It is so possible to see your problem as all encompassing. I have known people that are so afflicted by long term illness that all they look for in the Bible and in the church is healing. Understandably they want relief. They are like the woman with the issue of blood that only wanted to touch Jesus’ garment. Paul arrived in the city of Corinth seeing a true vanity fair. Sure he could have addressed each problem individually, but instead he knew the power of the Gospel. He wanted to get at the root issue of all the people’s ills. He wanted the gospel to touch people deeply so that they would not keep wandering down the different paths of sin.
Paul is declaring his great purpose to declare Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. While it is possible to find other aspects of Christianity compelling, we need to embrace Jesus and affirm His crucifixion on our behalf on a regular basis. Communion is that affirmation each week, and it captures again our attention and places it on Jesus. The power of Jesus and the cross is transformative for all who believe. Remember that the cross is also a stumbling block. No one wants to admit that their sin is the reason Jesus died. That very truth must be proclaimed, and then proclaiming Jesus will serve two purposes. First, it will be a proclamation of your own desperate need when Jesus rescued you, and secondly, it will be a proclamation that necessitates the Spirit’s work in drawing your hearer to Jesus. Now that takes the pressure off you. Speak Jesus and watch the Spirit work.
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