"God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace"
September 4-10
FAIR Faithful Resources for Come, Follow Me 2023 September 4–10. 1 Corinthians 14–16: “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace.” Find answers to difficult questions to help you in your learning and teaching. Here is a collection of reliable resources to supplement your study of 1 Corinthians 14–16. FAIR Resources link to relevant questions which have been answered on the FAIR website. Under Church Resources you’ll find links to the different Come, Follow Me manuals, as well as other helpful links as applicable. Other Resources link to resources outside of FAIR that are trustworthy and helpful.
Main points to ponder
The lesson points out that in Paul’s day, society had different expectations about the way women were to participate in society – and that included church meetings.
“Whatever the teachings in 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 meant in Paul’s day, they shouldn’t be understood to mean that women cannot speak and lead in the Church today.”
As you consider the role of women in church meetings in our day, the following may be helpful:
- “In a council that includes women and men, the leader seeks insights and ideas from both. Women and men often have different perspectives that provide needed balance. Men and women reach better decisions and have greater success in the Lord’s service as they value each other’s contributions and work together.” (4.4.3 Discussion and Decisions, General Handbook)
- “We … need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God!” (“A Plea to My Sisters,” Russell M. Nelson
Faithful Resources on the FAIR website:
- Another Look at Baptism for the Dead
- Baptism for the dead in the Bible
- Evangelical Questions: Baptism for the Dead
- “This Is a Woman’s Church”
- Peter and Paul’s Paradoxical Passages on Women
- Women in Global Church History
- To Do the Business of the Church: A Cooperative Paradigm for Examining Gendered Participation Within Church Organizational Structure
- Women of the Global Church: Stories on history.lds.org
- The Reality of the Resurrection
- Evidences of the Resurrection
- Miraculous Events in Early Church History
- Salvation by Works or Salvation by Grace – Who Really Believes What?
Resources on the Church website:
Come, Follow Me – For Individuals and Families
Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School
New Testament Videos: Resurrection of the Dead, 1 Cor 15:20-25
Faithful Resources from other reliable websites:
- Scripture Central, Lynn Hilton Wilson: 1 Corinthians 14-16: New Testament with Lynne Wilson
- Scripture Central, Taylor and Tyler: 1 Corinthians 14–16 | Sep 4 – Sep 10 | Come Follow Me Insights
- The Scriptures are Real, Kerry Muhlestein:
- Follow Him, John Bytheway and Hank Smith: 1 Corinthians 14-16 Part 1 • Dr. Daniel C. Peterson, 1 Corinthians 14-16 Part 2 • Dr. Daniel C. Peterson
- Unshaken, Jared Halverson: 1 Corinthians 14-16 (part 1): Excel to the Edifying of the Church, 1 Corinthians 14-16 (part 2): Swallowed Up in Victory
- Talking Scriptures, Bryce Dunford and Mike Day: Ep 218 | 1 Corinthians 14-16, Come Follow Me 2023
- Don’t Miss This, David Butler and Grace Freeman: Come Follow Me New Testament 1 Corinthians 14-16 (Sept. 4-10)
- BYU Scripture Roundtable Discussions: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?: 1 Cor. 15 2 Cor. 11-12
- BibleProject: 1 Corinthians
- Come, Follow Me — New Testament Lesson 37 | The Interpreter Foundation
- Come Follow Me, Book of Mormon Central, I Corinthians 14-16
- Come, Follow Me | Religious Studies Center
Dig Deeper
Be sure to listen to Jennifer Roach’s presentation for this week!
- General Conference Talks
- Gregory A. Schwitzer: Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound
- Todd Christofferson: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Dallin H. Oaks: Resurrection
- BYU Devotionals
- President Ezra Taft Benson: Easter Message: Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also | BYU Speeches
Lesson Devotional
Lesson devotionals are provided by the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. Its mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from 1833 to 1898. It seeks to make Wilford Woodruff’s records universally accessible to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. See wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
“God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace”
Anonymous Contributor
“The devil has great power; he will so transform things as to make one gape at those who are doing the will of God,” recorded Wilford Woodruff in 1842, quoting Joseph Smith.1 How much more applicable is that in 2023? We live in a confusing time. Many things are distorted to make us believe that good is evil and evil is good.
As I see an increasing number of partial truths and blatant lies in every form of media, I am struck by how much I need to rely on the guidance of the Spirit to make it through. I am also saddened to see those I love struggle to find and hold to the truth.
Paul taught the Corinthians in a time of conflicting ideas and opinions as well. But he reminded them in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” We can receive clarity and peace through our Heavenly Father to help us through the confusion we face.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught that “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”2 As we turn to God, we can receive personalized guidance and direction to help ourselves and those we love through the pervasive confusion in our world. When you feel as though others persecute or gape at you for doing the will of God, take heart and remember that our Father in Heaven is the author of clarity and peace; He will give us everything we need to thrive in these last days.
1 Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, April 28, 1842, p. 180, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1842-04-28.
2 Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2018, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Chapter Summaries
1-28: While speaking in tongues is a valuable spiritual gift, it benefits the speaker more than the listeners unless interpretation is available. It is better to share a gift that will be beneficial to more in a congregation. Paul particularly mentions the gift of prophecy.
29-33: Many can prophesy in a meeting, to the edification and enrichment of each other, always to be done in order.
34-35: Women are to be silent in church. (Note: though this was the cultural norm and/or church policy in Paul’s day, current revelation and church policy are completely different regarding the participation of women in church and home settings. Also, there is some evidence that these two verses were not in Paul’s original manuscript.)
36-40: (picking up directly after 33) Paul summarizes that the Corinthian saints should not forbid the speaking in tongues, that they should be eager to prophesy and that all should be done in order.
1-9: Paul prefaces this section of his letter in which he will share Gospel basics: that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead, as witnessed by the apostles, 500 others, and Paul himself.
10-23: The core doctrine of resurrection from death, as preached by Paul and all the apostles, is central to Christianity. Without it, faith in Christ is in vain. Additionally, the apostles’ missionary efforts would be in vain. But the Corinthians saints should not doubt this fundamental tenet of Christianity. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (22)
24-28: At the time of the resurrection, God and Christ will rule.
29-32: The acts of the ancient Christians are evidence of their testimony of the resurrection, for example their willingness to endure hardships in their missionary labors and the practice of baptism for the dead.
33-44: The resurrection is compared to the planting of a seed. The seed appears dead, yet brings forth a beautiful plant.
45-49: Adam is a type and shadow of Christ.
50-58: Paul concludes with a strong testimony of the glories of the resurrection. “ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “ (v. 55, 57)
1 Cor 16
1-12: Paul shares his hoped-for timetable for when he will be able to visit Corinth again, along with the schedule of several of his fellow missionaries. Instructions about taking up a collection are given.
13-24: Paul concludes his letter hoping the Corinthian saints will be firm in the faith, act in love towards one another, receive counsel and teaching from those who are part of the ministry, and know that they are loved by their fellow Christians in the region, and of course by Paul as well.
Faithful Resources, and Faithful Resources. Also, Faithful Resources therefore Faithful Resources. But without Faithful Resources you’ll need Faithful Resources; because Faithful Resources help. Twelve apostles give Faithful Resources, therefore Faithful Resources abound. Since Faithful Resources at Faithful Resources then Faithful Resources because Faithful. Resources at Faithful Resources as Faithful Resources are Faithful Resources therefore Faithful Resources. Again, Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources. Since Faithful Resources then Faithful Resources.
