When Factions Divide
Notes
Transcript
Good morning church! If you have a Bible, go ahead and open up to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
How many of you watched the State of the Union this last week? I try my best to stay informed of politics and be involved. I made a commitment about half way through President Obama’s run to watch these, as painful as they are. The only difference I’ve noticed from Prez Obama’s to Prez Trump’s is that those that used to stand now sit. And those that used to sit now stand! That’s about it!
Th
This thing is supposed to be a celebration of all that has happened in the last year. It should be a great and unifying event, but it has simply become a spectacle of just how truly divided a country can become. If you had any doubts about the political sphere the State of the Union makes it clear that we have some serious factions in our government, right?
I mean, they literally sit on two different sides of the room! How unifying is that? I think my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Davis could make them behave a little better. She would do assigned seats… Republican, Democrat, Republican, Democrat, etc. That might keep them from acting so silly!
This message isn’t about politics, don’t worry! But as discouraging as it is to see factions so clearly in our government unwilling to work together, how much more would it be to see a local church acting like this? Because they can get there!
Both of the churches I have served in before coming here are awesome churches. However, in both of them, I knew people who sat on this side of the room that wouldn’t speak to people on that side of the room! That’s a problem right?
That’s some of what was going on in the church that Paul wrote this letter too. There was some serious rivalry going on. That’s why we are calling this study of 1 Corinthians “Rivalry.” Here’s the verse that drives that theme...
Just a reminder, we are in this study called “Rivalry.”
The first thing Paul addresses in his letter to the church in Corinth was this very issue. Let me read to you again the verse that is driving this study called “Rivalry”
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you.
Paul uses the rest of the letter to bring up lots of issues that have caused the rivalry. We are going to look at 5 in this study. This week, we are looking at...
WHEN FACTIONS DIVIDE
I’m gonna read the main passage we are covering this morning and then pray, and then come back and answer three questions...
1. Who in the world is Apollos?
2. What caused these factions?
3. How does Paul tell the church to address them?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
That sound alright to y’all? It’s a little different organization that I’ve been using in my sermons, but we gotta do what God leads, right?
Let’s go!
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you.
What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
so that no one can say you were baptized in my name.
I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you.
What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
1 Corinthians 1:
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you.
What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
Pray
Pray
You can sense from Paul’s writing that he is pretty frustrated with the silliness of the Corinthians. They are aligning themselves behind certain teachers in the church and it’s led to division! But before we can look at that… who in the world is Apollos?
1. Who in the world is Apollos?
1. Who in the world is Apollos?
Last week, we talked about the founding of the church at Corinth. If you missed that it is in Acts chapter 18 and you can read up on it later.
In that same chapter, after Paul establishes the church there, he takes Priscilla and Aquilla who were some of his earliest converts with him. As he goes through Ephesus, he leaves Priscilla and Aquilla there and he continues on to Jerusalem then Antioch.
While Priscilla and Aquilla were there, they encounter this great, gifted teacher named Apollos. He, too, has come to Ephesus and is preaching and teaching. Read it with me...
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
So, Apollos was trained under Paul’s disciples. And from there, he goes to Corinth. That’s the important connection! We don’t know how long he stayed there, but we know his teaching must have been pretty influential in the Corinthians lives.
When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
So, Apollos is getting after it, preaching the Good News of Jesus as the Messiah and he goes to Corinth. That’s the important connection! We don’t know how long he stayed there, but we know his teaching was influential by the comments of some of the people in Corinth.
What were the people of Corinth saying? I am of Apollos, Paul, Peter, and Christ.
I do need to bring some clarity here… Though the church may have looked a little divided like the State of the Union, I do not share that as a perfect analogy. In politics, the key leaders of the two parties work hard to gain the allegiance of its followers, right? Republicans want you to put their bumper stickers and wear their t shirts, and vote straight ticket. The Democrats, likewise. But that is not what is going on here.
There is no reason to believe that any of these leaders have tried to create a following, let alone this cult-like, divisive following. You see, Paul’s argument isn’t, “How can some of you say you are of Apollos? Do you not remember who it was that planted that church? That was me! I’m the O.G.” That’s not the train of thought here. Each of them have clearly pointed to Christ in their teaching.
So, why are the people following them like this? Where does this idea come from? This is the most exciting part for me as I was studying this week, because I had never studied the WHY...
So the question comes: How did these factions come into being?
That’s point number one of the message this morning… A little bit different outline than normal, but the first...
2. What caused these factions?
2. What caused these factions?
This convo of factions really runs through chapters 1-3. If you read it, you will notice that the word “wisdom” comes up over and over and over! It is the Greek word SOPHIA. Though Paul does use it at times to refer to a biblical idea of wisdom, he most often speaks of the term in snarky ways. That’s because the term comes from the Greek philosophers of this day. You have to recognize that the first century was huge for classical philosophic thought. Much of what you learn in a philosophy class in college has its origin around this time period and this geographic location!
It seems through the way Paul speaks of SOPHIA, that this idea is some or all of the problem.
It was popular during this time for philosophical intellects to make their rounds to cities and teach. One of the goals of such a person was eloquence of speech and depth of content. They wanted to impress and show off their SOPHIA, their wisdom, right. And those listening would be trying to connect with a teacher that they felt best exemplified SOPHIA.
That is the culture the Corinthians have been a part of. That’s the language they are used to. So, here comes Paul preaching a new life-changing “knowledge.” And he is followed by Apollos (and maybe Peter later, though there is no evidence that he ever went through there teaching personally)…
They come through at different times with different styles and different ways of communicating content, different leadership emphases. And the natural thing for the Corinthians was to align with one in particular teacher as the source of their SOPHIA, right? That seems to be exactly what they did!
And before you start being apologetic for them… This wasn’t just a preference for them. “Yeah, I like Paul the best. Apollos is great too. But I really like Paul.” It seems from Paul’s language that they are throwing all their eggs into one teacher’s basket and shunning the rest. They didn’t just have a favorite. They were pitting one against the other!
So, some chose Paul. Others chose Apollos or Peter. And others simply said Christ. You see, the division came down to which teaching style or personality was more moving and seemed more intelligent. This idea of SOPHIA had transformed simple, natural preferences into a divisive issue.
Do you think the church as a whole, but also including Lindsay Lane East, faces this issue today? If we are not careful, can we fall victim to divisive preferences? I do!
I could give a lot of examples, actually! I think most of these can be thought of as spectrums, two ideas in tension and all of us fitting on their somewhere. Here are a couple of examples... Do you prefer TOPICAL studies or a study through a book of the Bible? Are either of these wrong? NO! And it’s ok to have our preferences, but we cannot allow them to become divisive, right? Another one… Are you more drawn towards reaching the lost or teaching the saved? Which one are we supposed to do? I am sure all of you have a preference, but the Bible says both! Make disciples of all nations. That includes reaching and teaching! Neither is wrong, but they can become divisive, right?
Do you think the church as a whole, but also including Lindsay Lane East, faces this issue today? I do! There is a spectrum at play in the church and all of us are on it somewhere.
I am sure you have grasped this, but let me show you one more that I think is the most prevalent in the church today...
On one side, our wisdom, our SOPHIA is rooted in emotion. These people want to be MOVED. They want to feel something in the music. They want to feel something in the sermon. How many people would say that you lean that way?
So all of you that have your hand up, you will have naturally tendencies towards more emotionally driven songs and preachers. And that’s not a bad thing! The word of God should move us and we should feel something. Worship leaders should help you connect emotionally with a song and preachers should draw you into the text in emotional ways.
The other side of the spectrum are those who root their wisdom or SOPHIA in knowledge. They prefer a difficult to sing hymn by Luther that’s full of theology and depth and they want a preacher who can double as a seminary professor, right? A good service for them is when they leave not having been moved, but having learned something. That’s the end goal for them. How many of you would say, “That’s me.”?
If that’s you, you need to recognize that you will naturally be drawn to music and preachers that scratch that itch.
The same problem exists as with the other two spectrums, neither is wrong! In fact, transformation most often happens somewhere in the middle. It’s OK for you to have your preferences about music and preaching or teaching. But it’s not ok for you to discredit a song because it is too emotional or not emotional enough. Or to blast a preacher because he is too emotional or does too much teaching, right?
Do you see this connection for us from the text?
So, we have natural preferences about a lot of things, amen? But those things must stay as preferences and not be allowed to divide the church!
We definitely cannot allow these preferences to develop into factions in the church, amen?
We are two questions down! Only 2 left!
In either case, our desire for wisdom in our own context can lead to boastfulness just as it did for the Corinthians. And where there is boastfulness, there will be factions! We cannot allow simple preferences to morph into this, AMEN?
Paul tells the church at Corinth how they can deal with their factions. Let’s look at that and see what we can learn too...
How do we deal with the issue?
Well, that’s what Paul was addressing...
3. How does Paul tell the church to address the factions?
3. How does Paul tell the church to address the factions?
Paul’s response is two things found in verse 1...
a. Say the same things
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
“Agree in what you say...”
a. Say the same things
Paul says, You can’t have some people saying that Paul ain’t legit and others saying that he’s the best! There has to be a common language that is used in the midst of our differing preferences.
Paul says, You can’t have some people saying that Paul ain’t legit and others saying that he’s the best! There has to be a common language that is used in the midst of our differing preferences.
If you didn’t gather from me in our first sermon series through the three parts of what it looks like to be a member of this church that I’m a stickler for official terminology, then you missed it. It really is important for us all to be able to show someone what we are about...
BE AT THE GATHERING
BE IN A GROUP
BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT OF GOD
There are certain things that came out of that series that you are going to hear me repeat, over and over, and over again! We aren’t trying to brainwash you into robotic drones! But we do want to rally around certain things and be VERY CLEAR with them. We believe that will allow us to speak with a single voice to the world around us. Doesn’t that seem to be important?
Imagine, you show up this Sunday at the church at Corinth… One guy is talking about how awesome some church planter named Paul is. Another is sharing his notes from the last sermon from Apollos. And still another is showing Peter’s latest tweets. And then they start arguing about it.
What do you think that church is about? What do they prioritize? How can you plug in there?
As a simple church here in Harvest, we have to have similar terminology as we communicate with people. We have to “AGREE IN WHAT WE SAY.” We have to literally say the same thing!
But is it just about what we say? Paul goes a step further...
b. Think the same way
We aren’t trying to create brainwashed drones out of you, but we want to be unified around the things that are important and we want to be able to speak about those things with a single voice.
We aren’t trying to create brainwashed drones out of you, but we want to be unified around the things that are important and we want to be able to speak about those things with a single voice.
The second thing he said...
b. Think the same way
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.
These two words translated as “understanding” and “conviction” carry similar ideas in the Greek. Both of them have to do with the way we think. The word for Understanding is more strictly translated and involves thinking and intellect. While CONVICTION is a term that is translated 7 different ways throughout the CSB New Testament. It may even be translated differently in your preferred version of the Bible here. CONVICTION involves more the direction of our thinking. The outcomes of our thinking maybe. The way you can think of it is… Understanding is the processing. Conviction is the outcome.
We won’t get down into the weeds with that anymore, just wanted you to know that both of these words have to do with thinking and believing.
These two words translated as understanding and conviction
The point Paul seems to be making by not only saying “say the same things” but now by adding “think the same things” is that you have to have both to be truly unified!
I played football in high school. When I rolled into 10th grade, we had something like a three year losing streak going. Then a new coach came in. He was polar opposite from the previous coach. And he had one major goal that he was clear about… take a group of guys who only knew how to lose, and convince them that they could WIN!
The way he did this was by introducing a whole new philosophy of offense, defense, even tackling and the importance of working out. EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT!
He brought to us a whole list of sayings that helped cement this new winning direction he wanted to set us on. He made us say these phrases all the time as a reminder that we could win.
He brought with him tons of little sayings and phrases that we had to memorize, know and repeat back when he asked us to say them during practice. These sayings were almost all about a winning attitude.
There were some guys that just didn’t jive with coach. They wouldn’t say the goofy things he wanted us to say. You see, they weren’t saying the same things. But that was just like one or two guys.
However, there were many others who went through the motions and repeated the sayings, yet it didn’t really get down into them. They didn’t believe it. They gave the lip service, but really followed their own path instead of the direction the rest of the team was on. They agreed in what they said to an extent, but not in what they thought. They didn’t think the same way. Over time, that difference corrected itself in some as they began to believe and buy in, but others continued on and wound up separated from the rest of the team who was convinced we could win.
Do you see the difference being made here? Saying the same things vs. Thinking the same things?
We as a church can “say the same things,” wear the same tshirts, and worship together on Sundays, but are we really unified around a mission and vision for our community and the world? We can only get there is we also, “think the same things” too!
It’s important for us moving forward here at East to do both of those: say the same things, and think the same things! AMEN?
We had a pretty intense coach who not everyone liked playing for. This coach wanted us to believe that we could win ball games because our school hadn’t won in over 3 years. He drilled that into us. He created a whole list of sayings that he wanted us to know and learn about winning. He wanted us to say the same things! I can remember only one player who out and out refused to say that we could win ball games. He did right to coach’s face. So, he didn’t make it long.
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
But there were many others who
I can remember only one teammate ever telling him off to his face. He got kicked off the team pretty quickly. He wasn’t willing to SAY THE SAME THINGS
This is why I believe it is important
b.
We are going to be talking more and more about that with our new Senior Pastor at LIndsay Lane Main and also talking as a staff here about what is important. But if you hear me saying something over and over again, it’s because I think it is important to say and think the same about that subject! Please, take it to heart and memorize it too!
a. Have the same purpose.
b. Have the same Speak the same language
b. Make sure your words align.
3 questions down, only one more...
b.
How should they address them?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
4. How does the Gospel stand in stark contrast to the main issue?
After these comments, Paul begins to destroy the very ground on which they stood in regards to this idea of SOPHIA. He shows them that the Gospel is contradictory to the wisdom that they are seeking!
He starts in verse 17 of chapter one and runs all the way through chapter two. In those 31 verses, wisdom is referenced 21 times! And maybe 5 of them are in a positive light!
Just a few highlights...
Paul came preaching simple messages not human, impressive wisdom.
He quotes Isaiah in that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
Your faith can’t be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.
The list could go on and on!
One of the commentaries I used in prep was written by Gordon Fee. He’s a really neat author who writes in simple terms! He paraphrased Paul’s discourse here this way...
b. Isaiah says that GOd will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
c. Jews want signs. Greeks want wisdom. Well, we got JESUS!
Gordon Fee, a commentator I read this week worded Paul’s response this way...
“So you think the gospel is a form of sophia? How foolish can you get? Look at its message; it is based on the story of a crucified Messiah. Who in the name of wisdom would have dreamed that up? Only God is so wise as to be so foolish” (1:18–25); “Furthermore, look at its recipients. Yourselves! Who in the name of wisdom would have chosen you to be the new people of God?” (1:26–31); “Finally, remember my own preaching. Who in the name of wisdom would have come in such weakness? Yet look at its results.”
You see? What we are searching for most often, is not what God intends to give! Paul’s argument is that the church at Corinth needs to concern themselves with that which God is concerned with and leave the rest of our preferences in their place! If we allow preferences to become an issue, then they cause factions and the Gospel is compromised in the church! AMEN?
INVITATION
So, what do we do with this?
1. Right now, maybe nothing. Maybe your preferences are in check and you are buying into this new chapter of East well and looking to say and think the same things as we move forward! Praise God for you! Log this sermon away somewhere, because a day is coming when Satan will try and attack you in your preferences. He will push you to make a bigger deal out of them than you should. Then, pull this sermon out!
2. Some of you, however, maybe God spoke to here. Maybe your preferences are getting out of whack. Remember, your preferences are never an issue until they become an issue! If you find yourself frustrated with little things here and there that aren’t to your liking, let this message challenge you! What did Paul say? Say the same things. And Think the same things! Make a commitment today to buy into the future of East and watch as God starts putting your preferences back down where they belong! He’s good like that.
3. If you are not a member of this church, you know what we are about now moving forward! This is the kind of church we are going to try by God’s grace to be. Today, you can actually come forward during this invitation to voice your intention to join. We do two things with everyone who wants to join this body, we have a conversation that matters where we talk about your salvation and baptism, and where you are in your walk with God. And we want you to be a part of our New Members Class. To cement your membership, you will need to complete that. Guess what? It’s in two weeks during the second service! How easy is that!
We believe church membership is important! When you say you are with us, we want to help one another say the same things and think the same things so that our preferences never get out of whack! We would love for you to officially join this body of believers.
4. If you are not a follower of Jesus, you are living your life according to your own wisdom or SOPHIA. The Bible calls that sin. But God actually desires to run your life for you! But he has to change you first. He sent his son Jesus to die for you so that he could take your sin away and change you. If you have never called on Jesus to save you and change you, you can today. I would love an opportunity to talk to you about that very thing.
You come during this invitation and pray at the altar if you just want to talk to God or come grab me and I can pray with you! I can show you how you can begin following Jesus or I can share your decision to join this family with the church, AMEN?
PRESENT GOSPEL
Corinthian Church was established around 50 AD. Paul was there from 50-52 sharing Jesus there. Then Apollos moved in and began to teach and lead. He stayed for an indeterminate amount of time and then moved on somewhere else too.
Paul URGES them to...
1 . Agree in what you say
2. There be no divisions among you.
a. Division were necessary in the case of false prophets
It was a question of leadership
It was a question of doctrine
3. Be united
- with the same understanding
- with the same conviction
Corinthian Church was established around 50 AD. Paul was there from 50-52 sharing Jesus there. Then Apollos moved in and began to teach and lead. He stayed for an indeterminate amount of time and then moved on somewhere else too.
Paul had written an earlier letter to the Corinthian Church. And they had probably written a letter back (7:1)
