Faith in Focus #29
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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Sermon Reflection
After sixteen chapters of correction, encouragement, theology, and practical instruction, Paul's message to the Corinthian church remains remarkably simple. Whatever the question, whatever the struggle, whatever the circumstance, the answer is ultimately found in Christ and His resurrection.
Based on the sermon by Jonathan Land, Connection Church Sioux Falls, May 24, 2026.
The Thread Running Through 1 Corinthians
There is something deeply satisfying about reaching the end of a long journey.
Over the past several months, we have walked chapter by chapter through Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. We have wrestled with difficult passages, explored complex doctrines, and confronted challenging applications. Along the way, Paul addressed division, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, marriage, singleness, Christian liberty, worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection.
At first glance, 1 Corinthians can feel like a collection of unrelated issues. One chapter discusses church conflict. Another focuses on marriage. Another dives into spiritual gifts. Yet another builds one of the most robust defenses of the resurrection found anywhere in Scripture.
But as we reach the end of the letter and look back, a remarkable pattern emerges.
Every road leads back to Jesus.
The World Behind the Text
The church in Corinth was messy.
Located in a prosperous and influential city, the Corinthian believers struggled to separate themselves from the values of the culture around them. They carried worldly assumptions into the church and then wondered why problems followed.
Sound familiar?
The Corinthians often approached their faith by asking questions similar to the ones Christians ask today.
How should we handle disagreements? What should our relationships look like? How do we use our freedoms? What does spiritual maturity look like? How should worship function? What happens after death?
Paul answers every one of these questions, yet he refuses to let the conversation stay merely practical. Instead, he consistently moves beneath the surface and addresses the deeper issue.
Their greatest need was not better techniques. Their greatest need was Christ.
Walking the Passage
One of the most fascinating observations from this study is how frequently Paul points to Jesus throughout the letter.
Across sixteen chapters, Paul uses the name Jesus twenty six times, Christ sixty four times, and Lord sixty six times. These aren’t accidental references sprinkled throughout the letter. They reveal Paul’s central focus.
Everything revolves around Christ.
When the Corinthians were dividing into factions, Paul pointed them to Christ crucified.
When they were tolerating sin, Paul pointed them to Christ’s holiness.
When they struggled with pride, Paul pointed them to Christ’s humility.
When they misunderstood love, Paul pointed them to Christ’s example.
When they questioned the resurrection, Paul pointed them to Christ’s victory over death.
Paul never treats Jesus as a supporting character in the Christian life. Jesus IS the Christian life. This is why Paul writes, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV).
That statement is not a rejection of theology or practical wisdom. Rather, it is a declaration that every aspect of theology and wisdom finds its center in Christ.
When we dig deeply enough into any issue, we eventually arrive at the cross.
When we ask how to forgive, we find Christ.
When we ask how to love, we find Christ.
When we ask how to endure suffering, we find Christ.
When we ask what gives life meaning, we find Christ.
When we ask what happens after death, we find Christ and His resurrection.
The world constantly offers competing answers. It tells us fulfillment can be found in success, relationships, wealth, status, self-expression, or personal achievement.
Paul disagrees.
Christ is not one answer among many. Christ IS the answer.
That truth can sound exclusive in a culture that celebrates endless options. Yet Christianity has always proclaimed that ultimate hope is found in a person, not a philosophy.
Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV).
The gospel does not present Christ as an enhancement to life. It presents Him as life itself.
A Fair Counter-Reading
Some readers may object that reducing every issue to “Jesus is the answer” oversimplifies the complexities of life.
After all, Scripture contains practical commands, wisdom literature, and detailed ethical teaching. Doesn’t Christianity require more nuanced answers than simply pointing to Christ?
There is truth in that concern.
Paul certainly provides practical instruction throughout 1 Corinthians. He gives specific guidance regarding marriage, worship, church discipline, generosity, and spiritual gifts. Christianity is not opposed to practical wisdom.
Yet Paul never allows practical wisdom to become disconnected from the person and work of Jesus.
The issue is not whether practical answers matter. The issue is whether those answers remain rooted in the Gospel.
Paul’s genius is that he refuses to separate doctrine from discipleship. The practical instructions always flow from the reality of who Christ is and what He has accomplished.
The Turn
One of the challenges facing modern Christians is the temptation to blend into the surrounding culture. We often want to be accepted, understood, and comfortable.
Yet Paul consistently calls believers toward something different.
He calls them toward holiness, sacrificial love, and toward a life shaped by the cross.
In many ways, genuine Christianity should appear strange to the world.
Not because Christians seek to be offensive or are trying to stand out. But because the values of Christ often run contrary to the values of the culture.
Paul closes the letter with a simple but profound command: “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV).
That sounds simple until we attempt to live it.
Responding to criticism with love, serving others before ourselves, forgiving those who hurt us, and choosing humility over self promotion are all countercultural.
Living every aspect of life through the lens of Christ’s sacrificial love will often make us appear strange in a world built on self interest.
But perhaps that is exactly the point. The church was never called to look like Corinth. The church was called to look like Christ.
Carry It Into the Week
As we close the book of 1 Corinthians, it is worth pausing to recognize what has happened.
You have journeyed through an entire book of the Bible.
That may not feel significant at first glance, but it truly is.
In a culture increasingly driven by short attention spans and quick answers, you have spent time dwelling deeply in God’s Word. You have wrestled with difficult passages. You have explored theology. You have followed Paul’s argument from beginning to end.
That is no small accomplishment.
More importantly, my hope is that this study has accomplished what Paul intended all along.
Not merely that you would know more about Corinth or that you would understand more theology. But that you would see Christ more clearly.
Because every chapter ultimately points to Him.
Every correction, every command, every promise, and every hope points to Him.
As we move into our Summer in the Psalms series, my prayer is that the same hunger for God’s Word continues to grow in anyone who reads this. Scripture is not simply information to consume. It is God’s revelation of Himself, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for walking through this journey with me.
I hope you’ll continue to join me as we turn the page and begin exploring the Psalms together.
Song of the Week: Confidence - Sanctus Real
We all have things that scare us. For some, it’s spiders crawling across the floor. For others, it’s standing in front of a crowd to speak or looking over the edge of a towering height. Fear is something every person experiences in one way or another. Yet some of the deepest fears are not physical at all. Sometimes the hardest fears to face are the spiritual ones. The fear of speaking openly about our faith at work. The fear of being judged by family or friends. The fear of defending what we believe when difficult conversations arise. Even as Christians, fear has a way of making us feel small and uncertain.
That is why Sanctus Real’s song Confidence resonates with people. The song is more than just catchy lyrics or a powerful chorus. It’s a prayer. A cry for God to give ordinary people extraordinary faith in the middle of life’s battles.
“So give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den.” Daniel stood surrounded by danger, yet he trusted God even when fear should have overwhelmed him. That lyric becomes a prayer asking God to help us stand firm when life feels intimidating and uncertain. Help me not to run from the things that scare me. Help me trust You even when I feel surrounded.
“Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness.” Moses spent years wandering through uncertainty, yet God never abandoned His promises. Sometimes life feels like a wilderness season where prayers seem unanswered and the road ahead feels unclear. This line reminds us to ask God for hope that sees beyond present struggles and believes He is still leading us somewhere greater.
“Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense.” David faced giants, enemies, and impossible odds, but his confidence was never in his own strength. His confidence came from knowing who fought beside him. That same prayer applies to our own lives when battles come in the form of anxiety, hardships, temptation, grief, or spiritual struggles. We ask God to fight for us when we are too weak to fight on our own.
“So I can face my giants with confidence.” That single line captures the heart of the Christian walk. Confidence doesn’t mean we never feel afraid. It means we know fear doesn’t have the final word because God is greater than whatever stands in front of us. The giants in our lives may not be literal warriors or lions, but they are still real. Fear, doubt, insecurity, suffering, and uncertainty can all feel massive in the moment. Yet through Christ, we are reminded that we do not face those giants alone.
True confidence is not rooted in ourselves. It is rooted in knowing that God is our salvation, our hope, and our strength. He is faithful in every season, present in every battle, and stronger than every fear we carry. My prayer is not only that God continues to grow this confidence in my own life, but that everyone reading this would pray the same thing. That God would give us faith when we are afraid, hope when we feel lost, strength when we feel weak, and confidence to face whatever lies ahead knowing He walks beside us every step of the way.
Week in Reflection
This week truly felt like the beginning of summer. The weather is getting warmer, the days are stretching longer, and suddenly calendars start filling with opportunities to connect with people outside again. Between bonfires with friends, dreaming about future travel plans, and stepping into a new opportunity with photography at church, it felt like one of those weeks where God quietly reminds me how much beauty can be found in everyday moments.
There is just something special about summer bonfires. Maybe it’s the slower pace, the glow of the fire cutting through the darkness, or the way conversations seem to naturally go deeper when everyone is gathered around together. This week brought a night like that, sitting around the fire with friends talking about life, interests, future goals, and everything in between. One of the biggest conversations ended up being the possibility of organizing a trip to Japan in 2027, which honestly still feels surreal to even talk about.
What started as a casual discussion quickly turned into excited conversations about places we would want to visit, food we would want to try, and experiences we would love to share together. Beyond the excitement of travel itself, moments like that remind me how important community really is. Fellowship is not always confined to church walls or organized Bible studies. Sometimes it happens around folding chairs in a backyard while smoke from a fire drifts through the air and everyone shares pieces of their lives with one another. Those moments matter deeply because they create opportunities to encourage one another, laugh together, and witness how God is moving in each person’s journey.
Alongside those moments of fellowship came an opportunity that honestly pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. This week I had the privilege of photographing services at Connection Church. From morning prayer before service began, to the welcome team greeting people at the doors, to baptisms during worship, and the sermon itself, it was an incredibly humbling experience to try and capture the heart behind everything happening throughout the morning.
Going into it, I was definitely nervous. Photography is always interesting because there is a balance between technical skill and simply being present enough to recognize meaningful moments as they happen. Walking into an environment where every moment carries spiritual significance added an entirely different layer to that responsibility. I wanted to do justice to the joy of baptisms, the sincerity of prayer, and the welcoming atmosphere that so many people work hard to create every Sunday.
Even though I have not received feedback on the photographs yet, I walked away feeling genuinely grateful for the opportunity itself. There were multiple moments throughout the services where I could feel God guiding my attention toward moments that deserved to be captured. A smile during worship, someone deep in prayer, or the excitement and emotion surrounding baptisms. Moments that may seem small from the outside but carry so much meaning within them. It reminded me that photography, at its best, is more than simply taking pictures. It becomes a way of preserving moments that reflect joy, community, faith, and the work God is doing in people’s lives.
As summer continues to unfold, I find myself increasingly excited for what lies ahead. The season is only beginning, yet already it has brought opportunities for deeper fellowship, new experiences, and reminders of God’s faithfulness in both big and small ways. Whether it’s conversations around a bonfire, planning adventures down the road, or stepping into opportunities that feel intimidating at first, I am thankful for the ways God continues to open doors and create moments worth remembering.
If this is only the beginning of summer, I truly cannot wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
And always remember, God loves you, and so do I.
Connection Church in Sioux Falls is a gospel-centered community committed to helping people follow Jesus through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and everyday mission. Rooted in historic Christian belief and aligned with gospel renewal movements, the church exists to see lives transformed by Jesus. Learn more: https://siouxfallsconnection.com/who-we-are
