In this chapter, Paul addresses sexual immorality that has found its way into the church of Corinth. Paul's instruction is one of gospel grace and righteous judgment. But this chapter isn't just about dealing with sexual immorality as a church, it also applies to the sexual immorality that may reside within us as individual believers.

*This sermon is preached at a high school and older level.

In this chapter, Paul concludes his thoughts about the divisions within the church of Corinth. He points the Corinthians to the truth of their God-given office—they are not those who are worthy of being followed because of how gifted they are or how good they can preach, but because they are servants of God and stewards of his gospel. Paul reminds them that being a disciple isn't about prestige, it's about living the way of the cross. Disciples are those who are called to give up everything for the sake of the gospel, and in so doing, gain all things in Christ.

In this chapter, the overarching point Paul is making in regards to the divisions is that God is to be praised for all good that happens in the church—we are untied, not around what men and women do, but what God has graciously done in our midst. The divisions are merely a byproduct, or a result, of slipping back into worldly wisdom. What this passage tells us, is that our life, the way we live it and the decisions we make, reveals what we’re taking in, and also, our maturity in the faith.

In this section Paul takes a moment to correct any misconceptions that the Corinthians may have towards Paul's view of wisdom. Because he has come down so hard on worldly wisdom the church in Corinth may be tempted to believe that Paul is anti-wisdom. This couldn't be further from the truth. The purpose of this passage is to teach the Corinthians that wisdom is actually of God and that he, through Jesus and the Apostles, chose to impart that wisdom to believers by the Spirit. Paul's desire is to help the Corinthian believers to understand that they are not only in Christ, they have been given the mind of Christ.

In this section Paul explains what our main priority is as “called ones,” those who have been sanctified—we are people of the gospel. It’s a reminder of what is central to Christianity; that the gospel is the guiding force of a believer's life. Our faith is not a culmination of what we’ve worked for or earned, it’s the consequence of a gracious God extending mercy to those who humbly believe their only hope is Jesus—the wise believe they can make it, but the weak know they can’t.

In this section Paul reminds the church at Corinth who he is and who they are. That is, they are people who have been called by the Lord, not because of what they have done or what they have to offer the Lord, but simply because of God's grace. This section serves to ground the Corinthian believers in the gospel of grace, especially in light of Paul's rebuke of their sin and exhortation to holiness. Paul wants the believers in Corinth, and by extension, us, to understand that putting off sin and putting on holiness is only possible by God's free grace.

Ruth 4:13-22 is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture in all of the Bible. It's here, in these final verses, that we learn what God has been doing this whole time. He's been setting forth his plan of redemption through Ruth and Boaz and their son Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. And even as the future promise of redemption is being revealed through King's David's heir, Jesus, we see it playing out before our eyes—Naomi, the bitter one, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, have been redeemed.

In Ruth 4:1-12 we begin to see how the narrative is going to unfold. It's here that we learn how the work of God’s invisible hand is going to play out. And what we learn is that God is the ultimate Redeemer, who takes that which seems dead and hopeless and brings forth beautiful and abundant life.

In the third chapter of Ruth, Naomi sets a plan in motion to secure redemption for her family. While it's universally agreed upon that her plan isn't the best plan, it does serve to show how God works all things together for the good of those who love him. Both Ruth and Boaz reveal their true character in this late night encounter and we see clearly that the object of their affection, even more than each another, is God.