Bible Snapshots

1 Corinthians:  Paul writes to the church in Corinth to address some big problems: division, sexual misconduct, confusion about food and worship practices, and controversy surrounding Jesus’ resurrection. His main theme us that all these issues can be resolved because Jesus is alive. 

All too often the church squeezes the life out of itself by it’s internal squabbling and division and through such disconnect, forgets that the church the place that God in Christ wills life in all its fullness.

It is said that when the British and French were fighting in Canada in the 1750s, Admiral Phipps, commander of the British fleet, was told to anchor outside Quebec. He was given orders to wait for the British land forces to arrive, then support them when they attacked the city. Phipps’ navy arrived early. As the admiral waited, he became annoyed by the statues of the saints that adorned the towers of a nearby cathedral, so he commanded his men to shoot at them with the ships’ cannons. No one knows how many rounds were fired or how many statues were knocked out, but when the land forces arrived and the signal was given to attack, the admiral was of no help. He had used up all his ammunition shooting at the “saints.”

From Paul’s writings the question arises how does Jesus’ resurrection relate to people’s daily life choices? Paul’s main thesis is that Jesus teaches non-violence, unity, and self-giving love, but if his life ended with a brutal execution, who is to say he’s right and worth following? 

The fact that Jesus is alive proves that his selfless way is better—where not even death can shut it down. Self-centred practices damage the community, but Jesus’ life gives people real reasons for unity and sexual integrity and the power to love others. 

His resurrection tells his followers that they too have an abundant future beyond death. This is just the beginning—his life opens a view to a whole new reality. The promise of new life, new bodies, a new Heaven, and a new Earth gives us a new way of seeing every aspect of daily life with hope and purpose.

So Paul issues a challenge to Jesus followers in Corinth — followers of Jesus are held to a standard of integrity and morality as we seek to represent his new way of life to our communities. Paul addresses a variety of experiences and seeks to help the church see them through the lens of the Gospel message. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are what unifies a diverse body of believers and allows us to live in a completely new way fused with the hope of God’s Kingdom.

In Short, the Gospel Changes Everything.

Loving God,

we come to you in worship and thanksgiving.

You are greater than we can understand;

open our eyes that we may see the wonderful truths

you have shown to us in Jesus.

You are more loving than our hearts can respond to;

help us to give ourselves to you in worship

so that we learn what you want us to be.

You are wiser than we can know;

still our minds as we worship you

so that we can understand the things you are saying to us.

Loving God, in Jesus

you chose to come to the world in humility.

You chose the path the world saw as foolish.

You used what the world considered weak.

We worship and adore you. Amen.