INTRO TO 1ST CORINTHIANS

Hector Mora

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INTRODUCTION

If I were to describe to you the setting in Corinth, I believe it wouldn’t even faze you.

The behaviors that became permissible within the Corinthian Church would shock none of us.

But before we get into all of those details, I want us to get a grasp of the posture from which this Letter was written.

THE SETTING

Paul the Apostle had planted this Church in 50-52AD on his 2nd Missionary Journey

Paul is in Ephesus, on his third missionary journey, when he takes the time to write to the Corinthians

1st Corinthians is actually a letter in response to the issues he had called out in a previous letter to this same church. (5:9)

Paul the apostle, gives Timothy this letter, and asks him to deliver it ASAP.

CORINTH

One thing we might not know about Corinth is the fact that at the time this letter was written, it was actually part of the Roman Empire.

It was located in Modern Day Greece

But it was the 3rd Largest City of the Roman Empire

Corinth had a history of peaks and valleys

It had been conquered and destroyed by the Romans in 146BC

Julius Ceasar actually rebuilt it in 46-44 BC and renamed it

Colonia Laus Julia Corinthiensis, “Corinth the praise of Julius.”

Corinth became the capital of the Roman province of Achaia.

At one point the population of Corinth was 2:5 Free:Slave.

In the 1st century Corinth’s public marketplace (agora, forum) was larger than any in Rome.

Corinth had a Jewish synagogue ().

Corinth became the capital of the Roman province of Achaia.

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue (), was baptized by Paul himself ().

In the 1st century Corinth’s public marketplace (agora, forum) was larger than any in Rome.

Corinth had a Jewish synagogue ().

Apparently Silas and Timothy baptized the other converts at Corinth

a) Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue (), was baptized by Paul

In the 1st century Corinth’s public marketplace (agora, forum) was larger than any in Rome.

himself ().

Corinth was a Metropolitan City with an Extravagant Assortment of Idols

Everything was rooted in idolatry

b) Apparently Silas and Timothy baptized the other converts at Corinth

Corinth was a commercial port, so they built a Temple to Poseidon, the Ruler of the Sea

They were known for their medicine, so they built a Temple to Asklepios, the god of healing

This temple was surrounded by hospitals because they believed this god had the power to increase the effectiveness of the doctors in the surrounding practices.

At one time, the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, had one of the largest temples dedicated to her

Which speaks to the rampant sexual immorality that existed in Corinth.

QUESTION

What would you do, if this was the culture that surrounded you?

What would you do if the Culture’s story dictated your story?

What happens when when a clicky culture makes itself into the church?

TURN TO 1 COR 1

1 Corinthians 1 NKJV

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless 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. 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. 11 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.” 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 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. 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. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness 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 bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

PRAY

1 Corinthians 1:1–3 NKJV

1 Cor 1:1-

PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST

An ambassador sent out into this world to communicate the message of his master

A Messenger with a valuable message for the world to hear.

It was according to God’s perfect will that this came to be

WHO IS SOSTHENES?

Sosthenes was a ruler of a Greek Synagogue who was beaten by the Jews for not coming against Paul and his message.

You can read more about that in Acts 18

AS THEY WROTE THIS LETTER A FEW THINGS NEEDED TO BE PREFACED

PAUL WANTED TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE OF ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED WITHIN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH

This set the tone for the Letter

It set precedence

He says

To those of you in Corinth

To those sanctified in Christ Jesus

Called to be saints

To all who have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Who is Lord of all who have called on Him.

Paul is not speaking to people who have been living a passive faith

Paul is speaking to those who are actively being transformed more into the image of Christ

He is speaking to those who are inviting the work of the Holy Spirit into their lives

He reminds them

You are called to be Saints

Haggios

Holy, for God is Holy

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD, OUR FATHER, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 NKJV

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless 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.

1 Corinthians 4–9 NKJV

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. 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. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? 17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. 25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. 36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. 39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God. 1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

PAUL WAS THANKFUL FOR THIS GROUP OF BELIEVERS

HE WAS THANKFUL THAT GOD HAD BEGUN A GOOD WORK

1 COR

THAT GOD HAD SHOWN HIS GRACE UPON THIS COMMUNITY IN SUCH A SALVIFICAL WAY

In believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

This Group had been enriched on all fronts

Not just in speech, but in knowledge

The work that God had begun in the Corinthian Church was Miraculous

The things that Paul had spoken to them in times past were coming to life through the power of the Holy Spirit

So much so, that they were not lacking in Spiritual Gifting

The gifts of the Spirit were alive and well in the Corinthian Church

As they eagerly awaited the Revealing of Jesus Christ, they made it a priority to be about the Father’s Business.

They waited on the Lord

They welcomed the process of repentance

They were patient in what the Lord was going to do in and through them

Paul reassures them

That the God they worship is a Faithful God

A God who had called them into fellowship with His Son.

A Fellowship that encourages blamelessness and deals with our shortcomings

A Fellowship that causes one to embrace a perpetual righteousness apart from works, but encourages us to live into a holy lifestyle.

It is like our children

How many of us want the best for our kids?

How many of us intentionally shape that desire?

What happens when our kids make poor decisions?

Do we give up on them?

Do we get rid of them?

As much as we would like to, we don’t.

We work through it

We put a plan in place

We discipline them

We correct them

We put a plan in place

They will forever be our children

Though they mess up, we will always be there to love them.

Though this sounds like a fairy tale, this is what it’s like being a son or daughter of the King.

If we are willing admit our failures and sinfulness

He is willing to work with us

He is willing to forgive us

On the flip side

If we fail to admit our sinfulness

We remain prideful and neglect the plan of redemption that God has put in place

It is the sin of pride that kicked Satan out of Heaven

And this is the sin that will keep us from experiencing all that God has for us

GOD WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, SHORT OF SIN, TO GET OUR ATTENTION

1 COR 1:9-

HE WILL WHISPER INTO OUR LIVES

HIS SPIRIT WILL CONVICT US OF WHERE WE HAVE ERRED

IT IS UP TO US, IF WE WILL BE MOVED BY HIS REQUESTS

1 Corinthians 1:10–13 NKJV

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. 11 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.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG FOR PAUL TO BEGIN CORRECTING THE CHURCH

IT SHOWS THE URGENCY BEHIND THIS EXHORTATION

IT SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF CORRECTION

YES, THEY HAD STARTED WELL

YES, THEY HAD BELIEVED ON JESUS

YES, THEY WERE GOING TO HEAVEN

BUT WHAT DO THESE FACTS CULTIVATE?

WHAT SHOULD THESE TRUTHS BIRTH WITHIN US?

PAUL BEGINS HIS SUPPLICATION

I plead with you brethren

By the name of Jesus Christ

That you would all agree with one another in what we believe.

That you would agree with one another in the core doctrines of Christianity.

Why would Paul bring this up?

Because that was not happening

There was division in the Church

The Body of Christ was divided on certain issues

Issues that were Core to the Faith and issues that were secondary

Very much like today

So what were the specifics?

THERE WERE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH THAT WERE CREATING CLIQUES

FACTIONS WITHIN CHRISTIANITY BASED ON WHO THEIR PASTOR WAS

DIVISIONS BASED ON WHO HAD BAPTIZED THEM

Childish right?

What’s childish is that we have yet to learn from the Corinthians

Today it is all about what Church you go to, your Pastor, and how many people attend your church.

To this day, we have people name dropping their pastor’s names

We preach against performance, but we use performance as the metric for value

________________ is my Pastor

Imagine if I gauged the value of my sermon by the amount of people that attended our services?

Imagine if I valued my sermon on how many likes or retweets I got?

Imagine if I gauged my value on my popularity?

I am a Son of the Most High God, in this I find my value

As a Pastor, You want to know how I value my sermon?

Two Things:

Faithfulness to my Pastor, Jesus Christ

Faithfulness to the Gospel.

Whether people value that or not

I have no control of that

I’m here to declare who Jesus is

I’m here to declare his excellencies

I’m here to tell you that He can transfer you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son.

Think about this for a second.

He said that the purpose of Sundays at a mega church is not to go deep

It is to speak in a general sense

It is to spark curiosity

But never to go deep

The deep work happens during home groups and one on one conversations.

If Jesus & His Gospel was central to every bible believing Church on this planet

There would be no divisions

There would be no quarrels

There would be denominations

CHECK OUT WHAT PAUL SAID

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 NKJV

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. 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.

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 NKJV

1 COR 1:P

PAUL WAS THANKFUL THAT HE WAS NOT KNOWN FOR BAPTIZING MANY

HE KNEW HIS MINISTRY WAS BROADER THAN THE PASTORATE

YEAH HE BAPTIZED A FEW PEOPLE

PAUL’S

BUT THAT WASN’T WERE HE FOUND HIS CALLING

HE WAS SAVED AND SENT INTO THIS WORLD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

NOT WITH WISDOM OF WORDS, OR WHAT THE CORINTHIAN CULTURE VALUED

BUT WITH SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE, THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST

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