If Paul were writing to you, to us...

What do you think he would write?
We began our journey through the letter of 1 Corinthians at Kent Baptist Church this last Sunday.

Like we said on Sunday, Paul is writing to offer loving correction to a church with a laundry list of sins and problems.

These are all things that we, as Christians in Mid-western America can all learn from today.

As you consider joining us for the series it might be a good exercise to sit down in prayer and ask God to show you what He would inspire Paul to write to you, yes YOU, if the Apostle was charged to bring correction into your life.

Would it be pride?
Would it be greed?
Would it be sexual sin?
Would it be missional laziness?
Would it be the sin of doing a lot of "churchy" stuff because you don't believe it can be done without you?

Those are just a few possibilities. Whatever shows up on your list (and yes, I think it would be helpful to write this down as you go) - whatever sin you find remember that Paul, led by the Spirit, would likely begin his letter to you the same way he began his letters to the Galatians, the Philippians, the Thessalonians and the rest.

He would probably begin by reminding you that you are child of God who is already loved because of what Jesus has done for you at the cross. He would remind you that you are His because of your faith - FAITH that the work at the cross really was done for you, yes YOU.

The Apostle Paul would likely remind you of your status as a freed slave. He would remind you that no matter what the sins are on your list, they are no longer your slave master(s). Those sins no longer call the shots.

It is only when we know our New Identity that we can begin to walk in our cross-bought freedom.

The only assumption there is that you are a Christian. This letter is written to believers in Corinth, not to the entire city and not even to all those who gathered together. It was written to those who were sanctified and called to be holy. Meaning, the freedom that Paul is trying to lead his readers back to is only available to those who are saved by faith in Christ by the grace of God.

If you are not a Christian, our most sincere prayer to God is that He would capture your heart, but that is ultimately up to Him and it is between Him and you.

But, as you kick the tires on the ideas of Christianity, this is a wonderful place to start to see what Christians believe about God, about sin, about life and about the world around us.

You are welcome here. Come and join us on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Bring your questions and bring your friends, we would love to talk one-to-one after the sermon is over about whatever the text stirs up in you.