Trinity Study: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9

Continuing in our brief studies in 1 Corinthians, today we look at the rest of the introduction/greeting section in vv. 4–9. In this short section, Paul gives thanks for how God has enriched the church.

Here's the video:

During the video, I mentioned that we (the Trinity session) would like it if all of our members completed a spiritual gifts inventory and sent us the results. I am grateful that LifeWay has provided a free copy of their spiritual gifts inventory online; you can find it here:
https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/women-leadership-spiritual-gifts-growth-service

If you would, please download the PDF and complete the inventory sometime over the next week or two. Then email me either a copy of your completed inventory summary or simply a list of those gifts that it shows that you have. Thanks!

Trinity Study: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 application questions

Following up on the exposition part of the study earlier in the week, here are some application questions about 1 Corinthians 1:1–3.

• What do you usually think about your own sanctification? Does it challenge your way of thinking to consider how Paul addressed the Corinthians as "those sanctified"? Do you think of yourself as being viewed as already sanctified in the eyes of God, even as he continues to do the work of bringing this to fuller reality?
• When you consider Paul's address of the Corinthians as "those called to be saints" does it bother you, in light of their ongoing struggles with sin? Who do you think is worthy of the label "saints"? Do you count yourself in that category? If your category of "saints" doesn't include ALL Christians, what requirements or qualifications allows one to be a saint and prevents another from being one? How does that definition of "saints" compare to the way that Paul (and the rest of the Bible) uses the word?
• Paul greets them with a familiar but significant greeting: "grace and peace to you." What does it mean to pass along these two states of being in a greeting? Do you read those words as being perfunctory and empty because they are words of greeting? Or do you recognize that Paul genuinely meant them as what he would have for the Corinthians?

Areas for Prayer

• Lord, teach me to view myself and my spiritual status through your eyes—that, because of the work you completed on my behalf, I need never fear that you see me as fully sanctified and having all righteousness. Remind me of that when I struggle with sin, that I might live according to the identity you have given me through my union with you, and not live according to the flesh.
• Father, give me a sense of unity and inclusion in the church, and protect me from feeling like an outsider from those who are part of your body. Show me what it means that you call me a "saint"—someone set apart for your purposes—and help me to understand my life in light of that reality.
• Lord Jesus, you became incarnate to bring your kingdom to all of creation, and through your life, death, resurrection, and ascension you have graciously secured the permanence of your kingdom come for all the world. Help me, and all of those who believe and trust in you, to see life with "grace and peace" in view, and to relate to one another, to your creation, to ourselves, and to you in light of the grace and peace that you make possible.

Trinity Study: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3

Having spent eight weeks discussing how Christians and the church ought to respond during the pandemic, we've decided that we've said enough on that topic for now.

Starting this week, then, we will begin a new study looking at Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church. In this brief introduction, I look at the opening three verses and explore what Paul's salutation to the Corinthians means.

Here's the video:

Check back tomorrow for some application questions.

COVID-19 related links

As we've taken in all of the information about the pandemic, we've found some links and information to be more helpful than others. Below is the list of links that we've found useful for our consideration; perhaps they will be helpful for your church, as well. (I'll update the list as new resources become available.)

General information

CDC Guidance for Cleaning/Disinfecting
CDC Guidelines for Creating a Disinfecting Plan (Quick Guide)
CDC — When and How to Wash Your Hands
EPA COVID-19 Disinfectant List
The Risks: Know Them, Avoid Them (from blogger Erin Bromage)

Related to churches re-opening/resuming embodied corporate worship

CDC FAQ for Administrators/Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations
Considerations for Reopening the Church Building (from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board)
The Way Back to In-Person Worship: When to return? And under what conditions? (From the PCA's ByFaith magazine)
Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Releases Guidance on Reopening Houses of Worship (TN Governor Lee)
Guidelines for Places of Worship (Alabama Public Health)
24 Questions Your Church Should Answer before People Return (from LifeWay staffer Ken Braddy)
10 Easy-to-Overlook Aspects of Church Reopening (from LifeWay staffer Ken Braddy)
4 Phases for an Orderly Return to Church (from LifeWay staffer Ken Braddy)

On singing in public spaces

Singing, The Church, and COVID-19: A Caution for Moving Forward in Our Current Pandemic
Is Congregational Singing Dangerous? (from the Gospel Coalition)
Before You Panic: Thoughts on Congregational Singing and Choirs in Light of the Pandemic (from Renewing Worship)

On the opportunities that churches have to minister

Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization Is Now a Startup (from Andy Crouch/Praxis Journal)

Strategies for Winter: Redemptive Leadership in Survival Times (from Andy Crouch/Praxis Journal)
Ed Stetzer on the Crisis and Opportunity Facing the Church (from the Billy Graham Center)

Trinity Questions #8: When will we resume embodied corporate worship?

The looming question for most of us is: when will Trinity resume having worship in-person again? What will it take to make that happen? What will it look like when it does? What things do participants need to know?

This week's video focuses on exactly those questions. Shane and I have been working hard to get those questions answered, and we've made a lot of progress. In the video below, I'll talk you through what we've been discussing and what is left to figure out. I'll also offer some direct thoughts on what you will need to know to participate.

Also, please note: at the end of the video I mentioned that we will have a brief meeting for questions and answers following worship on Sunday. If you are able to stay online for that, we would really appreciate it.

TRC Questions #7: Application

As we consider the reasons and rationale for gathering together for worship, and for using the Zoom platform for virtual worship, here are some reflections on application.

• When you are unable to attend worship (because of illness, travel, or some other providential hindrance), do you have a strong sense that you are missing it? Do you consider that the rest of the congregation feels your absence as well? 
• How does your presence contribute to the service of worship being offered by the congregation? What ways do you pick up on the contributions of others to the worship service? How is that different in "virtual" worship—is it amplified? Suppressed? 
• What do you do in preparation for corporate worship ordinarily? Do you do those same things to prepare for "virtual" worship?
• How does the reason of "covenant renewal" shift your own expectations for corporate worship? How does it change the importance. you place on your own participation in corporate worship? Does covenant renewal represent a new paradigm for you for how and why corporate worship is vital to the life of a Christian?

Zoom Thoughts

Also as we reflect on worshiping via "virtual" space, I thought it would be helpful for you to consider the following "best practices" and other suggestions for worshiping via the Zoom platform.

• Zoom has two main viewing modes: Gallery view and Presenter view. We recommend that you use Gallery view for most/all of the worship service, in order to best sense the presence of your fellow worshipers. You may prefer to switch to Presenter view during the sermon.
• It may be difficult to see and participate in the virtual worship service on a device with a smaller screen. We encourage you to use the largest screen that you can, so that you might see everyone else clearly. Many devices are able to broadcast video up to a full-size TV using certain connections or additional devices, which may be optimal for your experience of virtual worship.
• Because your participation is just as important as everyone else's, ideally you would keep both audio and video "on" throughout the whole worship service. This way others can see and hear you, just as you can them, and the feeling of one another's presence will emphasize the gathering aspect of worship, even if virtually. If you are unable (for various reasons) to enable both audio and video, we strongly recommend that you engage at least one—let us see or hear you, if not both.
• In the same way that it is important that you see everyone else clearly, it is important that they can see you clearly too! Device cameras placed at low angles (such as in your lap or on a coffee table, etc.) can make it difficult for the rest of us to see your face. We suggest that you find a convenient way to prop your device up at eye level or slightly below.
• As with normal face-to-face worship, your participation in the various elements of the worship service is edifying and encouraging to the others who are also participating. Singing with full voice, reading aloud and in a consistent meter/rhythm for congregational elements of the liturgy, and standing/kneeling as you are physically able all serve to build up the body and strengthen everyone's worship, not just your own.
• Just as when worshiping "in person" then most of us are actively mindful of how our actions may be a hindrance to worship for those around us, so it is with virtual worship too. While it may be tempting to multi-task or keep your hands from being idle, please be considerate of how your choices and actions may be a distraction and hindrance to others' worship.
• Whereas in a regular gathering for worship then seating arrangements and other factors allow us to shift our focus toward the worship leader, in virtual worship we are more vulnerable to distractions, both visual and audible. What makes for a distraction? It is something that is unexpected—which can be a sound or something happening on the screen. Someone standing and walking out of view is not a distraction, because that happens regularly; someone standing up and starting to do jumping jacks IS a distraction, because we would never expect that during a corporate worship service. Please be conscious of how what you are doing on your end of the camera/microphone may distract others, and thus hinder them from worship.
• One benefit that Zoom offers as our virtual sanctuary for worship is that we can socialize with one another, more like we might in a more normal setting. Please plan to log into the Zoom meeting early before the service, and/or to stay on afterward, if you want to socialize. Also, we would encourage you to account for the limitations of the platform for socializing; try not to dominate the conversation, or exclude others by focusing on one person or topic too narrowly.

TRC Questions #7: Why Zoom? Continued...

Following up on last week's discussion, I return this week to the question, "Why did Trinity choose Zoom for our virtual worship?"

To answer that question, I dig deeper into the bigger question, "Why do we gather for public, corporate worship in the first place?"

These questions are at the heart of what we do at Trinity, and who we are as Christians and worshipers. Here's this week's video:

Look for questions and application coming over the days to come.