The true star of the show is God. (1 Corinthians 3:5)

Welcome back to the Odd Verse of the Day!

Today's verse might seem like it downplays important figures:

"What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each his task." - 1 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)

Let's unpack why this isn't a celebrity takedown but a message about something much bigger.

The Corinthian Conundrum

The church in Corinth was divided along personality lines.

Some favored Apollos, a gifted speaker, while others clung to Paul, who had planted the church. This created factions and hindered unity.

Focus on the Mission

Paul reminds them that both he and Apollos were simply instruments used by God. They each played a role in bringing the Corinthians to faith. The true star of the show is God, not the personalities delivering the message.

It's About the Team, Not the Player

This verse applies to us today as well.

In churches, ministries, or even our workplaces, we can get caught up in idolizing leaders or personalities. Paul reminds us to focus on the bigger picture—God's work.

We're all part of the team, playing different roles to achieve a common goal.

Today's Takeaway

Instead of comparing leaders or ministries, ask yourself:

• Am I focusing on who gets the credit or on accomplishing God's will?
• Am I using my gifts and talents to contribute to the team's success?
• Am I celebrating the unique roles others play?

Celebrating individual strengths while working together towards a common goal is a recipe for success in any team, especially in the church.

Let's pray

God, this is your church and your body. Let us not divide what you bring together. Help get us on the same mission you're on. Amen.

Today's verse comes from my video series, Roll For Verse. In this series, I roll dice to pick a random Bible verse each day. Then, I spend a few minutes sharing devotional thoughts on the verse. If you'd like to join the fun and study the Bible in a new way, check it out on TikTok or YouTube.

@pastor.payton Can you handle meat or can you only drink milk? Today’s R4V offers us insight to what some of the first Christian church, Corinth, struggled with and even divided their people over. This video format is based on @Adventures In Aardia roll for sandwich but with a biblical spin. Come back for more just like this #rollforsandwich #dice #verseoftheday #bible #d20games #rollforinitiative #rollforseries #rollforverse #christiantiktok #bibleversedaily ♬ Medieval castle/Magic/Western-style building/Mystery/Otoboke(1464825) - AiM