Paul’s missionary heart – and his invitation for each of us to join him in that pursuit – is on full display in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. In sorting through the right actions (marry or not? eat meat sacrificed to idols or not?), he has argued that there is a measure of freedom granted to believers. Yet Paul is quick and even intentional about setting aside his “rights” if it will create a pathway for the Gospel. Using rather stark language, he demonstrates a willingness to “become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” Let’s pray that his heart becomes ours!

Paul tackles a hot topic of the day in 1 Corinthians 8: Can a follower of Christ eat food that has been sacrificed to an idol? That may seem a bit removed from many of us (but not all of us!), yet the core ideas guiding his answer provide enduring principles for making all kinds of similar choices. Paul highlights the proper motive (love), the proper theological starting point (one God), and the proper way to consider others (remove stumbling blocks).

This week, we looked at 1 Corinthians 7:29-40, where Paul addresses the issue of “Doing the Right Thing.” That notion appears several times in the text, and is the overriding concern of the chapter – and even of much that follows. The specific issue is, again, the matter of staying single or getting married, but Paul’s treatment draws out principles that can guide us in any decision-making scenario. It is eminently practical.

This week, on the first Sunday of 2023, Pastor Marc will reopen with the same text he preached from on the first Sunday of 2022: Luke 18:1-8. This is an opportunity to see where we have come as a congregation as well as an encouragement to maintain our commitment to the hard but joyful work of prayer. It doesn’t happen often, but what an opportunity to capitalize on the first day of 2023 together in this way.

Our text for this third Sunday in Advent is Luke 1:46-55. Here, Mary sings a song of praise and wonder for all that has transpired. Her words are very personal but also reflective of God’s work throughout history for his people. Both elements are common to the right praise of God – an intimate awareness of his provision on the individual level, and a broader recognition of his character and movement in the lives of all who fear him. In both cases, we see “The Joy in Praise.”

Our text for this Second Sunday in Advent is Luke 1:39-45. Here, Mary travels to Elizabeth’s house soon after this revelation from the angel Gabriel that she will be a mother to the Son of God. We find a combination of blessing and joy splashed across the verses. Elizabeth expresses it, the baby in her womb expresses it, and Mary herself is the recipient of her relative’s pronouncement: blessed are you! Some of those blessings find unique fulfilment in Mary, but (as with last week), we find they can be ours as well. Humble hearts and simple faith are key elements to discovering, “The Joy in Believing.”

Believe it or not: Advent is upon us! This is the time of the year in the church calendar when we focus on the arrival of Christ. We are taking a break from our series on 1st Corinthians and spending the next four Sundays working through Luke 1 and 2 and looking at “Christmas from Mary’s Perspective.” Our first text is Luke 1:26-38, where we see that “Nothing is Impossible for God.” The assurance from the angel to Mary has specific application in the remarkable events leading to Jesus’ birth – but as we will hear, our God is still at work doing the impossible.

In 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, Paul begins to address specific questions written to him by the congregation: “Now for the matters you wrote about.” (v. 1) First up: a proper view of marriage and singleness. Clearly the treatment is not exhaustive on those topics, but nonetheless it is remarkably informative. Paul casts a clear vision for the beauty and sanctity of both, and he also paints a picture of commitment and holiness.