https://crestviewchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-26.mp3

Wow!  Only one chapter into deeper study and reflection of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and the profound nature and content is stunningly beautiful.  Paul waxes eloquent on God’s wisdom.  And God’s wisdom is on full display in the most unsuspecting and surprising way.  God’s wisdom is found in the cross and our Lord Jesus crucified.  This is so otherworldly, it’s deeply profound.  Paul goes further to say that the cross of Christ, is the power of God on display, becoming God’s wisdom and power at work in the world and in us.  The “cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.” In the cross, God uses “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”  The cross of Jesus, Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God.

How are we to understand this completely upside down reality of the Kingdom of God, that in the cross of Jesus, Christ crucified, we find the ‘kind’ of Kingdom God brings to the world, we find the delight of discipleship in the goodness of God’s grace?

Looking forward to beginning this journey into Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth.  1 Corinthians 1:1-18 will be our text of focus this coming Sunday, January 26th.  As you read the text, ask yourself, how is the cross of Jesus, Christ crucified the wisdom and power of God?  The rest of the letter will unfold the answer for us, yet, the answer is already in the opening chapter.

God’s grace (wisdom and power) and peace be with you,

      Pastor Mark