Do All to the Glory of God

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-11

Turn to and read Acts 18:1-11.

The church at Corinth was established during Paul’s second missionary journey which is recorded for us in Acts chapter 18.

It is where he met and began a relationship with Aquila and Priscilla. (They were all tent makers.)

It was the place where Paul made the conscious decision to focus on reaching the Gentiles. (It’s interesting to note that immediately following that statement in Acts 18:6, we see the conversion of a Jew, Crispus, who was the chief ruler of the synagogue.

Paul spent at least a year and six months in Corinth teaching them the Word of God.

The city of Corinth…

By the first century, Corinth had roughly 80,000 people and was probably the wealthiest city in Greece.

It became the third most important city of the Roman empire.

Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city.

The largest group of individuals living in Corinth were “freedmen;” those whose status was only just above slavery.

The city was a hub of paganism and earned a reputation for moral excess that was notorious throughout the ancient world. The city has been described as “a wide-open boomtown” comparable to San Francisco during the gold rush which shaped its cultural identity.

The Roman city that Paul encountered was genuinely immoral. And, when he stepped into town, it had no Gospel preaching church!

Turn to and read 1 Corinthians 1:1-11.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

What is a church?

The word, that is used in the Bible, for church simply means a called out body; an assembly.

Illustration: At camp, someone in the office, over the camp’s PA system, might say, “Everyone needs to meet for lunch on the ball field.” That would be a “church” - an assembly.

As the word is used in the New Testament, a church is a local body of Christians.

In the New Testament, the emphasis is never placed on a building; it is always placed upon the actual gathering of people.

Paul is addressing this letter to those who “…are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…”

We see, from Paul’s ministry that churches - these gatherings - were open to anyone. But the church itself is only for believers.

What is the purpose of a church?

Two passages of Scripture that give us the purpose of a church are Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 2:42.

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 2:42 KJV 1900

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

We see all of these activities being done in the church at Corinth.

Acts 18:8 KJV 1900

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Acts 18:11 KJV 1900

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

The ministry of a church should revolve around…

Verbally proclaiming the Word of God so that individuals will hear and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Teaching the Word of God so that those individuals who have been saved can grow; so that their foundation of faith will be strengthened.

Who does the church belong to?

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

The church at Corinth belonged to God. This church - South Charlotte Baptist Church - belongs to God.

Turn to and read Ephesians 5:21-29.

While there is much that we can learn I just want you to notice the phrase in verse 25: “…Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;”

Note: This verse is another indication that the church, in the New Testament, is referring to people, not buildings. Christ didn’t die for buildings; He died for people!

Christ loves the church. He loved the church at Corinth. He loves South Charlotte Baptist Church.

But, allow me to ask you this question: If Christ loves SCBC church how do you think that Satan feels about SCBC?

Yes. Satan hates this church. Satan hates everything that Christ loves and holds dear.

If that’s the case, and I’m fairly confident that everyone here is in agreement with that, then don’t you think that Satan is going to do everything that he can to destroy it? Don’t you think that Satan is going to do everything that he can to keep you from church; from South Charlotte Baptist Church?!?!

He’s going to do everything he can to keep you from the Sunday morning services of SCBC.

He’s going to do everything he can to keep you from the Sunday evening services of SCBC.

He’s going to do everything he can to keep you from the mid-week services of SCBC.

Question: On your 3x5 card I’d like you to write one reason that people use for not attending all of the services of their local church?

Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV 1900

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

While I cannot force anyone to “be in church” and I understand that simply “going to church” doesn’t equate to being right with God I would like for you to consider this question, “What keeps you from attending all of the services of South Charlotte Baptist Church?”

What is the church founded upon?

I realize that many of you will answer that question as Peter did in Matthew Chapter 16:

Matthew 16:16–18 KJV 1900

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

But I would like you to see what Paul stated in 1 Corinthians chapter 1…

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV 1900

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

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.

One of the pillars upon which the church in Corinth was founded was the grace of God which had saved them.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior than we - all together - can and should praise the Lord for His grace which has saved each of us.

Regardless of our differences, there is one thing that we share in common and that is the grace of God.

Then…

1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV 1900

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lamentations 3:21–23 KJV 1900

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The second pillar upon which the church in Corinth was founded was the faithfulness - not of its members - but of God Himself!

Again, regardless of our differences, we can rejoice in God’s faithfulness to each of us!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see: All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

How has God provided for you this past week?

What do you do when there is only one, Gospel preaching church in your city - and it’s not a very good one?

We might say that the church at Corinth fit that bill.

It was the only Gospel preaching church in the city and, in a lot of ways, it wasn’t a very good one!

1 Corinthians 1:10–11 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Paul starts out, at the very beginning of this letter, by pointing out that…

There were divisions in this church.

The Greek word, schisma, is the word from which we get, schism.

Noah Webster, in defining the word, schism, wrote:

An American Dictionary of the English Language SCHISM

In Scripture, the word seems to denote

There were contentions in this church.

An American Dictionary of the English Language CONTENTION

Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel.

An American Dictionary of the English Language STRIFE

Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.

Because of pride and a lack of love for one another, there was a seemingly constant competition amongst them to see who was better!

We see that in verses 12-13:

1 Corinthians 1:12–13 KJV 1900

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Proverbs 13:10 KJV 1900

Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

Now, may I say this? You will never find a “perfect” church!

I have shared this many times before:

Charles Spurgeon said,

“If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.”

What was the remedy for the imperfect church of Corinth?

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV 1900

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.

Connections amongst church members had already taken place. How were they to be repaired? How were those connections to be mended? (That’s the meaning behind the phrase, perfectly joined together.)

Paul gives the answer in the following words: in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Turn to and read Philippians 2:1-8.

What was the answer to the Corinthian’s divisions and contention? It was humility; it was - as Christ did for the church - giving themselves in love and service to one another.

However, to be able to do that, I would like you to consider another aspect of being perfectly joined together.

Question: Give me a word that synonymous to the word joined.

The word that I was thinking of was connected.

Turn to and read 1 Corinthians 12:14-25.

The various “members” of our body are connected to one another.

Connection:

An American Dictionary of the English Language CONNECTION

The act of joining or state of being joined; a state of being knit or fastened together; union by junction, by an intervening substance or medium, by dependence or relation, or by order in a series;

Answer these questions on your 3x5 card:

Question: What does it mean to be connected?

Question: On a scale of 1-10, how connected do you believe you are to the others around you at South Charlotte Baptist Church? (“1” being not connected at all and “10” being extremely well connected to the others around you.)

Question: What could you do this coming week to move that number up the scale?

Because the church is made up of individuals, the church will be as the individuals are.

The church will be divided if the individuals are divided.

The church will be contentious if the individuals are contentious.

The church will be loving if the individuals are loving.

The church will be humble if the individuals are humble.

The church will be connected if the individuals are connected.

How will South Charlotte Baptist be? How will you be?

What kind of church do you want? Be what you want your church to be?