A calling to preach the Gospel is not an assignment to be taken lightly. James cautions against many people pursuing this divinely ordained position within God's kingdom because the high standard by which such a person will be judged by God (Jam 3:1). Further, Paul reminds the church at Corinth that the apostles are servants of Christ by which glory is to be given to God. Therefore, their service should be not source of division, causing the congregation at Corinth to misappropriate their affections more on a preacher's giftings and appearance, than the One who sent them. This Sunday, Paul exhorts them to discontinue these evil judgments considering the fact a preacher true Judge is God alone.
Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
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A Christian is a fellow worker with God in his kingdom mission in the world. His church (body of believers) is his temple by which his Spirit dwells. When we stray from these truths, it is often because we have forgotten who we are and to whom we belong. As a result, we become susceptible to worldliness, which infiltrates the church like a Trojan Horse through the wisdom of men. As Paul closes his discourse on addressing factionalism in the church, he summarizes his main points he has been making through the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians:

· We are God's temple, sanctified to lead a life of holiness that imitates the character and nature of God.

· We are to flee the deception of the wisdom of the age. Its aid in this life is futile.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
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Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, and his teaching is the foundation of our faith. A community of believers (Holy Temple, the church) is the structure that is built upon it. Peter writes, (1 Pt 2:5-6) "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ." As an Apostle, Paul was commissioned by God to lay such a foundation for every church he planted, by which others (and the church today) are called to co-labor with God in building a body of believers in which His righteousness dwells and shines to His glory a dark world. In our sermon text for this Sunday, Paul cautions how we should go about this kingdom advancing work in light of future examination by God in the coming judgement.
Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
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