1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Thursday Night Worship, January 16, 2020.

One of the key things to remember (and one of the most difficult to maintain) whenever we sit down to do the "business" side of the Church, or the Ministry side of the Church, or sad to say even when we sit down together to Worship... is to remember that what we do we do for God.  We are here to do God's bidding... not to stroke our own egos, not to advance our own agendas, be they political, moral, or what have you... we are CALLED to be Christ to a broken world.

Far, far too often in small ways and in large, we forget that we are answering a call and not making or issuing a calling of our own.  Even when we feel called to admonish another or a group we need to realign ourselves to the Spirit and place God first and foremost in our actions.  Here Paul is addressing the all too troubled church in Corinth, a church that we all should be able to relate to in general while I hope not in particular.  This is a church wrestling with many all too worldly issues... a church that has forgotten to put Christ first and foremost.

As we prepare each day let us pray that God guides our actions, and deeds that we can live a life which demonstrates to all those around us that there is an all-loving, all-caring, and all-gracious God... a God that wants to know them if they too will just return to Him.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Salutation
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord[a] and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my[b] God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of[c] Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes:
a) 1 Corinthians 1:2 Gk theirs
b) 1 Corinthians 1:4 Other ancient authorities lack my

c) 1 Corinthians 1:6 Or to

First Clement
CLEMENT OF ROME, First Epistle
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS
Translated by J.B. Lightfoot.

1Clem prologue:1
The Church of God which sojourneth in Rome to the Church of God which sojourneth in Corinth, to them which are called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied.

1Clem 1:1
By reason of the sudden and repeated calamities and reverses which are befalling us, brethren, we consider that we have been somewhat tardy in giving heed to the matters of dispute that have arisen among you, dearly beloved, and to the detestable and unholy sedition, so alien and strange to the elect of God, which a few headstrong and self-willed persons have kindled to such a pitch of madness that your name, once revered and renowned and lovely in the sight of all men, hath been greatly reviled.

1Clem 1:2
For who that had sojourned among you did not approve your most virtuous and steadfast faith? Who did not admire your sober and forbearing piety in Christ? Who did not publish abroad your magnificent disposition of hospitality? Who did not congratulate you on your perfect and sound knowledge?

1Clem 1:3
For ye did all things without respect of persons, and ye walked after the ordinances of God, submitting yourselves to your rulers and rendering to the older men among you the honor which is their due. On the young too ye enjoined modest and seemly thoughts: and the women ye charged to perform all their duties in a blameless and seemly and pure conscience, cherishing their own husbands, as is meet; and ye taught them to keep in the rule of obedience, and to manage the affairs of their household in seemliness, with all discretion.