Good Morning!

Thursday … Bible study night. I really enjoy gathering with the group on Thursday for in depth study of God’s Word. We just started Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. I hope we can get through the passage below tonight … but won’t be disappointed if we don’t. This passage is chock full of good stuff for the Christian. Give a listen:

1 Corinthians 1:10-31 (English Standard Version)
Divisions in the Church
10I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30And because of him[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verses 11, 26
b. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Greek according to the flesh
c. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Greek no flesh
d. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Greek And from him

First, Paul calls for the church to be unified. And that’s what we should be … one people committed to the task of sharing the Gospel message, going and growing daily. Unfortunately the people of the world don’t see us in that light. No … a number of people see us in our failures and denounce us for our “hypocrisy”. And we help them along by trying to cover our sins rather than stating the plain truth that we are sinners, redeemed by the grace of God.

Second, Paul encourages us to trust God … not our worldly wisdom. God does use that which doesn’t seem wise to teach us the true wisdom of trusting God for the answer. Take a few moments to think about that … we who think we are so smart often find ourselves being taught life’s lessons by someone who we would never guess could teach us.

Finally, Paul tells us to think about our calling … how God has blessed us in what He has called us to do, I often tell my fellow Bible students that I am truly an introvert. Actually I am! I have a deep seated inferiority complex that I believe comes from my upbringing. I would have never have guessed that God would have put me in front of people to sing … to teach … or to write. Yet in each of these endeavors, God has worked miraculously. I cannot tell you how often I sit in front of the screen with absolutely nothing in my brain and the words flow. That is a testimony … not a boast. As Paul says “Let one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Good stuff for tonight … and today too.

Just one other word … tomorrow my brother Bruce returns to Viet Nam. He and several of his veteran buddies are returning to build a library where they fought over forty years ago. Bruce is a double Purple Heart winner … and a hero to me. Please pray for his safety while away. I appreciate it.


Agape’

Mr. Jim