Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Reading of Scripture

This is God’s Word, Amen.

The title of this message, is the phrase lifted from verse 6:

[Title Slide]

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 “Examples For Us”

“These things took place as examples for us.”

II.

Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

If we want to learn how to do something well, we look for a good example.

We look for some one or some event to observe and model after.

Likewise, If we want to learn what things to avoid - lessons that were learned the hard way - failures that we don’t want to repeat, we look for an example.

It is common to say of another person: “I’m going to make an example out of you.”

This is a way of saying, “I’m going to make sure this lesson makes an impression in the minds of all who follow.”

God’s Word tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc 1:9).

The reality is this - someone, somewhere has done whatever it is before us, for good or for bad.

Somewhere, someone is an example for us.

Can you think of a person, or an experience, that has left a mark on your life?

An example that you have modeled a part of your life after?

We can all think of at least one example.

But what about the Church?

Does the Church have any examples to look to, and learn from?

Did you know, that God’s Word preserves the stories of people and events to serve as examples?

Not examples for the world, not examples for those outside of the faith, but examples preserved for US, the Church of God in Christ Jesus (1:2), living in these last days.

B. Introduction to Text

The apostle now turns the eyes of the Church to look upon these examples.

And he has a good reason for doing this!

At the beginning of Chapter 8, the apostle began to answer a question that had been written to him by the church in Corinth about whether or not Christians should eat of food used in the worship of idols.

He wrote back:

How do knowledge and love relate to one another?

How to Christians who are strong in conscience relate to brothers and sisters with a weak conscience?

(How has God in Christ Jesus related to us?)

The apostle has been expounding what it means for love to build up.

“Love builds up.”

Love is knowledge in action for the strengthening of the weak.

But now, in Chapter 10, the apostle expounds what it means for knowledge to puff up.

“Knowledge puffs up.”

And he warns against allowing this to happen!

If knowledge is left unattended, unmoving and stagnant, it will inflate the ego of a person to a point, where the love they ought to have for God and neighbor, a sacrificial love, a godly love, becomes something altogether different.

It becomes lust.

A self-centered love.

An ungodly love.

A love that serves ones own passions.

This kind of love, this lust, leads to idolatry - the worship of other gods, false gods, and ultimately, the worship of oneself as if “I am God.”

The Church must avoid idolatry.

How do we, the Church, avoid idolatry?

We look at the examples that have gone before us.

The apostle sets this up at the end of Chapter 9 (back up one verse and look at it with me):

First, there is a recognition of no guarantees!

That is an astonishing admission.

Did you notice what he said in that last phrase?

“lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

This should make every one of us sit up, and perk up, and pay attention.

The apostle, called by the will of God, a messenger of God’s message in Jesus Christ, can fail.

And he recognizes this!

He says that he disciplines himself, so that he might not be disqualified.

He knows that he can fail!

Do you think, Church, that you have certain guarantees because you are called?

Do you think, Church, that you are providentially prohibited from failure?

Do you think that because you were baptized, you will inherit the kingdom of God?

Do you think that because you celebrate the Lord’s Supper you are right with God?

Do you think that you are pleasing to God? Do you?

The apostle is jamming a pin through the skin of the inflated balloon that was the overconfident, puffed up egos of the strong in Corinth, and by extension, he is doing the same for us!

It is possible to FAIL, it is possible to FALL, and if you are one who thinks you stand - indeed, failure is all but PROBABLE!

This text breaks down into three movements, as we look at the examples of our fathers in the faith, and these three movements may be summarized with this sentence:

A Favorable Future was Overthrown...

By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...

A Faithful God Who Oversees!

A Favorable Future was Overthrown...

By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...

A Faithful God Who Oversees!

This is a warning against over-confidence in the Church.

A warning for the strong in the Church.

A warning for those who think they stand in the Church.

This is a warning against idolatry - the turning away from God.

III.

Exposition

First, the text tells us that —

A. 10.1-5 | A Favorable Future was Overthrown…

Notice as I read verse 1, the word that begins this verse.

It is the word “FOR.”

The word “for” is a connecting word.

The apostle is telling us WHY he disciplines his body so that he won’t be disqualified.

He is telling the Church WHY failure is possible.

10.1-4

One word appears five times in these verses.

Did you hear it?

It is the word “ALL.”

This is not a story of individuals.

This is a story of a people (Conz.).

This example is not for the benefit of “you and I.”

This example is for the benefit of US.

We’ve learned this before, we’ll learn it again.

WE the CHURCH are a united body.

What we do, we do TOGETHER.

And my faith alone will not carry this church.

Your individual faith alone will not carry this church.

Our faith together represents our faith as a people in God!

That is what is in view here to this letter written “To the Church.”

The apostle begins retelling the story of “our fathers.”

The story of Israel.