Scripture Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 & John 1:29-42
(Slide 1) We begin today not with what we have done for God, but with what God has already done for us. Before we ever sought Him, He sought us. Before we ever followed, He called us. Between grace freely given and discipleship faithfully lived, there is a way of life marked not by fear or obligation, but by gratitude. Today, we listen to Jesus’ gentle invitation: “Come and see,” and we ask how our lives might become a grateful response.
In 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Paul opens this letter by identifying himself as “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” He repeats this kind of introduction throughout his letters to underline that the gospel he proclaims rests on God’s calling and God’s authority, not human ambition.
He then addresses the Corinthians as “the church of God” and calls them “saints.” This is striking, because the Corinthian church was far from perfect. Yet Paul can speak this way because they are in Christ Jesus. Nearly 160 times, Paul returns to this phrase, In Christ. Our identity does not begin with our performance, but with our position in Christ. When we are in Christ, the church truly belongs to God, and we are a holy people, called by grace.
Paul defines the church as those who are sanctified in Christ and called to be saints – people who trust in Jesus, confess Him as Lord, and seek to be shaped by His character. Jesus Himself promises that He is present where believers gather in His name (Matthew 18:20). Though the church is filled with human effort, service, and sacrifice, it does not belong to us. God is the owner of the church, and Christ alone is its head.
(Slide 2) Paul then turns to gratitude: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God given you in Christ Jesus.” He gives thanks because the church is graced. Thanksgiving is grounded in God’s action. Grace sustains believers to the end, and their hope rests on God’s faithfulness. Salvation, calling, and identity as saints are all gifts of grace. As Paul rejoiced in the grace evident in the believers, may we learn to celebrate the grace we see at work in our brothers and sisters, rejoicing not in ourselves but in what God is doing among His people.
The Corinthian church was rich in spiritual gifts. Yet those gifts were given for a clear purpose: to build up the body of Christ. As Ephesians 4:12 reminds us, gifts are meant to equip the saints for ministry and strengthen Christ’s body. God desires a church marked by love, unity, and mutual edification, not competition or self-display.
The tragedy in Corinth was not the presence of gifts, but their misuse. What was meant to serve the body became a means of self-promotion. Still, Paul notes something hopeful: they were waiting for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite their failures, they lived with expectation. They believed that Christ would come again. May we likewise give thanks for Christ’s presence with us now, while living as people shaped by the hope of His return.
Finally, Paul points beyond the church to the character of God Himself: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our confidence does not rest in our faithfulness, but in God’s. Paul’s gratitude is future-oriented, thanking God for what God will complete, not just what God has already done. May we respond by offering lives of thanksgiving and praise to the faithful God who has called us into fellowship with His Son.
(Slide 3) In John 1:29, Jesus comes toward John the Baptist. In verse 36, John sees Jesus walking by and testifies about Him. These moments reveal a beautiful portrait of Jesus – the One who seeks us out, approaches us first, and walks among us. In both verses, John proclaims, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus came as the Lamb of God, willingly becoming the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He is not only the Savior who came long ago, but the Lord who remains present with us even now.
(Slide 4) John the Baptist tells us in verse 31 that his entire ministry was focused on one purpose: to reveal Christ. He faithfully embraced his calling to prepare the way for the Lord, undistracted by public approval or worldly expectations. John understood himself simply and clearly as a witness. And in verse 33, he testifies that Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This means that all who believe in Jesus Christ are not left alone – the Spirit of God dwells with them. May we, guided by the Holy Spirit, live in gratitude for Christ’s redeeming grace and bear faithful witness as His servants.
The Gospel of John presents the calling of the first disciples differently from the Synoptic Gospels. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe the decisive call by the Sea of Galilee, John shows us an earlier encounter in Judea. This reminds us that discipleship often begins with a simple meeting – a first step toward a lifelong journey.
(Slide 5) Andrew and John were originally disciples of John the Baptist, yet when they encountered Jesus, they followed Him. Simon, too, is welcomed just as he is, but he is not left unchanged. Jesus calls His disciples through revelation, invitation, and relationship. His words are simple: “Come and see.” Verse 39 tells us that the disciples went where Jesus was staying and remained with Him. Discipleship begins by staying with Jesus, and it deepens as we spend time in His presence. Following Christ often grows most naturally through relationships and simple invitations.
So we must ask ourselves: in this complicated and demanding world, whom are we following? What are we truly seeking? When life becomes heavy, where do we turn? Jesus is still walking among us today. He still comes to us first, and He still says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.” Are we carrying heavy loads? Are we tired, wounded, or quietly hoping for something more? Whatever our situation, Jesus invites us – “Come and see,” and “Come to me.” He longs to spend time with us.
(Slide 6) What you see here is my prayer journal and thanksgiving notebook for 2026. Though I have experienced countless blessings from Christ and the faithful guidance of the Holy Spirit, I realize how easily those graces can be forgotten. This year, I want to record them – prayers, moments of gratitude, each sign of God’s love. As we walk through this year as disciples who love and follow Jesus, may we encounter Him more deeply, give thanks for His work through our lives, our families, our church, and others, and experience abundant thanksgiving where grace and discipleship meet.
(Slide 7) The God who called us is faithful, and He will sustain us to the end. The Lamb of God who took away our sin now walks with us in our ordinary days, our questions, our weariness, and our hope. Discipleship is not our attempt to repay grace; it is our grateful response to a love that has already claimed us. So let us go, living between grace and discipleship, staying with Jesus, listening to His voice, and allowing our lives to quietly say “thank you” through faith, obedience, and love. And may our everyday following become a living testimony to the grace that first found us and will never let us go.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials, and a Vanderbilt Divinity Library Resources)