in tongues" like this, yet scripture does not describe speaking in tongues this way at all.  Now I can't explain why it is that this happens then today, other than deceit by themselves or Satan.  One of my friends grew up in a charasmatic church that spoke in tongues and he says he remembers the pastor teaching him how to do it by repeating the same word over and over again till it becomes something more.  Ridiculous right?!  Paul even tells Timothy to avoid idol babbling falsely called knowledge in 1 Timothy 6:20.
Well what is a tongue then?  A tongue is a known language.  It is the same Greek word that has been translated into two English words: tongue and language.  So the gift of language or tongue (which ever word you chose to use) is someone being able to speak another language like Spanish, Mandarin, Hebrew, etc without having studied; he's fully fluent the first time he opens his mouth.  We see this for example in Acts 2:1-12 at Pentecost when men had traveled from all nations heard the apostles speaking in tongues saying that they each could hear them in their own language what the Holy Spirit was saying through them.
I am bilingual English & Spanish but I had to study my butt off to learn a second language.  Oh I wish it was as easy as just being able to speak without having studied which is why that is a spiritual gift, a gift from God.
So how do you now understand the phrase speaking in tongues?  There is a deep study and article by Bible Teach Otis Sellers to check out Biblical Gift of Tongues

1 Corinthians 13

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. vv.4-8

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The famous love chapter.  You'll here this at about 70% of weddings for it's such a good truth of what love is- more than just a "feeling."  Yet this isn't love just between a husband and a wife, this love we ought to show to everyone.  I work with 12 post college aged interns for a whole year in housekeeping tasks, and there are days when I check myself with this list when I'm struggling loving them.  Sometimes I can't even get past the first characteristic without realizing I've fallen short of "suffering long" or as some versions have "patient."  We have to remember the Paul is talking to the Corinthians still and is calling them out for their misuse of spiritual gifts through their pride, selfishness, etc.  He's saying even the most honoring gift is nothing, useless, vain if they are not doing it out of love.  So which of these characteristics of love are the hardest for you and which do you find most affective for someone to love on you well?

1 Corinthians 12

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; vv.20-23

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I love this illustration of unity.  Just as we need all parts of our body as they all have different functions that are needed, so in unity with others all are needed for who they uniquely are.  Sometimes you don't realize how useful a body part is till it's gone or broken.  When I was in a back brace I lost any abdominal muscles I had so once I got out of the brace and tried to do a plank ab exercise I feel over immediately.  I quickly realized how necessary strong abs are.  If the whole body were an eye it wouldn't be able to hear, or if the whole body were a head it couldn't get anywhere without feet.  Some parts that other people value more doesn't make other parts useless. Yet body parts can't compare itself to another and the believer ought not to compare either to other believers.  Each member needs the other and not one can stand alone.  When one part of the body is hurting the whole body is in pain and if one part is healthy it helps the rest of the body be strong.  So the direct correlation with how we ought mourn and rejoice with our fellow members.
What are "weaker" parts in an area of unity you're in that you need to pay more honor to?

1 Corinthians 11

 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. v.10

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This can be a very difficult passage for many to read and believe because of what is said about a man being the head of the woman.  Well let's dig a little deeper to read what's going on in the context.  Now first off no where in the law does God command head coverings, though many people wore these.  And why does it say "because of the angles"?  Well this could be of the sexual perversion that angles had with women in the Old Testament (see Genesis 6) and therefor a warning to the Corinthians as they were dealing with a lot of sexual immorality.  Also this talk about short and long hair for men and women seems to be like a secret code for talking about sexual immorality.  Bible Teacher Nathon Johnson describes it this way, "in the Roman society of the day, all males wore their hair short and all females wore their hair long. This was the style and the custom, and was so universally followed that breaking it would have been most bizarre and immediately noticeable. Thus it was that the prostitutes took up the habit of making a statement of their trade by reversing this cultural norm. The female prostitutes would cut their hair short to indicate their trade, and the male (homosexual) prostitutes would grow their hair long for the same reason.  In this passage, it would appear that hair length and head coverings are used as symbols for sexual immorality and morality, and for prostitution and abstention from prostitution. The language is very delicate and somewhat confusing to those of us who do not understand the customs of the day." (Long Hair and Glory).
So now does reading this passage clear up some confusion or difficulty in understanding it today?  What are symbols of how people look today that reveals a sexually immoral lifestyle?

1 Corinthians 10

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. v.13

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This was one of the first bible verses I ever memorized when I was a senior in high school.  I struggled with temptation in a lot of things and one of my leaders gave me this verse to cling to and find truth in beating the lie that I can't overcome.  Every time I was in a situation where I was tempted, I started looking for a way out and would always find it!  Now there were a lot of times I saw the way out but chose not to take it giving in to temptation instead, but that was my choice not God's doing.  True are the words of Warren Wiersbe in his book Be Wise: 

"The believer who thinks he can stand may fall; but the believer who flees will be able to stand."

God doesn't let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, notice this doesn't say God doesn't  make you experience something you can't bear.  For example, many people say God doesn't give you something you can't bear when a mother's son dies.  That has nothing to do with temptation of what Paul is talking about here.  What are situations of temptation that you feel like you can't overcome?  Start looking for the way out that God provides.  It may not be running from that temptation but a way you "may be able to bear it."

1 Corinthians 9

 I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  v.22

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This phrase has been misused by so many, to the point of being abused for selfish reasons.  I once heard someone use this to justify smoking marijuana.  Paul was not a hypocrite or a people pleaser.  Paul was "an ambassador, not a politician...He simply adapted his approach to different groups" (Warren Wiersbe, Be Wise).  He didn't have an outline that was the same for all his sermons or have a booklet of steps to take to take to share the gospel.  He got to know them on their level.  Paul humbled  himself for the salvation of others.  He gladly says he's become a servant to all men (v.1) even though he was free from all men, kind of a paradox I'd say.  Paul didn't sin to win sinners but just like Jesus he'd hang out with them.  How can you be among unbelievers without people pleasing (negatively) so that you might share the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ?