FIRST CORINTHIANS How to Live in a Pagan World

Two Mega-Themes In 1 st Corinthians Living as Christians in a pagan world.Living as Christians in a pagan world. Being the Church in a pagan world.Being the Church in a pagan world.

Two Mega-Themes In 1 st Corinthians Living as Christians in a pagan world. Being the Church in a pagan world.Being the Church in a pagan world.

Being the Church in a Pagan World Nine Issues: 1.Identity1:1-9 2.Unity1: Maturity3: Authority3:18-4:21 5.Purity5 6.Orderly11 7.Ministry Generosity16:1-4 9.Duty16:5-24

Being the Church in a Pagan World Nine Issues: 1.Identity1:1-9 2.Unity1: Maturity3: Authority3:18-4:21 5.Purity5 6.Orderly11 7.Ministry Generosity16:1-4 9.Duty16:5-24

1 st Corinthians 1: Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 st Corinthians 1: I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. (NKJV)

Living in Unity 1:10-17 A Definition of UnityA Definition of Unity Vs. 10, NKJV “…that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Living in Unity 1: A Common Message Vs. 10, Amplified “…that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say…” NAS95 & NIV “that you all agree” A Definition of Unity A Definition of Unity

Living in Unity 1: The Absence of Factions “Divisions” – to split or rend Vs. 10, Phillips “and not allow yourselves to be split up into parties” A Definition of Unity A Definition of Unity

Living in Unity 1: A Shared World View Vs. 10, “…that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” The mind: Beliefs, values, opinions The judgment: Practical decisions, things to be done There is no unity without theology A Definition of Unity A Definition of Unity

Living in Unity 1:10-17 “Perfectly joined together” Word refers to healing a wound, or making whole a rent For setting broken bones For mending torn nets (Mark 1:19) For restoring one overtaken in sin (Galatians 6:1) A Definition of Unity A Definition of Unity 3. A Shared World View

Living in Unity 1:10-17 Divisions are Based on Personal FollowingsDivisions are Based on Personal Followings Vs “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’” Vs. 12 NLT “Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter,’ or ‘I follow only Christ.’

Living in Unity 1:10-17 Personal Followings are IllogicalPersonal Followings are Illogical Vs. 13 “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” NLT “Can Christ be divided into pieces?” If Christ can’t be divided, neither can his body. Leaders can bless us, but they can’t save us – our loyalty to them should be in keeping with what they are to us.

Living in Unity 1:10-17 Personal followings emphasize things like baptism and preaching style.Personal followings emphasize things like baptism and preaching style. Vs “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.”

Living in Unity 1:10-17 Personal followings emphasize things like baptism and preaching stylePersonal followings emphasize things like baptism and preaching style Vs “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.”

Living in Unity 1:10-17 Personal followings dilute the gospel by adding to itPersonal followings dilute the gospel by adding to it Vs. 17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” Christ plus _______

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 Two Symptoms of ImmaturityTwo Symptoms of Immaturity 1.The inability to engage meatier subjects Vs 1-2 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able”

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 What does he mean by carnal?What does he mean by carnal? Carnal or fleshly – sarkikoi Flesh: Me minus God. Me, with only my human resources, apart from the renewing work of the Holy Spirit Vs. 1, NAS95 “as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ” “Paul had to speak to them as he would to men wholly natural, inasmuch as they are still carnal in many respects, notwithstanding their conversion (1:4-9).” JFB

Moving Toward Maturity3: The presence of factions in the church Vs. 3-4 “For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” Two Symptoms of Immaturity Two Symptoms of Immaturity

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 Maturity requires a proper view of the church.Maturity requires a proper view of the church. Two portraits of the church: A Field 3:5-8 A Temple3:9-17

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a FieldThe Church is Like a Field Vs. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field… InstrumentalityInstrumentality Vs. 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 DiversityDiversity Vs. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. DependencyDependency Vs. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a TempleThe Church is Like a Temple Vs. 9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a TempleThe Church is Like a Temple The Right FoundationThe Right Foundation Vs. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. Vs. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a TempleThe Church is Like a Temple The Right MaterialsThe Right Materials Vs. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, Vs. 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a TempleThe Church is Like a Temple The Right MaterialsThe Right Materials Vs If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Phillips: “But if a man's work be destroyed under the test, he loses it all. He personally will be safe, though rather like a man rescued from a fire.”

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 The Church is Like a TempleThe Church is Like a Temple The Proper CareThe Proper Care youVs “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” NLT: “God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple…”

Moving Toward Maturity3:1-17 Summary of this Section: When church members cannot dig into the deeper things of the Word -or- when a church is divided, it is a sign that its members need to grow up. The church is like a field and a temple. It is about God and dependant upon God. It is not about the people He uses. Since it is His work, we should be careful not to damage it.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 1.Don’t reduce yourselves to being “groupies” 3:18-23 Vs. 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: Vs. 21, NLT “So don’t take pride in following a particular leader. Everything belongs to you” Vs. 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come — all are yours. Vs. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 2.Recognize that spiritual leaders are stewards, not celebrities 4:1-2 Vs. 1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Vs. 1 NLT “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries.” Vs. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 3.Realize that it’s too soon to judge the best spiritual leaders 4:3-5 Vs. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 3.Realize that it’s too soon to judge the best spiritual leaders, not even ourselves Vs. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. HCS: “I don't even evaluate myself” Vs. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. NLT: “My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 4.Remember that spiritual leaders are not self-made men 4:6-7 Vs. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. Vs. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 5.Don’t judge a spiritual leader on the basis of outward appearances 4:8-13 weVs. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 5.Don’t judge a spiritual leader on the basis of outward appearances 4:8-13 weVs. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. Vs. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 5.Don’t judge a spiritual leader on the basis of outward appearances 4:8-13 weVs. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. Vs. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; Vs. 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 6.Distinguish between God-sent leadership and the “wannabes” 4:14-17 Vs. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 7.Be aware that true spiritual leaders have genuine spiritual power 4:18-21 Vs. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. Vs. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 A Case StudyA Case Study The immediate issue 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles — that a man has his father’s wife!

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 The Right AttitudeThe Right Attitude Grief and mourning over sin Vs. 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. HCS “And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief” Phillips “Are you still proud of your church? Shouldn't you be overwhelmed with sorrow and shame?”

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 The Wrong AttitudeThe Wrong Attitude Being proud of our openness Vs. 6 “Your glorying is not good…” Weymouth “It is no good thing— this which you make the ground of your boasting…”

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 The Big DangerThe Big Danger That the sin would spread through the church Vs. 6-7 …Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Weymouth “Do you not know that a little yeast corrupts the whole of the dough?”

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 The Right ResponseThe Right Response Expelling the Unrepentant BrotherExpelling the Unrepentant Brother Vs. 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 What Does, “For the Destruction of the flesh mean”?What Does, “For the Destruction of the flesh mean”? that his sinful nature will be destroyedNLT “Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan’s hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.” for the destruction of his bodyWeymouth “I have handed over such a man to Satan for the destruction of his body, that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 General Principles of Church DisciplineGeneral Principles of Church Discipline 1.It is for church members Vs. 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Vs. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. Vs. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner——not even to eat with such a person.

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 General Principles of Church DisciplineGeneral Principles of Church Discipline 2.Those outside the church who misbehave are God’s responsibility Vs. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?Vs. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? Vs. 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."Vs. 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

Maintaining Purity in the Church 5 Additional Principles of Church DisciplineAdditional Principles of Church Discipline Matthew 18:15-17 Galatians 6:1 2 nd Thessalonians 3:6

Translations That May Have Been Used: Abbreviations & Copyright Info AMP or Amplified: © Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible © 2001, Broadman & Holman Publishers, LifeWay Christian Resources 127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN JPS: The Holy Scriptures (Old Testament) By the Jewish Publication Society All rights reserved MSG or Message: The Message © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson NAS: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1988, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NAS95: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS95) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NET: The NET Bible, New English Translation (NET) Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved The Holy Bible: The NET Bible(r) Copyright © 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved NIV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by The International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Scripture quoted by permission. NJKV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NKJV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. NLT: Quotations designated (NLT) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. NRSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NRSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyrighted 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Phillips: J.B.Phillips, "The New Testament in Modern English", 1962 edition, published by HarperCollins, is presented here with the kind permission of Mrs Vera Phillips and the J.B.Phillips estate RSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (RSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1973 by National Council of Churches of Christ. All rights reserved. Weymouth: WEYMOUTH NEW TESTAMENT: NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN SPEECH by Richard F. Weymouth 3rd Edition (1912)--Revised & edited E. Hampden-Cooke YLT: Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible by J.N. Young, 1862, 1898 (Author of the Young's Analytical Concordance)