HOC’ed: A Blog About Curiosity in Christianity
Real stories, honest questions, faith-filled reflections, and hope found in the middle of everyday life.
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Called to Be Saints: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:1–3
Paul reminds the church at Corinth that they are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints. This reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 is a reminder that our identity is not found in comparison, performance, or control, but in who we are in Christ.
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Suffer Well Together
1 Peter 3:13–17 (CJB) 13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give
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It’s all political?
Galatians 1:13–14 (CJB) 13 For you have heard about my former way of life in [traditional] Judaism—how I did my best to persecute God’s Messianic Community and destroy it; 14 and how, since I was more of a zealot for the traditions handed down by my forefathers than most Jews my age, I advanced in [traditional] Judaism
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KEEP GOING!
Galatians 1:11–12 (ESV) 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Examine / Explain A commentary speaks of Paul’s nonconformity
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Know your audience
Galatians 1:10 (ESV) 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Examine / Explain Judaizers accused Paul of compromising the Gospel to fit the Gentiles. That he was
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I want to move out!
Galatians 1:8–9 (NASB 95) 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you
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Gospel Perversion
Galatians 1:6–7 (NASB 95) 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Examine / Explain Paul was in great wonder
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Suffer Well
Galatians 1:1–5 (ESV) 1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself
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Negotiated Non-negotiables
1 Samuel 16:1 (NASB95) 1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” Examine
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Suffering well
Jonah 1:1–3 (NASB 95) 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to
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