Broken Church Pt. 1

The Museum of Conflict

Main Text: 1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 19

1 Corinthians 1:10–19 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Introduction

Today I would like to invite you on an intentional journey towards healing. The Lord has led me to a topic that He wants me to present to you all to help us grow in Him. So over the next 4 weeks, I would like to ask you to make it a priority to be in the house of worship here at Shalem as God is given us an opportunity to grow as a family under Him.

The title of this teaching series is “Broken Church.” The objective of this series is to escort us to a place of healing in areas that are fragmented here in this fellowship. All of us have gone through, are going through or will go through seasons of brokenness. And for the majority of church people when brokenness comes in the form of church, we often shy away from working through our brokenness with God and with each other.

Well, God told me that we cannot avoid or combover the brokenness here. So let’s dive straight into what God has for us for the next few weeks.

If you have lived on this earth more than a year, you are more than likely cognitive of the fact that life is full of conflict. if you haven’t notice you should probably just cut on the television. Because it won’t take you long after turning it on to see conflict. There is conflict all over the world, conflict in our country, conflict in our state, conflict in our county, conflict in our cities, conflict in our neighborhoods, and yes, conflict in our homes.

And the interesting thing about conflict is that conflict can lead us to places we would have never dreamt about. Conflict has led people to physically hurting one another. Conflict has led countries into full blown wars. Conflict has caused people to be divided by the color of their skin. Conflict has broken up families.

But conflict isn’t new. It may surprise a few of you but as Bible believers we should be aware that conflict started in Heaven. For the Bible says in Revelation 12:7 “7 Now war arose in heaven.”

But not just in heaven… but in Genesis conflict show up in the garden with Adam and Eve, but not just with Adam and Eve, but with Cain and Able, but not just with Cain and Abel, but with Noah, but not just with Noah, but with Abraham, and Sarah… With Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers and guest what, conflict is seen all throughout the entire Bible.

And the truth of the matter is that if there is conflict in the Bible, then there must be conflict in the church. And here in our text today we can confirm that statement for it is here where I would like to drop us off at this museum of conflict that resides at a church called Corinth. Don’t worry, I already purchased your tickets and I bought all the exhibits for us to visit over the next 4 weeks.

See here in Corinth we are introduced to a pastor named Paul who has had the privilege of pastoring this church in Corinth. During the time that 1st and 2nd Corinthians is written, Pastor Paul is at his other church called Ephesus.

See what led to the writing of 1st and 2nd Corinthians is that while in Ephesus, Paul received reports of what was going on in the church of Corinth. But before I take you too far into this church, let me introduce you to its surroundings.

See here the church of Corinth was in the city of Corinth. This ancient city of Corinth was a well established and exciting city.

It was a place with high traffic for it was a market for much of the commerce that flowed from Asia to Europe, and vice versa.

Some Phoenicians settled in the city and carried on their trade of making purple dye, and also introduced other arts, and set up the impure worship of the Phoenician deities.

The city of Corinth believed in MANY gods rather than one God.

The city of Corinth was known for its intellectual focus and oration. It was a big deal to speak with grand words and with charisma. It was entertainment.

Corinth was an important business trading city and was located off the seas which created prime real estate for travel and entertainment. But within this was also the fact that Corinth was an evil place.

See, the city of Corinth was known for it’s lawlessness. It was a place with great lust, debauchery and sexual immorality.

The city of Corinth was so bad and nasty in it’s behavior that the very name of the city became a slogan or motto for their sensuality. People would use the expression all over when they saw this behavior as being “Corinthianize”.

The city of Corinth was a place of wealth, luxury, business and a mixed population. Their main god was Aphrodite, the goddess of love in its lowest form. The temple there in Corinth was named Apollo where 1000 beautiful young women would work as prostitutes before the altar of the goddess of love. And their work would be supported by foreigners, and from the proceeds of their work created a steady income for the city of Corinth.

Corinth was so much of a mess that one writer says “if the gospel can triumph in Corinth, than it can win anywhere.”

So, church family, this is what surrounds the church of Corinth. And what we find here is that during Paul’s absence because he is now in Ephesus… the church of Corinth has developed numerous problems that demanded attention.

The church was dealing with fractions that disrupted the church, they were beefing with one another, people started questioning marriage, dealing with issues concerning eating foods that were sacrificed to idols, the guidelines of women in public worship, the misunderstanding of spiritual gifts, and then people questioning the resurrection.

I’m talking about a straight up mess was going on in the church of Corinth. And essentially, what was taking place was that many who had renounced their wicked ways were actually slipping back into their old habits of life. In other words the church was looking more and more like the city. And isn’t it interesting how what is happening on the outside can find it way on the inside.

Lord help me in this place… I’m going to say that one more time.

It is interesting how what is happening on the outside can find it way on the inside. See, many of you are thinking about somebody else, but you need to start looking at yourself. See there are situations that have been happening on the outside of here, that has found it’s way on the inside of here.

Don’t look at me crazy now… It’s just how it is…

The nasty stuff that comes out of your mouth out there, will also come out of your mouth in here,

The sexual perversion you have out there, will also show up in here,

The talking about you behind your back you do out there, will also show up in here,

The “I’m tryna get this money” mentality out there, will also show up in here,

The I want to be in control out there, will also show up in here,

The I don’t like you out there, will also so up in here.

All I’m trying to say is, there are situations that have been happening on the outside of here, that has found it’s way on the inside of here.

So, here in the church of Corinth, we find that this church has developed unhealthy practices and tensions that has hurt the body of Christ. They’ve fallen into the influence of their old ways and are bringing their own lenses to the church instead of God’s lens. And Paul hears about it and knows he has to address a broken church.

So, what Paul does is he writes a letter to the church. And church family, this is what leads us into our first exhibit in this museum of conflict. Because what we find here being addressed in our text here in this letter in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 is that fractions are within the congregation.

I hope you still have your bible’s open…

See here in chapter one, Paul opens up his letter addressed to the Corinthian church by greeting them in this way… The text says in 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 (ESV)

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notice Paul’s approach here… he appears to be attempting to set the tone from the beginning concerning whom and what should be our foundation.

What you mean preacher…

Look at verse 2 here. He addresses the church and calls out that we are sanctified in Jesus Christ. This word sanctified here in the greek is to be set aside, consecrated and made Holy.

Now what I want you to connect here is that the context is not that we as physical being have been set aside, consecrated and Holy only… But rather the perspective that we should see what Paul is saying is that our attitude, our reverence towards the things of God should be treated differently.

So we have been set aside, concreted and made Holy to approach life more differently than others. Not only that… but look at what Paul says. He continues by saying to the church of Corinth, “called to be saints together.”

Don’t miss this church family…

Paul is focusing the minds of this church to their purpose from the very beginning. Which should give us a sense of alert that perhaps, they aren’t living up to who they are suppose to be in God.

See Paul says, because you are sanctified, you have been called to be saints. Once again, the same meaning which is to be set apart, made Holy.

But look at what he connects to this word. He says, “saints together.” In other words, you have been called to do this together. Let me say it this way… You have been called to live out your purpose in harmony.

The context here is that you are a community set apart who are linked together in supporting one another. And this is amongst all those all over the world who are covered in this calling.

Now with this being the foundation that Paul sets to address this church look at what he attaches to it.

I’m just teaching right now…

Paul identifies here in verses 3 - 9 that he is grateful because God has equipped the church of Corinth with everything they need. Look at verse 4 - 7. It says,

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul identifies that God has provided everything needed for this church to be a successful church.

So whats happening that’s causing Paul to spend some time to address this church?

Well let’s look at our main text. Look at 1 Corinthians 1: 10-17

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

There appears to be conflict here.

What type of conflict?

Social Conflict - Vs. 10 - Divisions

Divisions - To tear, split, obtain social dissension.

Relational Conflict - Vs. 11 - Quarreling

Quarrel - To have strife, conflict, speak discord, and argue.

Theological Conflict - Vs. 12, 13

I’m for Paul, Apollos, Peter or Jesus.

What can we learn from this the opening of this letter?

You will find Conflict in the Church

You cannot run from conflict by coming to church.

It comes from the outside.

The dangers of conflict in church is that it…

Affects our relationship with Christ.

Affects our relationship with one another.