Faith in Focus #2
A reflection from Connection Church and other spiritual events from the week
Faith in Focus is a weekly reflection on what God has been teaching me throughout the week regarding my faith. Whether it’s personal interactions, reading, or the Sunday sermon, God speaks through it all, and I hope this helps you focus on His mission.
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Nothing but Christ: Origin Story of the Corinthian Letters
Based on Jonathan Land’s sermon, Connection Church Sioux Falls, Nov. 9, 2025. (watch here)
Before Paul ever wrote to Corinth, he lived among its chaos — broke, opposed, and uncertain. But Acts 18 shows how God builds a church not through comfort, but through confrontation and divine endurance.
Every letter has an origin story. Before 1 Corinthians ever arrived in a scroll sealed with wax, Paul had already walked its streets, built his tents, and had been dragged before its courts. Acts 18:1–22 tells that story — the messy, miraculous birth of a church in what could only be called the Las Vegas of the Roman Empire.
Corinth was famous for its freedom and infamous for its moral chaos. To call someone a “Corinthian” was a public insult, shorthand for indulgence without restraint. And yet it was there — of all places — that God decided to plant one of the most theologically rich churches in the New Testament.
Jonathan Land opened our new series, Nothing but Christ, by tracing this moment when Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15–18) collided with the wild heart of Corinth.
The World Behind the Text
Corinth sat on a narrow isthmus connecting northern and southern Greece, a strategic corridor for trade. It was wealthy, cosmopolitan, and deeply pagan. The temple of Aphrodite loomed over the city, and worship often blurred into prostitution and profit.
Paul arrived there not as a celebrity apostle, but as a weary traveler. Luke records that he worked as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), earning his keep until Silas and Timothy arrived with financial support, likely from the Philippian church (cf. Philippians 4:15–16). What looked like failure—manual labor instead of ministry — was actually God’s provision.
Then came divine reassurance:
“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you…” — Acts 18:9–10, ESV
That promise would anchor Paul for eighteen months of teaching, debate, and discipleship in Corinth — an unusually long stay for him.
Walking the Passage
When the synagogue turned hostile, Paul moved next door — literally. He began preaching in the house of Titius Justus, a Gentile who lived beside the synagogue (v. 7). The shift was both symbolic and strategic: the gospel was moving beyond ethnic boundaries.
And then came the twist. Crispus, the ruler of that same synagogue, believed (v. 8). Imagine the public shock. The leader of Jewish worship in Corinth abandoning his pulpit to follow the crucified Christ. The text doesn’t tell us how the congregation reacted — but we can guess.
A new ruler stepped in: Sosthenes. Soon after, the city’s Jewish leaders brought Paul before Gallio, the Roman proconsul — a man with the authority of a governor. The charge? “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”
But Gallio’s answer changed everything.
“Since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” — Acts 18:15, ESV
His indifference became the church’s protection. Rome, at least for the moment, had no interest in silencing the Gospel. The irony deepened when the crowd turned on Sosthenes, beating him in front of Gallio’s tribunal (v. 17).
And that’s where Acts leaves the story. Paul departs; the church remains. But when we turn the page to 1 Corinthians 1:1, there it is again:
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes…”
Was it the same man? Scripture doesn’t say definitively — but the symmetry is hard to miss. The beaten synagogue ruler is now Paul’s co-author. Grace had flipped the story.
A Fair Counter-Reading
Some scholars caution that “Sosthenes” was a common name, and we shouldn’t overstate the connection. The literary and historical link might be thematic, not personal — a narrative echo reminding readers that persecution and redemption are never far apart in God’s economy.
Yet even if Luke and Paul refer to different men, the theological truth holds: God transforms opposition into partnership. The Gospel that divided the synagogue also seeded its renewal.
The Turn
Jonathan Land reminded us that Acts 18 is more than ancient history — it’s the opening act of Nothing but Christ. The Corinthians began their story amid confusion, scandal, and the clash of cultures. So did we.
Here are the gospel patterns woven through the passage:
God’s plan cannot be stopped. Poverty, persecution, and politics could not derail the mission.
When human wisdom ends, divine wisdom remains. What looks like failure often sets the stage for revival.
God offends before He transforms. His truth confronts before it comforts, drawing clear lines before healing.
God’s word divides before it unites. The split between Paul and the synagogue eventually made room for shared faith, as echoed by Jesus in Luke 12:51–53.
Carry It Into the Week
The Corinthian church’s story is our story. We are planted in cultures that often mirror Corinth’s contradictions — wealth beside despair, freedom beside emptiness. Yet Acts 18 declares that the Gospel doesn’t wait for ideal soil.
If God can raise partners out of persecution and joy out of injustice, He can certainly move in the modern equivalents of Corinth: the corporate boardroom, the college campus, the family dinner table.
The call remains the same as in Paul’s vision:
“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent.”
Because Nothing but Christ isn’t just a sermon series — it’s a way of life.
Ben’s Spiritual Song of the Week: Counting My Blessings - Seph Schlueter
This song serves as a powerful reminder that the blessings God pours into our lives are truly beyond measure. When we take a moment to pause and reflect, even the most ordinary frustrations can become opportunities to recognize His goodness.
Don’t enjoy doing the dishes? Be thankful there was food to eat. Feeling weighed down by new responsibilities at work? Remember the gift of having a job. Frustrated about rising property taxes? You’re blessed to have a home to care for.
It’s not about ignoring life’s difficulties or pretending that hardship doesn’t exist. We’re human, discomfort and frustration are natural responses. But once the initial sting fades, shifting focus toward gratitude can transform our outlook. Each day carries countless blessings, often hidden in the places we least expect to find them.
The Week in Reflection:
About a year ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to step into a new role as a Team Lead for our church’s Hospitality Team at Connection Church. While our team is known for brewing coffee, selling books and shirts, and greeting people at the door, our mission goes far deeper, creating a welcoming space where genuine connection can happen the moment someone walks in.
Recently, all of our Team Leads, from Worship to Kids Ministry to Facilities, gathered for a shared meal and a night of community. Between laughter and conversation, we were given a set of discussion questions to guide us through what leadership really means within the church. These moments are always special, not just for the wisdom shared, but for the sense of unity that comes from seeing everyone who serves alongside you.
The Three Pillars of Leadership
If you’ve ever served in a leadership role, in the church or outside of it, you know it’s more than just managing people or tasks. At its core, leadership is three things:
Leadership is discipleship.
Leadership is storytelling.
Leadership is being a culture carrier.
For me, the first one bleeds into the other two. Discipling others isn’t just about leading, it’s about sharing stories that point people toward what God is doing around us. And for those who aren’t natural talkers, discipleship often happens through example: how you serve, how you act, and how you treat others.
One discussion point that stood out during our meeting was time management, specifically, the simple act of being on time. I’ve always believed in the old Coach Carter saying: “If you’re on time, you’re late.” To me, being early is a sign of respect, preparation, and priority. When someone isn’t on time, it’s not really about excuses, it’s about what their choices reveal about their priorities. And priorities, in turn, reflect beliefs.
One major takeaway for our church was this: Always be recruiting.
With multiple services each weekend and countless moving parts behind the scenes, it takes many hands to make Sundays happen. As Connection continues to grow by the grace of God, our serving teams must grow as well.
Serving, after all, isn’t just a task, it’s a biblical calling. Scripture reminds us of this truth in Matthew 20:26: “...but whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” And again in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”
A Call to Action
So here’s my challenge for the week: if you’re not already serving in your local church, take that step. Talk to someone. Ask where you can help. It’s not about servicing ourselves, it’s about serving others as Christ served us.
And remember, God loves you, and so do I.
