1 Corinthians We are Christ s, and Christ is God s EVERY GROWING CHURCH IS A CHURCH WITH PROBLEMS

Transcription

1 1 1 Corinthians We are Christ s, and Christ is God s EVERY GROWING CHURCH IS A CHURCH WITH PROBLEMS CORINTH: GIFTED CHURCH - Filled w/ PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL 2 Main Problems POWER Scramble > Leaders, Vision, Purpose, Fragmented WISDOM Think like World, Disregard Wisdom/Word of God > APOSTLE SOLUTION BOTH Problems for ALMOST Every Problem in Church: CROSS We preach Christ crucified Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians WISDOM of World STRIPS Gospel of Real Power & leads to DIVISIONS Transition > NATURE of Gospel & MEANING of TRUE WISDOM THREE PICTURES OF CHURCH - Family, Field, and a Temple Paul WISE PASTOR uses Different PICTURES to Speak to Different People Speaks to SLAVES in Corinthian Congregation worked on Farms & FIELDS Speaks to URBAN Corinthians Born & Raised on Brick & Mortar of CITY From CITY or COUNTRY FARMER or FINANCER > One Family of Faith 1st Picture of Church FAMILY vs. 1,2 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready

2 2 Chapter 2 ENDS with NOBLE PICTURE of MATURE BELIEVERS But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2.16 Corinthians had NOT YET Risen to this STATURE of Wisdom & MATURITY 3 or 4 years PASSED Since Paul LEFT Corinth and went to EPHESUS Paul their Spiritual Father LAMENTS You have NOT GROWN MATURE Yet You must be mature before you cackle Ghanaian Proverb CACKLE what MATURE HEN does before it LAYS an EGG! We often end up searching for progress and growth in all the wrong places like clothing, travel, gourmet meals and we meticulously document our findings on social media for the world to see Paul is suggesting that the very root of the problem is that they are aligned with the wrong source Growth is ultimately derailed when we search for it in ourselves. Stephen Um Problem - IMMATURITY - Not lack of Knowledge / LACK OF OBEDIENCE REPENT / Turn Away from SIN & SELF and Turn TOWARD Lord Jesus Christ NO SHAME in BEING an INFANT > WHEN you ARE an INFANT! CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO ARGUE AND FIGHT v. 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? When you GROW UP you are EXPECTED to PUT ON BIG BOY PANTS! GOAL FOR FAMILY >> MATURITY // GROWING UP IN CHRIST SPIRITUAL MATURITY NOT always CONNECTED to PHYSICAL Maturity "maturity is being big enough on the inside to control yourself on the outside"

3 Paul s.concern is singular: not to suggest classes of Christian or grades of spirituality, but to get them to stop thinking like the people of this present age Paul, of course, does not mean to say they do not have the Spirit. They do; and that s the problem, because they are thinking and behaving otherwise. The argument has considerable bite, therefore, because his ultimate point is: Stop it! People of the Spirit simply must stop behaving the way you are. Gordon Fee 3 2nd PICTURE - a Field // GOAL - QUANTITY OF GROWTH vs. 6,7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. DIFFERENT MINISTERS // DIFFERENT MINISTRIES CREDIT GOES TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST GOD S SERVANTS are NOT in COMPETITION > FELLOW HARVESTERS Jesus said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. Luke 5.4-7

4 4 THIRD PICTURE - building a Temple vs. 16,17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. COMMON INTERPRETATION - PERSONAL APPLICATION "how can I build on Jesus, make my life what God wants" PAUL'S MEANING - NOT the INDIVIDUAL - THE LOCAL CHURCH WE will be Built Up as we are PART OF a Growing Christian church MODERN INDIVIDUALISM - "I don't need the church" BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY - The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 1 Corinthians 12:21 1. We Must Build on the Right Foundation vs. 10,11 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

5 5 BAD HABIT OF SOME CHRISTIANS "Pastor So and So s church" or "Pastor That Other Guy's church" WHEN ZGC BECOMES "Mark Blair's church" we re ALL in BIG Trouble JESUS PROMISED I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it Matthew 16:18 WE ARE PART OF A CHURCH built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone Ephesians 2:20 PAUL WAS APOSTLE WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH IN CORINTH Neither PAUL nor PETER were FOUNDATION Church of JESUS CHRIST Growth is not going to come by reading the right book, or listening to the right preacher, or following a proper regimen of spiritual disciplines. These things are not unimportant and God may very well use them just as he used Paul and Apollos! But that is not where growth is going to come from. Growth comes directly from God. Stephen Um By 20 called Preach Gospel BF John Svendsen, Pastor s Son, Young Preacher His Grandfather Louis Talbot TALBOT Seminary, BIOLA U Named for him Then in 80 s Feeble, Dementia Stayed with Family Lying on Couch Old preaching Buddy Sam Sutherland came to visit Louie Sam Hey Louie! Are we gonna go preach again!? Louie aaaarrrrgggghhhh John & I That s us in 50 years! --- Getting closer every day Servants of Church COME & GO > Jesus Eternal, Immortal, Sovereign GOD

6 6 2. We Must Build with the Right Materials vs Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. CHEAP MATERIALS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A TEMPLE PAUL talking about BEING FAITHFUL to SCRIPTURE- RIGHT DOCTRINE In the age to come there are no second chances. This life is no dress rehearsal, but the one and only opportunity to do the will of God. Ministers of the gospel, take note! Paul Barnett We re TO BE MESSENGERS of the WORD - NOT MANIPULATORS OF IT DWIGHT L. MOODY > Converts should be WEIGHED as Well as Counted To SEE IF THERE IS ANY SUBSTANCE WE MUST KNOW THE WORD AND MAKE IT KNOWN IT IS NOT EASY - DEMANDING TASK Well-known English Pastor asked about the secret of his success as a preacher of the word answered "work, hard work, and again work" G. Campbell Morgan WOOD, HAY, & STRAW ARE EASY TO FIND - NOT DIFFICULT TO GET GET GOLD, SILVER, AND JEWELS YOU MUST DIG As you lay your bed, so you must lie on it. Ghanaian Proverb

7 Too much PREACHING is POP-PSYCHOLOGY Many Christians RATHER See Someone SLAIN in Spirit than Study Scripture Too many Church Members LOOKING for MIRACLES to ESCAPE Troubles Rather than Asking for MERCY to ENDURE their TROUBLES as Testimony 7 Too Much of What Churches are GIVING Members is Wood, Hay, Stubble MINISTRY is going to BURN UP and so will SOME of the MEMBERS! BUILDING MATERIALS must FIT the FOUNDATION > JESUS CHRIST! TASK of EVERY MEMBER of CHURCH - GROW to MATURITY in CHRIST AMY CARMICHEAL - VETERAN MISSIONARY TO INDIA "the work will never go deeper, that we have gone ourselves" Amy Carmichael ETERNALLY SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY v. 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. 3. We Must build According to the Right Plan vs Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness, and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD YOU CANNOT RUN Church THE WAY YOU RUN A BUSINESS CHURCH that RUNS like BUSINESS may have SUCCESS IN THIS WORLD WILL TURN TO ASHES IN ETERNITY

8 8 SOME People want CORPORATION NOT COMMUNITY because They DO NOT Want ACCOUNTABILITY Last Sunday we DEMONSTRATED Power of COMMUNITY People here 7 am Setting Up TOOLS we Need for SERVICE of WORSHIP CHILDREN s Workers thot & Planned how to HELP Worshippers of All Ages ARTISTS who DISPLAYED their Creations for GLORY of RISEN CREATOR BOOKS and PAMPHLETS and COFFEE and TEA for MIND and BODY MUSICIANS and SINGERS who had PRACTICED their MUSIC Well USHERS, PROJECTIONIST, MONEY COUNTERS People to FILL the BATHTUB and Others HAND OUT Towels Some take TOWELS Home to WASH Even a PREACHER to Spread a FOG OF CONFUSION across the HALL All those ENERGIES MORE than That Serve More than 600 People BUSINESS depends Promotion, Prestige, Influence, Money & Important people CHURCH depend on Prayer, Power of Spirit, Humility, Sacrifice, and Service THINGS THE WORLD KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT The Right Plan > God s People UNITED Humility, Service His Glory! Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12.28,29

9 9 4. We Must Build with the Right Motive vs So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. BOASTING OF MEN, PROGRAMS, SUCCESS, BUILDINGS CORINTHIANS WERE VERY PROUD CHRISTIANS FOOLISH to LINE up Behind PROUD Leader > DIVIDE and FIGHT in Family LEADERS belong to THEM, ALL Belongs to THEM, All Belongs to CHRIST PROBLEM with PROSPERITY Theology is that it is TOO SMALL MANSION, MERCEDES, or Total Body MAKE-OVER Too Small a Thing! Jesus: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5.5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1.3 Who WANTS a MANSION that will One Day FALL DOWN? Who NEEDS a MERCEDES that will One Day FALL APART? I want TOTAL BODY MAKE OVER Every Day for ETERNITY! Funeral of Bp Ephriam Adrale, Madi and West Nile Diocese, Church of Uganda HUMBLE SERVANT Short TENURE as Bishop NO HITS on Google! BISHOP Fort Portal preached Funeral Sermon > These Verses were TEXT vs Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness, and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

10 10 FACTIONS Forming > CANDIDATES behind WHO would be NEXT Bishop ADRALE DRAMANI ENYABO ANGUYO FACTIONS Forming Who are THEY? JUST MEN MERE SERVANTS Who will ALL PASS Preacher STOOD in Front of BODY of Dead Bishop Adrale > All are Yours!! The Corinthians have everything they could legitimately need or want in Jesus. Indeed, Paul turns their slogan upside down. They do not belong to human leaders, those leaders, as servants (v. 5), belong to them, as does everything else in all creation, present and future, inasmuch as they are in Christ who shares in all the Father s sovereignty. Craig Blomberg Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8.16,17 ****************

11 1 Corinthians 3. 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness, 20 and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 11