It gets messy. And complicated. “What about this?” “What about that?” And “Oh wow, didn’t expect that!” Look around, take a poll, everyone seems to agree, the world is broken and is inhabited by broken people. But few agree as to why. According to the Proverbs, “Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean.” You want a clean home? Get rid of the inhabitants. Scrub until every surface shines and make every effort to ensure that nothing is soiled by the careless presence of other people! Over the years I’ve heard many express the sentiment, “I prefer church on the Bay.” Or the beach, or the woods, or the mountain tops, somewhere away from everyone else. “I prefer family reunions… without the family.” Some feel this way because of past hurt. Some feel this way because other people are just too much. And some feel this way because of self-righteous pride. Paul didn’t feel this way. His church family in the city of Corinth was a hot mess. And yet he consistently refers to them as his brothers and sisters, his family. He expresses genuine love and affection for this young little church full of people problems. And they had PROBLEMS. This Sunday we will tackle chapters 5 and 6 where Paul addresses church members who were celebrating sexual deviancy, suing each other, and practicing prostitution. Like I said, a hot mess. But there is something so hopeful in Paul’s message, a grace that is profound. My heart has been encouraged by his words and look forward to studying further with you. Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser