focuses on something positive—the work of God’s grace. Had the Corinthian believers received any blessings from God that Paul could point out? Paul usually began his letters with a form of thanksgiving, but if there was a church where he might not be able to do this, the church at Corinth would be it. With all of the problems evident there, Paul had just reason to skip his traditional opening, but he did not. When we need to speak critically about a church—ours or another—how often do we pause and