“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.  And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.”
– 1 Cor. 1:12,13

I recently had a Tootsie Pop, and it immediately took me back to that old commercial many of us remember. A child goes on a quest, asking various animals one important question: “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?” Everyone guesses. Everyone speculates. Finally, the child finds the wise old owl. The owl takes the pop, licks it thoughtfully: “One… two… three…” crunch.

“Three,” the owl declares.

The joke, of course, is that the owl never really answers the question. Instead of patiently discovering the center, the owl breaks it open, using power rather than discernment.

That image feels surprisingly close to what Paul is addressing in 1 Corinthians 2:6–16. The Corinthians were eager for wisdom, clarity, and certainty. But Paul reminds them that God’s wisdom doesn’t bring quick and simple answers. It doesn’t name who speaks with the most authority or offer forceful conclusions. God’s wisdom is revealed by the Spirit, and  is discerned over time, together.

This Sunday, as we conclude our Called as Partners series, we’ll reflect on discerning our call as followers of Jesus. Spiritual maturity, Paul suggests, is not about who sounds the wisest or who speaks the loudest. It grows when discernment replaces control, when listening matters more than winning, and when the church learns to trust that God is at work among us.

I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday as we practice wisdom that emerges when we seek the way of Jesus, together.  

Brett