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What if the root of all our problems came down to just one heart issue? This eye-opening exploration of 1 Corinthians 4 reveals the fundamental battle each believer faces—choosing between pride and humility. While most spiritual teachings focus on behavior modification through rules, we discover that transformation never happens that way.

The gospel shows us a radically different path. Rather than giving the struggling Corinthian church a list of dos and don'ts, Paul targets the underlying condition: pride. He masterfully exposes how pride—our natural tendency toward self-sufficiency—disconnects us from experiencing God's power. Through three penetrating questions, he challenges their boasting: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

We journey into a fascinating exploration of Satan's fall, seeing how his repeated "I will" statements demonstrate the essence of pride—placing self at the center. This self-focus corrupts wisdom itself, making us believe we're being smart when we're actually being foolish. In stark contrast stands Jesus, who "made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant," showing us perfect humility.

The practical implications transform how we approach every relationship. Whether in marriage, parenting, work, or church life, humility is the only channel through which God's power flows. As James 4:6 simply puts it: "God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the proud." This isn't just theological theory—it's the operating system of the Christian life.

Ready to exchange self-sufficiency for Christ-dependency? This message will show you how embracing your true identity in Christ leads to experiencing His power in ways you never thought possible. It's time to live from who you already are rather than striving to become something through your own efforts.

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What if you were told that you are literally the dwelling place of God? Not metaphorically, not symbolically, but truly and actually? That's exactly what the Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

This message takes us on a profound journey through Scripture to uncover what it really means to be God's temple. Starting with Solomon's literal temple in the Old Testament, we discover how God placed His name, eyes, and heart there—but also how that physical dwelling was eventually destroyed because people stopped valuing their relationship with Him.

The revolutionary truth revealed in the New Testament is that God's temple is no longer a building but us—both individually and collectively as believers. This isn't just theological jargon; it completely transforms how we should understand ourselves and our purpose. You're not just someone who goes to church; you are the church. Every aspect of your existence is now sacred space.

But what does it mean to live as God's temple? The answer is refreshingly simple yet profoundly challenging: we come to Him. Not to a building, not to a set of rules, but to a person—Jesus Christ. Through faith (trusting Him) and humility (acknowledging our need for Him), we grow as living stones in God's spiritual house.

This teaching challenges the common misconception about "the fear of the Lord." Far from cowering in terror, having the fear of the Lord means valuing your relationship with God so highly that you treat it with appropriate honor and respect. It's like being entrusted with a priceless work of art—you don't take that responsibility lightly.

Whether you've never known what it means to have your burden of sin lifted, or you're a believer who's wandered away from walking in holiness, the invitation is the same: remember who you are in Christ. The temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

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This week, Pastor Shawn zooms out from personal identity and zooms in on corporate identity—what the Church looks like when we all wear Grace Glasses. Yes, you’re a new creation, but you’re not alone. God’s plan was never just to save individuals, but to knit together a family of misfits who learn to love like Jesus—together. The Church is the grace classroom, love laboratory, and spiritual farm where our new life gets tested, refined, and multiplied.

Paul starts with the source of division: leaders. People often get hurt by pastors, but Paul reminds us: leaders are just servants, not saviors. They're tools God uses to help others believe—some plant, some water, but only God gives the growth. Every pastor is just part of the farm crew, and the Church is God's field. So stop idolizing or criticizing leaders as if they’re the point—they’re not. The grace of God is.

Then Paul switches metaphors: the Church is a building, and the only solid foundation is Jesus. That means ministry must be done by grace—not law, not hype, not human cleverness. You can build with granite (truth) or straw (flesh), but a refining fire is coming, and only the grace-built things will last. This isn’t about salvation—Paul is clear—we’re saved by grace. But our work will be tested, and real, Spirit-led love will stand forever.

Finally, Paul gives a third image: the Church is a temple. Not a physical building, but a holy people where God’s Spirit dwells. That’s why purity matters. That’s why unity matters. That’s why love matters most of all. Because this isn’t a club, it’s a living, breathing Body of Christ. And every little act of grace and love, even unseen ones, are building something eternal.

Takeaways:

• The Church is not a stage, school, or system—it’s a family farm, a grace-built house, and a holy temple.
• Ministry must be built on grace or it won’t last.
• Leaders are servants—not the foundation, not the focus.
• You’re holy because Jesus made you holy. Now live out that identity together.

Next week: we dig deeper into what it means to be God’s temple and how grace makes us holy from the inside out.

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Pastor Shawn picks up Paul’s letter right where it starts to sting: the Corinthians are saints, yet they’re acting like they have two personalities—“spiritual” on Sunday, “carnal” the rest of the week. Paul calls them “babes in Christ” because, though they are new‑creations, they’re still trying to live out the Christian life on self‑effort. Like royal children bored in the palace, they’ve forgotten that the whole kingdom already belongs to them. Until they embrace their single, Spirit‑filled identity, they’ll keep chasing spiritual junk food that feeds ego instead of faith.

Drawing on Galatians 2:20 and 3:1‑3, Pastor Shawn reminds us that our old self was crucified with Christ—there is no second nature lurking inside us to manage or kill off. Growth comes the same way salvation came: by grace through faith. When we slip back into “flesh mode,” we trade the Spirit’s power for envy, strife, and division—the rotten fruit Paul now sees in Corinth. Milk (justification) got them started, but solid food (fruit‑bearing life) requires abiding in Christ, not doubling down on willpower. Anything that tells you “it all depends on you” is a lie that leaves you exhausted and immature.

So what’s the cure for this spiritual schizophrenia? Renounce self‑reliance and fix your eyes on Jesus—His finished work, His indwelling Spirit, His voice defining your identity. The Father doesn’t want better behavior; He wants His children to believe they’re already loved, holy, and joined to His Son like a sponge soaked in living water. When we live from that union, the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, and more—flows naturally. Stop letting old voices label you a sinner; listen to Jesus, put on your Grace Glasses, and grow up into the freedom that’s been yours all along.

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This week at OneTwo Church, Pastor Shawn invites us into the secret language of the Holy Spirit—a divine, deeply personal way God communicates His love directly to our hearts. Building on Paul’s teaching, we learn that while the world chases independence, intellect, and self-glory, true wisdom—the kind that transforms us—is found only in the Gospel of Grace.

The world doesn’t recognize the wisdom of God because it’s rooted in dependence, not self-sufficiency. It’s a mystery—hidden for ages but now revealed to those who love God. This mystery isn’t about head knowledge; it’s about relationship. As Pastor Shawn puts it: “You can’t just tell someone about God’s love—it’s too vast, too heartfelt, too much for words.” That’s why God gives us His Spirit, not just to teach us about love, but to fuse us to Himself. The Spirit doesn’t just tell us about God’s love—He delivers it moment by moment through spiritual union with Christ.

Referencing Ephesians 3 and Romans 5, Pastor Shawn explains how the Spirit enables us to “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” It’s like trying to describe a mother’s love for her child—impossible to fully explain, but undeniably real. The Gospel isn’t just something we learn—it’s something we live in, something we experience. That experience is only possible because of the Spirit living within us, revealing the promises of God and helping us grab hold of them by faith.

And here’s the challenge: Don’t wait for a feeling. Walk by faith in what God has said. When we believe, the Spirit affirms truth in our hearts—and our emotions and understanding will eventually catch up. This is how we grow in maturity. This is how we live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

Pastor Shawn closes with a practical invitation: Get alone with God. Ask Him to reveal His love through Jesus. Open the Word, listen for His voice, and latch on to His promises by faith. As you do, give thanks. Worship. Praise. That’s the “secret language”—faith-filled response to Spirit-breathed truth. And it changes everything.

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This week, Pastor Shawn reminds us that the Christian life isn’t about being impressive, persuasive, or self-reliant—it’s about full dependence on Jesus. Picking up where last week’s message left off, Paul continues his contrast between worldly pride and Gospel humility. Though Paul was brilliant and gifted, he made a conscious decision not to rely on himself but to know only “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Why? Because only the death and life of Jesus carry the real power to change hearts. Pastor Shawn emphasizes that we were never made to live independently; true life is found in relationship—and relationship means reliance. And the word that best defines reliance on God? Love.

Paul’s radical ministry approach—marked by weakness, fear, and trembling—wasn’t a failure; it was a spiritual strategy. By refusing to depend on clever speech or charisma, Paul allowed the Spirit of God to do what only He can: awaken hearts to faith. This wasn’t flashy ministry—it was fruitful ministry, grounded in the life and death of Jesus. Pastor Shawn helps us see that we, too, are invited to this posture of surrendered dependence. The message of the cross not only removes our guilt but replaces our dead hearts with the living power of Christ. It’s not just about forgiveness—it’s about transformation through union with Jesus.

The episode closes with Paul’s core conviction: our faith must not rest in human wisdom but in the power of God. Whether we’re worn out in ministry, battling sin, or confused about joy—these are signs we might be relying on ourselves instead of Jesus. But the Gospel is more than enough. It’s not behavior modification or emotional hype—it’s divine power. As Romans 1:16 says, the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. So today, Pastor Shawn urges us to return to the simplicity of faith in Christ alone, where all grace, strength, and wisdom are found.

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In this thought-provoking message, Pastor Shawn challenges the worldly definition of wisdom with Paul’s radical contrast between self-reliance and Gospel truth. Drawing from 1 Corinthians, he exposes how the world exalts intelligence, self-help, and independence—what Paul calls the "wisdom of the wise." But God flips the script. The cross seems foolish to the world, yet it’s actually the very power and wisdom of God. While society tells us to "believe in ourselves," Jesus calls us to deny ourselves. Pastor Shawn reminds us that the true message of the cross isn’t self-improvement but self-death and resurrection life in Christ.

God doesn’t operate on the world’s value system. He chooses the weak, the foolish, and the humble—not the powerful, polished, or proud. This is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus didn’t come to celebrate our strength but to rescue us from it. As Pastor Shawn walks through Galatians 2:20, James 4:6, and Romans 5:2, he explains that everything we need—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—is found in Christ alone. When we’re united with Him, we’re given grace upon grace, not because we earned it, but because He loves to give it to the humble and trusting.

The message ends with a memorable metaphor of a church whose fading gospel mirrored ivy growing over the words “We Preach Christ Crucified,” eventually leaving only “We.” Pastor Shawn warns us not to fall into that same drift—replacing Christ with religious fluff or social comfort. Instead, OneTwo Church is committed to preaching Christ crucified, boldly and clearly, through the lens of grace. If you're still trusting in yourself today, Pastor Shawn has one word for you: “Way to go, Einstein…” But if you're ready to see life through grace glasses, Jesus offers everything you need—Himself.

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