Final Instructions
Transcript Search
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
We have come to the end of our study through the First Letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers. We will be going through 1 Corinthians 16 today. Please open your bibles or bible apps to that passage so we can study it together.
Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus when some members of the church came to see him. These visitors brought a letter of concerns to Paul which he addressed in this letter.
In the letter, Paul encouraged the Corinthians. Right at the beginning of the letter he was letting them know that he thanked God for them, and that they had every spiritual blessing in Christ. And, then throughout the letter, he referred to them as brothers and sisters, he praised them for holding to the traditions he had taught them, he reminded them of their one and only savior, and how they had been washed, justified and sanctified from their former sinful lifestyles.
However, as we have seen over the past months, he spent the majority of the letter addressing the problems.
What problems?
There were divisions.
There were people vying for position and status.
There were lawsuits where they were taking one another to court to make a name for themselves.
They were allowing immorality to take place without repercussions.
They were proud of their knowledge, and supposed spirituality.
There were issues in their marriages.
They were not living in consideration of one another.
The divisions in the church made it so that Paul said their meetings were more harm than good and that they were even abusing the Lord’s Supper.
There were some claiming to be spiritual, and teaching wrong things about the Lord and about spiritual gifts.
And there were some who even denied the resurrection of the Lord.
Behind all of these issues was Pride.
Spiritual Pride had crept into the church, and though they claimed to be spiritual, their lives and treatment of others clearly showed the opposite was true, which is why Paul at one point told them he could not address them as spiritual but rather as immature children.
Paul addressed all of these issues in the letter, bringing out the hope of their salvation throughout the correction and ending with hope—the hope of the gospel; the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior! It is because Christ died for our sins, and rose again that they, and we, in spite of our problem, pride and immaturity have peace with God, and hope for our future!
We are no longer in our sins! He paid it all, once for all time. We are no longer caught in the grips of this sinful body and the fear of death! Our Lord has risen, and has guaranteed our resurrection. We are no longer in our sins! We are justified and sanctified.
What is more, Our bodies will be raised. The earthly body is like the seed that goes into the ground. The new will be like the plant that sprouts out of the ground. The resurrected body will be us, but it will be different! It will be changed. What was perishable, will now be imperishable. What was dishonorable, will be glorious. What was weak will be powerful. What was natural, will be spiritual, truly worshipping and serving our Lord!
And so, as Paul concluded, “Where o death is your sting?”
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
And it is with that glorious hope of the resurrection, and the charge to stand firm and give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord that Paul now addresses a final issue, and gives his final instructions.
Let’s read the passage together, and then I will go back and point out a few of the major themes in this closing of the letter.
Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Last Issue - The Collection for the Saints
Last Issue - The Collection for the Saints
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Paul’s Plans
Paul’s Plans
For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Take care of Timothy
Take care of Timothy
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Apollos’ Plans
Apollos’ Plans
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Final Exhortations
Final Exhortations
Be on guard / Constant Readiness
Be on guard / Constant Readiness
Constant readiness, alert
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Be on Guard - the Lord’s Return
Be on Guard - the Lord’s Return
Lord is coming. Are you ready? 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 “What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Be On Guard - Temptation
Be On Guard - Temptation
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Be On Guard - False teachers
Be On Guard - False teachers
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Be On Guard - Enemy, Satan
Be On Guard - Enemy, Satan
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
Not always giving ourselves fully to the work fo the Lord
Stand firm in the faith
Stand firm in the faith
firmly committed in conviction or belief
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Be courageous
Be courageous
acts like men
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Be strong
Be strong
Passive voice, be strengthened… we are not strong in ourselves but in the Lord
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Do everything in love
Do everything in love
Let all of your deeds be done in love
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
But whoever loves God is known by God.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Submit to and Follow the right examples
Submit to and Follow the right examples
Devoted to ministry to the saints / Devoted to service of the Lord’s people
You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters,
to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Refreshed my spirit and yours
Ice Cold Coke
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
Memory verse for the week:
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Maranatha!
Maranatha!
If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Communion Reflection
Key verses in 1 Corinthians
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Cor 4.7 NASB
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God.
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.