Who can understand God? In today's age, there's a prevalent misconception that understanding the way of God comes naturally. However, In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul reveals that God's wisdom is not readily apparent; it's a mystery veiled to those who lack the guidance of God's Spirit. Sin blinds us, separating us from God's truth and preventing us from comprehending His ways. Yet, there's hope. Despite its mysterious nature, God's wisdom is accessible to us through His Spirit. This passage reassures us that we don't have to navigate life's complexities alone. With the presence of God's Spirit, we gain insight into His wisdom, enabling us to live according to His truth.
So, what's the next step? It's embracing the role of God's Spirit in our lives. Rather than relying on our understanding alone, we must cultivate a relationship with God's Spirit by following Jesus and obeying his Word and adapting his rhythms of life (like: worship, prayer, praise, service, generosity, etc.). As we allow God's Spirit to work within us, our eyes are opened to His wisdom, guiding us in making choices aligned with His will. Let's lean into the worldview of 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, trusting God's Spirit to illuminate His wisdom within us, leading us into a life rooted in the truth and love of Jesus.
With this in mind, we can choose humility, recognizing our privilege to have God's Spirit with us. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, we're urged to engage others with compassion, understanding that we too were once lacking in spiritual insight without God's Spirit. From this empathy, we seek to extend God's Spirit to others. Our mission is to lead others to grasp this wisdom by surrendering to Jesus and experiencing abundant life. Moreover, we have the opportunity to respond to this privilege with constant praise. As the song we sang this past Sunday says, "As long as I'm breathing... I've got a reason to praise the Lord, oh my soul!" 👇
Below you will find other CCC updates and resources for participating in the body of Christ and God’s mission.
See you Sunday if not before then!
This Sunday, April 28th, we'll be reflecting on 1 Corinthians 3. I pray you’ll be open to God’s Spirit directing and shaping your life where it needs to intersect further with Jesus’ abundant way of life.
A follow-up reflection on items that didn’t quite make the sermon this past Sunday. Think of it as a mid-week Bible study.
One advantage of our congregation's diversity is the opportunity for different age groups to witness each other's worship and journey with Jesus. This unfolded spontaneously last Sunday during the music team's rehearsal before the service. Children wandered into the auditorium and were eventually invited to join the music team in singing and using tambourines and egg shakers for the 'Praise' song that we later sang during worship. You can catch a glimpse of this heartwarming moment in the video above.
Mission partner in Egypt: Safaa and Mona F.
Safaa turns 73 this year. Please pray for the following CAS needs as the 50 year ministry legacy of Safaa continues and passes on to the next generation of leaders and recipients.
1. Pray for physical stamina
2. Continued training of new leaders
3. Expansion of the ministry, planting of hundreds of new churches, goal of $1,000,000 for the CAS budget
this year.
Mission partner in Alleyland: Don T.
A recent conference aimed to strengthen disciples in the Alley church, attracting attendees from multiple continents. More than 200 copies of Alley New Testaments and discipleship booklets were distributed. Networking for future projects was a significant benefit. There is increasing support for creating Bible commentaries to accompany the new translation of the Alley New Testament. This long-term project requires teamwork. Your prayers and support are appreciated as we serve our Lord.
In light of the message from this past Sunday, you might also find this insight from Athanasius, a third century (post-Scripture) father of the early church, “We only really see and understand spiritual things from the inside, as we participate in them.” Read more on this insight from this post by Ben Sternke.
Finally, here is a simple guide to use in fostering spiritual conversation with an unbeliever (this guide can also work well as a guide for personal prayer). Jeff Vanderstelt explains…