Message from Pastor Jim 01/21/2026

Dear Friends,

The Apostle Paul must have known church folks really well—because in 1 Corinthians 1:10–18, he writes what may be the earliest recorded church newsletter correction. His message, in short, is this: “Friends, we need to stop arguing over who we like best and remember why we’re here.”

Apparently, the church in Corinth was dividing itself into camps. Some said, “I belong to Paul,” others, “I follow Apollos,” some claimed Peter, and a few went all spiritual and said, “Well, we just follow Christ.” (Which, as Paul gently points out, is still a way of saying, “We’re right and you’re not.”)

If that sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re in good company. Churches have been debating preferences since the beginning of time. Traditional hymns or praise songs? Coffee in the sanctuary or absolutely not? Should the meeting start at 6:00… or is that clearly too late for faithful people who like to be in bed by 9?

Paul doesn’t scold the Corinthians for caring deeply—he reminds them what matters most. “Has Christ been divided?” he asks. In other words, Jesus is not chopped up into denominations, worship styles, or favorite preachers. Christ is one, and we belong to him—not the other way around.

Then Paul says something surprising: he’s actually glad he didn’t baptize very many people there. Why? Because he doesn’t want anyone turning baptism into a popularity contest. (No “Team Paul” t-shirts, apparently.) The good news is not about who did the baptizing or who said the cleverest words—it’s about what God has already done through the cross of Christ.

And yes, Paul admits the cross sounds foolish to some. A Savior who wins by losing? Power shown through love and sacrifice? That’s not how the world usually works. But for those of us learning to follow Jesus, that “foolishness” is exactly where God’s power shows up.

So here’s the good news for us:
We don’t have to agree on everything to be united in Christ. We don’t have to look the same, sing the same, or even like the same casseroles (though that does help at potlucks). What holds us together is not preference or perfection, but grace.

May we continue to be a church where Christ—not opinions, personalities, or traditions—remains at the center. And when we do disagree (because we will), may we do so with humility, humor, and a deep trust that God is still at work among us.

After all, if the Corinthian church could survive their disagreements—and still be loved by God—there’s plenty of hope for us too.

Grace and peace to you this week.

Pastor Jim