Get started. Today our text will be 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 5 through 12.

You can turn there if you're not there already.

And once you do, if you're able, I'll ask you to stand. You can follow along as I read.

The Apostle Paul is writing, and by the Holy Spirit says, verse 5, after I go through Macedonia,

I will come to you, for I will be going through Macedonia.

Perhaps verse 6, I will stay with you for a while, or even spend spend the winter so that you can help me on my

journey wherever I go, for I do not want to see you now, don't take it personal, and

make only a passing visit.

I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits.

But verse 8, I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,

because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When Timothy comes, verse 10, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is

carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one then should treat him with contempt.

Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

Now about our brother Apollos, verse 12, I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers.

He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Let's pray, we'll ask God's blessing on our time together in His Word if you would join with me.

Loving Heavenly Father, we're wanting to posture ourselves this morning before you humbly

and simply with ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to receive.

Lord, we don't want our time together in your word to be a waste of time.

We're looking to you to speak into our lives in and through your word.

So Lord, will you?

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