real people in a real world

Every time we receive the bread and cup of communion together, we are brought right into God's Big Story. We remember and proclaim the sacrifice of Jesus that covers our shame, takes our place of judgment, seals us into his New Covenant of grace, unites us as one people, and promises us eternal life in Christ. Paul really wants the Corinthian church to understand the importance of relational unity and togetherness we experience through communion. It's not so much about 'me and Jesus' as it is about 'we and Jesus'! The way we welcome and esteem one another is a vital part of receiving communion; so is freshly surrendering to Jesus as we remember his sacrificial death that has made us free.

Is Paul just being selfish in a passive-aggressive way in 1 Corinthians 9? Is he trying to demand his rights from a church that hasn't taken good care of him? No, instead he's teaching them about how to live, not just for their "rights" in the gospel, but as servants of Christ. If Paul could choose to make tents to earn a living rather than demand compensation for his preaching in Corinth, they too could learn how to live for the benefit of others. Still true today, we can mature as followers of Jesus, focusing more on the success of others than on our own rights. With this thinking, together we will see the gospel advance locally and globally. The best reward has always been Jesus Himself, and seeing lives genuinely transformed by Him!

It may seem like a shocking statement, but judgment within the church isn't actually our problem; the real problem is often the lack of it. We're not talking about a condemning, self-righteous judgment, but the wise and just judgment of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul emphasizes that we really need good and wise judges to resolve issues in the church, and he has some good advice on how we should go about this in a way that is merciful yet firm. God Himself has proclaimed His gracious judgment over the church, affirming that we have been washed, sanctified, justified, no longer sinners but saints. Whatever issues and conflict we face within the church we take on together from this place of security, partnered with God and His wise judgment.

It's good to be able to teach well and discuss complex topics that are in the Bible, but understanding God's Word and living life as Christians is not something we can do by ourselves. In 1 Corinthians Paul teaches that The Holy Spirit guides the Church and provides wisdom and courage that can only come from God. We as the body of Christ are called to be reliant on The Spirit in how we conduct our lives, in action and in speech.

How do we learn to build together when all of us are imperfect? How do we live out this idea we call "church," especially if we have found ourselves hurt, envious, or offended by another? Dealing with the very real emotions of rivalry and conflict are vital in becoming a healthy representation of Jesus to the world around us. One thing we know for sure is that we are not called to contentious competition, but to healthy collaboration and partnership together as believers. To see our different gifts grow and our different roles actively serving together requires that we be built together on the secure foundation of Jesus Christ as our foundation and core identity. This secure foundation enables us to celebrate the success of others and partner together like well-tuned instruments to see His name made great!

There are few things that communicate the gospel as clearly as unity among and between God's diverse people. Knowing and overcoming the barriers that  tend to block our unity is therefore vital for our mission in the earth. In 1 Corinthians 1, we discover three of these unity barriers: denominational elitism and superiority, independence, and divisions over baptism being held as more important than the gospel itself. Paul reminds us all that while there are many differences across the Body of Christ, our core identity is to be found together as brothers and sisters in Christ Himself. The way we talk about one another, about other churches, and other church traditions is an opportunity to paint a glorious picture of Christ to the world around us!