Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

A call to worship.

Themes

The cross • Death of Jesus • Christ crucified • Foolishness • Power of God • Wisdom • Wisdom of God • In Christ Jesus • Righteousness • Holiness • Redemption • Atonement • Salvation

Understanding the death of Jesus Christ starts with God the Father, not the culture, not the particular moment we’re in. 

It was an event. It occurred in the past, once-for-all. Christ died for our sins, for the ungodly, for all, for us, for me. 

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Scripture reading

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:2

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This call to worship¹ is from the Apostle Paul’s letter to a church in the Greek city of Corinth. 

The message of the cross, he wrote,
is foolishness 
to those who are perishing, 
but to us who are being saved, 
it is the power of God. 

Where is the wise person? 
Where is the philosopher of this age?
Well… God has made foolish their wisdom —
the wisdom of the world.

Through its wisdom, 
the world does not know him.
But God… He is pleased 
to save those who believe 
through the foolishness 
of what is preached. 

Jews — they demand signs. 
And Greeks — they look for wisdom.

But we preach Christ crucified: 
it’s a stumbling block to Jews, 
and it’s foolishness to Gentiles. 
But to those whom God has called, 
it is Christ the power of God 
and it is Christ the wisdom of God. 

Brothers and sisters, 
think of what you were 
when you were called. 
Not many of you 
were all that wise by human standards; 
not many of you 
were influential; 
not many of you 
were of noble birth. 
God has clearly chosen 
the foolish things of the world 
to shame the wise; 
He has clearly chosen 
the weak things of the world 
to shame the strong.

It is because of God 
that you are in Christ Jesus, 
and Jesus has become for us 
wisdom from God — 
righteousness from God, 
holiness from God, 
redemption from God. 

And so it was with me, 
brothers and sisters. 
When I came to you, 
I did not come with eloquence 
or human wisdom 
as I proclaimed to you 
the testimony about God. 
For I resolved 
to know nothing while I was with you 
except Jesus Christ 
and Him crucified.

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Prayer

Father in heaven, 
in the middle 
of all the politics 
of Greek Corinth 
and all the religious struggles 
of the first century, 
it doesn’t seem 
like Paul cared much at all 
to contextualize the death of Christ. 

He doesn’t even care who killed Jesus 
and why they did,
because understanding 
the death of Your Son 
starts with You, 
not the culture, 
not the particular moment we’re in. 
At least it seemed that way 
for your Apostle.

And that message of the cross, Father, 
it’s the same today: 
Christ died for our sins— 
the Son of God 
who loved me 
and gave Himself for me. 

It was an event.
It occurred in the past, 
once-for-all. 
Christ died for our sins, 
for the ungodly, 
for all, 
for us, 
for me. 

We were enslaved, 
helplessly and hopelessly captive 
to the reign of sin. 
That’s not much of a feel-good 
heart-warming
empowering message 
that seems all that relevant 
to our political and religious reality 
here in the dawn of the 21st cebtury. 

But here we are, Father, 
justified undeservedly 
by Your grace 
through the redemption 
that is in Christ Jesus, 
whom you designated 
as the means of atonement— 
Jesus Christ’s faithfulness to you 
in the shedding of his blood. 

And this demonstrated 
Your divine righteousness— 
You are righteous 
and you justify us 
who are sharing the faith of Jesus. 

Your righteousness 
is not some static quality, 
some divine attribute 
that we can grasp 
as some abstract ideal. 

No. 

It is the power 
that brings salvation to us. 
We who have sinned 
are captured by Your power, 
for salvation. 

And by this gracious gift, 
we are set right with You. 
Our sins are forgiven 
in the death of Jesus Christ. 

And His faithfulness 
is our faithfulness. 
His faith 
is our faith. 

And You have acquitted us 
and You’ve set us into 
a right relationship with You. 
 
In the name of Jesus and Him crucified, 
foolishness to the world, 
but to us, 
the power of God, 
and the wisdom of God, 
and righteousness from God, 
and holiness from God, 
and redemption from God, 
Amen

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Inspiring resources

A call to worship creates wonderment, amazement, curiosity, yearning, captivation, provocation, hopefulness, thankfulness, affection, rapture, delight. As these mix together, the response is worship.

If this call to worship leaves you wondering or curious or provoked or hopeful, consider diving into this awesome book which inspired me to write this call to worship.

1. This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on June 5, 2022.