Reveal Gathering

What classifies someone as successful? Is it intelligence? Business relationships? A common characteristic that has been visibly proven within the majority of successful individuals is the ability to deal with adversities, problems, obstacle, pressures in their lives. For the Kingdom of God, can you be considered successful? In order to be effective for the Gospel of Jesus, passion and perseverance is required. In his letter to the Corinth church, Paul teaching in chapter 9 that for him, all he does is for the sake of the Gospel.

Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we are free in Jesus, but bought with a price. Freedom found through Christ provides power to act without hinderance or restraint. Yet, our freedom is not a freedom to sin. Rather, it is freedom from the yoke of sin. With Jesus interceding for our sins, we are not only saved from sin but given eternal life.

When you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, do it in remembrance of me. This commandment of Jesus is more than a simple symbol, it is a powerful statement. The elements of communion is a shared reminder of Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection, and of His second coming. As we eat of His flesh and drink of His cup, our intention is then to deeply remember who Jesus is and what only He did for us.

A Godly marriage is a direct reflection of what values the marriage is built upon. Yet, the time spent single before marriage is valuable in establishing a foundation. Whatever shame from freedom that hides in the dark created by the enemy, by bringing it to God's light, shame and anger finds healing in the light. The goals of marriage should be to seek the One as you prepare for the one, ‘we’ not me, and giving glory to God through marriage.

The city of Corinth is very similar to our culture today. A land filled of paganism, sinful desires, and selfish acts. In the same way, the church of Corinth struggles with things we still struggle with today. At the core, we all are born sinful humans. But the saving grace found in the Gospel brings us from our sinful nature into a new creation. In 1st Corinthians 5-6, we look at how we deal with our sinful past and look forwards to our holy future through Christ.

As Christians, we are all called by God. While all have a personal calling, all believers also share a same calling for the Kingdom. God has called all believers to witness and bring reconciliation through the Gospel. God has also called all to be humble and an example. If you want to be effectively used for God's Kingdom, it does not come only through talk, but from full authority of his power of the Holy Spirit.

In 1st Corinthians 3, there are two main questions that can be asked. How do we build the Kingdom? What does it mean that we are the temple of God? With Christ as the established foundation of our faith, the Gospel message brings unity and order to our lives. As our salvation being brought only by Christ alone, we are still called to have growth and sanctification in our personal lives through our character and content. For it is our personal character and content that will determine if we are true vessels and temples of the Holy Spirit.

Filled with their personal sins, the church of Corinth seemed to be influenced by the outside culture. Yet, as Paul continues to remind in his letter, the Corinth church was planted in that city for a divine reason. With the truth of the Gospel being the story and message of Jesus Christ, Paul retains that the Gospel Message is enough! At the same time, within the simple message of the Gospel, Paul begins to reference this "secret wisdom" of God, a wisdom found deep in the Kingdom of God.

Amidst all chaos, difficulty, and hardship, we find thanksgiving in all seasons.

We need to understand God's mercy. Mercy is defined as not receiving what we deserve. In result, the mercy of Christ imposes a power dynamic. If you forgive other you will also be forgiven, if you do not forgive, you also will not be forgiven.