23-0702p Transcript

Preacher: Scott Reynolds

(3:21) Thank you, Roger. (3:23) Okay, so we all know that I’m going to share with you a sermon from Douglas Hamilton, preacher at Junction City Church of Christ in Kansas. (3:35) Doug has entitled this lesson on the third chapter of 1 Corinthians, The Strong Church.

(3:44) I’m just going to go over a small part of this morning’s lesson, verses 1 through 4 of 1 Corinthians chapter 3. (3:54) None of the history that we did earlier. (3:57) In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, we talked about the strong gospel. (4:08) Today, we’re going to talk about the strong church.

(4:13) And here’s a spoiler alert, so be looking for this as we go through the passage. (4:18) It has to do with unity in the church. (4:21) Because any church that isn’t unified isn’t strong.

(4:26) And united we stand, but divided we fail. (4:29) It’s so true in many ways. (4:33) So chapter 3, The Strong Church, part 2. (4:37) For context, reading the first four verses.

(4:40) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual men, but as of men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. (4:49) I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not able to receive it. (4:55) Indeed, even now you are not able, for you are still fleshly.

(5:03) For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly? (5:08) And are you not walking like mere men? (5:11) For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not being merely human? (5:23) In chapter 1 and 2, the Corinthians appeared divisive in their approach to each other. (5:29) It was a culture who elevated great sophists, speakers, demonstrating their superior debate skills. (5:38) Apollos had taken the lead in the continuance of spiritual growth for the Corinthians, (5:43) and they began to see him as a more eloquent speaker than the Apostle Paul.

(5:50) Many of the church members were downplaying Paul’s apostleship based on his less eloquent style of speaking. (5:58) Paul himself says in 2 Corinthians 10, verse 10, (6:01) For they say his letters are weighty and strong, but his personal appearance is unimpressive, and his speech contemptible. (6:13) Equally, the Apostle Peter was lumped into the sophist rating system, being mentioned in chapter 1, verse 12.

(6:22) This would be dealt with in Paul’s letter, and the Corinthian church was a divided, dysfunctional group. (6:28) And with the remainder of the chapter, there are four thoughts that eliminate division from within a congregation. (6:38) Just like division occurred in the 1st century Corinthian church, the same can happen to the 21st century church.

(6:48) By the way, keep that in mind. We’re in the 21st century, exactly 20 centuries after Jesus' time on earth. (7:03) And we are in the years that are approaching his ministry.

(7:12) It’s only like a few years away that Jesus would have started his ministry 20 centuries ago. (7:19) I think that’s rather interesting to keep in mind. (7:23) So just like division occurred in the 1st century Corinthian church, the same can happen to the 21st century church.

(7:31) How do churches effectively deal with division? (7:36) There are four realizations God’s people must embrace for dealing with division in the church. (7:43) Number one, realize that we are fellow workers in God’s field. (7:52) 1 Corinthians 3, 5-9.

(7:55) What then is Apollos? What is Paul? (7:58) Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. (8:05) I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. (8:10) So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

(8:19) Now, he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (8:27) For we are God’s fellow workers. (8:31) You are God’s field, God’s building.

(8:36) Douglas says, agriculture was great in ancient Corinth. (8:42) Anyone living there at the time would have known these basic horticultural concepts. (8:49) Without planting seed and watering the fields, there would be no crop.

(8:54) The two primary human forces who aided in growth of the Corinthian church were Paul and Apollos. (9:02) Paul brought the gospel, Apollos watered with teaching, but it was God who brought forth the crop of new converts. (9:12) Hence, as it is written, Paul planted, Apollos watered, but it was God that caused the increase.

(9:19) The church family is no different today, for we also are all working in the same field owned by a common master (9:29) with the hope of sharing in the crops. (9:31) Some of us plant, some water, some fertilize, some weed, and some harvest. (9:38) We are one with the same purpose and must never forget it.

(9:43) My thoughts on this are that the Corinthian church was lining up in factions behind men. (9:50) Perhaps their favorite speaker, their favorite song leader, or their favorite teacher. (9:57) That doesn’t happen today, right? (10:00) Paul points out that even he and Apollos were just men.

(10:05) They had responsibilities, but in reality, it was God that made everything work. (10:11) No one is above another, we are all fellow workers. (10:16) Douglas goes on to say, notice in verse 9, that he makes a transition from a field to a building when he says, (10:25) for we are all God’s fellow workers, you are God’s field, God’s building.

(10:33) And he is now furthering a similar thought by discussing the kingdom and building terms. (10:43) So number two, realize that we share the foundation of Christ. (10:49) 1 Corinthians 3, verses 10 through 15.

(10:53) According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder, I laid a foundation, (11:02) and another is building on it. (11:04) But each man must be careful how he builds on it. (11:08) For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(11:15) Now, if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (11:25) each man’s work will become evident. (11:28) For the day will show because it will be revealed with fire, (11:33) and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. (11:38) If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

(11:44) If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved. (11:51) Yet so as through fire. (11:55) The word that Paul uses to describe himself is archaikon, being translated as an architect.

(12:05) Today, architects are professionals who drop the plans for a structure. (12:09) In the first century, they were the ones who laid the foundation of the structure. (12:15) In ancient Corinth, there were many of the great structures for which the foundations are still in place today.

(12:23) Additionally, once a foundation was firmly placed, then a regular builder would begin his structure. (12:31) He might use a variety of materials, such as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw, (12:38) if it were a lesser foundation, then the lesser materials would be used. (12:44) If a greater foundation were laid, then it would have the pricier structure placed upon it.

(12:50) The key was to live up to the foundation. (12:53) In the end, the sure way to know if the structure was sound would be during a time of trouble, (13:01) like an earthquake or a terrible storm. (13:03) And long after the builder received his reward or paycheck, (13:08) the true strength of the structure could be weakened and even fall.

(13:14) In Matthew 16, 16, Peter made his confession, (13:18) You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (13:21) And Jesus' response was a foundational reference. (13:25) Matthew 16, 18 and 19.

(13:27) Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (13:35) Simply put, Jesus is the foundation of the church, and the church is the structure. (13:41) Hence, when the church comes to the realization that Jesus is the foundation on which the church is built, (13:48) then we, as the bricks in the structure, are unified.

(13:53) My thoughts on this are I particularly like the building metaphor. (13:57) Jesus himself uses it, saying that he will build his church upon the confession that he is the Christ, the Son of God. (14:06) And in Hebrews chapter 3, he is said to have more honor than Moses, (14:12) since the builder of the house has more honor than the caretaker of the house.

(14:17) He is identified there as the builder of God’s house. (14:24) Jesus is also identified as the chief cornerstone that aligns the foundation, (14:30) the elementary teachings and the teachings of the apostles and the prophets, (14:34) to God’s temple, the church. (14:38) Ephesians 2, 19 through 21 and Hebrews 6, 1 and 2. (14:43) We share the foundation of Christ.

(14:48) Number three, realize that we are the temple of God. (14:52) 1 Corinthians 3, 16 and 17. (14:56) Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (15:04) If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, (15:09) for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

(15:13) That’s right. (15:16) The body is the temple of God and the Holy Spirit. (15:20) This is mentioned more than once in the scriptures.

(15:24) And by the way, that’s us. (15:27) 1 Corinthians 6, 19 and 20. (15:30) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, (15:35) whom you have from God and that you are not your own? (15:38) For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.

(15:44) And again, Ephesians 2, 19 through 21. (15:49) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, (15:53) but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. (16:00) Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (16:05) Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole building, (16:11) being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple to the Lord.

(16:18) When we actually take the time to see the uniqueness of that statement, (16:25) the end result is unification in the church. (16:28) We will be too busy living for Jesus instead of comparing ourselves to one another in divisiveness. (16:38) And number four, realize that we are not know-it-alls.

(16:44) 1 Corinthians 3, verses 18 through 23. (16:48) Let no man deceive himself. (16:51) If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, (16:56) he must become foolish so that he may become wise.

(17:02) I’m going to flip. (17:08) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. (17:15) For it is written, he is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.

(17:24) And again, the Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are useless. (17:30) So then, let no one boast in men, for all things belong to you, (17:40) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death, (17:46) nor things present or things to come. (17:48) All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

(17:55) So let no man deceive himself. (17:58) To deceive is to cause someone to believe something that is not true. (18:04) It is possible to deceive oneself.

(18:08) That means it is possible for us to lie to ourselves, (18:12) and what is one way we can lie to ourselves? (18:16) By thinking we are wise. (18:19) Paul tells us in Romans 12, verse 3, (18:22) For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you, (18:26) not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, (18:30) but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (18:37) And Douglass continues, (18:39) One of the biggest causes of division is when there are groups of know-it-alls among the church members.

(18:48) When people are exalting themselves, (18:51) it is because they self-perceive that they are smarter and wiser than their fellow saint, (18:59) resulting in chaos. (19:02) Take the route of humility by being a not-know-it-all. (19:09) 1 Corinthians 8, 2, (19:11) If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.

(19:17) And my view on this is, notice that Paul likens us thinking more highly of ourselves, (19:25) thinking that we are wise in this age to the wisdom of this world. (19:29) He quotes Job 5.13 and Psalm 94, verse 11, saying, (19:38) He catches the wise in their craftiness, and he catches the wise in their craftiness. (19:49) The second one is, the Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that they are useless.

(19:55) God relates one wise in their own eyes as someone who is crafty. (20:00) Crafty is to be clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods. (20:07) So Paul tells us, let no one boast in men.

(20:12) Boasting in men is a way for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. (20:18) Paul tells us, we don’t need to do that in order for us to have value. (20:24) Why? Because all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

(20:32) Our value comes from God, not from ourselves. (20:38) He gives us worth because we belong to him through Christ. (20:43) And Doug sums it up, if we realize the importance of this, then we will eliminate the vision.

(20:50) In conclusion, we are to always strive to keep the vision out of the church, (20:57) but it is through holding to four self-realizations for which this can be done. (21:06) We must realize that one, we are fellow workers in God’s field. (21:11) Two, we share a common foundation of Jesus.

(21:15) Three, we are the temple of God. (21:17) And number four, we are not to be know-it-alls. (21:24) We can share the realization of true Christian unity if we share the self-realizations discussed by Paul.

(21:32) So we are extending the invitation now to anyone who is subject to it. (21:36) Come, while we stand and sing.