Foolish Wisdom

This Sunday at Seneca Presbyterian Church, we will continue to look at the power of the cross through the eyes and faith of the Apostle Paul. Our text this week comes from Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. The story of that congregation is a fascinating study of life among the very first Christians. Paul had his hands full dealing with their questions, their divisions, and the lack of respect some of them had for him and his authority. And yet these letters to the Christians in Corinth contain absolute jewels for us today.

Just imagine - without those cantankerous Corinthians, we would never have heard these words: Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. If those feisty Corinthians had not been such gluttons at their fellowship suppers, we would not know the words of institution that are remembered each time we gather around the Lord's table for the sacrament of communion. For I deliver unto you that which I also have received, how the Lord Jesus on the very night in which he was betrayed, took bread... And if it had not been for the power grabbing factions among those Corinthians, we would not have Paul's eloquent words about the foolish wisdom and powerless strength of the cross of Christ. Our understanding of the cross lies at the heart of our faith, and we can thank Paul for helping us understand that truth almost two thousand years later.

I invite you to read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 in preparation for worship this Sunday. And to think about the following:

• How would you describe the foolishness and weakness of the cross as seen through human eyes? 
• What would you say to today's skeptic who asks: "Why do you worship a mocked, tortured, humiliated, and defeated would-be Messiah?"
• Where does the power of the cross lie for you?