Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

This morning I invite you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11.

We are starting a new section in our study of this great book.

However, before we do, I want to remind you of our overall purpose.

You might recall when we first began this study that I identified 1 Corinthians as “God’s Blueprint for the Local Church.”

God gave us this wonderful book so that we, as a local church, might know how we are to operate.

It is the blueprint by which we are to conduct ourselves before Him.

The great thing about God’s Word is this.

Each book of the Bible though it might deal with something or someone specifically gives practical instruction for individuals.

For instance, in Corinthians, the main topic is the local church.

Yet, as we know, local churches are constructed of people, not buildings.

For that reason, there is a lot of information about how we, as believers, must live our lives each day as we walk before the Lord.

So, over the course of our study, we have learned somethings about the local church and about our own daily spiritual walk.

Here are few things we have learned.

In the first section, which encompasses chapters 1-4, the Holy Spirit warned us about the dangers of division within a local church.

We are to be unity around obedience to His Word, sensitive to leading of His Spirit within us, and determined in our effort to spread His Gospel at all costs.

In the second section, chapters 5 and 6, the Holy Spirit turned our attention to moral issues.

As a local church, we must not tolerate open sin within our local assembly.

Additionally, all matters between believers should be handled in the confines of this church.

Our duty is to confront one another.

Each us must personally be on the guard against unrighteousness and any thing that would hurt us spiritually.

In the chapter 7, marriage was the topic.

The Holy Spirit warned us about the sin of adultery, gave us advice concerning marital relationships, and even spoke to us about the joys of a single life verse a married life.

In the last section, chapter 8-10, the focus was individual liberty and personal rights.

Essentially, we learned that we must be careful about what we say and do before others.

Our purpose as we live each day must be about glorifying God.

We can do that by treading lightly where others are concerned.

Never are we to do something which causes another believer to stumble or cause an unbeliever to question our loyalty to Christ.

The Holy Spirit warned us about temptations.

We were given God’s viewpoint on temptations and how He is faithful in helping us overcome them.

Now, today, we move a new section.

The next four chapters deal mostly with order within the local church.

The key verse in this section is the very last verse of the entire section.

It is 1 Corinthians 14:40

With that in mind, we go to our text for today which is 1 Corinthians 11:2-3

The Holy Spirit transitions to this new section by offering some praise the believers at Corinth.

Note that He literally says, “I praise you.”

He commends them which is a welcomed change.

Up to this point, these believers endured quite a bit of chastisement from God.

There were a lot of negatives surrounding this local church.

However, here, we see some positives.

There are two.

One, they were faithful not to forget all they had been taught during Paul’s time with them.

Yes, there were problems.

Yet, they were also faithful not just to remember the teachings given to them, but they also were faithful in practicing them.

That is the second positive.

The word “ordinances” here means traditions or instructions passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation.

They were to be commended for keeping and passing down many things learned.

Unfortunately, there was must still to be learned.

Yes, they were to be commended, but there was also much that needed to be corrected.

In fact, if you recall, it was the leadership of this church which originally contacted Paul asking for his help in a number of matters.

They should be commended for doing so.

It shows their desire to fix these problems so they please the Lord.

This new section then addresses some of the problems in their worship and service to the Lord.

Thus, the Holy Spirit within this new section deals with unbiblical traditions, some unwritten laws concerning behavior, church customs, practices within the local church, and how to deal with people preferences as well as long-established patterns.

Now, as we get into this new section, there is one thing we must keep in mind.

Each local church is different.

Just as each of us have personalities different from others, so local churches take on personalities as well.

The personality of each local church is a product of its people, its leadership, and the community surrounding it.

For instance, the local church of Corinth dealt with worship and customs within the early church as well as the society of its day.

They faces dangers and issues similar to what we face today, however, these dangers were unique to their day and age just as ours are today.

However, as we will see, the principles laid down in this great book of the Bible are applicable to any day or age as well as to any local church committed to following Christ.

So, as we continue to move forwards, we are going to a number of principles given by God that are designed to help us as a local church be all that He wants us to be.

So, let’s start by understanding a very basic principles governed by God’s decree that is the foundation for all entities including the local church.

Look at 1 Corinthians 11:3

Here is my first point.

God Created Gender

We currently live in a very mixed-up world.

For example, just this week, I saw this headline.

Disney Can’t Stop: Series Features a Robot Getting Tampon Advice from a Transgender Man

Now, stop and think about that for a moment.

Here is Disney, supposedly a family-oriented company, using their media to teach kids that a woman who is really a man how to use a tampon.

I am not trying to be vulgar here, but this is the world we are living in.

It is a crazy, mixed-up world filled with sinful people increasingly becoming wicked in their thoughts and actions.

There is no doubt that we moving closer to the description given to the generation when God brought about a worldwide flood as a judgment in Noah’s day.

Listen to how Scripture describes that generation.

Is that not an adequate description of American society?

Every day there is more and more evidence in our news media of how quickly the minds and hearts of people are morally declining.

My objective today is not to get up here and bemoan our living conditions or even provide reasons for how we got here.

Essentially, people are sinners and live according to their sinful nature.

If you want an explanation, look no further than Romans 1. Romans 1 tells us how man became pagan in their worship, perverted in their desires, and prodigal in their relationship with God.

Scripture says:

Man’s “vile affections” have led us to where we are today.

Thus, it is no wonder we have men desiring sex with men and women with women.

Adding to that is the increasing amount of confusion over whether a man is really a man or a woman is really a woman.

All of which stem from people:

What then is my objective today?

It is simply to teach you God’s Word.

And, in our text, God re-establishes a very rudimentary actuality that people so desperately want to deny.

God CREATED only TWO GENDERS!

Nothing more and nothing less.

God created males with male parts.

He made females with female parts.

Thus, a male or a female is born when a male and female reproduce.

The male is born with male parts, and the female is born with female parts.

The fact that I must stand here as a pastor and tell you that is the most ludicrous thing in the world.

It is a testimony to the moral depravity of humanity.

However, here we are, and I find myself stating the most obvious biological reality ever known to man since God created us.

Let me go a little further but not in a crude way.

To be born biologically male or female is no incident.