Truth Encounter: 1 Corinthians

One minute a leader is worshiped as the king and the next minute they are cursed as a thief. Why have so many of our leaders in both our court houses and our church houses fallen off their pedestals and disgraced their offices? Could it be that it has something to do with our loud applause followed by such angry booing? Our subject today takes us into the heart of the pressure and the problem of church leadership in America today.

Have you ever been in a large city and watched a gigantic crane swing a wrecking ball against a building? The demolition of a structure can be incredible. When the target is an old condemned building, no problem. But when a wrecking ball swings against our homes or churches, it’s another story.

I look in the mirror and my father is staring back at me. Where did the years go? If you are under thirty you probably haven’t started creaking and squeaking when you walk, but perhaps even some of you in your early twenties have already noticed a lot of hair in your comb that should still be on top of your head. We try to powder it, massage it, work it out, but no matter how hard we try we cannot stop the relentless onslaught of time against our bodies. Is your time running out?

Mystery stories grab our attention and the ratings in movies and on TV. Authors make millions weaving their tales of the cunning sleuth with his or hers uncanny problem solving abilities. Who would you guess is the greatest mystery writer of all time? This author has written a riddle no one could solve unless he gave them the key.

When our kids score high on their SATs, we are proud parents. When our son or daughter scores the winning point that brings victory against the crosstown rivals, our chest swells. We all know the smell of evil self-centered pride, and every one of you parents know the sweetness of a true appreciation for the gifts God has given to your children, but this is not the purest pride. Who should you boast about before others? Who deserves your cheers, your admiration, your devotion? Who should be your pride and joy?

Have you ever taken a look around your church, those who come to worship and adore the Son of God? Compare this group with the beautiful people who come in their limousines to attend the Emmy Awards, or the powerful execs taking a break on the golf courses of Palm Springs or the slopes of Taos. Who would you guess is going to have the lasting influence on this planet? When you look at human resources the cause of Christ seems to be in shaky hands.

Has anyone ever said to you, “Well if God would write His message in a legible hand for me in the sky or if He would come down here and speak to me audibly, then I would believe in Him. Until He shows me His credentials I remain an agnostic.” How do you deal with someone like that? Why doesn’t God deliver His Word to us in a lightning bolt? In this conclusion to "The Fool On The Hill," we want to encourage you to honestly face questions like these.

As a believer in the sacredness of the Old Rugged Cross, I become outraged when it is mocked and at this offense to my Lord. My anger makes me want to get back at those who malign His crucifixion. What’s going on in our modern society that mocks Jesus’ sacrifice for sin as the insane belief of a weak old man? Dave Wyrtzen challenges you to think about what the Romans and Greeks thought about the cross of Jesus Christ in the first century.

Christianity is one of the most divided religions in the world. Different denominations, different leaders, divisions between races, divisions over styles of leadership--name a splinter group and Christianity has it. Why is there all this division? Is all this diversity wrong? Is it God’s will for there to be one human head for his church on earth? Is there a difference between diversity and disunity? Listen…

Why do strong committed followers of Jesus Christ sometimes face the agony of long term disease, the hammer blow of a fatal accident, or the dread of job loss? If we possess everything in Christ, why do so many who love Him live in poverty around the world? Paul wrote a letter to a group of believers who believed they were already ruling with Christ in the heavenlies. The Apostle Paul was one man who had actually visited heaven and returned and he also knew what it meant to suffer in the cause of Christ. We get to listen to his mature counsel as he helps the Corinthians get a balance between the “already and the not yet” in God’s present and future plans for His children.

This fall will bring a major holiday of the year that turkeys everywhere dread but that most of us celebrate with joy--thanksgiving. Pilgrims, Indians, the foundational principles of our country--God, family, church, community, freedom; the delicious food --warm pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls--it gives all of us a chance to express gratitude for the bountiful physical blessings. It should also be a time for us to discover and to remember our rich spiritual heritage and God's gifts.

The Apostle Paul is writing to a group of believers living in a society just like ours. Homosexuality and heterosexual immorality were praised as legitimate life styles. Incest tore the lives of children apart. Entertainment was built on skin and blood. Paul planted a church in the midst of this cesspool and he is writing this letter to help them make an impact for Christ in this secular city.