When divisions threatened to distract from the work of the church, Paul reminded the church of what was truly important: Christ’s mission. What divisions in our community are getting in the way of our mission in Christ?
Worship this week:
Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel
Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship
Devotions for the week:
“The Church at Corinth” April 23-24, 2016
SHARE: What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding
Sunday, Acts 18:1-4, Church at Corinth
Monday, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Factions in the Corinthian Church
Tuesday, Acts 8:4-25, Philip Preaches in Samaria
Wednesday, Acts 8:26-40, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Thursday, Acts 9:1-19a, The Conversion of Saul
Friday, Acts 9:19b-22, Saul Preaches in Damascus
Saturday, Acts 9:23-31, Saul in Jerusalem
TALK: Consider some of these ideas:
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
Paul planted churches and helped set those new Christian communities on a path toward justice and peace. But he didn’t work alone. In all the places where churches thrived, there were community leaders who helped shape and sustain the new churches and their missionaries. Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers by trade, were some of the leaders who aided Paul in his work and helped build the church in Corinth.
How have the people in these stories been transformed by the message of Jesus Christ? Who do you consider your people? Who are not your people? What makes them the same or different? What could you do this week to expand your circle of people?
How is God’s word a message of hope for you? How is it a message of condemnation?
PRAY: Holy Lord, within your church, your followers have often allowed their disagreements to get in the way of being faithful to your word. Remove any barriers our communities face that prevent us from sharing your word and building up your church. Amen
BLESS: May God bring you into unity with all people. Amen.
