Foolishness

Haiku responding to 1 Cor 1:18-31

To those who perish

the cross is foolish; to us

it is God's power.

Wisdom has limits;

human wisdom cannot lead

to God's truth in Christ.

It seems foolish, but

we proclaim Christ crucified.

They stumble at this!

Christ is the power

and wisdom of God, for those

who have come to faith.

Consider yourselves:

few were wise, noble, or strong,

and yet God chose you.

God chose the foolish

and the weak, to shame the strong

and to shame the wise.

None of us can boast

in the presence of God, yet

here we are, in Christ!.

Jesus has become

wisdom, righteousness, from God.

Our boast is in him.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Undivided

Haiku responding to 1 Cor 1:10-18

Paul makes his appeal

for unity, decrying

the Corinth factions.

In the name of Christ

you must be knit together

in mind and purpose.

I hear of quarrels

among you, brothers, sisters;

that you form parties.

I belong to Paul,

some say; I to Apollos,

and I to Cephas!

Some, claiming high ground,

declare: I belong to Christ!

Is Christ divided?

Was Paul crucified

for you? Or were you baptised

in the name of Paul?

I, Paul, was not sent

to baptise; Christ sent me to

proclaim the gospel.

Eloquent wisdom

is not my concern; I speak

of the cross of Christ.

To those who perish

these words are foolish; to us

they are God's power.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Enriched

Haiku responding to 1 Cor 1:1-9

The apostle, Paul

writes a letter to his friends

at the Corinth church.

Greets them with his words

of grace and peace to bless them

on behalf of God.

With effusive words

Paul gives thanks for all the gifts

God has granted them.

A polite intro,

knowing there will be strong words

in pages to come!

The Corinthians

have been enriched in knowledge

and speech, by God's grace.

Their witness to Christ

has been strengthened, and, in turn,

Christ will strengthen them.

You are not lacking,

Paul notes, in spiritual gifts,

as you wait for Christ.

You will be blameless;

God who joins you into Christ

will not let you down.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Enlightened

Haiku responding to Acts 10:34-43

The Spirit descends

upon some gentiles. Peter

becomes enlightened.

I now understand

that God has no favourites;

God loves everyone!.

In every nation

people who do the right thing

are embraced by God.

This is our message

for Israel, and for all:

Jesus Christ is Lord.

God anointed him

with the Spirit, with power,

to do good, to heal.

In Jerusalem

and Judea he brought hope

They put him to death.

God raised him to life

on the third day; we saw him,

and we ate with him.

He sent us to preach,

to tell that he is from God

and brings forgiveness.

© Ken Rookes 2026