Satan Hates The Church
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Silly arguments with your spouse…Rainer article
Argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard (I think I saw a verse in Scripture that indicated it is to be no more than 1.5 inches longer than the pastor’s beard.).
Fight over whether or not to build a children’s playground or to use the land for a cemetery (I’m dying to know the resolution of this one.).
A deacon accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter, and deciding to settle the matter in the parking lot (The church could have sold tickets to this event and raised a lot of money.).
A church dispute of whether or not to install restroom stall dividers in the women’s restroom (I’m calling unfair on this one. The men should have their stall dividers too.).
A church argument and vote to decide if a clock in the worship center should be removed (I think this one is a timely argument.).
A 45-minute heated argument over the type of filing cabinet to purchase: black or brown; 2, 3, or 4 drawers (This one is an official cabinet meeting of the church leadership.).
A fight over which picture of Jesus to put in the foyer (I just want to know who took the pictures.).
A petition to have all church staff clean shaven (No church planters are allowed.).
A dispute over whether the worship leader should have his shoes on during the service (I vote for shoes, shirts, and pants.).
A big church argument over the discovery that the church budget was off $0.10. Someone finally gave a dime to settle the issue (I have to admit this issue is ten times more important than the church missing a penny.).
A dispute in the church because the Lord’s Supper had cran/grape juice instead of grape juice (Of course it should be grape juice. It’s right there in Hezekiah 4:11.).
Business meeting arguments about whether the church should purchase a weed eater or not. It took two business meetings to resolve (Wow. This fight was really whacky.).
Arguments over what type of green beans the church should serve (I could have resolved this conflict quickly: none.).
Two different churches reported fights over the type of coffee. In one of the churches, they moved from Folgers to a stronger Starbucks brand. In the other church, they simply moved to a stronger blend. Members left the church in the latter example (Perhaps they started a new church: The Right Blend Fellowship.).
Major conflict when the youth borrowed a crockpot that had not been used for years (I bet it was a bunch of crocky old adults.).
An argument on whether the church should allow deviled eggs at the church meal(Only if it’s balanced with angel food cake for dessert).
.An argument over who has the authority to buy postage stamps for the church (The members were licking their wounds over this issue.).A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing” (I get it! The concept of luck contradicts the theology of a sovereign God. This issue is very serious. Good luck trying to resolve it. ).A church member was chastised because she brought vanilla syrup to the coffee server. It looked too much like liquor. (Beth Moore confessed she was the culprit who brought the syrup. Don’t you know, Beth, we Baptists cannot have vanilla syrup at anytime? Chocolate is fine though.).An argument in church over who has access to the copy machine (I think a calendar should be made where every church member has at least five minutes access to the copy machine each year. You can have a business meeting to vote on each five-minute increment.).Some church members left the church because one church member hid the vacuum cleaner from them. It resulted in a major fight and split (Thus the Second Electrolux Church was born.).An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not (I thought gluteny was a sin.).A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil (Are you sure he’s not red? That’s what I’ve heard.)A fight over whether or not to sing “Happy Birthday” each week (I’ve got an idea. Alternate it with the doxology.).An argument over whether the fake, dusty plants should be removed from the podium (Just give them a little water. They should be fine.).
An argument over who has the authority to buy postage stamps for the church (The members were licking their wounds over this issue.).
A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing” (I get it! The concept of luck contradicts the theology of a sovereign God. This issue is very serious. Good luck trying to resolve it. ).
A church member was chastised because she brought vanilla syrup to the coffee server. It looked too much like liquor. (Beth Moore confessed she was the culprit who brought the syrup. Don’t you know, Beth, we Baptists cannot have vanilla syrup at anytime? Chocolate is fine though.).
An argument in church over who has access to the copy machine (I think a calendar should be made where every church member has at least five minutes access to the copy machine each year. You can have a business meeting to vote on each five-minute increment.).
Some church members left the church because one church member hid the vacuum cleaner from them. It resulted in a major fight and split (Thus the Second Electrolux Church was born.).
An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not (I thought gluteny was a sin.).
A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil (Are you sure he’s not red? That’s what I’ve heard.)
A fight over whether or not to sing “Happy Birthday” each week (I’ve got an idea. Alternate it with the doxology.).
An argument over whether the fake, dusty plants should be removed from the podium (Just give them a little water. They should be fine.).
RECAP :: Jesus LOVES his Church (4 B’s)…Equally true - Satan HATES the Church. Why? Because, again, we are to be the REFLECTORS & REPRESENTATIVES of his glory on this earth.
Most of the time Satan works from the inside-out. There’s not a creative bone in his body.
Military drones made by the Chinese - they were spying!
So…how does Satan work? He hates the Church…how does he work?
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. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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.
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. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
1 Corinthians 1:10-1
1
(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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.
1. Destruction
1. Destruction
Paul says, “I APPEAL to you...” Paul is not taking this matter lightly - he’s not sugar-coating anything. This church is under attack & they don’t even realize it!
Appeal - URGENT! // There is impending danger. If they don’t fix/address this NOW, there’s disaster!
In fact, it’s so serious, he’s making this appeal - not to his own authority - but to Jesus’s!
When you appeal to a “higher court,” you’re appealing to a higher power/authority.
Satan’s goal is to destroy - kill, steal, destroy…Peter says he’s like a lion that’s roaming around looking for prey to devour.
Paul says to them that they should be “united” - this word in the Greek literally gives us the picture of resetting a broken bone. Satan is literally breaking them..
2. Division
2. Division
Vs. 12 - Remember, this church has a complexity of issues & problems facing them/threatening them. Here, Paul addresses #1.
“Divisions” - to be torn/ripped apart. There are factions within this church — EXPLAIN THE SITUATION.
4 DIFFERENT GROUPS/4 DIFFERENT TEACHERS
“I’m loyal to this preacher/teacher…pastor, music guy, music style, style of church in general, denominations, etc.”
Listen, there was nothing whatsoever wrong with these men - THEY weren’t trying to divide - in fact, they all loved Jesus!
Here’s the problem - “I am of...” Taking sides… “I like...” “I prefer....” SELFISHNESS - not that you can’t like/prefer (examples) but sides get taken, factions start forming, one group grumbling about music, etc.
It’s not the issue itself but the issue the people are making out of the issues!
<TRANSITION>
3. Distraction
3. Distraction
When good - and yes, sometimes even godly - things become the main thing, THERE’S A PROBLEM.
This is Satan’s tactic - distraction - keep our eyes off the cross, off of Jesus, off of our mission and focused on selfishness. Again, “I, I, I, I...”
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.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
The Sunday after Father’s Day - tennis shoes, music & baptism.
THE ANGELS WERE REJOICING AND PARTYING IN HEAVEN & WE’RE DOWN HERE ARGUING & FUSSING ABOUT....
APPLY
Reiterate - Satan hates the church - 3D’s
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.
All of you agree???? I can’t even get my KIDS to agree and we’re talking about a bunch of adults?!?!?
TRBC - a very diverse family // Corinth - a diverse family
“United in mind” - Choir illustration
Over 30 times in the NT, Paul talks about the transformation Jesus brings to the believer’s mind.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
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So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
We must be united in humility.
We must be united in humility.
UNITY ONLY COMES OUT OF HUMILITY - Last week’s business meeting.
Kids fussing/arguing over toy.
Again, unity is a byproduct of humility.
We must be united in focus - the cross.
We must be united in focus - the cross.
We are not a people of a hymnbook, style or denomination. We are a people of the cross - the only hope for humanity…the only answer to this world’s problems....our nation is in SHAMBLES, folks! And what is the Church doing about it? Have we lost our influence and voice in culture because a long time ago and continuing into today we’ve lost our focus? Maybe it’s OUR fault?
The hope of the world - salvation from hell and separation from God is not in what kind of music we have, clothes we wear, etc....THE CROSS.
INVITATION - YOUR ONLY HOPE TODAY - GOSPEL