1 Corinthians 1:1 - 9

Princeton Theological Seminary morning worship, September 21, 2007

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on 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. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

My husband tells a story about hearing a testimony at his church when he was a child. The testimony was told by a missionary who described being called by God to the mission field. “God grabbed a hold of me and wouldn’t let go,” said the missionary. “Even though I came kicking and screaming, and it was the last thing I wanted to do, God called me to be a missionary.”

After hearing this testimony, my husband, who was 10 years old at the time, had trouble falling asleep for weeks. He would lay in bed worriedly, thinking to himself, “Oh no! What if God is (gasp) calling me to be a pastor?” He actually pictured, with fear, a divine tractor beam, ready to suck him up at any moment. As an adult, he has actually found a calling as a high school teacher and a pastor’s husband. My own call to ministry has been much less traumatic than my husband imagined as a child. It’s been a process of discovering the things I love to do and the ways I can contribute to the church. I know that everyone’s call story is different, but I don’t feel like I’m being dragged into a certain career.

Even so, there is something that I can relate to in the 10 year old boy hearing the missionary’s testimony. Sometimes, the idea of being called by God to a life of Christian discipleship in whatever career you choose can be intimidating. Christian discipleship is a high call! This call can be inspiring, motivating, or encouraging, but it can also be terrifying.

Our text this morning from 1 Corinthians 1 is a traditional greeting and thanksgiving by an author who self-identifies as Paul. He names himself as the sender and names the Corinthian church as the recipients of his letter. He gives a blessing in the name of Jesus. He gives thanks for the recipients of the letter. All of this is surrounded by talk about God’s calling. It’s important for Paul to remind his readers about God’s call here at the beginning, because all the instructions that he gives them later in the letter are supposed to be lived in response to God’s call.

It’s the end of the first week of the 07-08 academic year at PTS. We are preparing to once again engage in the intense work of building this community as we respond to God’s call. Some of us are here for the first time this year, and are wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into. Some of us are looking at all the syllabi we’ve collected this week or handed out this week and the actual number of days in the semester, and we’re wondering how it all adds up. Some of us enjoyed the extra time with our families this summer, and are finding it difficult to gear up for another year of busy seminary life. Responding to God’s call in this time and place can be terrifying.

In his commentary on 1 Corinthians, Calvin writes that we can have confidence in spite of our fear because, “we are members of Christ, who cannot possibly fail.” Sisters and brothers, we need not be afraid. We are not called to discipleship by a strange god, but by the God who has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Paul ends the Corinthian greeting by saying, “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not called to discipleship by a tyrant, but by a faithful God. “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not called to discipleship which leaves us alone, but into fellowship. “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not called to discipleship by a god who has not experienced pain as we have, but by the Father of Jesus Christ. “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not called to discipleship by a man from Nazareth who stayed in the grave, but by Jesus Christ our risen Lord! “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The call to Christian discipleship that sounds forth in your life can be exciting. It can also be terrifying. Friends, we do not serve an easy God, but we serve a good God. God is faithful; by God you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. God is faithful; in that faithfulness may you find comfort and peace. God is faithful; in that faithfulness may you go forth in Christian discipleship, with the words of the psalmist on your lips, “I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” Thanks be to God.