Acts 18:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 - April 28, 2024

Paul was pretty good at convincing people about Jesus. As you may already know, Paul started churches throughout the Roman Empire. We know this because 1) Acts gives us the play-by-play, and 2) Paul wrote letters to some of those churches, many (though not all) we still have. As we did last week, we hear today from Acts about Paul going to a city - Corinth, in this case - and then we get a letter to that church. 

One of the first things I remember learning in my “Paul Class” in college and then in seminary is that Paul wrote occasional letters - not that he wrote the letters occasionally, from time to time, but that he wrote the letters because there was an occasion to do so. Usually, a letter was written because the church had some sort of a problem. That’s what we find in our second scripture reading. 

See, the church in Corinth was fighting among themselves. They were picking sides, going around saying, “I’m with Paul,” “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my guy.” Thankfully there also were at least some who decided to belong to Christ. Paul is dealing with quite the crisis, huh? 

Paul wants to reiterate to the Corinthians that he isn’t out to get followers for himself but to preach the message of what God has done in Christ and get followers for Jesus. 

Has Christ been divided? Of course not. Paul is writing to remind them of the unity they have. Don’t focus on the less important, even fictional separations. Paul encourages them instead to remember who was crucified for you; look to the cross. Don’t worry about a particular preacher, or who baptized whom, not about these types of divisions. Know the unity you have at the foot of the cross. 

And this is where, in normal circumstances in the sermon, we would poke fun at churchy conflict. You know, what color the carpet should be. Whether the flowers are pretty enough today. Why we sang this hymn and not that one. Everyone would get a good chuckle and be loosened up enough so that the preacher could then drop a line about something that really was dividing the church - projection screens or budget issues or new ministry initiatives.

But then I realized that we are about to have some of that churchy conflict! It’s on the lower level, for sure, but as part of the building renovations, we are totally going to be picking out new flooring, new colors, a new look for lots of things. And while it is exciting, there is going to be grumbling. “I wanted taupe.” “I’m more of an ecru.” “I liked the cosmic latte.” (Yes, that’s a real color name.) 

Paul’s advice is good for us as we look toward building renovations. While there will be decisions - and divisions about those decisions - don’t focus on the less important, even fictional separations. Paul encourages us instead to remember who was crucified for you; look to the cross. Focus on the unity we have. Focus on Christ. Focus on him crucified and risen. Focus on how new life changes things, how resurrection is emphasized in worship, in building renovations, and in our lives. The rest is just detail. 

Despite how foolish it may seem, the cross shows us the lengths God goes for us. Jesus even goes to the cross, so we know there is no place God cannot be, will not be. God shows up, even if it seems like God can’t be there. What looks like defeat, what seems like foolishness, is actually a way to show God’s power - a way to take our world’s brokenness and turn it into life. In the cross, we know death is defeated.
In the cross, we are set free.
In the cross, the loving creator meets us where we are - meets us in our weakness, fear, loneliness, suffering, and even in our death. 

Whatever our differences on issues big and small, we all gather around the cross of Christ, where we all hear the Good News of forgiveness, resurrection, and abundant life - because we all need forgiveness, resurrection, and abundant life. 

The cross levels the playing field.
Since we are all in need,
we all fall short,
we all are broken,
we all need a savior,
we all look to the cross, to the power of God, for any hope we have. The cross unifies us by reflecting to us our need and then gathers us for life in its once-and-for-all action. All of our preferences mean nothing when we are all in need.

I don’t think it is accidental that Paul brings up baptism on his way to making the point about unity. While it is almost comical to see Paul catch himself on whether he baptized people or not… “Come to think of it, maybe I did baptize some of you…” I think Paul mentions baptism on purpose. His mis-remembering of events only drives home the point further: it’s not who did it, but whose you are that is important. 

The essential thing is that baptism connects you to Christ - you are baptized into Christ, who is crucified and risen. Baptism is the unifying way that we know - we know we are washed and claimed, and we forever have that life-giving spring inside us. Baptism, despite being done separately, is a sign of our unity - because it is not dependent on we who are washed, nor is it up to the one doing the washing. Baptism is the work of God to join us to Jesus. You are God’s own forever. 

One in the cross.
One in baptism.

This is the Gospel Paul is sent to proclaim. And here is the great part: Paul is convinced that it should be a simple message. It doesn’t need to have a bunch of fancy rhetoric or eloquent wisdom. Otherwise, the message of the cross would be emptied of its power. 

Paul writes that the cross says it simply. The Gospel gives us the easy answer. And we should proclaim it in a straightforward way. 

And the easiest way I know how to say it is, “Jesus loves you.”
Jesus loves you.
And Jesus loves them, too. 

Isn’t that, when we get right down to it, isn’t that what it’s all about? Jesus loves you.

It’s not about us. Not about differences or preferences. Not about who did what or didn’t do that. We are linked in our brokenness and need, yet, even more so, we are united in Jesus’ love.

Jesus loves you; we see it in the cross.
Jesus loves you; we see it in baptism.
Jesus loves you; we see it in an empty tomb.
Jesus loves you - in your need, in your preferences, in you being no one but you.

If we base the Gospel on anything else, we’ve lost our way.

Jesus loves you.
You are a baptized child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit.
You are marked with the cross of Christ forever.
You are a beloved child of God.
Jesus loves you.

And if you ever need the reminder of unity,
a reminder that we are all in the same need,
that we are all recipients of an amazing and unconditional love,
you’ve got a cross ready to be traced.
You’ve got water ready to be splashed.
You’ve got hands out, ready for bread and wine.
You’ve got a brother and a sister, a community, who has been there, is there, will be there. You’ve got the Gospel that rests entirely on God’s sure and certain promises. 

You’ve got Jesus. Jesus loves you. And Jesus has got you.
That’s the easiest way I know how to say it.