Studies in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians INDUCTIVE LESSON THREE 1 Corinthians 3 Time to Grow Up As men we recognize our need to be reminded of the really important things in life. We program our smart phone to remind us to make the call on Mother s Day, to buy the anniversary card. Unfortunately this tendency toward forgetfulness in everyday life carries over into our spiritual life as well. Because of this we will find Paul returning to two truly important subjects he mentioned in Chapter 1 of this epistle. Paul again warns the Corinthians not to boast or glory in their leaders, but to seek godly, not worldly wisdom. Paul takes the cliché that someone is so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good and turns it upside down. Paul s premise is that the Corinthians have become so earthly minded they are of no heavenly good. C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity states, If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. 1 Paul goes on to warn of the dangers of being a carnal Christian. How can you be carnal and be a Christian? Pastor Chuck Smith describes a carnal Christian as one who has received Jesus as Savior but never allowed Him to be Lord in his life. Paul describes the carnal Christians as infants who have never grown up. When my children were growing up, a trip to the grandparents would inevitably spawn the statement, Oh my, look how much you have grown since the last time we saw you! Grandpa kept a specially trimmed timber which recorded the date, height, and name of each grandchild. This was an absolute against which the children could measure their growth and see how much they have grown. Just like the measuring stick in Grandpa s garage, you will discover that Paul uses absolute marks or signs to gauge the spiritual growth of the Corinthians. Children have very little control over how quickly they grow physically. However, as believers, we have an active part in allowing God to produce spiritual growth in our life. As the old poem says: Two hearts beat within my chest, one is cursed and one is blessed. One I love and one I hate, the one I feed will dominate. To feed the flesh is to feed a beast, a well-fed Spirit is perfect peace.1 Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom in understanding it, and then read through the entire section two or three times. Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. 1
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their 2
own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." 21 Therefore 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 things present or things to come--all are yours. 23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (NKJV) Observation 1. My Observations: In the left column write down observations you make directly from the text. Inductive tips (things to look for): a) What are the promises? b) What are the commands? c) What are the sources of conflict? d) What are the cause/effect relationships? e) What are the repeated words and ideas? g) What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? h) What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? i) Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) 2. Digging Deeper: In the right column write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: a) other scriptures that apply (cross references) b) dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) c) Bible dictionaries for historical information d) commentaries. See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources. 1 Corinthians 3:1 4 (The Carnal Christian) My Observations Digging Deeper 1 Corinthians 3:5 15 (Building up the Body) 1 Corinthians 3:16 23 (Warning Against Worldly Wisdom) 3
Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? (You will share what God is saying to you in the next section.) State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? 1 Corinthians 3:1 4: Interpretation: Application: 1 Corinthians 3:5 15: 4
Interpretation: Application: 1 Corinthians 3:16 23: Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did last night, you would tell them you went to a Bible Study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:19a Key Words / Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. The first two terms have survived from the Greek to form words used in English today. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Babes in Christ (v.1): 5
Carnal (v. 4): Temple (v. 16): Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choosing a version for the list below might be helpful. Word for Word Translations NASB New American Standard Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new- American-Standard-Bible-NASB/ AMP Amplified Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/amplified-bible-amp/ ESV English Standard Version http://www.esvstudybible.org/ KJV King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/king-james-version-kjv- Bible/ NKJV New King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-king-james- Version-NKJV-Bible/ Thought for thought NLT New Living Translation http://newlivingtranslation.com/ The Message http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/message-msg-bible/ Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates s The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Do not use these in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Listed by author: John MacArthur, H.A. Ironsides, Douglas Moo, J. Vernon McGee, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications). 2011 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org 1 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1952) p. 47 Message Notes 6
Message Notes 7
8