Here's the thing

Setting the tone

Paul starts his letters making sure to let people know who he is and what he is. He wants them to understand his qualifications, but he also wants them to know their qualifications. Look at what he does here.

1 Corinthians 1:1–3 HCSB

Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother: To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know a few things from this greeting. Paul is reminding the people in Corinth of what they are and why. They are sanctified, in Greek the word is ἁγιάζω hagiazō which means to sanctify. They are God’s Church or ekklēsia, and they are saints, meaning they are called to live lives that are holy. But then Paul opens up the salutation in a rather inclusive way. He tells the Corinthian church that this letter is for you yes but not just for you, it’s for all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and Ours. Pause there for a moment (expound)

A bit of a history lesson

We next find Paul building them up a bit, encouraging them by reminding them of a few things, at the same time in these few verses of thanksgiving He is setting up the problem.

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 HCSB

I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The church at Corinth had a bit of a problem. They were proud of the fact that they were Christ Followers, and in some cases were more focused on the good that they were doing then they were on the grace that got them into the body of Christ in the first place. (sound familliar?)

They were proud of the gifts that the spirit gave, however they seemed to have forgotten the reason for those gifts. They were for the good of the church as a whole, not as a personal badge of honor showing how close a person was to God.

And still Paul offers hope that just because they were having issues, doesn’t mean that God was going to cut them off or out.

1 Corinthians 1:8–9 HCSB

He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is an amazing hope, God see’s through our mess and yes we all still have a mess even when we are followers of Christ. He keeps pulling keeps holding keeps giving us strength, not our own strength, but his and each day that strength grows. (Fallout Character Building and stat or perk points)

Can’t we all just get along?

Paul does something in this next set of verses that speaks to one of the cornerstones of the church and how it should operate.

1 Corinthians 1:10 HCSB

Now I urge you, brothers, 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.

The word here is urge or παρακαλέω parakaleō it means to encourage, earnestly entreat, strongly recommend.

Paul wants the Christians in Corinth to stop the petty bickering. To recognize the things that unite them, the things that really matter, the baseline foundational stones of their faith. They had gotten their eyes off of what really mattered and onto things that just were stupid. Paul says look it was the Grace, Mercy, Love, sacrifice of Jesus that has put you into right relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:11 HCSB

For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you.

The people of Corinth were more concerned over the people that they knew than the God that they served. Look at who I know, look at who I follow look at the person that I know that has power or special knowledge etc. Whenever the church focuses on the men and woman that lead it, as opposed to the God that all of them server (INCLUDING THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH) the church looses something.

(talk about this a bit more, when we argue, pick fights with others in the church, insist on our way or say things that are meant to push a person (Church member that pushed for opening in Dale’s church)

1 Corinthians 1:13 HCSB

Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?

He goes on in these verses to talk about who he did baptize and didn’t, glad that there were not many, not because he didn’t find baptism important but because suddenly Baptism was a cause for upheaval and division in the church something that was supposed to bring unity was bringing broken relationships and building walls.

What really matters.

1 Corinthians 1:17 HCSB

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

The Gospel is what matters. The simplicity of it can be unnerving and yet at the end of the day that simplicity is what Paul clings to. If any of us think that our words, our speaking ability, or persuasive speeches are part of the gospel, are a reason people come to see their need for Christ we are mistaken. You can get a person to agree with you about all sorts of things with the right kind of speech. (advertising) but getting a person to agree with you is not the same as getting them to believe. That is what matters, the movement from agreement to belief. From the mind to the heart.

This Week’s Challenge

Find three people that you know that you don’t agree with, that you argue with on a regular basis and have three conversations that DO NOT devolve into the normal arguments and frustrations that you regularly have. Instead focus on what you have in common and build on that.