Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Perspective in the making. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) Sermon Series: in the Making SERMON SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY Question: What is the Biblical perspective on making disciples? In the making God produces, and followers participate in the process. Note: Keep the end in mind. Keep this perspective in the making LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? Page 1 of 8
DIGGING DEEPER 1. Understanding the context. Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-3:5. What does this tell you about human nature? What does Paul say about wisdom? There are several truths we learn here about human nature. - We like to turn people into heroes / idols. Canadian Idol; So You Think You Can Dance; etc. It s true, these can be enjoyable to watch, but the truth still stands; we long to have someone to look up to; to cheer for; root for. - We are prone to cliques; factions; and competition; we could even include division in this list. - Another danger which Paul and Apollos both avoided was taking in the aggrandizement and accolades. Neither Paul nor Apollos was present in the church at the time of this writing or the development of this division. Kudos by others can be dangerous especially when it comes to kingdom work. Paul speaks about wisdom before he confronts the church and their division. Paul points out he speaks with wisdom. Wisdom is from God s Holy Spirit. God is the source of wisdom; and the wisdom Paul speaks of is very different than worldly wisdom. In keeping with the first question above, it seems we are inclined to like and follow worldly wisdom sometimes to the exclusion of divine wisdom. 2. Understanding the Day of judgment Read 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12. Who specifically does Paul say will appear before Christ s judgment seat? We will be discussing this in much more detail in the next series which follows this one. What do you believe and understand regarding Christ s judgment seat? Sometimes we think of judgment day strictly in the negative. That is, only the unrighteous will appear before Christ s judgment seat, and it will be purely punitive. However, it is clear from Paul s writing (both in our sermon text, 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and 2 Corinthians chapter 5 above), followers of Jesus Christ (the righteous) will also appear before Christ s judgment seat. When Paul (and Jesus) speak to the righteous about the Day they also include positive aspects such as rewards. Revelation chapter 22, is another text meant as a positive picture of the Day. I agree with Pastor Rick when he says, in Revelation 22:12 I see a word of encouragement to believers to press on in their walk with the Lord because Jesus is coming soon and He will reward you! Page 2 of 8
Read 1 Corinthians 4:5; Matthew 25:21. What could the rewards possibly be which Jesus and Paul speak about? We will be discussing this in more detail in the next series which follows this one. In the text of this sermon, Paul does not disclose the details regarding the rewards he speaks about. However in the next part of his letter (1 Cor. 4:5) he mentions commendation (ESV); praise (NASB; NIV). In Matthew, Jesus gives an example of this sort of praise. Think of this for a moment the Lord Jesus Christ praising you. This reminds me of 1 Peter 5:6. Wow!!! 3. What is 1 question this sermon raises you want answered? Share it with your small group; put it in writing and give it to the pastors or church office (paper; e-mail; or Facebook). Quite often sermons raise questions in your mind; but are left as questions rather than being addressed. It is very difficult in 30 minutes of sermon time to address the questions but they are nevertheless very important. Your question may be one others share as well. Discussion and sharing of questions and responses is very helpful for growth. Please consider sharing your questions. For example: How is it possible God in His sovereignty is responsible for producing faith; yet humans are responsible for our actions? IN MY LIFE I do not evangelize because (circle all that apply & discuss): 1. I don t want to be labeled a fanatic. 2. I m afraid I ll fail. 3. I ve been raised not to talk about politics or religion. 4. I don t want to strain or lose my friendship. 5. I support missionaries to do this work. 6. I didn t know that this is every Christian s responsibility. 7. I m too busy. 8. Evangelism is not my gift. 9. I m afraid they will raise questions I can t answer. 10. I prefer to feel guilty about not doing it than risk discomfort. (List by permission: Irresistible Evangelism Training Module, Doug Pollock) Page 3 of 8
Word Study Apollos: (see links below) The contentions between the friends and admirers of Paul and those of Apollos had no effect on the two men s love and respect for each other. They both refrained from visiting the church while it was distracted with such prejudices and partialities, though a worldly ambition might have selected it as the field and the season of self aggrandizement. Apollos is last mentioned very affectionately by Paul in Titus 3:13. Since Apollos was an extremely brilliant individual, some scholars attribute the authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews to him. i Servants: In the NT ὑπηρέτης is employed to refer to many diverse types of servants, such as attendants to a king, officers of the Sanhedrin, attendants of magistrates, and, especially in the Gospel of John, Jewish Temple guards. ii Assigned: entrust, put something into the care of another Water: irrigate, nurture with water Growth: to grow, to increase in size, whether of animate beings or of plants to grow, growth. iii ; Normally a term for growth would imply not only size but also number, that is to say, the growth of the church would be in terms of the increase of members of the church, though it might refer to spiritual maturity. In some instances, however, it may be necessary to specify growth in numbers so as to avoid the implication which might be derived from the context, namely, that the church is simply a building which gets bigger and bigger. In a number of languages one must make a clear distinction in the choice of terms referring to the growth of an animate being (animal or human) and the growth of plants. iv Reward: a recompense based upon what a person has earned and thus deserves, the nature of the recompense being either positive or negative reward, recompense. v Labour: toil, work Field: (used only once); cultivated land, normally restricted to tilled fields or orchards, in contrast with pasture land (in the NT γεώργιον is used only figuratively of people whom God cares for and nurtures) field. vi Perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance urge you to maintain your perspective and to view your own task in a larger framework W. J. Cohen vii Page 4 of 8
Text Study (Here are various Bible translations of the passage.) English New American Bible: 1995 Update International Revised The Message 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 5 Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 7 It s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 8 Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. 9 For we are God s fellow workers. You are God s field, God s building. 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. 9 For we are God s servants, working together; you are God s field, God s building. 9 What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God s field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are God s house. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master 10 Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Page 5 of 8
English New American Bible: 1995 Update International Revised The Message builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 11 Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 12 Take particular care in picking out your building materials. 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. 13 each man s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man s work. 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man s work. 13 the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. 13 Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won t get by with a thing. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 14 If any man s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 14 If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. 14 If your work passes inspection, fine; 15 If anyone s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 15 If any man s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 15 If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire. 15 if it doesn t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won t be torn out; you ll survive but just barely. 16 Do you not know that you are 16 Do you not know that you are 16 Don t you know that you yourselves 16 Do you not know that you are 16 You realize, don t you, that you are the Page 6 of 8
English New American Bible: 1995 Update International Revised The Message God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you? a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? are God s temple and that God s Spirit lives in you? God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you? temple of God, and God himself is present in you? 17 If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy him. For God s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. 17 If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy him; for God s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 17 If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy that person. For God s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 17 No one will get by with vandalizing God s temple, you can be sure of that. God s temple is sacred and you, remember, are the temple. Page 7 of 8
Endnotes i Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G625). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. NT New Testament ii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:459). New York: United Bible societies. iii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). iv Ibid. v Ibid. NT New Testament vi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). vii Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Page 8 of 8