Okay, we get what unity looks like: but how do we apply it when sin creeps in? What is God doing when He works through the church even in light of sin? Paul will show us today how the church is where sin is addressed through Christ, people are transformed by Christ, & new life is learned from Christ.

After showing us what Christian growth looks like, Paul now turns his attention to two things: what’s the enemy of our growth and unity in Christ, and what’s the “best friend” that helps us hold these things together? It’s clear that humility unites us to live out God’s heart and live with God’s people; and pride destroys this.

Paul builds off of last week to show how the way we handle weakness impacts how we view growth. What does it look like to “grow in our faith?” What is “Christian growth?” He reminds the Corinthians of Christ’s example: God alone gives and defines our growth, with us being the thing He’s growing, because of Christ.

We may know God calls us to join His redeeming work & lead others in doing likewise, but why do so many Christians seem so reluctant? And why do so many Christians seem to be driven by different things? Ruth 4 will show us that God motivates His interceders by being with Him rather than what we might lose on earth.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians as a letter to a group of Christ-followers divided over how to best interpret/apply Christ to their current situation: sound familiar? He draws from examples of Christ’s life & ministry to show we pursue unity in Christ over functionality or uniformity because what we do & how we do it IS Christ!

Scripture has shown us interceding/standing up for others is good, but in practice many Christians today are in conflict/creating chaos over how we ought to do this. How did Christ intercede for us? The letter of Philemon teaches Christ advocates for us by His love & reconciles us by His sacrifice so we can be with God.

When you think of “Christians in action” today, what comes to mind? Activism? Service? Worship? We know God has good works for us to do & plenty needs to address, but He has one main work that drives them all. Naomi shows us in Ruth 3 God calls us where we are to join His redeeming work & lead others in doing likewise.

Have you noticed that the more you trust something, the more you’re willing to sacrifice for it or share it with others? This echoes something God hard-wired into His image-bearers. Ruth & Boaz will show us today in Ruth 2 God’s people sacrifice & share their lives with others because they trust God fills us with His life.

Have you ever had someone stand up for you or walk with you through a hard time? Those moments usually stand out for us; & we often want to do this for others, but why don’t we? As we start Ruth 1, her story will reveal how God’s people commit to remind others of our hope in Him even when facing hardship & uncertainty.

As Esther comes to a close, we see how our testimony of faith really comes down to one simple thing: do we trust God? Do we even know just how much our trusting God impacts our testimony? Esther’s story concludes by showing how God does what He promises He’ll do; we lead others to trust Him when we trust Him.