1 Corinthians 1:1-9
January 25, 2026
Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland, CA
Today’s lesson is the prologue of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. If we didn’t read beyond these first few verses, you would have no idea how bad the church in Corinth was. Following these introductory verses, there were tensions and divisions that divided the church. There were matters of following different leaders with different claims, matters of morals, matters of right worship, and matters of right belief about the resurrection of the dead.
Specifically, there were factions (1:11), acceptance of sexual immorality (5:1), problems of communal life (7:1). They questioned Paul’s authority. There was competitiveness over such things as spiritual gifts, speech, and knowledge (1:5-7; 8:1-7; 12:8). And the Corinthians’ insistence on individual freedom (6:12); 10:23) has undermined Paul’s attempt to build a cohesive moral community to look different from the rest of society.
Might such tensions and conflicts be present in us?
Called as Saints
Pastorally, Paul starts his letter not with criticisms, knowing that there was much to be critical about. Rather, Paul first tells the Corinthians the good news about themselves, the truth of who they are in the calling of God. They are the saints of God, made rich in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, all criticisms proceed from this truth and no criticism undermines it. The Corinthians’ identity as those “sanctified in Christ Jesus” does not depend on them or their efforts. When Paul rebukes them, however severe and honestly, would not threaten what God has done.
This critique is merciful. It does not bind them to their failures and divisions; it does not make their calling dependent on whether they do better. While there may be failures and not the ideals that Christians are expected to do, they are already gifted and sanctified.
Notice that Paul never uses the singular form of “saint” to refer to individual persons. But rather, we are saints in our common vocation, a shared gift. We are a “holy people,” in this sense, is one marked by God, determined for the “fellowship of his Son” (v. 9), both now and in the coming glory.
Sanctified does not mean just righteous behavior, like what we do or say. But the relationship with God that makes a people holy is, in regard to active righteousness. Our sanctified lives cause effects to happen—people’s lives are transformed, neighborhoods are more humane, the world is more peaceful.
The Christian faith is a matter of calling, to be called by God, to be followers of Jesus Christ. While we are individually called, as God addresses each of us, we are not called individually into faith. To enter into faith, to be in union with Christ is to be sanctified, to be saints. We are set aside together as a new people or a new society made up of those in every place who call Jesus Christ Lord.
What makes this different from the past when Paul spoke of this is that the church as God’s chosen people, God’s new covenant, is defined not by Jewish ancestry but by discipleship. The peace of God, wholeness and reconciliation, is given, a gift that is a matter of grace, not by birth or status.
City Of God
In the 5th century at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, St. Augustine wrote in the City of God, “The glorious city of God is my theme in this work.” As revealed and given in Christian faith, God calls us to enter into a city, a society that begins within our earthly society but is distinct from and transcends the human city. Augustine says the City of God is moved by the love of God and neighbor while the human city is moved by self-interest.
God calls us in Christ is to be a people, an alternative society, that reveals new life, a new way of being and living together.
How are we at Lakeshore, an alternative society, a city of God in Oakland? We begin to perceive this when we love our neighbors rather than putting our self-interest first. We are willing to come to an important church meeting on Monday night instead of watching Monday Night Football. We are generous to make a donation to help someone knowing that you will wait another month to afford what you fancied. We go out of our comfort and safety zone when we see someone who just may need a little human kindness.
Lakeshore is an alternative society; a city of God is when you are getting up on Sunday mornings to participate with other saints at Lakeshore while others are sleeping cozily in their warm beds. Because you know that while you were individually called by Jesus, your commitment to discipleship can only happen when you are in fellowship with other Christians in this church.
Bishop Desmond Tutu suggested an African word, ubuntu, which connotes that a person is a person only through other persons. To be is to be “we” and not “I.” The other is a gift to us. All of you is a gift to me and you are a gift to each other.
Together in Christ gathered at this church, the community lacks nothing that is needed as we wait upon God. It is in this sense that Paul gives thanks to God for the gift of each member of the church (vv. 4-9).
Annual Meeting
Following worship today is Lakeshore’s Annual Meeting. It wouldn’t be a Baptist meeting if there were no tension or conflicts! You heard that Robert’s Rules of Order came from a Baptist minister in the 1870s who drafted parliamentary procedures to provide structure, fairness, efficiency, and democratic decision-making by balancing the rights of the majority, minority, and individuals, with the core principles of the right time to speak and debate.
The task of discerning what this life is as the people of God remains. As we look back at 2025 that offers insights and learnings of what happened, we still need to discern what is Lakeshore going to be about next year and years to come. It would be easy for us to find fault and make criticisms. We may look more like the human city instead of the city of God.
In the midst of differences and conflicts, the first word is thanksgiving. Redemption is given by God in Christ and through creation, in our life together. The city of God and the human city are not separate realms. The city of God is known, revealed, in the human city, in the midst of our life together, amid our loves and passions, conflicts, and divisions.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the topics of unity and division are constant themes. And we’d see that in the chapters following what we read today. But Paul is saying that no human quarrel can destroy the unity we have in Christ. Just as Paul was telling the Corinthians that when they fail, make mistakes, and quarrel, their disappointments will not diminish God’s love and favor for them because they are sanctified. You, Lakeshore, are also sanctified!
Because of the grace of God, in Christ, we are enriched, in speech and knowledge of every kind, not lacking in any spiritual gifts and therefore we are thankful. When we are thankful, thanksgiving precedes any critique that we may have. No human quarrel can destroy our unity in Christ.
At Lakeshore, it’s a tradition that we do “Passing the Peace” every Sunday. When we do this, it’s more than greeting one another or shaking a warm hand when our own hand is cold. It’s being thankful that we have one another and if for whatever reason we might break fellowship with someone, this is the time to reconcile and be thankful for each other again.
LABC in the Mirror
When we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see. Hopefully, you may see more of yourself as others see you.
A crucial dynamic in human relationships is the perception that people have of themselves and of others. If a person perceives herself as articulate and competent, she will interact with others in a way of which she would not be capable if she saw herself as fumbling and inept. If a person perceives others as informed and able, he will deal with them in ways that he would not if he saw them as incompetent and ill-informed.
Furthermore, the way people respond to him will be strongly influenced by the perception that he has of them. People sense how they are viewed by others and respond accordingly. If people discern that another has high regard for them, they often live up to that expectation. Conversely, if they discern that the other has a low opinion of them, their attitude and behavior often reflect that assessment.
So, how do we perceive each other at Lakeshore? Paul said that we are enriched in Christ, in speech and knowledge of every kind, not lacking in any spiritual gifts, as we wait during this interim year.
Here’s a story for you. A little girl was standing with her grandfather by an old-fashioned open well. They just lowered a bucket and had drawn some water to drink.
“Grandfather,” asked the little girl, “where does God live?”
The old man picked up his little granddaughter and safely held her over the open well. “Look down the well,” he said, “and tell me what you see.”
“I see a reflection of myself,” said the little girl.
“And that’s where God lives,” said the grandfather. “God lives in you.”
How do you perceive LABC? We are the City of God in Oakland, an alternative society that proclaims love and peace for everyone because God loves everyone God has made in God’s own image. Like the little girl, we see God in each other.
If we perceive any possible tension, divisions, conflicts that may confront us, we are unified in Christ and we are thankful for who we are in the mercy of God in Christ and therefore, no human quarrel can ever destroy us.
We are the church of God in Oakland, those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, not one saint but many saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord, and ours.
Thanks be to God!
Let us pray.
God of the saints in every age and time, we are grateful for the privilege of being numbered among your people to be and to do more than we realized about ourselves. Be present with us at today’s Annual Meeting as Lakeshore continue to remember its history, celebrate its faithfulness, and confident in doing a new thing in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. May we be the City of God in Oakland and in this world with a commitment to work toward peace, justice, and love. Amen.
Benediction
God remains steadfast and faithful.
We will be strengthened for all of life’s journey.
May this City of God, go in love.
May the grace, mercy, and peace of God abide in you. Amen.