The congregation of Christ’s people gathered at Corinth were being confused and, consequently, divided in their highly educated, culturally sophisticated and worldly-wise ignorance and pride. To gather these saints in Jesus Christ back in their unity and joy, hope and confidence together in Christ, Paul writes simply and straightforwardly:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … [While] the Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and absurdity to Gentiles, but to those who are being called, whether Jew or Greek, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. … And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of god with lofty speech or wisdom. For I determined to make known among you nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. … and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18, 22-24; 2:1-2, 4-5)

Since, then, God has demonstrated his love for us with power in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, let us come together with rejoicing and thanksgiving, sharing together our common salvation, our common fellowship, our common joy, our common hope having been raised together in Christ — and let us worship!

Order of Worship for 11.16.08