Can We All Just Get Along

1 Corinthians (slide)

Paul calls the Corinthians to be a holy church in a challenging culture. (slide)

Sermon Series: “Christ & Culture” (slide)

Play the “Rodney King” Clip (slide)

Text: (slide)

Subject: “Can’t We All Just Get Along!” (slide)

Review the 1 Corinthians Poster (slide)

(Central Idea of the Text/CIT): Paul’s purpose was written to the Corinthians in order to eradicate divisions among the leadership in the church.

(Main of Objective of the Sermon): When we leave here today we want to understand and see the that unity is most important in the church, first among the church leaders, and then to the rest of the church.

I. The Problem (10-11)

The problem for the Apostle Paul was the LACK OF UNITY among the church. Jesus said, “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (, NIV)

(10a) - “beseech” - beg, urge, encourage, invite

(10 b) no divisions - schism n. — division of a group into opposing factions…cracks & cliques, rifts & splits, 'ism’s and schisms

be perfectly joined together - to be prepared/perfectly united (state) v. — to be made or become ready, suitable, or equipped in advance for a particular purpose or for some use or event. - Restored to a prior condition -

schism n. — division of a group into opposing factions.

Paul had left the Corinthian community in a relatively harmonious condition; now he has learned, to his dismay, that quarrels are splitting the church.

Paul had left the Corinthian community in a relatively harmonious condition; now he has learned, to his dismay, that quarrels are splitting the church. (Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997. Print. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.)

to be prepared (state) v. — to be made or become ready, suitable, or equipped in advance for a particular purpose or for some use or event.

Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997. Print. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.)

(in) same mind - mental attitude n. — a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways.

(in) same judgement - opinion ⇔ mind n. — an opinion formed by judging something, conceived of in terms of the mind.

opinion ⇔ mind n. — an opinion formed by judging something, conceived of in terms of the mind.

(11) contentions - strife (disagreement) (discord, quarrels, disputes) n. — a bitter disagreement between conflicting facts or claims or opinions.

strife (disagreement) n. — a bitter disagreement between conflicting facts or claims or opinions.

II. The Particulars (12-16)

Paul identifies the particulars that are manifested due to the overall problems of divisions and contentions among the Christians/Church at Corinth.

They, as some theologians believe, have not arrived to the point of parties, but they are really close to it.

Paul (the Paul Party)

First Corinthians Factions in the Community (1:10–17)

That Paul himself had been unaware of the existence of a “Paul party”—indeed, that he thoroughly disapproves of such an idea

Apollos (the Apollos Party) -

First Corinthians Factions in the Community (1:10–17)

according to Acts 18:24–28, was a learned Jew from Alexandria who was deeply grounded in Scripture and who “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” with great passion and eloquence.

First Corinthians Factions in the Community (1:10–17)

some Corinthians may have found Apollos the more impressive figure and sought to lead the community in different directions under the banner of his name

some Corinthians may have found Apollos the more impressive figure and sought to lead the community in different directions under the banner of his name.

according to , was a learned Jew from Alexandria who was deeply grounded in Scripture and who “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” with great passion and eloquence.

...some Corinthians may have found Apollos the more impressive figure and sought to lead the community in different directions under the banner of his name. (Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997. Print. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.)

according to , was a learned Jew from Alexandria who was deeply grounded in Scripture and who “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” with great passion and eloquence.

Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997. Print. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.

Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997. Print. Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.

Cephas/Peter (the Peter Party)

First Corinthians Factions in the Community (1:10–17)

he was merely a widely recognized leader in the early church whose reputation and personal influence had spread to Corinth.

Christ (the Christ Party)

First Corinthians Factions in the Community (1:10–17)

Most puzzling is Paul’s disapproving reference to those who say “I belong to Christ.” Is that not what every Christian should say? In context, it would seem that some of the Corinthians must have been claiming Christ as their leader in an exclusivistic way (“We are the ones who really belong to Christ, but we’re not so sure about you”).

The participators in this party thought they had some “divine hot-line to Jesus”!!

III. The Purpose for Paul (17)

Paul is not focused on who or even how many he has baptized as mentioned in the previous verses 13-16.

Paul is focused on God’s purpose for his life — TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

THE CROSS

walked the earth as a man

gave sight to the blind

turned a picnic into a banquet with two fish and five loaves of bread

put the funeral homes out of business

handed out free health care

lied on, cheated, talked about, and mistreated

ridiculed, ostracized, criticized, betrayed, and denied

sinister circumstantial evidence

executed in public trial

tried on trumped up charges

sentenced to death,

died on a rugged cross

his body remained in a borrowed grave 3 days

but He could not stay in the grave

because the grave couldn’t hold him

death couldn’t stop him

the stone in front of the grave couldn’t block him

shook off a dying shroud

showed home training and folded up the grave clothes that he did not need

stood on resurrection ground

shouted all power is given unto me in heaven and earth

seated at the right hand of God