1 Corinthians 1,10-17
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
November 4, 2001
Intro: Last week we looked in detail at the first way to cause division
in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
#1- Allow doctrinal issues to fester
A- We saw that doctrinal issues were to be dealt with by
1- An elder (“I plead with you)
2- In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
a- In prayer
b- By the Word
c- Through the Holy Spirit
3- So that there would be no schism or tear in the body.
4- And the result would be a body perfectly joined together (UNITY).
#2- The 2nd way to cause division in a church is “FOCUS YOUR
SPIRITUAL EYES ON MAN AND NOT GOD.”
1 Corinthians 1:11-12, For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
A- First lets look at Chloe what was her intent in this matter.
1- Has the outward appearance of gossip.
a- What is Chloe attempting to accomplish here.
- Divide the church.
- Get others in trouble
- OR maybe to reveal a problem that is dividing the church.
· If your intent is to divide or hurt then it is gossip.
· If it is to heal then it is of the Lord.
· NOTICE THE USSAGE OF HER NAME!!
H.A. Ironside received this note:
Dear Pastor:
Perhaps you do not know it, but there is a woman in the church doing very prominent work who is a thorough hypocrite. I hip you will see that she is disciplined.
Sincerely yours,
A lover of Christ
Turn to Matthew 18:15-20
B- Once again the problem here is the church at Corinth has aligned itself with men and not God and His way.
1 Corinthians 1:12, Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
1- I am of Chuck Smith, I am of Billy Graham, I am of Greg Laurie, I don’t have any pastor I go directly to God.
Luke 18:27, But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
1 Peter 5:1-5
1- I am of Paul (Of = out of) 1st Pastor
a- Because Paul gives me the meat of the word, he really gets into the deep things.
- He doesn’t waist time evangelizing or exhorting he gives real bible teaching.
2- I am of Apollos 2nd Pastor
a- He is so funny and tells wonderful stories
- His intro’s draw me in
- He usually gives many very good points
- His conclusions inspire me.
Acts 18:24, Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
3- I am of Cephas Out of his ministry
a- I need the exhortations of a Cephas
1- He is very practical
2- He is constantly reminding me and stirring me up.
4- I am of Christ
a- I go directly to God and do not need any man to teach me.
1- This person is using the Lord to not submit to anyone.
b- Paul is using these men as examples the point is there is division and they are not look to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:6, Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
c- So whoever your Pastor is why are you not where He is.
1- Maybe God moved him on because he became a stumbling block.
#3- The 3rd way to divide a church is for the leaders to more
highly of themselves than they should.
1 Corinthians 1:13-16, 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 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
A- When you get to heaven who will it be who got you there.
1- ”Is Christ divided”???
Read John 14:8-18
2- The result of Jesus’ ministry is unity
a- Why can’t you just be “of Jesus”.
- Never does the bible push individualism.
Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
B- If you were in the pool with me when you were baptized it was not me who baptized you it was between you and God.
1- It’s not me who teaches you
2- It’s not me who marries you
3- This is not my church.
a- No matter what glorious thing God does THROUGH a man.
- It is HE who was crucified for you.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
#4- Fourthly if a church moves away from the Word it will be
divided.
1 Corinthians 1:17, For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
A- The chief purpose of the Holy Spirit, with in the church, is to work through the Word of God.
Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
John 16:14-15, “He (Holy Spirit) will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.15 “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Read 2 Timothy 4:1-3
1- What do we really have to offer people?
a- Hope through Jesus Christ.
- Where is it found
- Our mission is to fulfill the great commission through the preaching of the Word of God.
l- So if you want to divide a church:
#1- Allow doctrinal issues to fester
#2- “Look to MAN AND NOT GOD.”
#3- If you’re a leader think more highly of yourself than you
should.
#4- Move away from the Word of God.
Acts 26:16-18, ‘But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.17 ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’