Focus on Eternity

        This morning as I reviewed passages found in 1 Corinthians chapters 9 through 11, I noted the style that Paul was using to teach the church in Corinth; he asked questions.   When translators of my English Standard Version included punctuation, the content of three short chapters included thirty-four question marks.   As a listener, if you didn’t feel like you were under interrogation, you might want to check your pulse to see if you were still among the living.   So, what was Paul’s objective in his rapid firing of questions?   Was he seeking answers?   Did you notice that I just asked two questions using Paul’s teaching technique?   Okay, now three!   The nature of Paul’s teaching was to turn the hearts of his listeners.   He was helping them to see themselves as he was observing their behavior.   Has anyone helped you see yourself better lately?      Let’s look at some of the questions Paul asked early in the first few verses of chapter nine:      ·         Am I not free?

        Why do I study Scriptures?  This is a question that any of us who make a regular practice of reading God’s Word should be asking ourselves.  This morning as I studied a passage in Galatians 3 – 4, I realized that Paul was using a method to teach the Galatians about a misstep they had taken.  Rather than just read through these familiar passages once again and pen the phrase, “We are justified by Faith, not Works,” I decided to see how Paul approached his teaching.  One thing that stood out almost immediately is that Paul asked questions.  Although the question mark now helps us identify Paul’s questions, we can see evidence that Paul used them to make his point.  According to my translation, the English Standard Version, Paul asked nine questions and then answered them.      This morning as I walked through this passage, I had to decide How I would study.  Was I going to browse the passage, or was I going to organize my reading so that I could truly understand the point of wh