1 Corinthians 9

Is there any problem that this church in Corinth is NOT having? Bickering, debating, sexual immorality, all sorts of inter-marriage quetions, taking each other to court, and how much (or whether) to pay the pastor....and we've hit chapter 9. I know that congregations can be difficult - and life together is never easy. But, WOW, this is turning out to be one very dysfunctional group.

And yet, God uses them. I like that the church in Corinth is in the Bible. Because reading about the church in Acts can make me feel like our church is so far away from where we should be. They do everything perfectly, love each other perfectly, give their material possessions perfectly....But the church in Corinth is pretty messed up. They fight with each other, argue about how to best serve God, struggle to honestly understand what God is asking of them.

I've never been in a church where things have gotten as bad as they seem to be in Corinth. But when I find myself living in the midst of struggling times in a congregation's life....I like to know that God is active in the midst of it all. God uses it, helps it along, makes it grow. And centuries later, it still stands. As we are a bit unsettled right now....I need this book.