Monday, April 08, 2019

Physical Versus Spiritual Man (Person)--Outline for a Talk

A physical man/person is fleshly-minded, more concerned with prestige and worldly pursuits rather than spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). Such individuals practice works of the flesh mentioned at Galatians 5:19-21. Unfortunately, a number of Christians in the early Corinthian congregation gave way to fleshly-mindedness by promoting divisions, taking their brothers and sisters to court or they self-indulgently lived for food, drink, and sex (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 6:1-10).

Conversely, what qualities characterize a spiritual person? See 1 Cor. 2:15-16.

Instead of being fleshly-minded, a spiritual man/person is God-oriented, that is, inclined toward God. Spiritual persons try to acquire Jehovah's thinking on matters; they strive to imitate him (Eph. 5:1-2) and reflect the fruitage of the spirit listed at Galatians 5:22-23. You know these qualities by heart, no doubt. Yet how are we doing when it comes to personal application?

Another way to be a spiritual person is by having the mind of Christ, that is, possessing the same mental disposition that Jesus had (1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5).

Personal question: How can we live as spiritual persons each day of our lives?

Three areas include our use of technology, the field ministry, and how we manifest the spirit's fruitage.

There is much that we can learn about being spiritual persons as we study Paul's first inspired letter to the Corinthians.

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