Watch as the earthly father in the story navigates his son’s rebellion and return. Then see, the hand of our Heavenly Father, as He writes the story of our salvation from beginning to never end. This is two stories in one, of the father on earth, and of our Father in Heaven.
Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians is not flattering to the first Corinthian Christians. It reveals division in the church, and a church divided cannot stand. It accuses them of not being very spiritual, and an unspiritual church cannot grow and glorify God.
The name of God appears 21 times in the 16 verses of this chapter. “God,” which we interpret as God the Father, is found 10 times. God the Son, “Jesus Christ,” “Our Lord” is expressly mentioned 4 times. And God the Holy “Spirit” is found 7 times.
Pentecost Sunday is about the Holy Spirit. But it is also about the gospel. It is about how the same Holy Spirit who enabled us to receive the gospel empowers us to share it.
The cross divides people, all people living and all people who have ever lived. Like the separation of time and the dividing of Testaments, there are only two sides. The side you are on, lost or saved, depends upon what you have decided and done with the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote two canonical letters to the Corinthians. The first is a declaration of war (against sin, not the sinners), the second a peace treaty. Both are very personal, but accessible to every generation of Christ-followers.
The “one flock” is Christ’s church, whose fledgling members were Jesus’ audience for this lesson. The members of His church are His “sheep.” This is a frequent and appropriate metaphor, used in ways both endearing and unflattering.
We want to see the Lord every Lord’s Day, and we can. Take the first three and last eleven words of this beautiful text, the longest post-resurrection narrative in the Gospels.
Jesus Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Repent and believe and it will change your life forever. You can be forgiven and free. You can be empowered and equipped. You can be surrounded by angels. ou can truly live, abundantly and eternally, in the kingdom of God, now and forever.
The palms on Sunday wave at us like the hand of God. He wants our attention. Of course, He demands and deserves it every day of every week. But we are human, with feet of clay and minds that wander.
