July 7, 2026

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Daily Lectionary: Judges 2:6-23; Acts 13:13-41

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Each Sunday, amid a deeply disordered and violent world, we preach Christ crucified. We preach what the world calls foolish, weak, and despised. We preach a Savior who bore every sin in his body on the tree, who suffered the greatest evils this world has ever known, who sweat and sighed his last breath upon a cross raised by his enemies, stained by his blood, and despised even by his friends. We preach a Savior who made himself of no reputation and became obedient unto death, even a slave’s death on the cross.

That is why Paul says that the cross is folly to those who are perishing. To the Jews who crucified him and to the Gentiles who blaspheme his name, Christ’s death seems fruitless and powerless. To an unbelieving world that hates and rebels against the truth, the cross makes no sense. But to us who are being saved, what is death? Is it fruitless? Is it powerless? Is it a defeat? To the Christian, what is the word of the cross? Though to the world it appears foolish and senseless, to us it is the power of God. It is fruitful. It is powerful. It is victory and glorification.

This is what we preach—not only on Sundays, but every day. Christ crucified is the power and the wisdom of God. It pleases God, through the folly, the weakness, and the defeat of what we preach, to save those who believe. God chooses what is foolish to shame the wise, what is weak to shame the strong, and what is low and despised—even things that are not—to bring to nothing things that are. And Christ has become for us “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Merciful God and Father, You have graciously promised that through the preaching of the crucified Christ, those who believe in Him will be saved. By Your Holy Spirit, grant grace to all pastors of Your church. Grant them readiness and steadfastness in this ministry, patience, understanding, and great zeal. Support and strengthen them in Your service that by Your Word Your Church may be built and increased; through Your Son, our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Rev. David Woelmer, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Smithville, Texas.