Call to Worship
One: The world finds no proof of God.
All: But the heavens tell of God’s glory.
One: God’s message is foolishness to the world.
All: But God’s folly trumps human wisdom.
One: The freedom of the world brings us death.
All: But obedience to God’s ways brings life.
One: We gather in the name of Christ crucified.
All: The Word made flesh brings life to God’s people!
One: Holy God, your message of service and love can feel like foolishness in this world. Open up the scriptures to us so that we can see and understand your wisdom and walk with you in our lives.
All: Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of mercy,
we are not as good as we say we are.
We hold grudges,
we get jealous,
we get carried away by our anger.
Forgive us, Lord, for we are sorry. Show us once again the path that leads to life. Restore us so that we can know the peace and joy of life with you.
Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.