1 Corinthians 1:26-31

"Dear Father, you of whom we boast, Why have you chosen the weak, the foolish, the despised? You have done this so that no human being can boast. And...."

"Dear Child of the Father, The Corinthian disciples had forgotten what made them special. Some were arguing that their group of believers was more..."

"...you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him....."

"You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say..."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 -- ... you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

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

"Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is...."

"Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon..."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 1:27 -- But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

If only we would trust that the Lord can make us all grow! We've got to believe that God can bring growth out of tough and impossible situations!

So when did small get to be so big? Ann Voskamp looks a couple of small things important in the life of kitchen appliances and pots and reminds us that it's the small stuff that counts.

"Dear Child of God, In the aftermath of your big Christmas celebrations, don't forget the words of My servant Zechariah, "Do not despise these small....."

Can you handle this truth? Ron Rose talks about wilderness periods in our lives and God's holy calling for us to live among people and serve them.

Can we really be honest about our weaknesses? God not only makes us strong in our weakness, but he uses our weaknesses to do his work.

What does it mean to really be redeemed? Phillip Morrison writes about Cristo Redentor, Christ the Redeemer, the statue and the work of Jesus, about the principle of redemption, and how Jesus saves us and redeems us.