What a mess of a church.

Over the course of this year we’ll be looking at 1 Corinthians in two parts. Part 1 will cover chapters 1-11:1, the second part in the latter part of the year will cover the rest.

The church in Corinth certainly was a messy church. Divisions abounded, relationships were broken, open sin was tolerated, people were suing each other, love was not being shown. This church was an utter mess – like paint splattered all over the place. And yet even in the midst of this chaos Paul opens up the letter in this way:

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3 ESV)

A mess of a church? Yes. But also a sanctified mess.

Starting this Sunday we plumb the depths of how broken this church is, the lessons and warnings for ourselves, and how even in our own brokenness the gospel of Jesus shines through.