There’s No Place Like Home (Part 3): Knockin on Heaven’s Door

There’s No Place Like Home (Part 3):
Knockin on Heaven’s Door
Jeff Garrett

Praise Band sings "Knockin on Heaven’s Door" (Bob Dylan)

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Today I want to give you four reasons to knock on heaven’s door: fear, forgiveness, faith and a future. Let’s think about the first one.

Fear

One of the reasons I knocked on heaven’s door is because I don’t want to spend eternity in hell. A young boy in middle school was in a science class where his teacher was an atheist. The teacher talked evolution was a fact and the Bible was a story book full of myths. He especially made fun of the story of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. One little boy mustered the courage to say he was a believer. The science teacher said “You believe that big fish tail? How could a man who was swallowed by a fish live?” The boy said, “When I get to heaven I’ll ask him.” The teacher said, “What if he isn’t in heaven?” The boy, “Then you ask him!”

We don’t like to talk about hell. Maybe that’s why we joke about it. But Jesus never joked about it. Jesus said Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Jesus spoke of hell using graphic terms (Matthew 10:28; 13:40-42; Mark 9:43, 44). He described hell as a fiery furnace, a place of eternal punishment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42). Jesus said that hell was prepared for the Devil and the fallen angels (Matthew 25:41-46). It wasn’t prepared for you but the Bible warns us in Revelation 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Some people are going to be punished more severely than others (Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 20:45-47, Romans 2:3-5). Hell is a horrible place of suffering and everlasting destruction (Matthew 13:41,42; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). Someone ask, “If hell is real then how can God be love?” Here’s how – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that you might not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus suffered hell on the cross so that you wouldn’t ever experience it. This leads us to the second reason to knock on heaven’s door …

Forgiveness

One month ago Denny Boultinghouse sent me a story – it was aired on 48 Hours last night. It is a story of tragedy and forgiveness. One evening Kent Whitaker and his family return home after eating dinner out. As they entered the front door, a gunman opened fire on all four of them (Kent, his wife & two sons). All four were hit. After the shooting stopped a neighbor came to Kent and told him to hold on, that the ambulance was on the way. Kent & one of his sons were air-lifted to a local Houston hospital. While in the ER, Kent kept trying to get word on his family. They would not answer questions about his wife & one son, so he understood they had been killed. The other son was being treated in another ER.

While he was lying there, Kent began thinking about the person who had shot them all. He decided that night, that he could hate the person all the rest of his life, or.....he could choose to forgive the killer. He made the choice to forgive. Eventually, he told his wounded son & other family members, that he had chosen to forgive the murder. During the police investigation, it was eventually determined that the other son had arranged for the murder of his brother and mom & dad. He had been wounded to take away suspicion away from himself. So when Kent forgave the murderer, he did not know he was forgiving his own son. Kent said “Forgiveness is a gift from God and the first night in the hospital I decided to forgive everyone that was involved in my wife and sons murder. I thank God gave me that gift of forgiveness so when I found out my son was involved it wouldn't be so hard.” It’s hard to understand this type of love and forgiveness. It reminds me of another Father-Son story. When Jesus was crucified he prayed in Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. I don’t know what you have done but I doubt it’s any worse than killing your family or nailing Jesus to the cross. God promised in God said in Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. " You can be forgiven but you have to knock on heaven’s door. The third reason to knock on heaven’s door is …

Faith

There is no other way to heaven. Jesus said in John 8:24 … if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed will die in your sins.” Peter said Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

According to an ABC News poll, nine out of ten Americans believe in heaven. But what exactly do people think of when they think of an afterlife and what do they believe is required to get there?

Barbara Walters, from ABC News hosted a special report called “Heaven -- Where Is It? How Do We Get There?” She interviewed Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf the founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement who said that he believed that going to heaven depends on your behavior in this life. But if you are good enough, you would live in comfortable homes, reclining on silk couches and would enjoy the delights of sex and wine and food without negative consequences. Radical Muslims are promised 72 virgins if they die a martyr. I wondered why the specified the number 72 and discovered that 72 is an indefinite number of women. Heaven is a place where a man is given countless concubines and promiscuity is an eternal reward.

She interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, who just received the Congressional Gold Medal Award. He is considered by Buddhists to be the reincarnated Buddha. He believed in reincarnation and told that if we live a bad life we could be born in an animal body. But regardless of what others say about life after death they Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Future

Jesus said in Luke 14:16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' 21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22 " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' 23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

Tell you a true story which happened in 1990 in Boston MA. A young couple was planning to get married and they went to the Hyatt Hotel to plan their wedding banquet. They picked the china, and the flower arrangements and the menu and they had expensive taste and this banquet was going to cost $13,000. And the Hyatt demanded that they pay half the money up front as a deposit. So they write a check and go to put the money down. Then they went to make arrangements for other details of the wedding. And just before the big day the groom got cold feet and decided that he was not ready to make a commitment. And his fiancé is crushed. And she had to go through the humiliating experience of cancelling all the arrangements. She went to the Hyatt Hotel and she met with events manager who could not have been kinder because she had been through a similar experience and she understood the pain. But she had bad news. She said, “Sweetheart, its such a late date and it is company policy that we can only give you back 1/10th of your deposit. I can give you back $1,300 but I can’t give you the rest. So you have two choices. You can cancel the banquet and absorb the loss or you can go ahead and have a party. So she thought about it.

You see, I need to tell you more about this lady. Ten years before she had lived in a homeless shelter. But she made some good choices and she got her life back on track, she got a good job and she saved some money. And she decided I’m going to throw a party. And she did. She went to the homeless shelters and the rescue missions in Boston and she said “You get the word out on the streets – to the addicts and the people that sleep under the bridges and you tell them the date and the time and the place – come to the Hyatt Hotel downtown. They are invited to my party. She only made one change. She changed the menu – so that the main course in honor of the groom would be boneless chicken. And they had a party like no one had ever seen. People that were used to scraping the remnants of old pizza off of boxes they got out of dumpsters came to the Hyatt Hotel and they feasted on chicken and oredurbes and drank Champaign and had chocolate cake and they danced to big band music. And it was the prostitutes and the addicts and the homeless people and it was a party like Boston had never seen. Because for one night the people who were the outcasts were the guest of honor at the banquet.

It’s going to happen again. There is going to be a wedding banquet and you ought to see guest list. The people who have been invited to this party – they are going to be there – not because they deserve it but because they were invited. Not because they are worthy to attend but because they are willing to attend. Not because of their performance but because they accepted the invitation.

The one who invited them has already paid for the party – he’s just asked them to come. And they will. And I hope you will. I hope when you get this invitation you won’t make an excuse.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Have you ever seen that picture of Jesus knocking at the door. It used to be on fans in old churches and funeral homes before air conditioning. If you study that picture you will notice that the door Jesus is knocking on has only one knob handle. It opens from the inside. What that means is – Jesus is knocking but you are the one that must open the door. For some of you, Jesus has been knocking the door of your heart for a long time and today you need to open the door and let Jesus in.

Prayer Time

There’s No Place Like Home (Part 2): I’m Going Home

There’s No Place Like Home (Part 2): A study of Heaven
I’m Going Home
Jeff Garrett

Play Chris Daughtery's "Home"

I'm staring out into the night
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love remains true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old
So I'm going home.

Nearly everybody knows what it’s like to be homesick. One time a preacher asked his church “How many of you want to go to heaven?” And everybody raised their hand but one little boy. The preacher said, “Johnny, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He said, “Yes, but I thought you were getting up a group to go right now.” Sometimes we get homesick for heaven but we like it pretty good down here.

I can think of three times when we get really homesick for heaven.

First, we get homesick for heaven when we are in physical or emotional pain. There are times when we hurt so bad that we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Second, we get homesick for heaven when we are separated from loved ones who have died. We want to see them again. When you saw the pictures of you loved ones last week, it made you want to see them again. In two weeks we are going to show that video again and I want you to invite your family members and friends who didn’t get to see it.

Third, we get homesick for heaven when we seriously contemplate what it will be like to be in heaven with Christ. One of my favorite passages about what it’s going to be like in heaven is Revelation 21.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

This morning I want us to think about the new heaven and the new earth and the new Jerusalem. And I am going to end by talking about the ultimate family reunion.

The New Earth

The earth is not going to be annihilated so that it disappears forever – it will be cleansed with fire. The Bible does not speak of a non-earth, but a new earth. God will cleanse it and restore it – Jesus called it the renewal of all things. What is the new earth going to be like? First, notice v.1.

John said “there was no longer any sea”. There will be water e.g., the Bible speaks of the river of life. But there will be no need for large bodies of salt water to cleanse the earth because there will be no pollution - the curse will be gone and the whole earth will be habitable. There will be no separation between the nations and people. Did you know that at this present time only about 10% of the earth is habitable? When you take away what is covered with water, mountains, deserts, and ice caps, you’ve only got about 10% of the earth that is habitable. But the new earth will hold life all over the globe.

It will be like paradise – like the Garden of Eden with every kind of vegetation and fruit and animal – the Garden of Eden was full of animals. Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; … 7 The cow will feed with the bear, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The knowledge of God will fill the earth and we will worship. We will join with those of every tribe and nation and tongue in singing praise to the Lamb. Revelation 4 says the four living creatures, "day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." I love the ocean--the constant sound of the tide, the waves, forms a backdrop. In heaven, wherever we travel in the holy city or beyond, the backdrop sound will be this—holy, holy, holy.

It will never get dark. We won’t need the sun or moon to shine because the glory of God will give us light and the Lamb will be our lamp. There will be no night— but I imagine that maybe, there will be a variation in brightness; maybe a gentle suffused light. The nations will bring splendor and glory and honor into the city of God from all over the earth. We will walk through gates that will never be shut.
The new earth will be a world so beautiful, so endlessly wonderful. You say, “But what’s the city like.

The New Jerusalem

The John saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven …. It was the city that Abraham was searching for – a city with foundations whose builder and architect is God. A city with twelve gates (the names of the twelve tribes) and twelve foundation stones (the names of the 12 apostles). The city itself is brilliant and glorious. It look like jasper (i.e., a diamond) – clear as crystal and the great street of the city was covered in pure gold, like transparent glass.
John watched an angel measure its dimensions with a measuring rod. The city is laid out as a square. It is about 1,400 miles long, 1,400 miles wide and 1,400 miles high (That’s 780,000 stories). Its length and width and height are equal. It is a perfect cube – similar to the Holy of Holies which was a perfect cube. The streets may include horizontal passages as well as vertical avenues. Since we are going to have a body like Jesus, I believe that we will be able to travel both horizontally and vertically. Picture that (with your sanctified imagination)!
There has never been a city like this. If it were superimposed on the United States its area would cover all the way from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to Colorado. Do you think that will hold everybody? Charles Ryrie, in the footnote of his study Bible said, it has been calculated that if only 25% of the space were used for dwelling 20 billion people could be accommodated spaciously.
The river of the water of life is flowing from the throne of God. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life and the leaves of the tree bearing twelve crops of fruit and the leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 21:26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Some people believe that salvation was God’s ultimate goal but I believe that God’s ultimate goal was fellowship. God has always wanted to dwell with this children. That’s his goal. Look again at v.3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them – you think it’s going to say “and they will live with him. No, he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. I like the way v.3 is rendered in The Message – v.3 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! You see, ultimately God wants to dwell with us and heaven is that about where or what but who is there. You and I will live with God.

Revelation 21:3 … They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

There will be no tears, no death, no mourning, no crying, and no pain. There will be no wheel chairs, no walkers, no funeral homes, no cemeteries and no sad goodbyes.

As soon as you get to heaven you are going to realize that you have finally found the family you’ve always wanted. It will be the ultimate family reunion. I want to show you a clip from a movie called Antwone Fisher. It’s a true story about a young man who was born in prison. His father was dead. His mother abandoned him to an orphanage. He went through a series of foster homes where every horrible thing that could happen to a boy happened to him. He joined the Navy filled with so much anger but he spent time with a kind counselor who kept saying “Antwone, you need to find your family.” “I don’t have a family!” “Yes you do.” And finally, at the end of the movie, Antowne decides to look for the family that did not even know that he exists. And they connect. And I want you to watch a clip from the end of this movie where Antwone goes home to meet the family that he was alive until a day before. In a very small way I think this might be what your first few moments in heaven will be like.

Movie clip of Antwon Fisher

Many are going to come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven. And the best thing about it is that we are going to be able to gaze into the eyes at the one at the head table. Some of you have your children grown and gone. What do you want most? You want them around your table again. The Father wants his children back at his table.

There’s No Place Like Home (Part 1): When I Get Where I’m Going

There’s No Place Like Home (Part 1): A study of Heaven
When I Get Where I’m Going
Jeff Garrett

I love the Brad Paisley song …

When I get where I'm going, on the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I'm gonna do, Is spread my wings and fly.
I'm gonna land beside a lion, and run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it's like, to ride a drop of rain.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy, and he'll match me step for step,
and I'll tell him how I missed him, every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck.

When I get where I'm going, and I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light, of His amazing grace.

When I get where I'm going, there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles, I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open, I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going, Don't cry for me down here.

Today we are beginning a new series of sermons called There’s No Place Like Home: A Study of Heaven. This world is not our home we’re just passing through. We are pilgrims, strangers, we’re like campers. Sometimes it is hard to be happy campers but when life gets difficult we think about heaven and remind each other“There’s no place like home.”

What makes heaven home is not where it’s at but who is there. We want to be with Jesus and we want to be reunited with our loved ones who died in the Lord. Some of you have lived long enough to truly say “I have more friends and family in heaven than I do on earth.” At the end of this lesson we’re going to show pictures of some of our friends and family members who are already home. And when we see their pictures we will say with Peter - 2 Peter 3:13 … we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

The overarching purpose of this series is threefold – 1) To glorify Jesus Christ, 2) To encourage Christians, and 3) To invite people who do not know Jesus to accept him as Lord because the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. I have titled this lesson When I get to where I’m going. Some people don’t know where they are going.

Billy Graham is now old with Parkinson's disease. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you."
So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from

Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it." Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."

Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

Do you know where you are going? If you stay on the road you’re on, where are you going to be when you get there?

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." ." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I love the way Jesus described heaven. Jesus talk about his “Father’s house” – the word “house” means residence, abode, or home. Jesus said in my Father’s house are many rooms - not mansions, its one big mansion with many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you. The word place means “a spot, a space, a location”.
The point is this - Heaven is not a misty fog bank where ghost float around. The Bible describes heaven as a tangible reality. The Bible says heaven has light, water, a rainbow, trees and fruit. The capital city is the New Jerusalem which is filled with magnificent beauty including streets of gold and buildings pearls, emeralds and precious stones (Revelations 21:19-21). The gates of the city are always open and people will travel in and out, some bringing wonderful things into the city (Rev. 21:24-25; 22:14). Heaven contains an actual sanctuary – the true tabernacle which served as the pattern for the earthly tabernacle (Heb. 8:5; 9:11,23-24). The Bible says there will be music and song. We will be given harps and we will hear trumpets and we will sing praises and worship the lamb. The Bible also says that heaven contains animals like wolves, lambs, lions, and there will be enough horses for the armies of heavens to ride. The lion will lay down with the lamb. The Bible says you are going to walk on land, not float around on a cloud.

Heaven is a real place and you will have a real “flesh and bone” body that is just like the body of Jesus after his resurrection. Someone ask “will we know each other in heaven?” Of course we will. We will be caught up together and we will be with the Lord forever. A common misconception is that when you go to heaven you are absorbed in God and loose your identity. You won’t know anyone and no one will know you, you won’t even know yourself – it will be like you never lived before. That’s not true! That’s Hinduism, not Christianity. Resurrection means that you retain your identity.

Job said, "And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another" (Job 19:26-27). I myself will see him with my own eyes.

Our bodies will put on immortality but nothing in the Bible suggest that we will loose our identity. How could you? Your faith in Jesus granted you entrance and your rewards are forever connected to you! We will be known, even as we are known. Moses and Elijah did not loose their identity. In Matthew 17:1-4, at the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognized by the disciples. Moses did not look at Elijah and say “Who are you? “Do you know who I am? How did I get here?” They knew who they were. Even Peter, James and John recognized them. One of the joys of heaven will be fellowshipping with other people. You will be able to eat and drink and travel. You will be able to think and talk and listen and you will have emotion because the Bible speaks of great rejoicing.

When I went to Pepperdine Jerry Rushford gave me a room with a view. I could see the beautiful landscape of Malibu and the Pacific Ocean and at night I could see the lights of Sana Monica. My room was in a condo with three preachers Rick Atchley, Buddy Bell, and Chris Seidman. At night, we would gather in a room and talk about Jesus and the Bible. It was heavenly.

God is going to give you a room better than condo in Malibu. I can’t wait to invite you over to my place. We will talk and visit and laugh and remember. I’m going to invite Paul to my room and ask him to explain some of his hard-to-understand passages. I’m going to invite Mary over and listen to her tell the story of giving birth to Jesus. I’m going to invite Peter and John to my room and I’m going to asked them to tell stories about the cross and the empty tomb.

But let me tell you who I want to see more than any of those heroes. I want to see dad again. I want to see my Granny and Pa and my uncle Johnnie. I know they are in heaven because they died in the Lord. Watch this video. It contains some pictures of your loved ones who have died and are in heaven. You will see them again.

Presentation - video of pictures of loved ones who have died and are in heaven with Jesus with Brad Paisley's song "When I Get to where I'm Going"

After Billy Graham told that group in Charlotte NC about Dr. Einstein he said – "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.

Do you know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am .. I also know where I'm going."

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 16 Future Hopes and Dreams

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 15)
Future Hopes and Dreams
1 Corinthians 16
Jeff Garrett

Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 16. This is the final lesson in our series from 1 Corinthians - Loving an Imperfect Church. I have titled this lesson Future Hopes and Dreams. If we are going to have a bright future we have to do four things: 1) Give generously, 2) Plan sensitively, 3) Work cooperatively, and 4) Love unconditionally. Let’s think about the first one.

Give generously.

1 Corinthians 16.1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.

Paul introduced this subject with another “now about”, it’s probably the next-to-the last question the Corinthians had asked in their letter (7:1). 7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about … 7:25 Now about virgins: 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people and the final “now about” is 16:12 Now about our brother Apollos.

Right after the resurrection chapter Paul addressed the topic the collection for God's people i.e., collecting money for the poor saints in Jerusalem. The Corinthians had taken the initiative to contribute generously and had inspired other churches to imitate them, but now they were lagging be¬hind in keeping their commitments (2 Corinthians 8:1-12; 9:1-5). Paul's brief words in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 did not adequately motivate them, because he had to return to the topic in much greater detail in 2 Corinthians 8-9. But Romans 15:26 demonstrates that ultimately the Corinthians came through. But why, at this point, did they lag in keeping their commitment to make a generous offering for the poor saints in the “mother church” at Jerusalem? Before I answer that question I want you to see how relevant this subject is to our church. We have also had difficulty meeting our operational cost which is $5,500 a week. Look at these averages.

January $4787.25
February $5558.25
March $6710.75
April $6408.50
May $5001.27
June $5539.00
July $5476.36
August $4538.15

During the past eight months we have met our goal only three times. Why did the Corinthians start strong but not finish strong. What are some reasons people don’t give? Some people are in debt and cannot give as they would like. Others are unaware that the Lord expects them to give – that it is as much a part of our obedience and devotion to Jesus as prayer, praise, fellowship, and instruction. Still others do not give because of church problems. The Corinthians could have said “I’m not going to give my money to that church because there are too many problems with it. There is division and immorality and I don’t like the way the leaders discipline and make decisions. They flaunt their liberty and abuse the Lord’s Supper and are confused about spiritual gifts and they teach falsely on the resurrection. I’m not going to give a dime to that church.” But in spite of all the problems in the church at Corinth look at what Paul said in…

2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Verse 2 focused on giving and verses 3-4 focus on integrity and financial accountability. We want to follow both principles. Give generously and we will handle the money responsibly and transparently. We post quarterly statements which show how the money you give is being used. Remember, it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. Yesterday, Jonathan and the youth group had a car wash. Phil told me that lawyer pulled in our church parking lot and gave $65 dollars and said “I don’t really need my car washed, I just want to give.” And when he drove off I believe that he felt good about his gift. You will feel the same way because the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Plan sensitively

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 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. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When Paul made plans for the future he was sensitive in two directions. First, Paul was sensitive to God. Notice v.6 you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. v.7 I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. v.9 a great door for effective work has opened to me. Paul was uncertain about his itinerary because he was sensitive to God. He didn’t know what door God may open next. We ought to wake up every morning and look for open doors. I wonder how many open doors we have missed because we are insensitive. We need to be sensitive to the Lord because he may want to change our itinerary. When God opens a door we need to have the flexibility to change our plans and the courage to walk through it even if there are many who oppose us because an open door and opposition often go hand in hand.

Paul was also sensitive to people. Notice how many times Paul includes the church in his future plans - v.5 I will come to you; v.6 perhaps I will stay with you for awhile or even spend the winter; v. 7 I hope to spend some time with you …. Paul’s affection and love is demonstrated by the fact that he wanted to spend time with them. Why would he want to spend time with a church that had so many problems? Because he loved them! When we have problems don’t withdraw and move away. Work through the problems together and you love each other even more. There are only two ways you can move. You are either moving toward people or away from them. Which way are you moving?

So we need to give generously and plan sensitively. And third …

Work cooperatively

I see four things that Paul did to enhance a spirit of cooperation.

First, Paul protected Timothy – 10 If 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. 11 No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. Paul may have been concerned about Timothy’s youth and personality. He did not want trouble makers to take Timothy to task. If they had a disagreement with Paul they should talk to him and not take it out on Timothy. We need to protect each other.

Second, Paul respected Apollos - 12 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. Paul strongly urged him ("Strongly" could also be translated "often") but Apollos was quiet unwilling and Paul respected his answer. Perhaps Apollos thought that his presence may inflame their sectarian spirit. But the point is that Paul respected his decision. There are going to be times when you disagree and you need to respect each other in the spirit of cooperation. Then Paul said in v.13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. Protect each other. Respect each other.

Third, Paul told them to practice mutual submission. 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. We need to submit to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.

Paul gave recognition and praise. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. Why did these three deserve recognition? Because they supplied what was lacking and they refreshed Paul’s spirit. Do people consider you a breath of fresh air? It’s so refreshing when Christians have a spirit of cooperation rather than a spirit of complaining. A critical and uncooperative spirit never refreshed anybody. So make every effort to supply what is lacking – pitch in and help. Then add encouragement and praise and you will be a breath of fresh air when you give generously, plan sensitively, work cooperatively, and finally …

Love Unconditionally

Notice these words of affection. 19 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. 20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him.[This curse may seem out of place but it is not. This is Paul’s holy outrage for those who would corrupt the church by denying the Lord Jesus Christ. Let him be anathema! And then he uses a play on words by saying Maranatha!] Come, O Lord! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

If we are going to have a bright future we have to do four things: 1) Give generously, 2) Plan sensitively, 3) Work cooperatively, and 4) Love unconditionally. I want to end with nine dreams.

Nine Dreams for the Future

1. The dream that Jesus would be the star and the message and the true Lord of our church. And that the Church of Christ would be a description of whose we are and not a denominational designation or a sectarian category.

2. The dream that we would seek to use powerful and relevant ways to get the church out of the building and be disciples in the marketplace. That we would lift our eyes to the fields and see the lost and speak with compassion the instruction of the Lord to their hurt, confusion, and weariness.

3. The dream that we would be a people that would not ask “What can the church do for me?” But that we would be a people who serves a transcendent God and practices a costly discipleship. To look after orphans and widows and meet the needs of the poor as we serve from the strength of our spiritual gifts.

4. The dream that we will have dynamic assemblies that hits people at a heart level and ushers them into the presence of God.

5. The dream that we will develop a loving intolerance for sectarian language that implies that God loves us alone.

6. The dream that we will find effective ways to use the spiritual muscle and the spiritual wisdom of our women.

7. The dream that we will never compromise the gospel of grace. That we will speak where the Bible speaks, and despite the temptation to do otherwise, to be silent where the Bible is silent. To shout where it shouts, to whisper where it whispers, and to allow liberty where God’s Word allows liberty

8. The dream that we will have dynamic ministries that addresses the needs of every age and ethnic group. That we would be all things to all people so that we might save some.

9. The dream that we will be known for our love, our grace, our knowledge of Scripture, our moral excellence and our uncompromising loyalty to the Lord Jesus.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 15 The Resurrection of Your Body

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 14)
The Resurrection of Your Body
1 Corinthians 15
Jeff Garrett

What is going to happen to our body in the resurrection? Will our bodies really come out of the grave or will we live eternally as invisible ghost with no real substance or form? If Jesus returns before we die, what will happen to our body? Those are some of the questions we will discuss today as we study 1 Corinthians 15 in a lesson called The Resurrection of Your Body. You cannot understand your resurrection apart from the resurrection of Jesus. So Paul begins in v.1

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Paul said, I want to go over the main message one more time. You ought to be familiar with it because it’s the same gospel that I proclaim to you when I was in Corinth. I preached it, you received it and now you stand in it, assuming that your faith is genuine.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, , 5 and that he appeared to … many eyewitnesses. If it happened today his death and resurrection would be all over the news.

Can you imagine CNN news with Wolf Blitzer “I am standing with the apostle Peter in Jerusalem near the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Peter, what did you see? “I saw Jesus. He appeared to the Twelve and to more than 500 people, many of them are still living and available for interview. He even appeared to his half-brother James, who was not a believer but he is now.” This is Wolf Blitzer reporting for CNN, the most powerful name in news.

It would be on every channel. Imagine a FOX News Alert with Shepard Smith – “I am reporting live from Corinth. Standing next to me is the apostle Paul who is an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Can you tell us what happened to you Paul? “I was traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians and suddenly I was blinded by a flash of light from heaven. It was Jesus! He changed my life and told me to preach the good news. “What is the good news?” “The good news is that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to this Scriptures.” This is Shepard Smith reporting live for FOX, where the news is always fair and balanced.

Wouldn’t it be great if Fox and CNN would report the good news of Jesus rather than spend so much time talking about OJ and Britney and “Don’t tase me, Bro” – which is an entirely different subject that we don’t want to explore.

The problem in Corinth was confusion about the resurrection. They were not confused about the resurrection of Jesus because the evidence was overwhelming. They were confused about their own resurrection. So Paul said in 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? Some of them were saying that there was no resurrection from the dead. Perhaps they believed that your spirit would be raised but not your body.

Paul said “That’s not true! 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. The bodily resurrection of Jesus and your own bodily resurrection are linked. You can’t have one without the other. He argues this point from four angles - once in v.13, twice in v.15, and once again in v.16. If Christ has been raised, you’re going to be raised but if there is no resurrection for you, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised (v.14-19) your faith is meaningless, you are still in your sins, all those who died in the Lord are lost, and we should be pitied more than all men because we put our faith in a hoax. I love v.20.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The word “firstfruits” is an Old Testament word. In the OT the farmers would bring the firstfruits of the harvest and offer it to God which meant that the whole harvest was dedicated to God. Christ is the “firstfruits” – he is the first one to go before the Father, never to die again and he is the guarantee that we are going to be raised just like he was. Then Paul imagines someone in the audience objecting in v.35.

35 But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36 How foolish!

It was foolish because they did not believe in the bodily resurrection of people. The background of their confusion was dualism which showed up in Gnosticism. They thought the body was evil and the spirit was good and that the only thing that will be raised is the spirit, not the body. You’ll be like a ghost without a body. But that’s Greek Philosophy, not the Bible. If you go back and read Genesis you will find that God made the body first and then breathed the spirit of life in him. And God said it was good. There is no such thing as a human being without a body. At the end, Paul said in Philippians 3:21 [that he] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. We are going to have a body just like Jesus. We have a natural body now but he is going to change it into a supernatural body. It’s sort of like sowing seed in the ground.

36 What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

When you die your body is buried in the ground like a seed. If you plant wheat or corn or an acorn you’re going to get wheat or a cornstalk or a great big majestic oak tree.

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

That’s the sequence we follow in Scripture (v.45-49). The natural body comes first and the spiritual body comes later. The first Adam was made from the dust of the earth but the second Adam came from heaven. Every human being has an earthly body just like the first Adam but our heavenly bodies will be just like the second Adam who is Christ, the man from heaven.

What kind of body did Jesus have after his resurrection? Well, his body had definitely changed because he could appear, disappear, and walk through doors that were locked shut. But Jesus had a real body. Over a period of 40 days his disciples saw him, touched him, walked along the Emmaus road with him, and they even ate with him on the beach. Jesus cooked the meal – fish and hush puppies (John 21). He was not a disembodied ghost. He was a man with a real body. And they watched him physically, visibly, bodily ascend into heaven (Acts 1).

Acts 1:10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

There is a man in heaven. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). He is a real man with a real body. He is not flesh and blood as we are because Paul said in v.50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. So he is not flesh and blood as we are but he is a flesh and bones. “Flesh and bones” are the very words that he used to describe the substance of his resurrected body. Do you remember what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Jesus still bore the marks of death on his resurrected body. He was not a ghost. If you reached out to touch him your hand would not go through him. There was substance to his body and that’s the kind of body you are going to have at the resurrection.

Somebody says “Well, what is going to happen to those who are alive at his coming?

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

When the trumpet of the Lord sounds we will be changed. Our perishable body will clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54 … then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One time Napoleon put a map on a table that was surrounded by his generals and he pointed to a red dot and said “If it wasn’t for the red dot I could have conquered the world!” And the red dot he pointed to was Great Britain. I can imagine Satan and his demons around a map and Satan saying “If it wasn’t for that red dot it would all be mine.” And the red dot is a cross where Jesus died and an empty grave where he rose from the dead and now Jesus shouts at death “Death, where is your victory? Grave, where is your sting. Let me tell you something. Our view of what Jesus did is too puny. God will surrender nothing to the enemy. There will not be one single molecule of your body that will not fulfill the purpose for which it was created. That’s why Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself … sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan will not be able to say “You may have their spirits but I got their bodies as the rot in the ground.” He will fight for your body just like Michael fought Satan for the body of Moses (Jude 1:9) and he will win! By his power our lowly bodies will be transformed so that they will be like his glorious body.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, 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.

Two challenges and a wonderful promise (v.58)

Stand firm and let nothing move you – whatever problems you face – money problems, marriage problems, health problems, it doesn’t matter. Stand firm because Paul said in Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord – Always work enthusiastically for the Lord – give him everything you’ve got. And here’s the promis.

You know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

When you go to the airport there are two types of people. There is the group that has there boarding passes and there is the group that hoping to fly stand-by. The first group is calm and confident. The second group is anxious and worried because they are not sure if they are going to make the journey. Well you don’t need to ticket to make this journey because Jesus is your boarding pass. Do you know him? Are you ready?

I love that Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck song. It’s not about a plane, its about a train and it goes like this. People get ready, There’s a train a-coming. You don’t need no baggage, You just get on board. All you need is faith, to hear the diesels humming. Don’t need no ticket, You just thank the Lord.

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and all of these wonderful promises of resurrection will be yours.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 14 Assemblies that Edify

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 13)
1 Corinthians 14
Assemblies that Edify
Jeff Garrett

The title of my lesson is called Assemblies that Edify. The basic principle in chapter 14 is that whatever is done in the assembly should edify the church. Let’s read v.1

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

I love the way Paul begins - 1 Follow the way of love. That ties this back to the “love” chapter.

Beulah Gill encouraged me last Wednesday and I’ve thought about it ever-since. After our study in Deuteronomy Beulah said, “Jeff, I view you not only as my minister but as my son.” That encouraged me so much because I feel the same way. I have many mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters in God’s family. I thanked Beulah and said “That’s exactly what God wants in his family. Paul told Timothy ‘to treat the older men as fathers, the older women as mothers, the young men as brothers and the young women as sisters in absolute purity.’ On one occasion, when he was surrounded by people, Jesus said “that those who do the will of God are my mothers and brothers and sisters.” Then all the Sonshiner’s started talking about how much we love each other and there was such a wonderful feeling of love in the room and I believe that love permeates our entire church family. Because of Jesus, we really love each other. That’s what it means to “follow the way of love” Love is the guiding principle.

In chapter 14 Paul contrasted the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy – both are speaking gifts. Paul’s main point is that whatever is spoken in the assembly must be intelligible i.e., it must be spoken in language that people understand. If you speak in a different language an interpreter must be present. That’s why Paul insisted that they esteem the gift of prophecy so that the language barrier would not be an issue and the church would be edified.

When you speak in a tongue you are not speaking to men, you are speaking to God (v.2). No one can understand you. What you say is a mystery to them because they don’t know the language. But when you prophesy it strengthens, encourages and comforts people (v.3). When you speak in tongues you edify yourself but when you prophesy you edify the church (v.4). There is nothing wrong with the spiritual gift of tongues. Paul said, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would much rather you prophesy because he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified” (v.5).

Then Paul tried to reasoned with them 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

If I were in the military and it was up to me to blow reveille or the call for retreat or advance or mealtime, etc., the whole place would be in chaos because I could not sound a clear call. Paul said “If you are going to speak to the church you better make sure that people understand what you are saying.”

Berlin, please read v.9-17 in Chinese.

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

Berlin says, “Do you understand what I just said?”

Jeff answers, “No, could you interpret.”

Then Berlin reads the passage in English.

Jeff says “Everyone who understood Berlins interpretation say ‘Amen!” Berlin and Fontaine run a school to teach children and adults how to speak Chinese. They meet in our church building and we are very grateful for them. Let’s give Berlin a hand for helping me illustrate this point.

Now, what is the difference between what you have just heard and the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues? The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a language never learned. If I suddenly began speaking in Chinese and Berlin and Fontaine said “Jeff, how did you do that without coming to our school?” If I turned to Teen and began speaking Vietnamese and she said “Jeff, I understand what you are saying. How did you do that?” If I did that you would immediately know that I have the gift of tongues. That’s what happened in Acts 2

Acts 2:5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Tongues are a sign for unbelievers because they are utterly amazed and immediately recognize that you are speaking their language – a language you never went to school to learn. Many people believe the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 is different than the gift tongues mention in Acts 2, Acts 11, and Acts 19. Many people view the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 as a private prayer language – a heavenly language. Others disagree. There are great scholars on both sides of the issue and I am not able to settle that debate.

I admire men like Jack Hayford who claim to have this gift. At the same time, I have met people who claim to have this gift but it did not resemble the gift of tongues described in the Bible. Some of those people had been exposed to a teaching that you if you cannot speak in tongues you are not a Christian. I know that’s not true because 1 Corinthians 12:30 teaches us that not everyone speaks in tongues or interprets. But some people, exposed to such teaching, experience what I consider to be a purely psychological phenomenon – sort of a self induced hypnosis produced by religious excitement that results in a repetition of sounds and syllables that have no meaning. To sum up my answer to the questions “Does God still give this gift today? I would say, if he does it should resemble the gift of tongues described in the Bible.

Paul had the genuine gift of tongues and so did the people in Corinth. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Why? Because the purpose of the assembly is to glorify God, edify the saved, and evangelize the lost. When people cannot understand what you are saying they think you are out of your mind.

23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

At this point Paul gives practical instructions to bring order to their chaotic assemblies. 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. But they were not edifying the church because they were all speaking at once. Paul used the Greek word sigato (see-ga-to) which is a school house term. It means to “be quiet”, “sit down and shut up”, “zip your lips”, “to be totally silent”. Imagine an assembly where tongue speakers and prophets are all speaking at the same time and there is so much noise and chaos and confusion that you cannot understand anything being said. So Paul told them to “sigato” and speak one at a time. Paul gave clear directives to three groups.

First, to those who speak in tongues. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet [sigato ] in the church and speak to himself and God.

Second, to the prophets, Paul said, 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop [sigato]. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace … as in all the congregations of the saints,

Third, to the women (or wives) Paul said, 34 women should remain silent [sigato] in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Because of this verse some people regard Paul as a bitter old bachelor who hated women and was threatened by the exercise of any gifts by women. Some people believe that this passage and the passage in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 totally forbids women from speaking in church. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. But in this passage the words “quietness” in v.11 and “silent” in v.12 does not mean she must be totally silent. It means to have “a quiet, peaceful spirit”. What Paul was forbidding was for a woman to teach in a domineering way i.e., to usurp the authority of the church leaders.

So this passage does not forbid women from speaking in an assembly. Paul had no problem with women praying and prophesying in the assembly (11:5) so long as she did not violate the principle of headship. The problem in 11:5 was not that the women were praying and prophesying. The problem was that they were dishonoring their husbands by not wearing a veil. I suspect that the problem in 14:34 was that some of the women who prophesied became disruptive in the weighing process (v.29) which was not a quiet time of reflection, it was often a loud debate and it got out of hand. So Paul told them to sigato – to be quiet, just like he told the tongue speakers and the prophets. He gave the men the same instruction that have the women. I am pretty confident he is speaking to wives who were dishonoring their husbands because he said in v.35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Paul ends the chapter by saying in v.40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. The problem was not that women were praying and prophesying and asking questions. The problem was that their assemblies were chaotic and confusing so Paul gave directives so that everything would be done in a fitting and orderly way so that the church would be edified.

Three Purposes of the Assembly
• Exalt Jesus Christ
• Edify the Church
• Evangelize the Lost

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 12-13 One Lord, One Spirit, One Body

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 12)
One Lord, One Spirit, One Body
1 Corinthians 12-13
Jeff Garrett

1 Corinthians 12: 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

I want you to imagine attending an assembly of the church in Corinth. The meeting is chaotic. Several people are speaking in tongues i.e., in a language that you do not understand and there is no interpreter. The prophets are speaking your language but you can’t understand them because they are all speaking at the same time, they are interrupting each other, they are talking over one another and there is so much chatter you cannot understand anything they are saying. It reminds you of your background in paganism. This is very similar to pagan temple worship. They spoke in tongues (ecstatic utterances) and prophesied. And you think “I can’t understand the Christian any more than I can understand the pagan who speaks in tongues. How can I tell the difference between someone who has the authentic spiritual gift and is speaking by the Spirit of God and a counterfeit?” Paul tells them how in v.3.

One Lord

3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

That is how you tell the counterfeit from the real thing. The people in the pagan temples, having heard the claims of Christ, cursed Jesus and worship idols. When you hear them pronounce anathema on Jesus ("Jesus be cursed,") you can be sure that they are not speaking by the Holy Spirit. But when you hear people confessing “Jesus is Lord” you know they are speaking by the Spirit of God because no one can make the good confession without the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Let’s make the good confession together.
I believe with all my heart (echo)
That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (echo)
He died for my sins and rose from the dead. (echo)
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior(echo)

You did not figure that out yourself. Your Father revealed it by his Holy Spirit and he made the good confession (that Jesus is Lord) the foundation of the church. If you want to know if someone is speaking by the Spirit of God listen to what they say about Jesus.

You can see the Trinity in v.4-5. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Notice the words Spirit, Lord, and God. That’s the holy Trinity. There is unity and diversity in the Godhead. Now notice that there different kinds of gifts, different kinds of services and different kinds of workings – but they all have a common origin. They all come from one Spirit.

One Spirit

Notice how Paul emphasizes the “one Spirit.” 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

There are many different gifts but there are not many different Holy Spirits. Diversity is no threat to unity when you love each other and understand that there is one Lord and one Spirit. And by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. And that’s the final point.

One Body

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger and more comprehensive. Let’s think of ourselves as the body of Christ. We are all different but we are one body – unity in diversity. Paul said it is easy to understand by looking no further away than your own body. The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church.

Your body has many parts – toes, feet, legs, hands, head, eyes, ears and that’s just the parts you can see. Some of the most important parts of the body cannot be seen - lungs, heart, liver, and brain. If we were to count all the parts of the body we would be here all day. But no matter how many parts we could count, you’re still one body. All the parts serve an important function, regardless of any claims to the contrary. If all the parts of your body were the same you would not be a body, you would be one giant organ, unable to do anything.

It’s exactly the same with the body of Christ. We’re all different but we’re all important and needed. No one can truly say they don’t belong. And no one can look at another Christian and say “I don’t need you.” Since we have one Lord, one Spirit, we are all in one body. So 25 there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

We have equal concern for one another because we love each other. It’s good to desire spiritual gifts but the most excellent way is love. If you possess spiritual gifts but you don’t have love you gain nothing. If I could speak in tongues, prophecy, fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, if I had the faith to move mountains or even if I gave all that I possess to the poor, without love I gain nothing (13:1-3).

Jesus said “All men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Someone asks, “What is love?” 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. You could substitute the name Jesus for love and it would be a perfect description of his character.

One day prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled and knowledge will pass away. But love will never pass away. God’s love last forever. Perfection will come when we are with Jesus in our eternal home. Then will be made perfect and we will see him face to face. We will know God like he knows us. But for …13 now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Concluding Remarks

1 Corinthians 12: 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

I have to ask you. Are you ignorant about spiritual gifts? If I ask you to define a spiritual gift, could you? If I ask you to list the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible, how many would you be able to name? How many to could define? Do you know where they are in the Bible? Could you identify which gifts God has given you? If you cannot answer those questions don’t feel bad, let it motivate you to learn. It is time to discover what your spiritual gifts are?

If you are unaware, now is the time to become informed. If you want to know more about spiritual gifts, go to the welcome table and pick up the paper called Unwrapping Your Gift.

The main problem was not spiritual gifts it was a lack of love. Some of the Christians in Corinth were made to feel like they were not important because they could not speak in tongues or prophecy. It still happens today. You may feel like you don’t belong. You see others preach or teach or lead but you can’t do those things so you feel excluded and unneeded. You start focusing on the things you can’t do and forget about the things you can do.

Bury Your I Cant’s

Chuck Mooman was an educational consultant who, at a seminar, met a fifth grade teacher by the name of Donna who taught at a small school in Michigan. He was impressed by the way she handled herself and said “I’ll be in your area of the country at a certain time, could I drop in on your class?” She said “Of course.” He came to her class room unannounced one day and found all the fifth graders busy at work on a certain assignment.

He didn’t want to interrupt the assignment, he just stood at the side of the class. He walked over to see what the kids were doing. He noticed each one was making a list and at the top of the page were the two words “I can’t”. Each student was making a list of “I can’t” statements. The list had things like this. “I can’t hit the soccer ball into the net.” “I can’t do division with more than three numbers.” “I can’t get Glenda to like me.” He read another fifth grader’s paper. “I can’t hit a home run.” “I can’t do 10 sit ups.” “I can’t eat only one cookie.”

Mooman was concerned. He said to himself “This is strange. This is no way to conduct a class. It’s so negative.” So he walked up to the teacher’s desk and he looked over and she was making a list too. And at the top of her page were the same two words - “I can’t”. “I can’t get Johnny’s mother to come to a parent-teacher’s meeting.” “I can’t get my daughter to fill the car with gas.” And on and on. He was puzzled. He walked over to the side and decided to wait until they finished.

Finally, Donna, the teacher, said “OK, everybody wrap up your assignments.” And all the kids did. She said, “Take your papers and fold them in half and bring them up to the front and put them in the box.” So one by one they came up to her desk and put their papers with their list of “I cants” in a shoe box that she had prepare. And then she put the lid over the shoe box and she said “It’s time for us to go.” And all the students followed her out of the room and Chuck Mooman followed. The stopped at the custodian’s office and the picked up a shovel and they went to the far corner in the play ground. And she began to dig a grave and she invited the students to help her. Of course, each one wanted to. One by one the turned a spade of dirt until finally they had a hole big enough and they placed the box of “I cants” in the grave. And they covered it with dirt.
And Donna had the students stand in a circle around the grave and she said these words …

“Friends, we gather in honor of the memory of ‘I can’t’. His name has been spoken in every building. In schools, city halls, churches, state capitals and yes, even the White House. But today we have provided I can’t with his final resting place. He is survived by his brothers and sisters “I can - I will - and I’m going to right away.” They are not as well known as their famous relative and certainly not as powerful yet. But perhaps, with your help, they will make an even bigger mark on the world. My ‘I can’t’ rest in peace. And may everyone present pick up their lives and move forward in his absence. Amen. And she brought the kids back in the class and they had a party with popcorn, punch and cookies.

Bury your ‘I cants’. Bury them. And in their place know that you are spiritually gifted to do all that God has called you to do. Love one another and encourage each other to use your spiritual gifts.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 11:2-33 Propriety in Assemblies

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 11)
1 Corinthians 11:2-33
Propriety in Assemblies
Jeff Garrett

Well, this duck goes into the bar and he jumps up on the bar and said “Do you have any grapes?” And the bartender said “No I don’t.” So the duck comes back the next day and he jumps up on the same bar and said to the same bartender and said “Do you have any grapes?” And the bartender said “I told you yesterday, ‘No, I don’t have any grapes.’” The duck came back the third day and he jump up on the same bar and he ask the same bartender the same question; “Do you have any grapes?” The bartender said “I told you two days ago, I told you yesterday, I’m telling you now, I don’t have any grapes and if you ever come in here and ask me that question again I’m going to nail your feet to the bar.” So the duck comes back in the next day, jumps up on the bar and he said “Do you have any nails?” And the bartender said “No.” So he said “Do you have any grapes?” We all want to be safe, don’t we?

There is nothing safe in preaching through 1 Corinthians. It seems like every week I come to passages in this book that contain controversial issues, hoping that you want nail my feet to the pulpit. Today is no different. I have entitled this lesson “Propriety in Assemblies.” Propriety means to conform to established standards of good behavior.

1 Corinthians 11 deals with the controversial issues of women's role in the assembly. Paul did not have any problem with women praying and prophesying in the assembly. He simply corrected their inappropriate hairstyles and headdress. This passage teaches us the propriety, modesty, honoring our mate, and tempering our liberty with concern for others are reflections of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The sermon climaxes with four practical guidelines for communion; namely, when we partake of the Lord's Supper we need to look back and remember the cross of Jesus, look forward and anticipate his coming, look within and examine ourselves and look around and love Christ's body the church. Let’s start with v.2.

Paul begins in v.2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. I suspect that propriety in worship had been a problem that Paul corrected before he left Corinth. The Corinthians had probably mentioned in their letter to Paul (7:1) that they were holding to the “traditions” that Paul had passed on i.e., when the women prayed and prophesied they covered their heads and men did not. So Paul commended them but he wanted them to understand the principle behind the practice in v.3.

3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Notice the three phrases. First, Jesus is the head of every man. Second, the head of the woman is man. I like the way the Revised Standard Version renders this phrase - “the head of a woman is her husband”. I like that translation because the Greek words “man” (aner) and “woman” (gune) are the same words that are used for “husband” and “wife”, which (I believe) is the meaning here. I do not believe that Paul is teaching that men in general are the head of all women. That would be inconsistent with Paul’s other writings (cf. Ephesians 5:23 the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church). The third phrase brings it full circle – “the head of Christ is God.” These three statements form the spiritual principle behind the cultural practice. Then he gives a warning to men and women.

First he speaks to the men. Paul said, “Men, Jesus Christ is your head. So when you pray and prophesy you need to uncover your head to honor Christ.” 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. Have you ever noticed how men take their hats off when they pray? I believe that practice stems from this cultural tradition.

Second, he speaks to women. Paul said, “Women, when you pray or prophesy you need to cover your head to honor your husband.” 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

Paul did not have any problem with the women praying and prophesying in the assembly (remember that, because I have more to say about it). The problem was that they were dishonoring their head (i.e. their husband) by taking off the veil. That was like taking off your wedding ring and throwing it in your husband’s face. In that culture an unveiled woman was inviting sexual immorality like the temple prostitutes who worship idols.

Paul goes back to creation to establish this in v.7. Some people are bothered by v.7 because they think Paul is saying that man is created in the image of God but woman is not. No. Paul is simply referring to Genesis 1:27 [which says] God created man in his image, in the image of God he create him; both male and female he created them. He did not call them the Adams or “the Adams family”. Male and female bear the image of God. But the woman is the glory of man. That’s why v.8 says that man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. Man was not created for woman, but woman for man. You remember the story. God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.” So he took a rib from man and with it he made woman and he brought her to the man and gloried in her. He said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman for she was taken out of man. The man and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.”

During Paul’s day, the veil symbolized something private, protected, and intimate reserved for the husband only. It was not a mark of subjugation. It was a mark of chastity and faithfulness. When a woman wore a veil it communicated that she was not available and not for sale. That’s why Paul used sarcasm in v. 5-6 when he said “Why send off these ambiguous signals about your sexuality and religious affiliation? Why not just go all the way and shave your head?” When Jewish women were caught in adultery or prostitution their head was shaved and they were sometimes stoned. It was disgraceful. So v.10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. This verse teaches us that even the angels who witness our worship want to see our propriety and faithfulness.

Men and women are equal and interdependent (v.11) and co-heirs in the gracious gift of life (1 Peter 3:7). As woman can from man, so also man is born of woman (v.12) and everyone comes from God. Paul said in 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Here Paul argues from nature. What is there about nature that indicates that a man should not have long hair but that a woman’s long hair is her glory? “Nature” sounds like an appeal to the way God created us but I am sure that Paul did not forget about the Nazarites (Numbers 6:5; Acts 21:20-21) who God blessed precisely because they did not cut their hair (the most famous were Samson and John the Baptist).

Regarding men’s hair length, I believe Paul was referring to a wide-spread long-established custom. Typically Roman men wore their hair short, Greek and Jewish men wore their hair medium length or down to their shoulder. But long hair on a man for the most part, identified homosexuals. Some of the Christians in the church at Corinth had been homosexual offenders and male prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6:9). So he told the men to cut their hair so that they would not send signals that mistook their sexuality. He could be saying that nature demonstrates that a woman has been given more beautiful hair than men in order that she might more easily manifest the principle of headship. Paul ended this section with v.16 by saying that if anyone wants to be contentious about this let them know that we have no other practice – nor do the churches of God.

We need to remember that Paul is speaking to Christians, he was not addressing unbelievers. If you try to win people to Jesus by starting with rules about hair length, tattoos and body piercings you’re not going to win them to Jesus. The prostitutes and outcasts were attracted to Jesus because they loved him. But after you become a Christian you need to ask yourself probing questions about the modesty of the clothes you wear and how you present yourself to others. Even though the practice of wearing the veil is not an issue in our culture, chastity, honoring your mate, propriety, modesty, tempering your liberty with concern for others is very important. It is a reflection of your relationship with Jesus. If Paul were writing to our church what would he say about the clothes that we wear?

I told you earlier that I wanted to say some things about praying and prophesying. Let’s reread v.4-5. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. Notice that both men and women were praying and prophesying in the assembly. Paul did not have a problem with the women praying or prophesying. His problem was that they were dishonoring there husbands by their inappropriate hairstyle and headdress.

A lot of churches restrict women from speaking in the assembly and they point to 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1Timothy 2:12 to support their belief that women must be silent. We will deal with 1 Corinthians 14 (as well as 1 Timothy 2) when we get there but today I want you to see that women were praying and prophesying in the assembly. This is consistent with many passages.

Acts 2:17 – your sons and daughters will prophesy …
Acts 21:9 – Phillip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied …
Romans 16:1-2 Phoebe was not only a deacon (the word is in the masculine form), she was a patroness in the church at Cenchrea just outside Corinth (a patron means “to stand before, to preside, to maintain, to be over, to rule).
Acts 18:26 Pricilla and Aquilla taught Barnabas the way of God more adequately.
Romans 16:7 Junias, Paul’s relative, had not only been in prison with Paul, she and Andronicus were outstanding among the apostles.
Romans 16:12 Tryphena and Tryphosa were women who work hard in the Lord.
Romans 16:12 Paul’s dear friend Persis, was another woman who worked very hard in the Lord.

These women did not work hard in the nursery or kitchen. They labored in the gospel. Women were praying and prophesying in the assembly and in their communities.

When Paul talked about his dear friend Persis (which means Persian woman) I think of Gloria Hardy from Reynoldsburg Ohio. She is my dear friend and she works very hard in the Lord. In preparation for this lesson I read Bloomberg, MacArthur, Legge, and Stedman but I also called Gloria ask her to do some research on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 and what she wrote was the best commentary I read. Gloria teaches Greek and is gifted with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. She always challenges me and teaches me the way of God more adequately. I made copies of her comments on the v.2-16 and you can pick them up at welcome center. Please pick up a copy and read it. If there are not enough copies let me know and I’ll make more.

Men, I want to challenge you to overcome your prejudice and bias against women. I cannot imagine ignoring the wise teaching of women who know the Lord Jesus and his word. Some churches have buried the gifts and talents of their women with bad attitude e.g., “If you want to serve get back in the kitchen.” “If you want to lead go back to the nursery.” I know woman who had to stop teaching a class of 11 and 12 year old children. She was told that she could not teach the class because two 12 year old boys were baptized and they equated teaching baptized boys to usurping authority. Baptism does a lot of things but it doesn’t make a boy a man. Even more – the whole idea that a man cannot learn from a woman is wrong. The Bible says that Pricilla and Aquilla taught Barnabas, Persis labored in the gospel, Phillip had four daughters who prophesied, Phoebe was a deacon and patron in the church.

This is why we encourage women to participate in our assemblies like Shayna and Susie who read Scripture before I preach and Pat Chambers who gave a personal testimony about her mother and Wilma Daniels who speaks to the church as she leads Joy in the Box and Debbie and Becky who have spoke in the assembly about the Ladies’ ministry, and Karen McClannahan teaches our small group. The women in our Sonshiners class pray and the women in our small groups pray and teach and share. On October 14 Debbie Starkey will be leading our commune devotion during the Lord’s Supper. We going to revisit this issue when we get to chapter 14 but for now, the point is clear. God poured out his Spirit so that men and women would pray and prophesy and edify the church. This will be interesting discussion for our small groups tonight but during the balance of this lesson I want us to focus on the Lord’s Supper.

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. … Contrast v.2 with v17. In v.2 Paul praised them for holding on to the traditions just as he had passed them on. But now, beginning in v. 17 Paul had no praise for them because their meetings did more harm than good. The first century church celebrated the Lord’s Supper in the context of a fellowship meal called a love feast. On the fourth Sunday in September the Ladies’ ministry is hosting a fellowship meal to welcome Jon, Jana, and Brooks. Everybody bring a dish and we will eat together. We try to do this once a month but the first church did it every week and called them love feast. During the love feast they would observe the Lord’s Supper but Paul said .. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!

Imagine being a slave or a poor family. You have no day off. You arrive late for the meeting because you are the last ones allow out of the field. You rely on that meal to feed you family. But when you arrive all the food and wine are gone. They didn’t wait on you to start the meal. You go hungry while others are drunk. Some of these people had actually turned the Lord’s Supper in to a drunken party. Paul said “It is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.”

When you partake of the Lord’s Supper you need to look in four directions.

First, you look back.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Second, you look forward.
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Third, you look within.
27 Therefore, 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. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

Fourth, you look around.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 9:19-10:33 - Using your Liberty for the Lord

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 10)
1 Corinthians 9:19-10:33
Using your Liberty for the Lord
Jeff Garrett

Chapters 8-10 focus on Christian liberty. This is the section where Paul answered questions raised in the letter from the church in Corinth (7:1) about eating meat sacrifice to idols. Most meat sold in the markets of Corinth came from pagan temples. Part of the meat of each animal was burned on the temple altar as a sacrifice to a false god, part was eaten in temple ceremonies by the priest and city officials, and the other part of it was sold to the public in restaurants connected to the temple or in the market.

But the question was –Can a Christian eat food that was sacrificed to an idol? There were two groups of Christians who disagreed, the weak and the strong. The strong could eat meat sacrificed to idols but the weak could not because they associated the meat with idolatry. In chapter 8 Paul agreed with the strong. He told them that an idol is nothing and you’re free to eat meat so long as it does not wound the weak conscience of another Christian. So enjoy your liberty but don’t flaunt it. Temper your freedom with concern for other people. That’s why I have titled today’s lesson
Using Your Liberty for the Lord.

Paul begins in v.19 with this statement. 1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. Paul was not controlled by the demands or expectations of any man. He was free because Jesus set him free. Free from sin. Free from guilt. Free from law. So Paul lived by the perfect law of liberty and look at how Paul used his liberty for the Lord. Paul said, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

When he was with the Jews he lived like the Jews to win the Jews. When he was with those who were under the law, he lived like he was under the law (even though he was not under the law). He spoke their language (Acts 22:2), observed their holidays (Acts 20:6; Acts 20:16), followed their customs, “joined” them in their purification rights, and was even willing to offer a sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-26). Paul did not have any problems observing the law in order to win Jews for Jesus so long as they did not make it a salvation issue (Acts 15; Acts 16:3; Galatians 2:3).

When he was with the Jews he lived like he was under the law. When he was with the Gentiles he lived like those not having the law. When he was with weak Christians with legalistic scruples, he became weak, to win them over to a higher level of maturity. Paul sums up his evangelistic strategy by saying, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” His purpose is clearly stated five times (19-23) – to win people to Jesus.

We have adopted Paul’s evangelistic strategy. We are faithful to the message of the gospel and we are flexible with our methods. If we are going to win people to Jesus we need to find common ground with them. We need to speak their language, observe their holidays, remove every obstacle and love them just like Jesus.
A good example of this is when we hosted a worship service for the Young Thundering Herd during the Premier of the movie “We Are Marshall”. Allen Meadows invited his friends and the whole football team showed up along with TV news reporters. Together we praised the Lord Jesus and we heard a sermon called “The Hall of Faith.” We need to pray that the Lord will open up more doors of opportunity like that so that we might save as many as possible.

We now use instrumental music in the assembly for two reasons. First, it is Biblical. Second, it is a means to reach Christians and non-Christians. Music plays such a large role in our culture. Music is everywhere. You hear it in the grocery, at the theater, in your homes and people listen to it when they drive down the road. A cappella music is very rare. You may hear a barber shop quartet every now and then, but all the radio stations play instrumental music. So we use instrumental music because it is Biblical and so that we may win as many as possible.

This is why we observe holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. This is why we use multimedia and film clips and secular music. Two weeks ago Elliot sang a song called “More than Words”. That is not a Christian song. It’s a popular song that was written by a rock group called Extreme. Last Wednesday I preach a sermon to the teenagers and played a country song called “Broken Road” and read Bible passages about how God blesses broken roads that lead us straight to Jesus. We do all these things so that we may save as many as possible.

We have made these changes in a very deliberate, careful and gradual way because we want to follow the principles Paul explained in his letters. We did a lot of education and communication and the Lord has blessed the changes we’ve made because we are not flaunting our liberty. We are using our liberty for the Lord. Too many churches become shackled to the legalistic scruples of the weakest Christians and that’s why churches die. God has blessed our church with liberty that is tempered with concern for the weak and passion for the lost.

Do you get the point? Paul said,“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. We don’t change the gospel but we do change how it’s packaged. We are faithful to the message and we are flexible with our methods so that we may save as many as possible.

Paul illustrated his single minded passion of adapting to different cultures with a metaphor of two athletes, a runner and a boxer. The Corinthians were familiar with athletes who competed in the Isthmian Games which were held every other year in Corinth. Paul said, “You’re in a race and you should run to win. Athletes get a crown that will not last but your crown will last forever. So run with purpose in every step. You’re like a boxer so don’t shadow box or miss too many punches. Use your liberty for the Lord and you will be as effective as an athlete competing in the Isthmian or Olympic Games. Discipline yourself to adapt to people of diverse cultures just like an athlete in strict training so that you won’t be disqualified.

He’s talking about identifying with people on issues that are morally neutral not inherently sinful. He did not say “To the adulterer, I became an adulterer; to the drunkard, I became a drunk; and the idol worshiper, I became an idolater.” Some of these Christians were taking their liberty too far and that’s why in chapter 10 Paul warned them to flee from idolatry and sexual immorality so that they will not be disqualified. Some of them had become so proud of their liberty and so loose with their morals that they were eating meat in the temples during pagan worship services.

That’s why Paul warned them to flee from idolatry in chapter 10 where he used three examples: 1) First, he reminds them of the tragic story of Israel’s disqualification (10:1-11). 2) The example of the Lord’s Supper and 3) the example of the sacrifices that were made at the altar at the temple in Jerusalem. The second and third examples make the point that participation in a religious ceremony puts you in touch with spiritual beings. When you partake of the Lord’s Supper you are participating in the body and blood of Jesus but when you participate in a pagan worship service where sacrifices are offered to idols, you are participating with demons.

The temple of Aphrodite was worse than a strip club. It had a great big sign by the interstate that read “Southern Exposure – The Temple of Aphrodite!” It was like a brothel with a thousand prostitutes and sexual immorality was everywhere. These Christian were going into those places under the guise of Christian liberty. I’m free to eat meat sacrificed to idols!

Paul said, “It is one thing to eat meat sacrificed to idols in a restaurant or in your home but it’s another to participate in a ceremony that is explicitly a pagan worship service. An idol is nothing but you need to know that demons are the objects of such worship and you cannot participate in the table of the Lord when you are participating at the table of demons. So flee idolatry! Flee sexual immorality!

He ends chapter 10 with some practical instruction about eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul gives advice in three little vignettes

Vignette #1 - 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." When you go to Walmart or Krogers or Food Fair, don’t asked the butcher if this was leftover meat from the pagan temple. Just buy it, bag it, take it home and grill it. Put a little sauce on it and eat it without raising questions.

Vignette #2 - 27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. It’s the same rule as the first.

Vignette #3 - 28 But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake — 29 the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. You adjust your behavior but you don’t adopt his weak conscience. Temper your liberty with concern and love for others. Be considerate and kind.

Imagine my sponsor Tom and I meet at an AA meeting and we take a new comer out for dinner. We take him to Applebees which has a bar. Tom and I are not bothered by that at all. We move in and out of places that serve alcohol without being tempted. We have sit at tables where people were drinking alcohol and it did not bother us. This October I will have, by the grace of God, five years of sobriety. My sponsor Tom has 21 years! But this new comer just got out of rehab and when he sits down, he is immediately triggered. So he leans over and says, “Guys, I haven’t been sober that long and the bar is too much for me. Can we go somewhere else?”

How do you think Tom and I would respond? Would we say “You need to grow up and be free. We’re free to eat in this place.” We wouldn’t say that. We would say “Let’s go to the Golden Corral.” We would adjust our behavior out of concern for him. That’s what Paul is saying.

That doesn’t mean that Tom and I never go to Applebees again. Both parties have responsibility. The strong should not have a condescending attitude toward the weak and the weak must not condem the strong. 29 … why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? There may come a day when the weak brother will not be tempted or triggered and he can eat at Applebees. But he can not at this time because he is weak.

Three Takeaways

Use your liberty for the Lord - 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Don’t be a stumbling block or a grumbling block - 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way.

Go for edification rather than self-gratification - For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 8-9 - Liberty and Love

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 8)
Liberty and Love
1 Corinthians 8-9
Jeff Garrett

Jake Roberts - reads 1 Corinthians 8.

How much should I let other people's views control my actions? Do I have to put limits on my liberty because of other people? When should I adjust my behavior or give up my rights?

In chapter 8 Paul addressed the second issue raised in the letter from the Corinthians (7:1) which was a question about food sacrificed to idols (8:1). Most meat sold in the markets of Corinth came from pagan temples. Part of the meat of each animal was burned on the temple altar as a sacrifice to a false god, part was eaten in temple ceremonies by the priest and city officials, and the other part of it was sold to the public in restaurants connected to the temple or in the market. If you wanted a good piece of meat you could buy it in the market in Corinth.

But the question was – Is it OK to eat it? Can a Christian eat food that was sacrificed to an idol? If a Christian eats meat offered to an idol is he not participating in some way in the worship of that idol?

I want you to picture two groups – the strong and the weak. The weak said, "Yes, that is exactly what he is doing. When pagans see a Christian sitting down in the public restaurant right next to the temple, they will think that person approves of idolatry. Christians should not be in those places. If you eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols you’re not much of a Christian."

But there was another party that said, "No, this is not true. There is nothing to an idol -- it is just a piece of wood or stone. How can you worship something that really does not exist? How can we deliver these people from their idolatrous ways if we act as though there is something to this? It is better to enjoy our freedom and eat this meat without any question. It is perfectly good meat, and it would be wrong to not use it." So there was a division within the church.

The strong could eat meat sacrificed to idols but the weak could not because they associated the meat with idolatry. The strong had a little slogan they loved to use. They said We know that we all possess knowledge and some possess more than others. The more you know the freer you are. The reason you can’t eat this meat is because you don’t know enough. If you would grow up you would know that there is nothing wrong with this. The strong had a condescending attitude toward the weak because they knew more. That’s why Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

I have underlined two important words – knowledge and love. You’ve got to have both. Knowledge without love makes you arrogant. It puffs you up with pride. Love without knowledge leaves you ignorant and limits your freedom. But knowledge with love makes you free and considerate of others who know less than you. You love them like Jesus loves them and you voluntarily put limits on your freedom if what you are free to do will wound their conscience. If you love like this you’ll be known by God (v.2).

Both groups lacked something. The strong lacked love and the weak lacked knowledge.

The strong group had knowledge and Paul said to the strong “You’re right. Idols are nothing. They have eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear, mouths that cannot speak, and feet that cannot walk. They are nothing! There is one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.6). So you’re right. An idol is nothing.

7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

So Paul told them to be careful. Don’t become a stumbling block to the weak. Don’t flaunt your liberty and wound their conscience. It would be better to abstain than to sin against a weaker brother. Paul admits that they are weak and their conscience needs to be educated, they need instruction and training so they can develop and grow and mature and be free. But in the mean time, if you wound their conscience, you sin against Christ.

How do we make application of this? I believe this issue falls into a category of things Paul calls disputable matters in Romans 14. In Romans 14 the issues were diet, drink and days. There were two debates about diet – eating meat sacrificed to idols and the Jewish dietary code. The argument about days focus on whether or not Christians had to observe the Jewish calendar. The final issue was whether Christians could drink wine. Paul encouraged unity in diversity when it came to disputable matters. The weak should not condemn the strong and the strong should not have a condescending attitude toward the weak.

What are some disputable matters that are relevant today? What are the contemporary issues? The grey areas? We’re not talking about things that the Bible identifies as moral absolutes. Sexual immorality is always wrong. Lying is a sin and it will always be a sin. Those are indisputable matters. We’re talking about those grey areas – things that the Bible does not address.

Is it wrong for a Christian to buy a lottery ticket? Some would say “Absolutely! Real Christians never gamble.” But others say “I like to play poker. I am not addicted to it. I’m not irresponsible with it. I pay my bills but playing cards is my entertainment. I sit aside a small amount of money and I play for fun. When the lottery gets high I go buy a ticket. What does the Bible say about the WV lottery? Well, the Bible doesn’t say anything about it.

Is it wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol? Some would say, “Absolutely! What kind of Christian would drink beer or liquor? It’s a sin.” When I was preaching for a church outside Nashville they led a protest against a grocery store that sold alcohol and they felt very strongly about it. But other Christians say, “There is nothing wrong with drinking. The Bible condemns drunkenness – not alcohol. Jesus turned water into wine. I enjoy having a beer or a drink every now and then and I don’t see anything wrong with it.” So Christians disagree.

Is it wrong for a Christian to smoke? Some would say “Absolutely! The Bible says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine Jesus with a cigarette? If you smoke you are not really a Christian.” Another Christian says, “There’s nothing better than a good cigar.” What does the Bible say about smoking? Nothing.

Is it wrong for a Christian to subscribe to HBO? Some would say “I subscribe to HBO. There are a lot of good movies that I enjoy watching.” Others would say “Christians should not subscribe to HBO. If you have that kind of trash in your home you are not really a Christian!” What does the Bible say about subscribing to HBO? Nothing.

These are disputable matters. There are going to be disagreements on these issues and a host of others. During the past 50 years the church has argued about celebrating Christmas and Easter, mixed swimming, dancing, wearing dresses not slacks, the length of hair, and a lot of other disputable matters.

Just like in Corinth, two groups form. We call them liberal and conservative. Conservatives, puffed up with pride say, “Look at those worldly liberals. If they were really Christians they wouldn’t do this or that.” And liberals, puffed up with pride say, “Those conservatives are a bunch legalists. They need to grow up.” Both sides can have a bad attitude. Both sides demand their rights.

I am so weary of hearing people demand their rights. I wish we would focus less on our rights and more on our responsibility to maintain unity and love each other as Jesus loves us. In chapter 9 Paul said, 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? The answer is “Yes!” Paul said, "I am free. I am an apostle. I have seen the risen Christ. I have greater knowledge than you. You are the result of my ministry. But I do not exercise all my rights. You object to giving up some of your rights for the sake of others. Well, I want you to know that is what I’ve been doing for you for a long time. Look at Paul’s rights.

4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? Paul was saying we have the right to be financially supported by you. If I had a wife the Lord would expect you to support her as well. I did not have to work a secular job (make tents - Acts 18), I chose to. Then Paul used seven arguments to prove that he had the right to be financially them and he tops it off in v.14 by saying, 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. By having financial needs met, a minster can devote his full attention to ministry.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. … 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.

“That’s what I want you do in this matter about eating meat sacrificed to idols”, says Paul. Stop demanding your rights and think about your responsibility to your weaker brothers. If they see you eat meat sacrificed to idols it will wound their weak conscience.
Somebody says “I have the right to drink beer. I don’t get drunk. I just enjoy a drink every now and then.” OK. That’s fine. But don’t flaunt your liberty. Don’t brag about it or start an argument with somebody who disagrees with you. Follow Paul’s instruction in Romans 14:16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. You allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil when you flaunt your liberty. Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.
Keep it to yourself.

What would you think if I took the youth group on an activity and I brought alcohol for the adults on the trip? We just sit around smoking and drinking. What would you think? Would you want to send your teenager on a trip with me again? Would that be flaunting liberty? It’s one thing for a parent to drink alcohol in the presence of the children. It’s another for a leader in the church to flaunt their liberty before impressionable young children whose parents are teetotalers and strictly forbid alcohol in their home.

Suppose we had a fellowship dinner and we bought kegs of beer? We said “Jesus turned water into wine so it’s OK to serve beer. We’ll have a cash bar too? Would that be flaunting liberty? It’s OK to enjoy a drink with a table full of friends who share the same convictions. Is it to much to abstain when you are in the presence someone who may be confused by it or offended?

Two extremes we need to guard against. One is legalistic rules that limit freedom. We have a history of hypersensitivity to the weaker brother. Some people are “professional weaker brothers”. It’s not a stumbling block, it’s grumbling block. They’ve been weaker brothers for decades and they criticize and condemn others. So make every issue back and white and eliminate all grey areas. We make rules no drinking, no dancing, no Christmas, no HBO, no clapping. Great harm has been done in the church by trying to accommodate the conscience of the lowest common denominator, to the weakest brother in the church. This does not help the church to grow at all. Paul is not talking about that. He is talking about someone who is going to be damaged by it.

The church he’s writing to is only three years old. Some churches have been established for 50 years and they still argue over disputable matters. When the get a little victory it seems so strange to hear them talk about it. I heard somebody talk about how they could finally clap in church.

Do you realize how silly that sounds to someone who is not a Christian? They say “I just went through a terrible divorce” or “I am grieving over the death of my baby” or “I feel so guilty about committing adultery” and you’re talking about clapping your hands together!

It’s like we’re in prison and we’re excited because we’ve got colored TV. But you’re still in prison! The danger is that legalism keeps us trapped and imprisoned and we become so out of touch with Jesus and people who are hurting – that we don’t have anything to offer. The church needs to be free!

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The church needs to be free and flexible in its methods and in touch with people who don’t know Jesus. So the first extreme is to guard against legalism that keeps us in bondage.

But the extreme is just as dangerous, which is flaunting your liberty, confusing the weak, and stunting or ruining their growth. That’s the larger lesson that Paul wants us to learn. Love limits freedom out of concern for others. Stop demanding your rights and think about your responsibilities.
So I will leave you with four questions for you to talk about is small groups tonight.

• Does your knowledge blow-up or build-up? (8:1-3)
• Is your liberty a hazard or a help? (8:4-7)
• Does your clear conscience have catastrophic consequences? (8:8-12)
• Does love regulate your living? (8:13)

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 7:8-40 Marriage and Divorce

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 8)
Marriage and Divorce
1 Corinthians 7:8-40
Jeff Garrett

Please record as Susie May reads 1 Corinthians 7:8-40.

This is the 8th in a series of lessons called Loving an Imperfect Church. The title of my lesson is Marriage and Divorce. Please write down the following passages that deal with the subject of marriage and divorce. We are not going to be turning to all of these passages but I would like for you to jot them down so that you can study them later.

Genesis 2:18-25
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Malachi 2:13-15
Matthew 5:31-32
Matthew 19:3-12
Ephesians 5:21-33
1 Peter 3:1-7
1 Corinthians 7

Not one of these passages answers all questions regarding divorce and remarriage. So when we look at 1 Corinthians 7 today we are not going to be dealing with the whole issue. We are not going to attempt to answer all the questions about marriage and divorce because chapter 7 would not assist me in answering all the questions. You need to make a study of your own and come to your own conclusion. If you disagree with me I will not be surprised. If what I say this morning encourages you to study the Bible for yourself, I will have done my job.

Paul begins the second half of the letter by saying 7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: The church at Corinth had written Paul a letter and in that letter they asked several questions. I wish we had the questions. Without the questions, it’s sort of like listening to one end of a telephone conversation. If I had to choose between the two, I would go for the answers, which is what we have. So we have the most important part.

In v.1-7 Paul established the general principle that while marriage is the norm for Christians, celibacy is a special gift from God. Paul explained two advantages of remaining single. The first advantage of remaining single relates to the “present crisis” (v.26). We can’t be sure but I believe Paul was foreseeing the impending persecution of Christians (cf 7:29-31). The second advantage of remaining celibate is that a single person can give their full attention to the Lord and his work (cf 7:32-35).

In 1 Corinthians 7 there are three different groups of single people - two are mentioned in v.8 – 7:8 Now to the unmarried and the widows. The third group is in v.25 – 7:25 Now about virgins…. “Virgins” refer to people who have never been married. “Widows” are singles who had been formerly married but their spouse had died. Who are the “unmarried”? I believe that the “unmarried” refer to people who have been divorced. The word “agamos” comes from the word ‘wedding’ or ‘marriage’ but it has the negative prefix ‘a’. So I believe “the unmarried” in 1 Corinthians 7 refer to people who have been divorced. Look at how Paul distinguishes these three groups of singles.

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say …
25 Now about virgins

The unmarried are not virgins or widows, they include people who have been divorced. Understanding how Paul differentiates between these three groups of singles is important to the accurate interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7. Beyond the three groups of singles, are five major groups of Christians and Paul gives guidelines for each group.

First, guidelines for people who were formally married

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Now these two verses answer the question “should people who were formally married get married again?” Paul answered, “it is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.” It’s interesting that Paul groups himself with the unmarried and widows. Perhaps Paul had been widowed or maybe he had an unbelieving wife who left him. We can’t be certain but he identifies himself with this first group and said that it is good for them to stay unmarried, as he is. But if they can control themselves, they should marry for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. That is contrary to the teaching that some of you have heard. Some of you may have been taught that if you were divorced before you became a Christian, you could not marry again. That’s not how I understand this passage. Paul said, “It would be good to remain unmarried but if you cannot control yourself, it’s better to marry.”

Paul gives the widows a guideline for spouse selection. The rule is simple. If you marry again, make sure you marry a Christian. 39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Paul never gets away from the advantages of celibacy. He mentions again and again throughout this chapter. However, he makes it clear that a widow is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. The rule applies to all singles. If you get married make sure you marry someone who belongs to the Lord.

Second, guidelines for Christian marriages.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

These two verses answer the question: “Should Christians seek a divorce?” We don’t know why some of the Christians wanted a divorce. In view of Paul’s teaching of celibacy, some of Christians in Corinth may have thought they could live a more dedicated life for Jesus if they were single. The question could have been “Given the present crisis and knowing that celibacy is ideal, should we divorce? Paul’s answer “No! Don’t you do that! You must not separate or get a divorce.” If they had already divorced, Paul gave them two alternatives: either remain unmarried or be reconciled.

The emphasis here is not on marriage in-eligibility - the emphasis is on saving marriage through reconciliation. As a counselor that’s what I try to do. I always try to save the marriage. I’ve witnessed Jesus heal broken marriages and make them stronger than they were before. If your marriage is in trouble seek help and reconcile your differences.

Third, guidelines for Christians married to unbelievers.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

These three verses answer the question: “If a Christian is married to an unbeliever who is willing to live with them, should they seek a divorce?” Suppose a woman is married to a man who is an idolater. She follows Jesus but he serves idols. Since she is unequally yoked should she divorce him? Paul said “No. If the unbeliever man or woman is willing to live with you, you must not divorce.

They asked, “But what about our children? If they are under the influence of an idolater will they not be unholy?” Paul said, “No! 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

The believing husband or wife has a sanctifying influence in the family. The children can see a clear contrast between the way you live and the way your mate lives. This leads to the 4th group

Fourth, guidelines for Christians married to unbelievers who abandon the marriage

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

These two verses answer the question: “If a Christian is married to an unbeliever who leaves, is the Christian bound to that marriage?” Paul answered “No. If an unbeliever is not willing to live with the Christian, if he abandons you, let him go. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstance.” The word “bound” is the same language used in 7:39 where he speaks of the widow that is not bound to a dead husband. If the unbeliever is unwilling to work on the marriage, if he departs, let him go. You don’t know whether you will save them. God has called you to live in peace. Someone ask, “Is it right to remarry?” Yes because you are not bound to them any more than the widowed. But if you do marry again, make sure you marry a believer.

Between the fourth and fifth group Paul explains how each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Verses 17-24 answer what may have been a series of questions regarding circumcision and slavery.

If you were uncircumcised when you were called, you should not get circumcised. If you were circumcised, you should not try to reverse it. If were you a slave when you were called, don't let it trouble you— but if you can gain your freedom, do so. What really needs to change is not your circumstance but your perspective. If you’re a slave view yourself as the Lord’s freedman. If you are a freedman, view yourself as Christ’s slave. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. And this leads us to the final group.

Fifth, guidelines for virgins

Verses 25-28 answer the question “Is it a sin for a virgin who is already engaged to get married?” 25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

Persecution is more difficult to endure if you are married with children (cf. 29-31). If you are single you don’t have to worry about your wife and children suffering and you can give undivided attention to the Lord’s work (cf. 32-25). Paul said - v.35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. … 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.

Paul has given clear instructions to five groups of Christians.
1. Guidelines for people who were formally married
2. Guidelines for Christian marriages.
3. Guidelines for Christians married to unbelievers.
4. Guidelines for Christians married to unbelievers who abandon the marriage
5. Guidelines for virgins

I’m so thankful that for our church. We have a lot of single adults in our church. The age ranges from college students in their 20s right up to single adults in their 70’s and 80’s. We want create an environment in our church family where being single is highly esteemed. If you get married – great! If you remain single all your life – great! God loves you and will use you just the way you are. Some of the greatest people who ever lived were single. Jesus. Paul. Mother Teresa. C.S. Lewis did not marry until he was in his 60s. John Stott has remained celibate his entire life which has allowed him to give undivided attention to God’s word and his contribution has been tremendous. I’m thankful that we have single people in our church.

I’m thankful to many couples who have good marriages. Some of you have been married for decades and your love continues to grow. I’m also thankful that our church is a place for couples who have marriage problems. If you have problems in your marriage – you are not alone. This is the place where marriages can be healed.

Somebody says, “It all sounds good Jeff, but is there a place for me? I’ve been divorced?” Yes, this is a church for people who have been hurt by divorce. We want to be like Jesus. Do you remember the story in John 4? Jesus met a woman at a well. He asked her for a drink. Then he ask her to go get her husband. She said “I have no husband.” Jesus said, “What you have said is true. The fact is you have had five husbands and you are living with a man who is not you husband.” Jesus acknowledge all five marriages and all five divorces and he revealed himself to her as Messiah.

So I say to you. If you’ve been divorced once, twice, … five times – come to Jesus now. Come just as you are.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 6:9-7:7 - Sexual Purity

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 7)
Sexual Purity
1 Corinthians 6:9-7:7
Jeff Garrett

This is the sixth in a series of lessons from 1 Corinthians. Our theme is called Loving an Imperfect Church. The title of today’s lesson is called Sexual Purity.

Corinth was a city given over to the worship of sex. A thousand priestesses from the temple of Aphrodite that stood on the little hill behind the ancient city would come down into the streets at night and ply their trade. Sexual promiscuity was accepted in that culture, as it is today in our own. Paul had said what was going on in the city was wrong, but there were some in the church that said what Paul taught laid the groundwork for viewing some of the sexual practices of Corinth as being right for Christians.


There is nothing more relevant, more up-to-date, than the Word of God, for this is exactly what is happening among us today. In Christian churches, there are some voices saying that we need to soften our view toward sexual immorality. This was exactly the problem that Paul is confronting here at Corinth. Some of the people there, challenging what he taught in this area, were actually quoting him in support of what they believed. Slogans are useful for teaching but they are be misused. For instance, the famous proverb of Augustine “Love God and do as you please” is useful for teaching but it can be easily abused. Two Corinthian slogans, that Paul probably used, are in v.12-13 which the NIV encloses in quo¬tations.

12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both.

The first slogan is quoted two times in v.12 (and again in 10:23). Notice the quotation marks. The translators decided to put this statement in quotes because that was a slogan they used. They were probably quoting Paul. "Everything is per¬missible for me" Paul might have spoken this in the context of Christian free¬dom from the law. The difference between legalism and Christianity is that the legalist looks at life negatively, "Everything is wrong unless you can prove from a verse of Scripture that it is right." It is a negative approach to life. Everything that is fun is illegal, immoral or fattening.

So Paul taught them that they were free in Christ and he may have used this slogan but they were abusing it. They were saying, "Paul himself said “All things are lawful for me.” Paul taught us that Christ was the end of the law so we are free to commit fornication. We’re not under law, we’re under grace, so by Paul’s own words, we are free to indulge in sexual immorality. Does that sound familiar? That is the current argument in some Christian circles today.

So Paul qualifies it twice by saying in 12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. First, notice what Paul does not do. He does not retreat into legalism and lay down a new rule. He said that there is truth in the statement but it must be understood in context. Yes, everything is permissible for me but not everything is helpful. Some things are harmful and I’m not going to be enslaved or addicted to anything.

They had a second slogan sounded impressive and it is quoted in v.13 ("Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"). When I get hungry I eat food. If you see me at the Golden Carroll you wouldn’t accuse me of sinning. I’m just eating. I’m just satisfying a natural need of the body. But they were abusing that slogan. Paul might have spoken this in the context of Christian freedom from the Jewish dietary laws. But Corinthians were using it to rationalize fornication e.g., food is made for the stomach just like the body is for sex. We have organs for eating and organs for sex. Food relieves hunger and fornication relieves sexual urges. When you feel the urge is OK to merge. That’s not true! Our food appetite and our sex appetite do not equate.

13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. God has no permanent plan for the belly, but he does have a permanent plan for the body. Eating and digesting food is temporary. But sexuality is much more profound. Sex touches us at a much deeper level i.e., not only physical body, but our soul, our heart, our psyche and spirit as well. It is the most intimate relationship. Sex is sacred and it is reserved for marriage only. So Paul said in v.13 … The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. The anticipation of the resurrection ought to provide motivation to keep our bodies sexually pure.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Verses 15-17 form a syllogism (a three-part argument with two premises and a conclusion that necessarily follows): (1) The bodies of Christians are members of Christ himself.
(2) Sexual intercourse unites two human beings (as taught in Genesis 2:24). (3) Therefore, sexual intercourse with a prostitute unites the members of Christ with that prostitute in the act of fornication.

What a terrible thought! Can you imagine using the body of Jesus to commit fornication and paying for the sex? What a horrible thought! That is why Paul says in v.18.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

How do you handle sexual urges when they cannot be expressed within marriage? Flee! If you are in a parked car start it and go home. If you are at the office or in a hotel far away and you are tempted by sexual immorality run for your life. Run for your life like Joseph who ran from Potipher’s wife (Genesis 39:12). Honor God with your body by maintaining sexual purity.

Remember that your physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine committing fornication in the church building? Never! Well, this church building is not the temple. Your body is. And no matter where you are you are the temple of God. You are not your own. You were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

Wait till you’re married and you can have sex all the time.

7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except 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. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Notice the phrase in v.1 “Now for the matters you wrote about:” In the first six chapters Paul was addressing matters that he had heard about but beginning in chapter 7 he addresses the matters that they had wrote about.

The first matter was “It is good for a man not to marry.” Now how could that statement be true since Genesis clearly says “It is not good for man to be alone”? Well, it was because of the current crisis of persecution and the fact that a single man or woman can devote their attention to ministry (which we will discuss next week), it is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. Then Paul makes three points.

First, in v.3, both husband and wife should fulfill their marital duty. The words “marital duty” is a polite way of referring to sexual intimacy in marriage. This “duty” is the best “duty” in marriage. God created sex for pleasure and procreation. So find sexual fulfillment in marriage.

Second, in v.4-5, Paul talks about ownership of the body. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone. It belongs to the husband. And the husband’s body belongs to the wife. No only can touch your body in a sexual way but your marriage partner.
Third, in v.5-6, Paul says that it is wrong to deprive one another of sexual intimacy. That’s the way some couples fight. They withhold sex. Paul said, if you abstain from sex it should be by mutual consent and only for a brief time, so that you can devote yourself to prayer. But don’t stay apart too long because Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self control.

Paul ends this section by explaining 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Not everyone has the gift of celibacy. Paul did. Jesus did. I don’t. And most of you don’t.

Three Takeaways

First, flee fornication - 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. I knew counseled a couple who did not have sex before marriage. They said that it was tough but they did it. As I performed the wedding I felt like there was something special happening because this couple had obeyed God and kept themselves sexually pure. It was a beautiful wedding. It was also the shortest wedding reception I had ever seen!

Second, keep your marriage bed pure – Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

When you honor God with your body you will avoid the harmful consequences of sexual sin. You avoid the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and the awful pain of guilt. You avoid the relational problems that seem to never end.

If you commit adultery if ruins the trust in your marriage. They live the there terrible memories and images of your infidelity. Your children suffer. Your family suffers. Your friendships and your church family suffers. The rippling affect of sexual sin lives on and on. There is something unique about this sin. All other sins a man commits outside his body. But he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

The specific sexual sin that Paul is addressing is uniting your self with a prostitute which is sex for hire. The beauty of sex is destroyed and defiled when it is indulged for self-satisfaction only, or without the full commitment that marriage represents. There is nothing holy or pure about it. You use another person who may be trapped in a lifestyle that they hate. Unlike Jesus who loved prostitutes and died to save them, you use them and abuse them and become another nightmare they live to regret. And the guilt you suffer for night of pleasure is unimaginable.

Third, you can be forgiven – 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.


Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 - Resolve Conflicts within Church

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 6)
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Resolve Conflicts within Church
Todd Meadows and Jeff Garrett

[This sermon was delivered as a dialogue between my nephew Todd Meadows and I]

Jeff - I want to thank Todd Meadows for helping me with this difficult lesson. I’ve always been impressed with his knowledge of scripture and his professional training as an attorney. Thank you for helping me. Todd, do you know any good lawyer jokes?

Todd – No, but I know a good preacher joke. Three boys are bragging about their dad. The first says: "when my dad writes something called a poem he gets like $100 for it." Says the second boy: "that's nothing! If my dad writes something called a song he get's like $200 for it." To which the third boy replies: "when my dad writes something called a sermon, after he's done reading it, it takes like eight people to collect all the money for it.
Or; I may use this one.
An elderly woman walked into the local country church.
The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row please." she answered. "You really don't want to do that", the usher said."The pastor is really boring." "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No." he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. The usher then asked, "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No." she said. "Good", he answered.

Jeff – Well since you took the gloves. I tell the lawyer joke."A physician, an engineer, and an attorney were discussing who among them belonged to the oldest of the three professions represented. The physician said, "Remember, on the sixth day God took a rib from Adam and fashioned Eve, making him the first surgeon. Therefore, medicine is the oldest profession."

The engineer replied, "But, before that, God created the heavens and earth from chaos and confusion, and thus he was the first engineer. Therefore, engineering is an older profession than medicine." Then, the lawyer spoke up. "Yes," he said, "But who do you think created all of the chaos and confusion?"

This is the 6th in a series of sermons called Loving an Imperfect Church. The Corinthian church had many problems. They were divided (ch 1-3) when they should have been united. They relied on human wisdom (ch 1-2) rather than the wisdom of God. They tolerated the open blatant sin of incest when they should have exercised discipline (ch 5). And today, in chapter 6:1-8, we’re going to discuss how they were suing each other in court.

Todd – Jeff, let’s work through the passage verse by verse and then make some practical applications that will help us live like Jesus. Before we begin I want to read the passage which is 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. Follow along in your Bible (its on page 808 in the pew Bibles).

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

7 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Jeff – I believe this passage can be organized around two major points and at the end we are going to add one more point for balance. First, if disputes among Christians require intervention, it should be resolved within the church. Second, it is better to accept being wronged, than to do wrong. Third, courts of law are blessings from God, and should be employed by us when necessary.

Jeff – The first point we learn from v.1-6 is simple i.e., if disputes among Christians require intervention, it should be resolved within the church. Verse 1 begins If any of you has a dispute with another. The words “any of you” and “another” of v.1 clearly refer to fellow believers. He’s talking to Christians. The word "dispute" literally means a "matter, practice, or thing," but the context obviously implies a legal complaint. The problem is clear – Christians were suing other Christians. And notice Paul’s reaction in the last part of … v.1b … dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? You can see Paul’s disgust in the word “dare”. The word "saints" refers to Christians, not to particularly moral believers, and "the ungodly" probably refers to non¬-Christians in general. Todd, why do you think he calls the officials in the civil courts “the ungodly”? Do you think Paul is being critical of the courts?

Todd - Paul is not being critical of the courts, he’s critical of Christians. We know from his writings that he respect civil courts. In fact, he probably remembered the fair treatment he had received from Gallio, the Roman proconsul, when he had been in Corinth (Acts 18:12-17). Paul just wanted them to resolve their conflicts within the church.

*******Jeff: I agree. In fact,that’s obvious in v.2-3 where Paul used a Rabbinic argument called “arguing from the greater to the lesser.” 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Paul said, “Since you are going to judge the world and even angels (the greater), surely you can judge “trivial cases” (the lesser)”. “Trivial cases” does not imply that there were no serious offenses in Corinth. They are trivial only by comparison. Every judgment rendered on earth is “trivial” compared the decisions made on the Judgment Day. He’s just saying if you are competent enough to judge angels, how much more the things of this life!

Jeff - Look at v.4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! Let’s say that you and I have a dispute over some issue but we can’t resolve it. We ought to go to an elder or another Christian who could mediate and help us resolve our conflict. We have several people in our church with legal training and others who are counselors – we could go to one of them and resolve it. But the Christians in Corinth were taking their disputes to court and airing out their dirty laundry. Todd, didn’t you tell me something about how the courts in Corinth were viewed as entertaining (e.g., Jerry Springer)?

Todd –Yes. In Corinth the Courts were located in the center of the town and the entire communtiy would show up to witness the deliberations as entertainement. I guess if we didn't have cable service, movie theaters, amusement parks, ipods, the internet, x-boxes and playstations, movie theaters, my job would be a little more interesting. In Corinth, anyway, these disputes were the equivalent of a television drama. Thus, when Christians were pointing the finger at fellow christians, it was there for the entire community to see. Perhaps this is why Paul was so disturbed. In fact, to see how disturbing these lawsuits were to Paul, think back to 4:14 with 6:5. In 4:14 Paul says “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children” but in 6:5 Paul said “I say this to shame you.” Paul was ashamed and embarrassed. When you compare those two verses it seems as though Paul was more upset with their public lawsuits than the internal squabbles that he dealt with earlier in chapters 1-4. Notice the irony in v.5b “Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?” This verse drips with sarcasm, since the Corinthians claimed to be so wise (4:10). In effect Paul says, “If your dispute requires intervention, it should be resolved within the church.” In other words, stop airing your dirty laundry before unbelievers (v.6). Jeff, can you tell us about the second major point in v.7-8

Jeff – Yes, the second major point is - it is better to accept being wronged, than do wrong.
Look at v.7 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Regardless of the outcome of the court case you are “defeated.” Even if you win you loose. To “cheat” means to defraud. They were cheating and defrauding their brothers and sisters. When one Christian sues another, they shine light on the shameful conduct of a "saved" believer. This brings shame to the church, because it leads people to believe the tired old line, "All Christians are hypocrites.” Todd, does anything else stand out?

Todd –The words in v.7 you yourselves cheat and do wrong stick out to me. Connect 6:8 to context - 5 & 6 Perhaps some of these Christians had ulterior motives in seeking court relief, which is shameful. In my opinion, locating this passage near the discussion on the preverse nature of the sexual relationship mentioned in chapter 5, and the sexual lust issues later in 6, in my opinion, was not accidental. I think what Paul is trying to say is that lawsuits arising from shameful motives of Christians, such as lust, greed, covetnous, are as embarrasing to the body of Christ as members having incestual relationship. It is as perverse as the deranged sexual relationships, and must not be tolerated.

The application then is that Christians should only use the court systems when they have pure motives. Should a Christian sue with bad motives, they bring shame upon their church, diminish their ability to witness about Christ, and embarrass God. And I agree with Paul here, using the Courts to satisfy a greedy heart is as reprehensible as living in an incestual relationship.

Jeff: Can you think of examples where people have sued with perverse motives.

Todd - LUST /GREED Sure, people use the Court system to defraud and steal what is not theirs, all the time. It is common for people to malinger, and sue somebody for injuries that don't really exist. In fact, when I used to work for a civil defense firm, we had a case where a man claimed he was severely injured while working for his employer. Resulting from said injuries, he offered testimony that he could not stand for more than 15 minutes at a time, that he could not do any lifting of objects weighing more than ten pounds, and that he couldn't even bend over to tie his shoes. Since he was so incredibly injured, he claimed that he could never work again, and that he was entitled to recieve damages for his pain and suffering, and for his lost wages. Attorney saw this guy, followed him to alabama, and videotaped him working in the pit crew, picking up tires, bending over and changing tires. Another example, attorney walking into a workers compensation hearing limping on one leg, attorney says limping on the wrong leg.

Unfortuantely, this kind of behavior is well known. Peolpe constantly misuse the courts for their own preverse purposes. In fact, the highways in West Virginia are litered with billboards that read "Stop Lawsuit Abuse". Ironically, Paul was telling Christians this thousands of years ago

BUT, JEFF, having discussed the abuses that have occurred, I MUST SAY THAT OUR COURTS ARE TRULY A BLESSING FROM GOD -Having personally seen our Courts employed to protect women from abusive husbands, to force insurance companies to honor their policies and assist chilren to recieve medical treatment, to prevent innocent parties from being defrauded, to make criminals pay for their crimes, to overturn racial discrimination pervasive in our society, and on and on, it troubles me to think that anyone might interpret Paul's message as suggesting that our Courts are inherently evil. Jeff, do you actually that they eight verses seem to imply that the court system has no place in the life of Christians.

Jeff – No. God established court systems but some Christians misunderstand and take this passage as a prohibition against Christians using the secular court system at all. Others take it as a prohibition against Christians suing other Christians to court under any circumstances. This is a classic example of elevating a case-study to a general rule. When we interpret this passage in light of the rest of the Bible, we find that neither one of these interpretations is accurate. In Exodus 35God gave instructions for building six cities of refuge. If a man was accused of murder he could flee to a city of refuge where his case would be tried in court to determine where their death was accidental or premeditated. Paul also talked about this in Romans 13.

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

So, while it is true that 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 teaches us that 1) if disputes among Christians require intervention, it should be resolved within the church and 2) it is better to be wronged, than to do wrong - In Rom. 13:4, Paul makes it clear that secular civil law courts are needed. Todd, can you think of any cases where it may be necessary for a Christian to sue or press charges?

Todd –Sure, what of the best examples that illustrates the value of the courts is the case simply known as the Ford Pinto case. The Ford Pinto....... PINTO

Jeff – What about an example that is more personal?

Todd – [please write this like you want to say it] ex of Todd and me.

Jeff – This is really helpful because people sometimes misunderstand this passage. On one hand, a woman who is trying to collect child support may read this and think she could not use the court to collect the money she needs to raise her kids. On the other, I can see how this passage could be misused by a swindler who takes a Christian businessman for thousands (which means that he will be unable to pay his employees) and then says "You can't sue me because I am a Christian?" Courts are a blessing from God and Christians can use them but must not abuse them. Would you agree with that?

Todd – Yes, and maybe we should close by emphasizing the main points of the lesson. The three main lessons from this passage are: First, if disputes among Christians require intervention, it should be resolved within the church. Second, it is better to accept being wronged, than to do wrong. Third, courts are a blessing and sometimes we have to use them. While there are exceptions, we must hold up the general principle of love. If we are going to learn to love an imperfect church we have to resolve conflict effectively. Jesus said that people will know that we are Christians because we love each other they way he loved us.

Jeff - Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 5 - How to Handle a Church Scandal

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 5)
How to Handle a Church Scandal
1 Corinthians 5
Jeff Garrett

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

Notice three things in verse number 1.

First, the sin was public – v.1 It is actually reported … . This was no secret scandal. The word “actually” means “commonly”, “altogether”, “completely” or “everywhere”. It could read, it is commonly reported—it is publicly known, it is well known. In other words, Paul said, “When I mention the church at Corinth, people remind me of this sin problem.”

Second, the sin was fornication— v.1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality … The word is “porneia”, which is where we get our word pornography. It means “fornication” – the general term for sexual immorality. In this context it is specifically incest i.e., v.1 A man has his father's wife. Since he does not refer to this woman as his “mother”, it is probably his step mother. The Law strictly forbids this.

Leviticus 18:6 " 'No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD. 7 " 'Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. 8 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife; that would dishonor your father.

Even among pagans incest was very rare and widely condemn. It was repulsive, even to Gentiles without the Law.

Third, the sin was ongoing – v.1 A man has his father's wife. Notice that the word “has” is present tense which indicates that the sin was ongoing. This was not a one night stand or short term affair. This sin was continuous and open at the time Paul was writing.

Now, look at their response – v.2 And you are proud! The “you” is emphatic. “You” of all people. “You” who are so “wise” (remember chapter 4) and enlightened and tolerant. You are so above it all. How is it that you can allow this scandalous sin to continue without confronting it? Paul was just as shocked by the churches unbridled toleration of the sin as the sin itself. The question in verse to implies what they should have done. Paul said, v.2 “Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?”
Since they did not address it, Paul did in v.3-5.

3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

Paul said “The next time the church is assembled in the name and authority of Jesus, remember I am with you in spirit, read this letter to the church and pronounce my judgment (Paul’s asserting his apostolic authority) and hand this man over to Satan. I know that it is a frightening thing to do but I will be with you in spirit and Christ will be with you in power. Hand him over to Satan.” Paul used the same phrase in 1 Timothy 1:19 Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

What does it mean to “hand someone over to Satan”? Is he talking about some mystical incantation? Some black magic spell or cures? No. The phrase is synonymous with the phrases in v.2 put out of your fellowship the man who did this … and v.13 "Expel the wicked man from among you.” Excommunicate him. Expel him. The purpose is stated in v. 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. The goal is repentance and restoration.

When the guilty man (since the woman was not mentioned in the instructions for discipline, she may not have been a Christian) is officially expelled it will force him to live in enemy territory. Satan is the god of this world and his flesh will run its course and he will self destruct and come to his senses. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15 who left home and eventually found himself in a pig pen where he came to his senses and repented. His flesh was destroyed and his spirit was saved. That’s exactly what happened to this man after the church was obedient and expelled him. He was restored and received back into the fellowship. (see 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 and 7:8-16).

But at this time the church was disobedient and Paul described the danger of ignoring his sin. v.6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul says in v. 6 “Look at where all your boasting and arrogance has brought. You are completely blind to blatant ongoing sin that will destroy the church if you don’t remove it. Don’t you know that a little leaven, leavens the whole batch of dough?” One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel. Separate it from the rest of the apples. Then, save the bad apple by cutting off the rotten part. The metaphor Paul uses is not apples, it is the leaven during Passover. The Jews swept all the leaven out of their houses during Passover. Christ is the Passover Lamb and the leaven represents sin. If sin is not removed it will permeate the whole church. It’s like cancer. If you don’t cut it out it will spread through the entire body.

Paul clarifies what he had previously written in v. 9-11. 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

We do not have the letter mentioned in v.9 (I wish we did! This book, by the way, is really not 1 Corinthians, it is 2 Corinthians. The first letter was not preserved). In that previous letter Paul had instructed them not to associate with Christians who lived an immoral life. They misunderstood him and thought he was talking about non-Christians. Paul said “I’m not talking about unbelievers. Jesus does not want to keep you out of the world, he wants the keep the world out of you. Paul said, I want you to associate with unbelievers who sin. But you must not associate with Christians who persistently, continually live an immoral life.”

Paul listed six specific vices. The vice list was probably tailored to the Christians in Corinth and it included the sexually immoral, the greedy, the swindlers, the idolaters, the slanders, and the drunkards. This vice list does not describe people who are struggling with sin or relapse. These Christians traffic in the sins of the flesh. It’s their lifestyle. Those are the people Paul said not to associate with. I can think of three reasons: First, they bring reproach upon the body of Jesus Christ. Second, withdrawing from them may cause them to repent. Third, bad company corrupts good character i.e., they may drag you down. That’s why we need to hold each other accountable and practice sober judgment in the family of God, but not outsiders. We have no business judging outsiders.

v. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you

We are accountable to each other and if a brother or sister persistently, willingly—notice my words—willingly and blatantly continues to traffic in the sins of the flesh mentioned in verse number 11, that person must be withdrawn from. That’s why Paul said in v.13 “expel the wicked one from among you’.

Two closing points and an illustration

First, the Bible identifies five reasons for disfellowship (five that I could think of – if there are more or less, let me know). And I want to contrast this with some of the ways that people have been abused with regard to the particular subject that we are talking about and people have been hurt wrongly by it.

1. Gross violation of a clear command regarding morality (1 Corinthians 5).
2. Sowing discord in the church (Romans 16:17, Titus 3:9-10).
3. Disorderly behavior that disrupts congregational life (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
4. Denying the humanity and/or deity of Jesus Christ (2 John 9-10).
And the last one is really not a category but is an example of sinning elders that went astray in Ephesus.
5. Sinning elder must be rebuked publically (1 Timothy 5:20).

We must never abuse people with church discipline. This is not designed to scare people. It is not designed to whip people into line. Maybe you have witnessed church abuse. I have. I was sitting in the audience while a list of names were read and publically announcing that we are withdrawing fellowship from the people on the list because they did not repent of missing more than three services. The message was clear – if you don’t attend church you will be disfellowshiped. I doubt that most of members even knew who these people were. It does not make sense. You can’t disfellowship someone with whom you have no fellowship. This is not instruction on how to deal with weak struggling believers. Everybody struggles with sin. Church discipline is reserved only for the impenitent, blatant sinner who wears the name of Jesus and continues to openly sin.

#2 The goal is restoration. Two relevant passages to consider.

The Right Attitude - Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The Right Approach - Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


Two Examples
I want to end by reading a section from Chuck Colson’s book called “The Body” and tell you about how Chuck Swindol handle a problem of sexual abuse in his church.

First, Chuck Colson writes …

“Some years ago a major church in the southwest provided a good example of what must be done when a church is confronted with a clear challenge to its standard of righteousness. The wife of one of the deacons suddenly announced that she wanted a divorce. It came as a complete shock to him and to the church. The next Sunday the woman came to church as usual but this time she was accompanied by a male companion, her boss. They sat on one side of the church while the deacon and the couples three children sat on the other side of the church. The church soon became aware of what happened and the woman made no effort to disguise her intimate relationship with her boss. The elders of the church felt that it was their duty to meet with the woman and insist that she repent of her relationship and return to her husband. She admittedly refused… ‘It’s over! I’m never going back to him.’ The elders then told her that she could not continue to come to church with her lover because that would be flaunting her adultery. The woman responded by saying the church was more important to her now than ever and she believed that if she could bring her boyfriend who just happened to be Jewish---if she could bring him to church, that he might be won over to Christ. No one in the church had ever heard of adultery being used as an evangelistic tool. Three elders spent many hours counseling her, loving her but she would not repent. She would not break off the relationship and she insisted on attending church. So one morning they called her aside in a private room before worship service, all of the elders were present and they offered her a choice; either she repent and work on her marriage or withdraw her membership from the church. If she refused to withdraw, she would be expelled. In anger the woman wrote a letter of resignation which was read aloud to the church board."

I believe this is a good example of church discipline. The leadership followed the Lord’s instruction (which we have discussed our lesson this morning). I don’t know the outcome of the story. I pray that she repented and was restored.

Second, I heard Chuck Swindol publically rebuke a leader in his church who had sexually abused 24 children. This man, who had a history of sexual perpetration in other churches, came to the Free Evangelical Church in Fullerton CA and quickly established himself as a leader in Sunday School where he had access to little children. No one, including his wife, warned the church about this man’s history of molesting little girls. Years passed and the man was about to be ordained as an elder when a woman reported that he had molested her when she was four years old. Twenty-four women came forward reporting that the man had sexually abused them to. I contacted Pastor Bryce at Insight for Living (972-473-5097)
and he faxed me the statement that Chuck Swindol read to his church. It is in the study guide called “In Defense of the Helpless.”

Chuck Swindol dealt with the sin publically and read the formal steps of church discipline that was taken against him (and his wife who was also culpable because she was aware of his problem with molestation).

It is with great sorrow yet with strong scriptural confidence that we relate to you the following decision of the elder board. A formal motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously that
1. The husband and wife’s church membership shall be revoked.
2. Both shall be forbidden to be on church grounds at any time. Church explained, ‘We feel that is essential for the safety and relief of the victims. The only exception would be when they come for the confrontation session with families and victims.’
3. Both shall remain accountable for a periodic review with members of the Elder Board of this church.
4. The husband will immediately inform the leadership of any other church he and his wife shall attend in the future concerning his past private lifestyle if he is asked to serve or lead in any manner.

This is another good example of how church discipline should be carried out. May God keep us from ever experiencing such tragedy and may he give us the strength and courage to obey his commands if something similar ever happened in our church. May God protect us.

This sermon is sobering. It’s not the kind of sermon you walk away from and think “that was nice” or “that was encouraging.” But it is the word of God and we need to hear it all i.e., the whole counsel of God – I am devoted to preaching it all. As I do I want you to know how much I love you.

We are all sinners. We are all saved by grace. No one expects us to live a perfect life. We all struggle with sin and we all fail. When we fail we can confess our sins to the Lord and receive forgiveness. We can confess our sins to each other and be healed. No one in our church needs this type of discipline. There is a spirit of unity and love in our church and we have so much to be thankful for. We all want to follow Jesus and repent of our sins and be accountable to each other.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 3-4 - Building and Protecting the Body of Christ

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 4)
1 Corinthians 3-4
Building and Protecting the Body of Christ
Jeff Garrett

This is the fourth in a series of sermons from 1 Corinthians called Loving an Imperfect Church. Today we are going to study 1 Corinthians 3-4. Paul begins … 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. Paul said they were “mere infants in Christ”. There is nothing wrong with being an infant if you in the early stages of development. My view of spiritual development is simple and Biblical.

Three Major Stages of Spiritual Development

Infancy – 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Adolescence – Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. If you are eager to learn of Jesus and examine the Scriptures you will grow and mature.

Adulthood – Hebrews 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

2 Corinthians 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature -
… 7 we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began … 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words … 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:

Paul said, 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. Worldliness had stunted their growth. Their worldliness was manifested by their jealousy and quarrelling. The Bible gives strong warnings against quarrelling.

2 Timothy 2:14 Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Quarreling and jealousy stunted their growth and split the church. If you’re going to love an imperfect church you need to get rid of jealousy and quarreling.
Today, Paul gives three pictures of the church. We are 1) God’s field, 2) God’s house, 3) God’s temple, and in chapter 4 Paul tells them that if they don’t repent he is going to cleanse God’s temple with a whip just like Jesus. Let’s think about the first picture.

We are God’s Field.

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, ….

Picture God’s field in Corinth. Paul came first and planted the seed. Apollos came later and watered it. But God made it grow. Here are two points. First, only God can make the church grow. In v.7, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. Don’t boast in the farmers, boast in the Lord who makes you grow. Second, the farmers have the same purpose. in v.8, he said, man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. Paul said, “There is no competition between us, so stop taking pride in one man over against another (4:6).

It’s like they were choosing sides. I’ve seen it happen in churches. One man gets a bunch of groupies and they are against another man who has a following. And then they “group-think” and the tension builds. If you say anything contrary to what the group thinks they’ll say whose side are you on? That’s the problem here and Paul not only tells them to repent he gives them a word picture to remember. You are God’s field. We are God’s farmers. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow. Stop quarreling and give God glory. We’re all in this together.

We are God’s building

Notice how many times Paul used the words “building, build, built, and foundation”

9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are … God's building.10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Picture God’s building in Corinth. It’s not a church building. It’s people. Think of it as God’s house or household. Paul, as an expert builder, laid the foundation on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and they are building on it.

The point is – be careful how you build because the quality of your work will be tested by fire on the Day (notice “Day” is capitalized because it refers the Judgment Day).

The quality of the material used to build in his metaphor is in descending order, moving from the most valuable to least valuable: gold, silver, costly stone, wood, hay, or straw. The last three have one thing in common – they are flammable, combustible. So, if your work is equivalent to gold, silver, or costly stone you will be rewarded because it’s not going to burn. But if you build using wood, hay or straw – it will not last. You will suffer a loss in rewards. You’re going to be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

This is a classic story. It has been told and retold in many different forms. When I read this story I think about another story and I want to see if you can guess what it is. I want to test your knowledge of American Literature. I am thinking of one of the most famous stories in the annals of pros. There have been many books written about it, songs written about it, many cartoons and almost all children know it. In the story there are 3 characters and each of the characters built a house. There is a contrast between the quality of the material used to build. Every house faces a test, and the house that is built with the best material endures but the others do not.

And of course, this is the story of “The Three Little Pigs”. This is a literate group, I can see already. And in the story each little pig builds a house and the big bad wolf comes and knocks at the door and says “little pig, little pig let me come in” and of course the little pig answers, “not by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin” - I just wanted to see if I could get you all to say that this morning. “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down”.

Now the first two houses did not stand because the first little pig made his house out of straw and the second little pig made his house out of sticks. They were foolish because they never stopped to ask the question, “will it stand up to the wolf”? So this is a story about building houses and it’s a very common metaphor. In fact there is another place in the Bible, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told a similar story of the wise and foolish builders. Everybody builds a house and every house faces the storm. If you build your house on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ it will survive the storm. And so this is a very old story, it’s a very common metaphor.

We are God’s building. The church, imperfect as it is, is God’s building. The most important part of a building is the foundation. Paul said, , I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Let me illustrate. I go for gold as I prepare for every sermon. I’ll start preparing for next Sunday’s sermon immediately after I finish preaching this one. I plan them months in advance and every week I go for gold but they all don’t turn out as good as I want them to be. I’ve preach a few that amount two wood, hay or straw. If they don’t have any lasting effect, I’ll still be save because I’m not save by works. But I want to do good work, quality work. I’m driven to do my best because the love of Christ compels me. But I can’t hit a home run every week. If I can hit consistent singles I’m almost satisfied. I maintain I healthy level of dissatisfaction and it makes me want to improve. Same thing with counseling and visiting and encouraging and serving – I go for gold but I don’t reach it. I try not to be too hard on myself. I try not to judge it because my self-evaluation is flawed by ignorance. I can do something that I think is really good and get a lot of positive feedback on – but it may not last. God will decide. I may suffer loss but I will still be saved because of Jesus. His work amounts pure gold and I am in him. Same goes for you.

We are God’s Temple

16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. …

Picture God’s temple in Corinth. It’s not a physical temple. God’s temple is people. Like Peter said in 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. Strong words. Stronger than any we’ve read so far. Do you were how Jesus cleansed the temple?

John 2:13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Paul says he is going to do something similar if they do not repent of arrogance. 4:18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

This passage teaches us that we must consider the church sacred. He’s not talking about the institution church. He’s talking about the body of Christ which is made up of people. Sometimes God has to cleanse the temple but we have a choice as to how it is done. If we are arrogant, he may use a whip. But if we live in a spirit of repentance, he will cleanse in love and with a gentle spirit.

Three Takeaways

Focus on planting, not harvesting.
Focus on quality, not just quantity.
Maintain a humble spirit of repentance.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 1:18-3:5 - Fools for Christ

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 3)
1 Corinthians 1:18-3:5
Fools for Christ
Jeff Garrett

Susie May reads select passages from 1 Corinthians 1:17 through 3:23

"God's Own Fool" (Michael Card)

It seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's holy wisdom is foolish to man
He must have seemed out of His mind
For even His family said He was mad
And the priest said, "A demon's to blame,"
So God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane

Chorus:
When we in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
When we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong
And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable
And come be a fool as well

Verse 2:
So come lose your life for a carpenter's Son
For a madman who died for a dream
Then you'll have the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam
So surrender the hunger to say you must know
And the courage to say I believe
Let the power of paradox open your eyes
And blind those who say they can see

Repeat Chorus

And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable
And come be a fool as well
People did not know what to do with Jesus.

His family thought he was crazy. Mark 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

The priest thought he was demon possessed – Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

The Greeks thought anyone who followed him was a fool - 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The Jews believed in the supernatural. They were looking for a miracle worker. We would believe if we could see some miraculous signs. But miracles do not guarantee faith. During the exodus all the Israelites saw miracles and all of them, over the age of twenty, with the exception of two died in the wilderness because of unbelief.

The Greeks were rationalist. They loved philosophy. Corinth was only 50 miles west of Athens and they wanted to be just like the Athenians. They remembered glory days of Athens [pic of Athenian philosophers] when great advances were made in mathematics, art, astronomy, architecture, and philosophy. Athens was the home of Socrates and Plato and the adopted home of Epicurus and Aristotle.

Do you remember how people reacted to Paul’s preaching in Athens? While Paul was in Athens in Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, … and that’s where Paul preached his famous sermon on the Unknown God on Mar’s Hill [pic of Parthenon atop the Athenian Acropolis] which focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. But … 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneer … To “sneer” means to scorn, to scoff, to mock because it seemed so foolish. They said, “Do you expect intellectuals like us to believe the message like that? Do you think we’re stupid? We’re too sophisticated for that nonsense!

Perhaps that’s why Paul came to Corinth in weakness and fear and much trembling (2:1). Maybe somewhere between Athens and Corinth Paul resolved to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He preached the gospel in simplicity and ing humility. The gospel does not need to be couched is fancy rhetoric or superior wisdom. The power is in the story, not the story-teller.

The Corinthians themselves were living proof that salvation does not depend on human wisdom and understanding. 1:26 Brothers, 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. You are living proof that God does not save because they have a high I.Q.

Why did God choose the lowly things and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are? 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

The only way to know God is for God to reveal himself. What human philosophy could you use to know God? Platonic dualism, Hinduism, Zin Buddhism, New Age Mysticism, Empiricism, Marxism, or read the ancient writings of Socrates or Aristotle, or maybe you just make up your own and meditate and get in touch with your inner being and discover the God of the universe. You could no more understand God by human philosophies than a dog could understand the anatomy of a human being. The only way to know God is to know Jesus. The Holy Spirit is your teacher.

2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The reason the gospel is foolish to unbelievers is because they does not have the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand the word of God through revelation, inspiration, and illumination.
Jesus is the revelation of God. The Bible is the inspired word of God. And illumination means that the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s word in our mind so we can understand in Christ.

2:15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: … The spiritual man can evaluate all things because he has the Spirit of God – he has the mind of Christ. But he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment. Some of us spend too much time worried about what other people think of us. 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court – if you judge me as a fool, so be it. I know whom I have believed in! I can evaluate all things because Jesus is my Lord and the Holy Spirit is my teacher.

2:10b …The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. It’s like the Spirit is searching for something that he does not know. He knows all things for he is God. This is just Paul’s way of saying, don’t be so impressed by worldly wisdom and don’t think that Christianity is void of wisdom. The Spirit knows all things, even the deep things of God.

Learning the deep things of God does not make you proud, it makes you worship! After explaining the wisdom of God and God’s sovereignty in election in Romans 9, 10, and 11 – one of the deepest and most difficult sections of scripture Paul ends it in praise. Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The gospel is so simple that a child can understand it and it is so deep and wide and high that you cannot understand it. 2:9 as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" — 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. We have a message of wisdom that is greater than Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. We speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

So don’t think we have no message of wisdom. 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, … but they were not mature or spiritual enough to receive it. 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

Please understand that there was no competition between Paul and Apollos and Peter. Paul said, 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. But you are tearing God’s building down.

3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

You are tearing it a part with your quarrelling. Quarreling about baptism and who you follow – whether Paul or Apollos or Peter. The Corinthians had carried their sectarian attitudes from their philosophical parties into the church. According to John MacArthur, there were about 50 different philosophical parties in Corinth. And these Christians apparently carried this spirit of debating and arguing and quarreling into the church. It’s sort of like carrying political issues or attitudes. One group is for Hannity and the other is for Colms. And Paul is saying that it’s tearing the church a part. And you are so impressed with philosophy and human wisdom and you worry that people are going to call you a fool. You’re deceiving yourself by thinking that the gospel needs to be couch in superior wisdom and fancy rhetoric and persuasive arguments.

3:18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

If the world calls us fools, so be it.

Michael Card – God’s Own Fool

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Unity in Christ

Loving an Imperfect Church (Part 2)
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Unity in Christ
Jeff Garrett

Sean Nine reads 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

God has blessed our church with a spirit of unity and peace. The purpose of this lesson is to encourage what is already being practiced. I want to share four ways we can maintain unity and peace.

How to Maintain Unity
1. Affirm Your Love.
2. Acknowledge the name of our Lord Jesus.
3. Agree on the essentials.
4. Avoid quarreling.


1. Affirm Your Love.

10 I appeal to you, brothers,

In spite of all of their problems, Paul appealed to them as brothers and sisters. The first 10 verses contain 14 affirmations. Paul affirms their faith, their salvation, spiritual gifts and said that he thanked God for them. Paul approached them with grace and peace. If you are going to maintain unity you need to appeal to each other in brotherly love.

2. Acknowledge the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ … .

Notice that Paul used the personal pronoun “our”. He is not just my Lord or your Lord but he is our Lord. To acknowledge his name means that your relationship is under his authority. Imagine you’re driving to Myrtle Beach for a family vacation and your children start arguing and there is no peace in the car. So you pull over and say “Stop fighting! Apologize to your brother. If you can’t get along we are going back home.” And they stop arguing and in a few minutes they are playing and laughing together. If you had not used your authority they would have argued all the way to Myrtle Beach! Adults need to bring their relationship under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ who prayed that we would be one and said “Love one another as I have loved you.”

3. Agree on the essentials.

10 … 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.

Notice the word “all”. Paul did not say that they have to agree on “all things” but “all of you agree with one another.” Paul is not demanding uniformity, he’s pleading for unity. Uniformity means that we see all things alike and that is not possible because there are different levels of understanding and maturity, different skills in interpretation. We all carry baggage from the past that shapes our interpretation and perception and this makes uniformity impossible and undesirable. We do not need to agree on all things to have unity. We only need to agree on the essentials. We have a motto that goes like this: In essentials we have unity, in nonessentials we have liberty and in all things we have love.

Now, what are the essentials? Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. The attitude of unity is in verse 2-3. The foundation of unity is in verses 4-6. You could narrow this list of seven ones done to one by saying if Jesus is your Lord then we are brothers and sisters. Jesus is really the only essential because if you have Jesus you have everything else.

What are the nonessentials? Anything that falls outside the realm of the seven ones of Ephesians 4 or I like to reduce it to one thing i.e., Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can have different views on eschatology, instrumental music, frequency of the Lord’s Supper, celebrating holidays, women’s role, church organization, methods for evangelism, small groups, etc. You are a Christian if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ regardless of your convictions on peripheral issues. In essentials we have unity, in nonessentials we have liberty and in all things we have love. If we are going to maintain unity we need to affirm our love, acknowledge the Lord Jesus, agree on the essentials, and finally …

4. Avoid quarreling.

11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

Paul had heard that they were quarreling. I think it’s significant that he revealed his source. Paul said, “I heard it from Chloe’s family.” You cannot resolve church conflict anonymously. When I receive anonymous letters or emails I put them in the trash. One time D.L. Moody received an anonymous letter that had one word written on it - “Fool”. Moody said it was the only letter he had ever received where a person signed their name and forgot to write the message. Paul revealed his source and, when possible, we should too.

They were quarreling about two things: who to follow and who baptized them. Look at v.12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." That’s why Paul asked three rhetorical questions, the answer to all three is an emphatic “No!” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

They were bragging about who baptized them e.g., “I was baptized by Paul but you were baptized by Timothy who is not an apostle.” Or “I was baptized by Apollos or Peter and you were baptized by a no name. So my baptism is better than yours.” Paul said, …

14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The cross looses its power when we have a sectarian spirit. Imagine believers surrounding the cross quarreling over baptism and loyalty to our denomination. One says “I follow the Church of Christ, another, “I follow the Baptists,” another, “I follow the Lutheran Church,” another, “I follow the Catholic Church” or the Methodist or the Presbyterian Church. And then we start arguing about baptism. “If you are not baptized by a Church of Christ preacher for the remission of your sins you are not a Christian.” Imagine being so distracted by quarreling that we forget about people who do not know Jesus and the cross looses its drawing power.

Let me give you two examples.

When I was a senior in high school I repented of my sins and made it my goal to convert as many friends as possible. My intentions were good but my approach was not. I emphasized baptism more than Jesus. Two people were baptized. I baptized a girl named Lisa and she went with me to the Danville Church of Christ. I felt real good about that. But I didn’t baptize the other one and I questioned the validity of his baptism. His name was Jim Burgess. I lifted weights with Jim every day and I put so much pressure him to get baptize. I said “Jim, you are going to go to hell if you don’t get baptized.” One night, I was at the Madison Civic Center, and Jim came running to me and he was so excited and happy. He stood in front of me with his hair still wet. He said, “Jeff, you will not believe this but I just got baptized!” I said “Really? Who baptized you?” He said, “My grandma’s pastor”. I said “He’s a Baptist! Why in the world did you let a Baptist baptize you? It didn’t do any good.” And then I explained all the reasons why his baptism was not valid. The name of the church is wrong. The Baptist use instrumental music and they believe in once saved always saved. Their organizational structure is wrong. They are a bunch of premillennialist and they believed you are saved before you are baptized. “Did he say ‘for the remission of sins?’” On and on I went and poor Jim just stood there and listened to my sectarian views. To make matters worse, I even called his grandma and asked her “What did your pastor say when he baptized Jim? Did he say ‘for the remission of sins?’” How could I have been so self-righteous, so sectarian, so wrong?

Last September at my high school reunion I apologized to Jim and he accepted my apology. Jim smiled and said “I always knew there were something wrong with you anyway.” He had already forgiven me but he remembered me calling his grandmother and all the things I said.

Here’s the second example. Years later I studied Romans and began to understand the cross of Christ, justification by faith, and that salvation was by grace through faith in Jesus alone. When I studied the Bible I saw Jesus on every page. I began to understand that there are Christians in all these denominations that I used to condemn.

When I was on vacation I attended other churches. I read the writings of John Stott from the All Souls Church in London. I listened to a pastor from the Evangelical Free Church by the name of Chuck Swindol, and a Nazarene by the name of James Dobson, and a Presbyterian named James Kennedy, and Baptists like Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. I became familiar with the work of women like Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. I attended Promise Keeper Conferences with 60,000 men from every denomination that packed football arenas. I prayed with Catholic priests over dying babies and Lutheran ministers over people who had cancer. I did not agree with everything they said but I didn’t need to. I appeal to them as brothers, acknowledged the Lord Jesus, agreed on the essentials and avoided quarreling with them. I just enjoyed them and learned from them. I was so excited about the things I was learning. It’s like my eyes were open to the body of Christ and when I studied the Bible I saw Jesus on every page. And I said, “This is it! I need to focus on Jesus and love people.” I was so excited.

But this strained my relationship with family and friends. They thought I had fell off the deep end. One time mom said to me with tears, “You sound just like one of those denominational preachers!” I said “I think we need to change the subject.” So I talked about other things and I didn’t push it or quarrel with them because I loved them. Later, I wrote them a letter and affirmed my love for them and why I believed the way I do.

Later on, through their own study, independent of me, they arrived in the same place. Dad began to preach through Romans and Galatians, focusing on the grace of the Lord Jesus, and he preached the gospel in a way I will never be able to. And mom, independent of me, changed her views to focus on Jesus and she taught others about the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same churches we grew up in. She did not quarrel with them, she loved them and taught the way of God more adequately and they received it and respected her for it.

Some of you may have experienced the same thing. People may question you and criticize you. They may say “Do you use instrumental music? Do you believe the Church of Christ is the only true church? Do you believe it’s Biblical for a woman to stand up front, read a scripture or pray? How can you continue to go to Norway when it is not even a true church?” And when they say those things, don’t quarrel with them. Love them. Change the subject. Focus on Jesus. Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” It’s not your job to change their mind. Just accept them where they are by appealing to them as brothers and sisters, acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, agree on the essentials and avoid quarreling so that the cross is not emptied of it’s power. And when you do that you can live in the assurance that you are in Christ.

A few weeks ago I was called a man who managed a radio station in the town I grew up in. I was asking if he would play two songs I had written about growing up in Boone County. He asked me a few questions and realized who I was. He said, “Did you used to go to Danville? You’re the fellow who became a preacher. I know your mom and dad.” Then he said, “You don’t play your guitar in church do you?” I said “Yes.” He said, “You’re going against your upbringing.” I’m not rejecting my upbringing. I’m taking the very best of my upbringing and building on it.

Some people are so emotionally tied to the past or a denomination and they feel like they are rejecting it when they belong to our church family. Don’t view it that way. Since no church is perfect you should expect change as your relationship with Jesus grows. You’re not rejecting you upbringing you are building on the best of it to improve your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Your views are going to change over time but the one thing that will never change is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Time

1 Corinthians 1:1-10