A PRAYER FOR INSIGHT

Denise England | Not for sale

Original Poetry

Ancient Corinth was a centuries-old Greek city overtaken by the Roman empire. The city ran amok with atrocities, slavery, debauchery, kidnapping and abuse. No “weak” person was safe or had any rights or protection under the law. This traced back to the Greco-Roman pantheon of gods - all selfish, traitorous and war-mongering. If “gods” lived like this, then the only hope for a man to thrive was to mimic their actions, using treachery, force and abuse to prove his strength and position.

It must have been radically good news for a Corinthian to hear about the Christian God, who not only loved humanity, but who allowed his very son to be humiliated and executed in order to identify with their abuses and to take their sins! Not only that, but this very God who raised his son from the dead would also welcome them into his own household, not as mistreated slaves, but as heirs with Christ! It must have been radically good news! Let it be good news to us, as well.

A_Prayer_for_Insight.pdf

AUNT HELEN'S HAND

Suzanne Rhodes | Not for sale

Original Poem

This poem pictures the bruised hand of the narrator’s Aunt Helen, of her own hand, and of Christ’s resurrected hands. In this way, we see two dimensions: earthly life with its suffering, and heavenly life which by faith the narrator envisions as a new creation. Bruises, scorching, death itself are transformed in the healing light of Christ’s resurrection. Another idea of the poem is that our suffering takes on meaning when in love we join our hurt to the hurt of another, thus giving comfort as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:4. We can bear all things because Christ, who suffered mightily, is upholding us from heaven with His fierce love. The scriptures that inspired this poem are 1 Cor. 15:20—“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”— and 1 Cor. 13:7: “Love . . . bears all things.”

AUNT_HELEN.pdf

DRACONIS

Abigail McCann | Not for sale

16" x 12" Acrylic and Baking Soda

Inspired by the podcast by the Bible Project, "The Dragon in Paul's Letters - Chaos Dragon E17," referencing the analogy for the sin and spiritual warfare that the Church is called to fight against. This piece was an abstraction of said Dragon. The white center is a window into the light and glory of Christ shining through. The church of Corinth, wrestling with the resurrection of Christ, was reminded through this letter of how foundational it is to our faith.

"Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says, 'all things are put in subjection,' it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (ESV)

ECCLESIA

Abigail McCann | Not for sale

16" x 12" Watercolor, Ink & Paper, and Resin Epoxy on Canvas

The church, each member fitting harmoniously together, founded in the love of Christ, bringing spiritual restoration to our natural fallen world through God. His love changes and envelops, heals and brings new life to brokenness and emptiness.

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’  

    ‘O death, where is your victory? 

         O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Cor. 15:54-55)

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58 )

FLIPPED ROMAN COLUMN FOR USE IN AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN BARCELONA, SPAIN

Denise England | Not for sale

Original Photograph, 2024

I took this photograph while touring underground Roman ruins beneath the Museu d’Història de Barcelona in Spain. After the Roman emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the early 4th century AD, persecutions of Christians lessened and Christianity began to flourish throughout the Roman empire. In Roman “Barcino” (now Barcelona), a group of Christians tore down pagan temples and used their stones to build churches. This column was literally flipped on its head (its capital) to be used in the new church.

IN AGAPE

Katelin Lundquist | Not for sale

Original Poetry

These two poems, collectively titled “In Agape,” are based on 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul addresses the issue of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

The left side articulates the thoughts of the weak brother, who is characterized as one who, because of his conscience and history of following the Torah, felt that participation would be sinful. The poem on the right side gives a glimpse into the thought life of the strong brother, who felt freedom to enjoy meals associated with temple sacrifice. This sense of freedom was more common for Gentiles who hadn’t practiced Torah law, which prohibited eating meat sacrificed to idols.

Paul agrees that idols and temple sacrifices are meaningless, but his letter to the Corinthian church emphasizes a greater principle at work: Though believers have freedom in Christ on disputable matters such as food, Christian love for one another must be the guiding ethic in making lifestyle choices (1 Cor. 8:13, 13:4-8). It is only through Christ’s agape love for us that we learn to love our brother.

In_Agape.pdf

KATA KEPHALES (COVERING)

Sabrina Palomino | Not for sale

11"x14" on Mineral Paper, Chalk & Pan Pastels

Many thoughts crossed my mind as I read 1 Corinthians 11:5-6: “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.”

What do we learn from Paul regarding women in corporate worship?

This is a common wrestling for all of us as believers. How does time and culture weigh into Paul’s statement? Was the punishment and shame for a lack of a proper head covering during worship justified for women that dissented? Why is this not the case for men?

Surely we must wrestle carefully with difficult passages of Scripture, understanding context, culture, and writing style - but praise be to God for the mercy He has for us in the wrestling.

LOVE AN(OTHER)

Margret M. Walker | Not for sale

Original Poem

Love is such a tricky thing. My birth family’s love has been a puzzle to unravel—rivalry, suspicion, hidden anger to inspire a Greek myth, and love. My faith family’s love is no less a puzzle. A family where we’re to love one another in spite of—busyness, benign indifference, age divisions, and politics.

God knows we need a definition. When I read I Corinthians 13, I become an infant speaking its first word, love. The sound yet to grow in all its fullness.

We need a definition. Just like a painting isn’t the scene, words aren’t the reality. But God’s words do define, teach, guide us into love. A deeper mystery is being placed in Christ Jesus.

love_another.pdf

LOVE AND MARRIAGE

Howard Thompson | Not for sale

16" x 20" Photograph

These three pictures show love and marriage as they are blended together, going from small and dark to large and bright. They are unbalanced. The photos start with sharp edges, but life does not have sharp edges. When learning to love, we begin in the dark. We try to add some light to our dark uncertainties through trial and error. What does it really mean to love another?

We hope for more light and better balance as we age and enter marriage. But with many unexpected ups and downs, the white awareness remains jagged next to darkness. 

The rings on the Corinthian scriptures are highlighted in this photo. For we truly only come to know love as we learn of Christ's love for us. We may date, hoping for the one who will love and accept us. We marry seeking the companion who will always remain by our side. We try to find balance.

But only as we discover and imitate Christ's love for us can there be more light, less jagged edges against black. Affection becomes devotion when we learn to love as Jesus loved us.

POWER OF GOD

Kelly Parks | Not for sale

Original Song (MP3)

In the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, I see very real humans struggling with who they should follow. There are so many inspiring voices in their city and church. The Roman culture was known for its desire to weigh ideas and publicly debate. An article I read about Rome said, "Everywhere a Roman looked, there it was: reminder after reminder of how to live the good life and overcome life’s challenges, embedded in places everyone — not only the well-educated — would encounter it. Many Roman cultural artifacts deliver psychologically powerful ideas in a palatable, or even enticing form.” But Paul isn’t trying to win them over with words in this letter. He says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20).

As Fellowship Fayetteville is actively trying to seek the Lord in the coming years, I have found this song to be of comfort to me. We are only to trust the Power of God to guide us and not be fooled that human wisdom will be sufficient.

SYNERGY

Kathleen Woolsey | $89.00

Framed Photo of Original Quilt [Original: 70" x 70"]

A thousand two-inch squares of fabric; some passed down by grandma, others bought last week and some saved from projects long past. Such small scraps that many call useless; indeed, more than a few were rescued from the trash.

Different colors, different prints, each with its own beauty, not one like another.

Joyfully gathered, lovingly picked over, laid out, picked up, moved, repositioned until each has found its place. When the last pieces are assembled and the final stitches are tied off the quilt is finished and ready to serve its purpose. Like the church in 1 Corinthians 12, when all the unique parts work in unison, each adds to the whole so that together they are more than the sum of the individuals.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

J. Caroline Hruska | Not for sale

Original Poem

In I Corinthians 11:22, Paul asks “Do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing?”

While reading Paul’s instructions on the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians 11, I began reflecting on a time while I was living in Denver. For communion every week, the church I attended put out cups of juice and large bowls with chunks of bread on tables at the front of the church.

Many challenging scenarios can arise when the lost and hungry who’ve been torn up by the world enter the doors of the church. Seekers who may be wounded and starving in so many ways won’t always act “appropriately” in a church setting.

I’m inspired to examine myself when Paul instructs us that if I “do not have love, I am a clanging cymbal… If I do not have love, I am nothing… If I do not have love, I gain nothing.”

The_Lord's_Supper.pdf

UNTITLED

Kathleen Woolsey | $99.00

Giclee Print of Original Oil Painting

This painting shows the Good Shepherd and one of His early flocks. The shepherd sits among the flock beside the still waters and green pastures while they get to know Him.

Many are just beginning to follow Christ; some get confused and follow other leaders. Arguments break out among others while a wolf disguised as a sheep prowls nearby. Goats also mingle with the sheep, as in Matthew 25:31-46

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 NIV  

UNVEILING THE VEIL

Denise England | Not for sale

Original Poetry

In the large sea port city of ancient Corinth, prostitution was not illegal, but it was regulated. Women of such status had to keep their hair uncovered as a public show of immodesty; in this way, no upright citizen would be duped. In other instances of low status, such as slavery or abandonment, the lack of veil showed a lack of support or guardianship. These girls and women were left exposed: they had no rights, no recourse for abuse; they were easy prey. Due to this, they could fall into prostitution as a means of survival. 

By understanding this, we see that Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 for women to cover their hair during worship was a sign of respect to all women, regardless of their former situation or failings. While low status women would not have had a legal right to wear the veil in public, their church family would have housed, cared for, given respectable tasks to and accompanied them into the city. Inside their church, they were afforded equal respect and status within the body of believers. 

Unveiling_the_Veil.pdf

WHO DO I FOLLOW?

Michelle Jordan | Not for sale

12" x 48" Diptych, Watercolor and Acrylic on Wrapped Canvas

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 is a timeless teaching in Corinthians where Paul urged the new believers to focus on Christ. Jesus was the only one who gave up his life to save them -- not Apollos, not Cephas, or even Paul himself.

I can't follow someone if my eyes aren't on them. This painting is a powerful reminder to fix my eyes on Jesus, asking, “In whose footprints am I following?” 

WISDOM

Rachel Borntrager | $230.00

16" x 20" Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Raw Canvas

Using mixed acrylic paint and a variety of soaking techniques, I chose grass and organic matter to represent the idea of wisdom, inspired by 1 Corinthians chapters 1-3, especially 1:30, which says, "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." One side of the painting is dedicated to the frailty of human wisdom and the other side is representative of the wisdom we have in Christ from God. The primary derivation for my imagery comes from Isaiah 40:6-8 and 1 Peter 1:24, which says, "All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

YOU ARE A BODY

Jimmy Cook | Not for sale

Original Poetry

As I read through 1st Corinthians, I was deeply impressed by Paul’s metaphors of the body (1 Corinthians 12-13). Science is continually adding to our understanding of the depth of interactions between the body’s systems, the complexity of relationships, and the relationship between the brain and the body. I wanted to build on Paul’s metaphor, stretch it a bit, fill it out, as a meditation on unity and interdependence. I also drew on other body metaphors from Scripture, like Ezekiel’s dry bones imagery and the consistent use of heart as a central image in the Old and New Testaments. Each bodily system is highlighted, followed by a development of bodily activity. The final lines mimic the rhythm of a heartbeat, emphasizing new life.

You_are_a_body.pdf