Paul’s opening words in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, our text for this week, are rich in theology - which for him is never something detached from real life. With Paul, a simple greeting and thanks (the standard opening format for letters of the day) become opportunities to reflect on deeper realities than a mere: “Hi, hope you are good, here is an update.” Instead, Paul writes to an entire church whom he labels as “sanctified” and “called to be holy,” despite their obvious shortcomings. On what grounds can he do this? The opening verses celebrate the work of God and the work of grace in Christ, which shapes both the status and the responsibility of this community of faith.

We begin our series on the book of 1 Corinthians with an overview of the book and a look at the church’s beginning found in Acts 18:1-11.

Taken as a whole, the letter to the believers of this city addresses some specific issues which Paul needed to address if they were going to continue maturing in their walk with Christ – and that was, in fact, the central problem: their actions were not aligning with the high calling given to them as God’s people. They were stuck in old thought patterns and their witness and their own growth were in jeopardy.

Although the specific behaviors might be unique to 1st century Corinth, the underlying principles are universal as we shall see in the weeks ahead.

We live in a world of competitive ideas and endless identities to join online and locally. Let's assess how Christ’s historical, ultimate, and spiritual victory influence our practical decisions, as we look at Paul's challenge to the Colossians. With unending daily demands, news, ideas and people to keep up with–how do we remain rooted in Christ day by day? This passage in Colossians 2 draws the audience back to the basics of Christ’s life and identity by reminding them to consider how their relationship with God began. He demonstrates alignment with Christ is the ongoing work of our life, as the Father brings us back to a dependent and desperate life built on him.

We all love a great ending, whether it’s in a novel, movie, or… life in general. This Sunday we will reflect on Apostle Paul’s few final words. Paul used three powerful images to sum up how he viewed his life. Here was a man who looked back on the way he had lived and didn’t regret how he had spent his life because he had spent it serving the Lord. We are too called to fight the good fight, run the race, and strive to be faithful to His Word until the finish line.

For the month of July, we will be welcoming a variety of guest pastors and guest speakers to preach at Redeemer. We can't wait to hear and learn from their wealth of insights over these next few weeks!

Last week we took a large section of Nehemiah (chapters 10-12) and suggested that the overarching message could be summed up in the title: “Making God a Priority.” The final chapter of the book, chapter 13, takes place twelve years after the moving and inspiring scene of celebration and commitment. In the meantime, Nehemiah has returned to Artaxerxes, then makes the trek back to Jerusalem and finds very little reason to celebrate. In fact, quite the opposite. He is appalled at the rampant compromise and complacency, and in his strong leadership style he begins cleaning house. But why did the people stray so quickly? Our closing message, “Keeping God a Priority” will hopefully challenge us individually and corporately to persevere – to the end!

In preparation for Sunday, take some time to read through Nehemiah 10-12. Pastor Marc will be lifting portions of the text which give us an inspiring picture of “New Starts and New Leadership.” Fittingly, we will be ordaining and installing Tony White as an elder – he was unanimously elected in our congregational meeting last week! It should be a great time of celebration and commitment.

We are continuing the series on Nehemiah. Chapter 9 of the book of Nehemiah, set in the 5th century BCE, describes an assembly that took place in Jerusalem after the wall had been restored. The people of Israel were fasting, repenting of their sins, reading God’s Word, and prostrating themselves before Yahweh. We are invited to join them in praising the Lord for his deliverance, and praising Him as a great Provider of wisdom and the necessities of life. We are reminded that revival is not an emotional upheaval—it is a commitment to action. It is a walk with God.

In Nehemiah 6, we find a familiar cast of antagonists, led by Sanballat. Sanballat and his cohorts use lies, intimidation, and position to threaten Nehemiah should the building of the foundations of Jerusalem continue. In yet another display of leadership, God’s servant counters with truth and trust.