Lessons from The Church in Corinth

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4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today we begin Paul's two letters to the Corinthians.  Paul started the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey.  He taught there for one and half years.  Now he is writing in response to some information he has received regarding some of the problems the church is having internally.  There were divisions based on personalities, rampant sexual immorality even within the church, false teaching and an excessive focus on certain supernatural gifts, like speaking in tongues.  But in the verses above Paul focuses on the potential the church has to be a prevailing church in a strategic location to reach many for Christ. 
Paul starts the letter with a strong dose of encouragement.  He affirms they are an extremely gifted bunch, in every sense of the word.  They don't lack any spiritual gift as they await Jesus' return.  This reminds us that Paul and those in his day thought Jesus' return was imminent.  Because of what was happening in the church, Paul reminds them that it is God who began a good work in them he will keep them blameless until he returns.  Notice Paul focuses on God's work and faithfulness.  Despites their troubles and their unfaithfulness, God is faithful.   Later, as Paul warns them about being tied to certain personalities, he gives them this principle to follow, 
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him."
This letter has timeless relevancy for the church of all ages.  Why? The problems the church at Corinth was facing are similar to the problems the church faces today.  We need Paul to remind us to stay clear of the dangers of divisive personalities, false doctrine, and sexual immorality.  The church has great potential and has been given all the spiritual gifts to preach the gospel to the world.  Importantly we remember that God who called us is faithful.  God's unfailing love for us compels us to be faithful with the spiritual gifts he has given each of us to use for his glory! 


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