L E A D E R G U I D E S P R I N G Bible Studies for Life. LifeWORDS KJV K I N G J A M E S V E R S I O N. Fo r A l l Ad u l t s

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1 L E A D E R G U I D E S P R I N G Bible Studies for Life LifeWORDS KJV K I N G J A M E S V E R S I O N Fo r A l l Ad u l t s

2 A Step of FAITH In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to get to heaven and have eternal life? Consider how the Bible answers this question. It is a matter of FAITH. F Is for FORGIVENESS Everyone has sinned and needs God s forgiveness. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God s forgiveness is in Jesus only. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7). A Is for AVAILABLE God s forgiveness is available for all. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God s forgiveness is available but not automatic. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21). I Is for IMPOSSIBLE According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to heaven on our own. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven? T Is for TURN If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? (Change direction) Turn means repent. Turn away from sin and self. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). What happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Christ? H Is for HEAVEN Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). Eternal life begins now with Jesus. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). H can also stand for HOW How can a person have God s forgiveness, eternal life, and heaven? By trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Take the step of faith today. Then tell a Christian friend or pastor about the important step you have taken. Grow in your faith and enjoy new friends in Christ by becoming part of His church and attending the Sunday School class a church has just for you.

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4 What s the one thing a missionary wants for her birthday? Your prayers. Nothing s more coveted. And conveniently, Open Windows invites you to give that birthday gift to every single one. Each monthly issue lists names of International and North American Mission Board missionaries celebrating a birthday. Plus, it features inspirational stories from the field and a guide for reading the entire Bible in a year. Daily devotionals based on the KJV include a personalized prayer. Join in birthday celebrations from New York to New Delhi... with Open Windows. Ask your church to order in bulk for significant savings over the cover price. Order online or by calling SPRING 2010 w w w. l i f e w a y. c o m / m a g a z i n e s

5 Life WORDS KJV Winter Features 2 How to Become a Christian 4 Meet Your Writers 5 How to Use Life Words Leader Guide 6 Getting the most out of Life Words Bible Study materials 7 Five Steps to a Better Marriage 62 Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? 96 Conducting Successful Leadership Meetings 150 Department Suggestions 152 Leadership Meeting Suggestions is designed for teachers of adults. We believe the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of is our doctrinal guideline. The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from copyright 1997 by B&H Publishing Group. Used by permission. Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. Printed in the United States of America. Cover photo by Melanie Mcgaughey Page 7, 8, 9 photos by Angel Guay Life WORDS Leader Guide CONTENTS Church Gone Wrong 11 March 7 Connect 12 1 Corinthians 1:10-15,26-29; 3:1-4 March 14 Grow 22 1 Corinthians 5:1-2,9-13; 6:15-20 March 21 Connect 32 1 Corinthians 8:1-4,7-13; 10:31-33 March 28 Connect 42 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 April Corinthians 15:1-4,12-19,54b-58 Grow Ministry Done Right 65 April 11 Serve 66 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; 3:4-5,18; 4:1-2,5-6,16-18 April 18 Serve 76 2 Corinthians 5:9-21 April 25 Serve 86 2 Corinthians 8:8-15; 9:6-11 I Still Do 99 May 2 Grow 100 Genesis 1:26-28a; 23:7,15-22 May 9 Grow 110 Genesis 2:23-25; Malachi 2:13-15; Matthew 19:3-12 May 16 Grow 120 Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Peter 3;7 May 23 Grow 130 Matthew 5:27-30; Proverbs 5:15-21; 6:25-32 May 30 Grow 140 Psalm 51:6-10; Song of Solomon 2:15; Acts 18:24-26; Romans 16:3-5a Evangelism Lesson (ISSN , Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries visit call (800) , or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription changes fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, fax (615) , or write to the above address. Some Internet addresses provided in are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Addresses outside the LifeWay Internet domain are given for information purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement. Moreover, because of the changing nature of the Web, editors cannot be held responsible for content on pages outside their control. At the time of this publication s printing, the specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the editor. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may have changed. We cannot guarantee that links from the specific Web pages referenced will not link to inappropriate material. Moreover, mention of television shows and movies in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of them.

6 Life WORDS KJV Teaching the Lesson Needed for the Session Learner Guides, paper, and pencils or pens Church Gone Wrong poster (Pack Item 1) Reasons, Results, and Remedies assignments (Pack Item 2) for each learner When Members Won t Get Along Background Passage 1 Corinthians 1:1 3:23 Focal Verses 1 Corinthians 1:10-15,26-29; 3:1-4 What This Lesson Is About This lesson is about the things that divide a church. Why This Lesson Is Important The people in any given group never will agree completely on every issue. In some cases, differences of opinion result in hard feelings and strained relationships. When this occurs in a church and it often does the church s ministry in the community is threatened. How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life This lesson can help you understand causes of church conflict and decide on appropriate actions. Find EXTRA! help online at: Lesson Outline 12

7 Preparing the Lesson Two deacons served together in a small Baptist church in the 1800s despite their strong dislike for each other. One installed a small peg at the back of the church where the minister could hang his hat as he arrived each morning. The other deacon took offense at not being consulted, and ultimately he led other members in a church split. The departing group founded what became known as the Anti-Peg Baptist Church. (Robert Walker, Paul a Prisoner of Christ, Unfortunately, we don t have to go all the way back to the 19 th century to find many more examples of conflict in churches. My dad told me of two women who wanted to play the only piano in his home church. Each tried to arrive earlier than the other so she could sit on the piano stool until services began. One morning one arrived to find the other already seated on the piano bench. She sat down and forcefully slid the other off the end of the bench! A member of a church where I once served told me one of the church s most heated arguments at a past business meeting focused on whether or not the church should own a coffeepot! Now, what s your position on that important issue? These true accounts may amuse, but it is sad how often Christians fight and divide over the smallest trivialities. The Great Commission commands multiplication, but too often Christians find division easier. The apostle Paul dealt with a divided congregation in Corinth. The selfishness of its members threatened the church s witness and even its survival. Paul s inspired words of instruction are as relevant for us today as they were for the Corinthian Christians. In this week s lesson we will consider some causes of division and the solution to one of the greatest threats to effective ministry. Misplaced Loyalties (1 Cor. 1:10-15) 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that everyone of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. Teaching the Lesson Step 1: Introduction If something goes wrong with your vehicle or appliance do you live with it or fix it? Why? When something goes wrong in church, do members most often live with it or fix it? Why do they respond as they do? What will happen if we just try to live with the problem? What happens if we try to fix it in ways that don t resolve the problem or even make the problem worse? Display and direct learners attention to the Church Gone Wrong poster (Pack Item 1). write the study theme references, and dates on a that this series of studies is based on selected passages from 1 Corinthians. In the first century, the church at Corinth addressed in a letter he wrote words today, we will be able to both resolve and avoid the same kinds of problems in our churches. We will learn the common problem in churches today. Today s lesson can help learners and leaders alike discern reasons Life Words 13

8 for the problem of disunity in church and it can help them determine strategies to prevent and mend divisions. Step 2: Misplaced Loyalties (1 Cor. 1:10-15) Invite a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 1: Draw learners attention to the heading of this portion of the to lead a discussion. Where had the Corinthians placed their loyalties? Where should they have placed their loyalties? What was Paul s response to those who claimed to follow him? What was his response to those who claimed to follow Christ? Why did Paul respond as he did to these groups? Where is the line between having appreciation for a spiritual leader and idolizing him? Can you name modern instances in which people have crossed that line? What kinds of consequences can result from doing so? How can we avoid crossing the line? Are any of your loyalties in church misplaced? What do you need to do to reevaluate them and place them where they should be? Divide the large group into three smaller groups. Distribute copies of the Reasons, Results, and Remedies assignments (Pack Item 2). unavailable, instruct groups Discover Deeper Meaning formation of divisions word translated divisions word schism to describe disagreements that result in separation. Those who observed the ministry of Jesus disagreed as to whether or not ed, immature groups in the Corinthian church who claimed allegiance to different spiritual leaders. Corinth was one of the most corrupt cities of the first century A.D. (see Discover Deeper Meaning, p. 24). The city was known for its wealth and infamous for its immorality. Paul founded the church at Corinth during his second missionary journey with the help of Aquila and Priscilla, who recently had been forced to leave Rome (see Acts 18:1-18). After departing Corinth, Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, where they encountered a gifted and powerful speaker named Apollos. There they discipled Apollos before he followed Paul s ministry in Corinth (see 18:19 19:1). Two previous Biblical Illustrator articles Corinth (Winter 1989) and Apollos (Summer 1975) relate to this lesson and can be found on the Spring 2010 Biblical Illustrator Plus (CD-ROM). Paul wrote 1 Corinthians around A.D. 54 after he received disturbing news from members of the Corinthian church about spiritual problems within the congregation. Paul wrote to rebuke the disobedient members and to call on them to repent. Paul addressed them as brethren and appealed to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the Christians at Corinth had failed to progress spiritually after being converted to Christ. Their failure to grow was a major factor in the spiritual problems Paul wrote about in this epistle. The first critical problem Paul addressed was a lack of unity. Divisions had developed, and these gave way to opposing factions. Church members had separated into groups identified by their allegiance to particular spiritual leaders they considered superior. The church at Corinth had become a house divided. In Mark 3:22-27 the religious leaders who opposed Jesus accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub Satan. Jesus responded by declaring, If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand (vv ). Satan and his minions are united in their 14

9 efforts to oppose God; one of their most effective approaches is to use division among Christians to weaken and destroy churches. Read the article Divisions and Conflicts in the Early Church in the Spring 2010 issue of Biblical Illustrator or on the Spring 2010 Biblical Illustrator Plus (CD-ROM). Paul urged his readers to be perfectly joined together, a phrase representing the Greek word Mark used for mending nets in Mark 1:19. A related term also is used outside of Scripture for the setting back together of a broken bone. Paul used three phrases in his call for the believers to restore unity. First, he urged them to speak the same thing. Their words had created Now he called on them to use their speech to restore harmony. Words have the power to divide or unite. Conflict between various factions cannot be resolved unless we change the way we talk about others. We should evaluate carefully the possible impact of our words before we speak, and we should never hesitate to apologize when our words cause harm. Second, Paul urged the Christians in Corinth to have the same mind the same understanding. Wrong thinking precedes sinful words and actions. United thinking that is centered in truth will lead to appropriate speech and proper behavior. Third, Paul urged his readers to have the same judgment. The word translated refers to conviction or purpose. The Corinthians had lost sight of this responsibility in the Christian life, namely to work together to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Churches frequently divide when spiritually immature members mistake preferences for essential truth and form groups to push their agendas. Sometimes the styles we favor with regard to music, worship, dress, and even architecture are wrongly elevated to positions of essential doctrine. This is not to say these issues are of no importance or that we can t have serious conversations about them. Yes, we can worship God in a barn or a tent; God can and will meet us there, convict us, and bless our fellowship. But does this mean churches never should build beautiful worship centers that employ architecture that points people to the Lord? Of course not. In all things, Christians and churches must be careful neither to confuse preferences with essential teaching, nor to allow essential teaching to be compromised in the name of relevance. Having said that, believers today still must keep in mind the church s ongoing need to communicate the unchanging gospel in different ways to different groups. When missionaries take the gospel to different cultures, they use language and music familiar to the culture to communicate the gospel. America also has 1:10-15 and to uncover specific information. the reasons for the Corinthian Christians misplaced loyalties. Why might Christians forget where they came from? the results of the Corinthian Christians misplaced loyalties. What are the results when Christians forget where they came from? remedies for the Corinthian Christians misplaced loyalties. What s the remedy when Christians forget where they Instruct teams to discuss their assigned topic and to gather reports. Using the commentary on the Corinthians might have four leaders mentioned. churches today. Discuss how churches and individual believers can keep from developing misplaced loyalties. Discuss also how churches and Christian groups can resist turning leaders into celebrities. report. Learner Guide Use (Learner Guide, enhance your discussion of the term divisions. Life Words 15

10 report. Use the commentary on this page to enhance your discussion regarding the readers in light of the factions that had arisen in the church. Learner Guide underline these statements on page 10 of their Learner Guides: The word translated perfectly joined together hoped to restore strong relationships among the Corinthian Christians. Being knit together by a common commitment to Christ and to have shared the same basic perspectives about key read the last two paragraphs on page 15, concluding at importance of maintaining a balance in our efforts to make disciples for Christ. We must never maintain a traditional approach just because we ve always done it that way we use a similar reason to throw traditions out. Discuss how personal preferences should be overridden by total agreement on the essentials of the Christian faith. What biblical teachings must be considered essential to the Christian faith? Discuss ways to convey these truths become multicultural, and we must use methods that will communicate effectively to the lost. Let no one demand his or her own preferences to the detriment of teaching sound doctrine and engaging in effective evangelism and ministry. In verse 11 we learn the source of Paul s information about the disunity in Corinth. Some of them which are of the house of Chloe members of Chloe s household told Paul about the problems. These may have been servants of a woman named who is mentioned only here in the New Testament. They declared unto Paul that contentions had arisen among the members. The word translated is used by Paul in Galatians 5:20 (where it is translated as one of the works of the flesh (v. 19) or manifestations of the sinful nature. We will encounter this word again in 1 Corinthians 3:3 (where it is translated when we examine some symptoms of immaturity among Paul s readers (see p. 19). Scripture clearly encourages believers to stand firm for essential doctrine (see Jude 3) but these fights were childish and selfish. The church at Corinth apparently had formed groups like today s cliques, each of which had associated itself with the individual whose ministry it preferred. Paul was instrumental in founding the church, and one of the groups claimed allegiance to him. Paul was not at all flattered by this group s loyalty or its use of his name, and he did not commend them for following him. Another group claimed to follow Apollos, the gifted Alexandrian orator (see Acts 18:24) who ministered in Corinth during Paul s absence (see 19:1). A third group preferred the apostle Simon Peter; Cephas (meaning rock ) was the Aramaic surname of Peter is derived from a Greek root meaning rock ). A final group Paul named claimed the name of Christ, but apparently they too were guilty of exercising the same divisive spirit. We see no evidence any of the groups had the approval of those they claimed to follow. The real leaders of these groups were disobedient Christians who had misplaced their focus. Each then stirred up his own faction, making the divisions worse. Competing groups form in churches for various reasons. Some form due to family connections. Some are based on age. Others are formed out of discontent with church decisions. Whatever the reasons, cliques are problematic because they divide and exclude. The model for a church is the human body, where each part works in harmony with the others, and where all parts follow the head, who in the church is Christ (see 1 Cor. 12:12). Where might church members be tempted to (mis)place their loyalties today? To rebuke the groups who used their prideful attitudes to exclude other Christians, Paul asked, Is Christ divided? Using rhetorical questions, Paul reminded his readers that Jesus Christ alone was their Savior and Head of the church. Paul hadn t been crucified for them, nor had they been baptized in his name. In verses Paul 16

11 recalled he had baptized only a few of the believers in Corinth. Paul s goal was to get them to focus on Christ and not on him. Loyalty is a wonderful virtue unless it is misplaced. In the case of the Corinthian groups, they had allowed an inappropriate idolization of human leaders to squeeze out their supreme loyalty for Christ. This is all too common an occurrence. Human history is filled with tragic examples of people who gave supreme allegiance to men and women, only to be devastated when those leaders failed or led them astray. False religions, philosophies, and cults put ultimate trust in themselves, in other human leaders, or in both. Christianity commands a supreme love for and allegiance to God and His Word. Human Pride (1 Cor. 1:26-29) 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. One major factor at the root of the divisions in Corinth was the prideful arrogance of disobedient Christians. In their pride, Adam and Eve sinned, believing they would become like God by eating from the forbidden tree (see Gen. 3:1-6). The essence of sin is always trying to be like God without God, observed the late Dr. Mark Corts and pride is at the heart of all such attempts. Pride exalts self over others and fails to submit to God s authority. Manifesting itself in direct disobedience to God, it separated Adam and Eve from their Creator. Pride also separates Christians from one another. The Corinthian Christians had become arrogant in their attitudes. Paul attempted to remind them of their humble beginnings. He called on the believers in Corinth to see or consider their calling. He wanted them to remember who they were when they first responded to the gospel. Few were wise after the flesh wise according to human standards. They did not have great intelligence or education. Not many were mighty or influential leaders of the community. Most could not claim noble birth but rather came from the common and lower classes of society. Such external criteria are worldly standards, but people often determine the value of human beings by looking for these kinds of qualities. Such evaluations are arbitrary and subjective. God, however looketh on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). effectively in our own day to unchurched people. your church, such as the choir, formed for effective ministry. How can we maximize the effectiveness of each group and keep them from becoming cliques? Discussion Starters for 1 Corinthians 1: Where did the Corinthian Christians loyalties lie? How did that affect church unity? What had to happen for unity to be restored? 2. How is it possible to be united when we have different opinions and personalities? 3. What are some divisive issues in churches today? What should unite a church? How can Christians work together so that unity on essential teachings overrides differences of opinion with regard to nonessentials? 4. How did Paul learn about the problem in the Corinthian church? Which reports travel faster good or bad? What s our challenge in light of 1 Corinthians 1:11? Step 3: Human Pride (1 Cor. 1:26-29) Invite a volunteer to read learners how these verses pride among the Corinthian Christians. Life Words 17

12 verses teach us about conventional wisdom on its Why should this keep us humble? the social status of the typical Corinthian Christian when he What apparently happened to their attitudes after they had been Christians for a while? Paul basically told the members of the Corinthian church they had forgotten where they previously had been in their lives. What are some truths the Corinthian Christians needed to remember? they were ordinary people who needed to be humbly Discuss how church divisions could be remedied or at least minimized if members simply would remember what Discussion Starters for 1 Corinthians 1: Of what realities did Paul remind his readers? What kind of impact should Paul s reminders have had on his readers? 2. How do many churches describe themselves to the world and to one another? What potential problems does such talk reveal? How can churches and Christians take Paul s words in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 to heart? 3. What s the problem with looking at ourselves and others Most of the Corinthian Christians had no claim to fame. Paul reminded them God had not saved them because they were important in the world s eyes. Rather, God hath chosen the foolish and weak. The apostle attempted to help them see how worldly they had become in judging themselves and others. Each group in Corinth felt superior to the others. Each one was convinced its members were smarter and more spiritual than those in the other groups. People who lack power in the culture sometimes seek to acquire it in church. They see the church as a place where they can exalt themselves and rule. These people hunger for positions of leadership, but they want it for the wrong reasons. They want power to control others. Christian leaders who imitate Christ, however, are always servants in their leadership roles. They accept authority in order to minister to the needs of others. We live in a culture where the importance and rights of individuals are supremely exalted. This often leads to pride and conflict when we demand our own way at others expense. No unity can exist when such attitudes prevail. As believers, we find our worth in our relationship to God and in finding His purpose for our lives (see Jer. 9:23-24). God chooses the humble to confound the wise and the mighty. God does not indeed, He cannot save a person who is prideful. We must be willing to admit our sin, weakness, and helplessness. We must acknowledge we need Jesus the Savior and cannot save ourselves. When we humbly receive God s salvation, the Lord can exalt us to do things that the wise and strong of this world never would be able to accomplish. The Christians of Corinth were considered base low and insignificant and were despised when they first heard the gospel. They were exactly the types Christ was seeking! Christians today sometimes herald the salvation of a celebrity. Are they implying his conversion is more important than the salvation of one who isn t well known? For some it almost seems to validate Christianity when one with a high I.Q. or with great wealth confesses Christ. God is not impressed, however, with Ph.D. s, awards, or stock portfolios. In the days of the judges, God purposely reduced Gideon s army so that neither Gideon nor any of his warriors would be able to claim victory due to human effort and cunning (see Judg. 7:1-8). When God works through us, we do not receive the credit nor should we. When we accomplish great things for God, we do not boast or glory in His presence because we depend on His strength and not our own. First Corinthians 1:26-29 reminds us of the existence of two opposing perspectives or worldviews. The world s perspective is humancentered humanistic at its core. In this belief system, man is considered the measure of all things and the final authority. People develop their own religions and make gods in their image; truth is subjective and ever-changing. The other perspective is God s. He is our standard for all things; His truth is absolute and unchanging and it coincides with reality. When Christ returns, the worldly 18

13 perspective will be revealed as a lie and those who have embraced it will be humbled in judgment. Those who have humbly submitted to God s truth will be exalted. Why is pride so deadly? Why is humility so liberating? Spiritual Immaturity (1 Cor. 3:1-4) 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Paul mentioned three kinds of people in 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 he referred to the natural man. This person is unsaved and does not have the Holy Spirit living within. cannot understand spiritual things they are foolishness to him and lives according to his sinful nature. This does not mean an unsaved person can t do unselfish or noble things, but that his overall orientation toward life is inconsistent with God s truth. The second person is he that is spiritual (1 Cor. 2:15). This person is saved and growing daily in knowledge and obedience to God. The third type of person is described in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, which is printed above. Paul wrote of people who are carnal or fleshly. We have examined the disobedience among the Corinthian Christians, a disobedience manifested in their divisiveness. Now Paul focused on the source of their disobedience. Paul had hoped to address those in Corinth as spiritual people, but he could not. A spiritual person is a Christian who consistently yields control of his life to the Holy Spirit. The spiritual person certainly is not perfect but consistently seeks to grow spiritually in knowledge of and obedience to God. Moreover, he or she strives to harbor no unconfessed sin. This was not the spiritual condition of Paul s readers. Ye are yet carnal, he told the divisive Corinthians. These were not the natural men of 1 Corinthians 2:14; after all, they saved, and they possessed the indwelling Holy Spirit. But they could not be described as spiritual (v. 15) since they were not following the leadership of God s Spirit. They were believers acting like unbelievers. Interestingly, the root term behind the Greek word translated sometimes is used literally of the skin of people or animals (see 15:39). It sometimes is used, however, to refer to the sinful nature people inherited from Adam (see Rom. 7:5,18,25; see also 8:4-9, where it is translated flesh, carnally, or carnal, depending from a human perspective? How can we maintain humility and a healthy confidence at the same time? 4. What steps can believers take to consistently look at themselves and others from God s perspective? How does such a perspective enhance and strengthen biblical unity? Step 4: Spiritual Immaturity (1 Cor. 3:1-4) read 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, then invite a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. On the board, write: FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE. Then write these subheadings: (1) Natural Man, (2) Spiritual Man, (3) Spiritual Infant, (4) Carnal Man Using 1 Corinthians 2:14 3:4, discuss the characteristics of each type of person and list that nothing is wrong with being a spiritual infant if the spiritual infant been born being spiritually immature if one was born spiritually a long time ago. an immature child and the kind of behavior he or she consistent with spiritual the solution for immaturity is Life Words 19

14 What kinds of things had come together to stunt the spiritual growth of the Corinthian Christians? How did spiritual immaturity cause and/or contribute to the problems that occurred in the Corinthian church? the word teachers in verse 12 does not necessarily mean having a formal teaching being able to impart biblical truth to others, whether formally or informally. Draw learners attention to of the four types of people points. spiritual baby. When he does, a Christian. This takes place the instant he trusts Christ as Once a person is born spiritually, he cannot return to being a natural man. to become spiritually mature, but no shortcut to spiritual what needs to take place for a Christian to mature spiritually. While a spiritual man or a immature behavior on occasion, his general pattern should be one of spiritual growth and maturity. on the context). Christians receive a new nature in Christ when they are saved, but they retain old habits or the flesh. The spiritual Christian follows the leadership of the Holy Spirit and allows God to subdue his fleshly nature. The immature Christian follows his own sinful desires instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide. Paul likened these disobedient believers to babes in Christ. Now, all believers start out as spiritual infants, whatever their physical age. Therefore it would be as anyone might expect and not wrong at all for a person to be an infant in Christ if he only recently experienced a spiritual birth. As spiritual newborns, are given milk, and not meat. Here Paul refers to the basic teachings of the faith that most new believers learn. New believers are not yet ready to understand more complex biblical doctrines; comprehending these requires time, study, steady commitment, and obedience. Paul rebuked his readers because sufficient time had passed for them to have matured, yet they remained immature And they demonstrated their immaturity through their behavior. They quarreled and fought like children instead of working through their differences like mature adults. Selfishly, they put their own interests ahead of the interests of others. The above paragraph indicates that time, study, steady commitment, and obedience produce spiritual maturity. On a separate sheet of paper, briefly describe how each of these elements has contributed to your own spiritual growth: Paul lamented to his readers that neither yet now are ye able to digest solid spiritual food. From what source are both spiritual and spiritual available? The Word of God, the Bible. A failure to study and apply God s Word stunts spiritual growth and results in spiritual ignorance and disobedience. Spiritual Christians understand the necessity of regularly studying the Bible in both public and private worship. God s will for our lives is revealed in His Word; the more we know His Word and allow its truths to change our lives, the more mature we will become. Knowledge of God s Word also makes us wise in making decisions (see Ps. 119:105). The more we know, the better we can discern right from wrong. And take note: True spirituality is not only about it is about the In verse 3, after referring to the disobedient believers as a second time, Paul accused them of walking living as mere or natural men. Here Paul used a Greek word that means as in human beings. Apart from God s supernatural power, human beings, as remarkable as they are, can do nothing to please God. These immature Christians were acting and behaving as they had before they were saved. Paul again pointed to groups aligning themselves by name with him or with Apollos. These groups and their misguided allegiances demonstrated the immature natures of the worldly Christians. 20

15 In the Wake of Disunity in Life Words Learner Guide, tioned to a friend that the church I was attending seemed corrected me, since he knew the church had survived a split several years before I joined. Church disunity is a very serious matter. Disunity in a church hurts not only the church and its members but also its witness for Christ in the community. In some communities Baptist churches are so notorious for their If Paul wrote a letter to your church, what would he say? The conduct of the carnal believers in Corinth not only threatened the unity of the church but also hindered their own witness. This is understandable, for nothing marked them as different. As we have noted, they were living as typical folks fleshly, like any other ordinary people. As in Paul s day, unbelievers today will not be attracted to Christ if they see the same sins in believers they see in themselves. Instead, they will be inclined to dismiss any invitation or encouragement carnal people offer them to accept Christ. After all, who wants to follow a hypocrite? Only when we display changed behavior can unbelievers see the real possibility of the change Christ offers. And these believers weren t just hindering the spread of the gospel by failing to practice what they professed to believe; in their disunity they also were failing to show love for their fellow Christians (see John 13:35). Surely that hindered their witness as well. What is the solution to divisions in Christ s body? Immature believers must be confronted with their sin and repent. Paul identified and rebuked the troublemakers at Corinth, and church leaders today lovingly must do the same. Also, only mature believers who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:22-23) should be entrusted with leadership roles in the local church. What kind of leadership do you offer to those entrusted to your care? Be sure to heed the implication of the words of the inspired writer in Hebrews 5:1-14. Biblical Truths of This Lesson in Focus (1) Christians who divide churches as they pursue their own personal agendas don t please God. (2) Remembering Christ s example (see Phil. 2:5-8) should help Christians to avoid pride. (3) Christians who fail to grow spiritually act like unbelievers and risk damaging their churches reputations. (4) Christians consistently should seek to grow in knowledge and application of God s Word. caused by the attitudes and behavior of its spiritually immature members. Discuss how that church can resolve its problems and become a vibrant, growing, and unified church. Learner Guide Use In the (Learner Guide, point that it is easy to get to talk about others, to choose sides, and to wind up doing things that run counter to unity. Unity takes work but the results are well worth the effort Discussion Starters for 1 Corinthians 3: How did Paul address the divided Corinthians in verse 1? How did he describe them? How do you think he would describe your church? Why? 2. What behaviors cause division? How do these behaviors coincide with spiritual immaturity? 3. What are some of the differences between spiritual milk and spiritual meat? Give an example of each. 4. Of what kinds of foods does your spiritual diet consist? Step 5: Conclusion churches often try to do to resolve conflict. Discuss the implications of this lesson for securing and maintaining church unity. Close in prayer. Life Words 21