保罗这封信是写给当时哥林多教会的，我们对受信人知道的不多，但有一件事我们知道，就是他们中间有很多磨擦及冲突。
我们不会感到太出奇。如果你属于某个宗教团体，无论是家庭形式、小组形式、家庭教会，或大教会，你明白当中总会有不和与分歧的，这种事情在任何群体和聚会中都会发生。
保罗向哥林多教会的问安，也包括一些很重要的观点。第一，保罗向我们确定，神的旨意是要信徒彼此之间，在这个信仰群体中活出我们的信心来。圣经从始至终都清楚说明，凡神所招聚的家庭及信仰群体，祂必会祝福，并住在他们当中。
第二，保罗指出，那招聚神子民走在一起并且同心合意的黏合剂，就是神的恩典。神的恩典不但能够盖过我们所有的罪并使我们每个人与基督联合，它更能够帮助我们看别人为一个基督愿意为他死的人。当我们以神满有恩典的目光来看别人时，我们彼此之间的关系便加强了。若要做到这点，我们需要努力放下个人的偏爱和自我，并为神把我们招聚在一起而感谢祂。今天，就让我们祈求神帮助我们这样做吧！
慈爱的神，感谢祢把我们放在那些追求跟随耶稣的人当中，求祢帮助我们同心合意尽忠于祢。奉基督的名祈求，阿们。
哥林多前书 1:1-9
1奉神旨意，蒙召作耶稣基督使徒的保罗，同兄弟所提尼，
2写信给在哥林多神的教会，就是在基督耶稣里成圣、蒙召作圣徒的，以及所有在各处求告我主耶稣基督之名的人。基督是他们的主，也是我们的主。
3愿恩惠、平安从神我们的父并主耶稣基督归与你们。
4我常为你们感谢我的神，因神在基督耶稣里所赐给你们的恩惠；
5又因你们在他里面凡事富足，口才、知识都全备，
6正如我为基督作的见证，在你们心里得以坚固，
7以致你们在恩赐上没有一样不及人的，等候我们的主耶稣基督显现。
8他也必坚固你们到底，叫你们在我们主耶稣基督的日子无可责备。
9神是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子－我们的主耶稣基督一同得分。
"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." — 1 Corinthians 1:4
We don’t know a lot about the people to whom Paul was writing in the ancient city of Corinth. But we do know that the people struggled sometimes with getting along.
That shouldn’t surprise us. If you belong to some kind of community of faith, whether it’s a family, small group, house church, or large congregation, you know there is sometimes discord and disagreement. That happens in all kinds of groups and gatherings.
Paul’s greeting to the church in Corinth gives a helpful perspective. First, Paul affirms that living out our faith in community with one another is God’s intent for us. The Bible from beginning to end makes clear that God blesses and lives among the family or community of faith that he is gathering together.
Second, Paul identifies the glue that gathers God’s people together and keeps them united to one another. That glue is God’s grace. God’s grace not only covers all our sins and unites us to Christ as individuals; it also helps us see others as people for whom Christ was willing to die. When we see others through God’s grace-filled eyes, our bonds with one another are strengthened. This requires the hard work of dying to our own preferences and egos and giving thanks to God for his grace that brings us all together. Let’s ask for God’s help with that today!
Gracious God, thank you for placing us among others who seek to follow Jesus. Help us to be faithful together. In Christ’s name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
