Sermon Series (2)

Last Sunday we started a series of sermons on the following topic: What the New Testament Church SHOULD NOT DO and what it SHOULD DO!

Out text was 1 Cor. 3:1-17

We discovered that Paul could not treat them as being mature Christians but had to treat them as babies because of their refusal to grow up in their faith. They conducted themselves with childish behavior such as Envy, Strife and Divisions amongst themselves. They were acting as “mere men”! No one looking at their life could tell any difference between a lost worldly man and the ones who professed Christ. THIS ISSUE IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY!

Let’s go back a little farther in time before the church of Corinth was established. This issue of arguing and disputes was not something new!

Turn to Luke 22:24-30

Let’s look at the context of what is happening:

1. Jesus just instituted the Lord’s Supper

2. Jesus just revealed that one of them would betray Him! He revealed that it was Judas.

**This really makes what happens next all the more complex and surprising!!

A robust argument and dispute brakes out between the Disciples! (Human beings are still the same)

Look to verse 22 were will will pick up the scene.....

v 22 The fight of selfishness breaks out! ME, ME, ME,ME ME AND SOME MORE ME!

V 23 Jesus steps in: He tells them that they are acting like “mere men” (remember what Paul said from last week’s message?) BUT

JESUS uses harder words! He tells them that they are acting no better that the PAGAN'S! THE WORLD SEEKS TO TRAIN PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD BE FIRST IN EVERYTHING! YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON STEPPING ON EVERYBODY TO GET TO THE TOP!

V 24-27 BREAK THIS DOWN; JESUS SETS THE STANDARD AND HE IS OUR TEACHER

***JESUS CAME TO SERVE

(diakonōn, “serves in a lowly way,” v. 27)

V 28 KEY VERSE:

MY TAKE ON THIS SCRIPTURE-AS I PLAY THIS SCENE OUT IN MY MIND:

Hey guys! Wake up and get your head in the game! Pay attention! You are and have been walking with me; and you have seen my trails with your own eyes!! I just instituted a command for you and my coming church to observe this supper and remember me! YOU GUYS ARE UNBELIEVABLE!

V.S 29-30 Furthermore!! JESUS ANSWERS THE QUESTION THEY ARE ARGUING OVER:

(CONTINUING MY VERSION) Oh fellows! by the way!! LISTEN VERY CLOSELY!

THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES! I’M GIVING YOU A KINGDOM! (ARE YOU LISTENING?) JUST AS MY FATHER GAVE ME! THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU AT MY TABLE!

(hey guys it is not about you! It’s about me! And I’m right here beside you!)

AND BY THE WAY YOU ALL WILL SIT ON THRONES JUDGING THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL!

*** This is an awesome picture of Christ’s love, patience, mercy and grace that he extends to all of His children! And to those who are lost and tired of this world and the unrest in it, looking for a place of peace! All you have to do is come to Jesus!

(THERE IS STILL ROOM AT HIS TABLE IF YOU WOULD JUST PLACE YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM!