Anyone who has ever faithfully tried to be "pastor" to a congregation knows instinctively the true subtitle for the Corinthian correspondence: How Not to End Up on Family Feud.

Paul felt the pull of love and compassion for his new converts. Yet a "greater love" kept pulling Paul back out onto the road, moving him from place to place to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as widely as possible before his days on earth ended. From Ephesus where he worked and preached for more than two years, Paul reached back to the Corinthian community, the distance between them more one of miles than minds. Protecting and pastoring his flock remained Paul's passion even when he had moved on to develop new congregations.

Paul doesn't beat around the bush. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 he immediately confronts h…