In this passage of Scripture, Paul urges the Corinthian church to look harshly at their sin. He encourages not to just focus on the sin of one man, but to look at how an individual’s sin affects the body. We must approach unrepentant sin with a firm but loving hand.

Paul charges the Corinthian church to be imitators of him as he points to Christ. He explains how the apostles are the least of all; they have become spectacles and fools to the world, poor and homeless. But that as they continue to serve and point to Jesus, the church should follow them. As we criticize leadership, the main question we must ask is whether the leaders are pointing us to Jesus or not, despite any shortcomings we find.

Everything in this world is warring against our relationships and communities. To survive this division, the one unifying factor must far outweigh anything trying to rip at our relationships and communities. For God’s people, this unifying element is the Gospel of Jesus. If the Gospel is our foundation, everything should stand firmly. As Paul teaches, we must keep our eyes fixed on the cross, living confidently with the promised Holy Spirit.

We are here today because of the Resurrection.

Ultimately, wisdom from the world will not satisfy us or bring us true knowledge. But, through the Spirit, we can have divine wisdom and learn the very depths of God. In this scripture, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to remember that because we have the Spirit in us, we have the mind of Christ.

Paul says that he has resolved to nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Everything he did and said revolved around Jesus and him crucified. As fellow saints, we are called to be crucified preachers; it is not about us, but about Jesus and him crucified. This is the lens through which we should see everything and direct our actions.

Paul addresses the Corinthian church with boldness and truth. In these verses, he explains how God has used the foolish things in the world to shame the wise. Paul narrows in on how boastful we are, and how our pride leads to boasting and separation from God. In the end, we must boast only in Christ, and let the Holy Spirit rid us of our pride.

Sugarcoating the gospel with eloquent words and worldly wisdom drains its power. The gospel reveals one’s place in the Lord with two emerging perspectives: the cross seems moronic or it is God’s essential wisdom. Just as the Jews demanded signs to explain the moronic idea of God crucified, we also demand proof outside the calling to believe. At times we demand miracles, or ironically scientific explanation; or even a feeling that might somehow make the belief right and legitimate.

Paul’s qualification for apostleship is established by God, and his identity as an apostle is Christ rather than personal accomplishment or status. The saints are unified in this identity because Christ broke them away from a life of unbelief and set them apart for his glory. Many are quick to point out the church’s faults, but few are thankful for the attributes of the church in the same way Paul was about the Corinthian church. Paul celebrated the church because of all that Jesus and the Spirit gifted it with. The church is under grace to receive riches in speech, knowledge, spiritual gifts, and a secured future.

God invented the city. The city develops culture. Sin breaks our city. The response is not to move away, but to live in the city well.