In the passage for this week Paul quotes from Isaiah to explain that God doesn't honor what the world honors. He calls those who are weak and inconsequential. And the reason He does that is because it shows how foolish man's wisdom is. The place where God has supremely destroyed all human arrogance and pretension is the cross.

Paul begins his corrections to the church in Corinth by addressing the cult of personality. Division and strife over which elder was the favorite was harming the testimony of Christ in that city. The problem is just as prevalent today. How is a church supposed to function according to Scripture? The sermon addresses which issues are essential and what a person should do about disagreement over minor issues.

Verses 4-9 of the first chapter in the letter to the Corinthians tells them of Paul's thankfulness for the growth he has seen in them. He reminds them that they have all that they need to see them through to the return of Christ. And perhaps most encouraging of all, he tells them that God will present them guiltless on the day of Jesus' appearing and keeping them in fellowship with Jesus. It was an encouraging introduction that reminded them who they are in Christ before he dealt with their many problems.

The first three verses of the first letter to the Corinthians give Paul's typical greeting, but in that greeting, we can see the gospel of grace. It was grace that called Paul to be an apostle. It was grace that calls us to be saints. It is grace that sees us as sanctified. In the light of these wonders the world's typical greeting of that day, "grace and peace," took on a much richer meaning. Are you experiencing the peace of God?

Jesus accomplished so much more on the cross than just paying for the sins of the world. He invited all who would put their trust in him to share his fate. If your hope rests in the necessity and work of Christ, then you have been raised with him; you are living a new life with Christ and you will be glorified with him forever!

Paul concludes the letter to the Galatians by telling them that the Judaizers were trying to use them to make a name for themselves. Circumcision or uncircumcision was meaningless compared to being a new creation. While those false teachers wanted to boast in the flesh, Paul's one boast was on what Jesus had done for them on the cross.

After explaining why the false teachers were off base, Paul begins wrapping up the book of Galatians by telling them that walking in the Spirit is so superior to the letter of the Law. Then in our passage today he tells us what the life of the Spirit through us looks like in everyday life, along with a few warnings of what we should avoid.

After Paul told us that we need to walk in the Spirit, he described the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. It isn't a list of dos and don'ts, but rather a description that lets us know where our hearts are at. Then Paul concluded chapter five by urging us to keep in step with the Spirit and warns us to watch out for pride and envy.

Paul told the Galatians that if they would walk in the Spirit they would not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. This war between flesh and Spirit is a normal battle of every Christian's life. This sermon tells us just what the flesh is and informs of numerous passages where Paul instructs how to walk in the Spirit. How we fight this battle will determine whether or not our lives will bear fruit unto God.

The Apostle Paul tells us that the only thing that really counts is faith working through love. The passage has a profound warning and a wonderful promise. It shares insights on how to maintain unity and love in our relationships.