In the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul leaves us with a number of final thoughts and instructions. He touches on giving, planning for the future, being courageous, honoring one another, and more. In his last words, however, he reinforces the main point of the letter reminding us that on account of the grace of Jesus, we should focus on what is most important: loving God and others.

Nothing can be more disheartening than putting a lot of effort into something challenging, only to realize it wasn’t worth it. Have you ever found yourself questioning whether the work you’re doing or the service you provide truly makes a difference? It’s a common thought: Does what I do in this life really matter? Let’s explore what the apostle Paul has to say about a life worth living.

“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” The apostle Paul answers these questions in 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today. In the midst of the uncertainty, one thing is certain: because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death does not get the final word. When Jesus comes back, we will also be raised from the dead, and death itself will be defeated. Because of our certain future, we can have hope in the present.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul explores the important theme of unity, love, and order within community. In this section, he clearly lays out one of the non-negotiable pillars of the faith - the resurrection. As we near the end of this book, let us see why the resurrection is so important to our faith, and how that ties in to the rest of our theology.

If God is the author of our stories, could it be that he is writing them in such a way, chapter by chapter, that we encounter Jesus?

We all face disappointment with God at some point in our lives. At times it can be devastating. Sometimes it causes us to walk away from our faith. Other times we protect ourselves against hope and withdraw emotionally from God. How can we view disappointment as a gift to grow our faith and increase our intimacy with God? Using Judas as an example, we will explore a few events during Holy Week to unpack how disappointment can become a gift leading to renewal and deeper understanding.

Do you ever fail to live up to your own expectations for yourself? Do you ever worry that God is disappointed with you? In the week leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples have plenty of reasons to feel these things. However, their encounters with the risen Lord teach us the eyes of Jesus are full of love, grace, and compassion, even when we are at our worst.

At the beginning of our new series, we are looking at how we encounter God

when our communities disappoint us. We will sit with Jesus in his last meal

before His death and see what truths He has to share, and how he models living

through pain. By turning to Jesus in our disappointments, we can find hope, truth,

and love.

"Immanuel Theology: What God Has Always Wanted." Why did God create us? What is the Bible all about? What has God always wanted? We will explore these important questions together as we study Immanuel Theology from Genesis to Revelation.