UNITY IN THE CHURCH
1 Corinthians 1:1-16
THE BLESSING
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
According to Acts chapter 2:1-4, the church started with 120
disciples in one room in Jerusalem.
They were all on one accord. They all received the Holy
Spirit at once. They were empowered to
Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They all began speaking in different
languages
They had not learned. The Holy Spirit kicked started the
ministry.
The church was qualified, authorized, and empowered to speak
a different language that world had
Not learned. That language was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No
matter what our personal circumstances
Or agendas are, they have to be laid aside, so the Gospel of
Jesus Christ becomes the light the world sees.
The City of Corinth was a port city of wealth and commerce. It
had a mixed culture because
Of it fishing activities. It was the center of idol worship.
They worshiped the Roman goddess Venus.
She was the goddess of sexual love and beauty. The Temple
housed 1000 prostitutes.
It was the grace of God to establish a church in the midst
of moral decay.
Paul established the church after traveling from Athens.
He had the awesome job of bringing light to a dark
community.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he preached the gospel in
Corinth for almost 2 years,
The Gospel has the power to overcome all sorts of evil among
all classes of people.
God opens the hearts of men and women to receive the Word preached
by his
Disciples.
Proclaiming the Word is the beginning of changing hearts in
new believers.
Encouraging and promoting the study of the Word is the
constant work inside the
Church. The power of a convicted heart is work outside the
church.
THE
BLESSINGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
V:1. Paul, called to
be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in
Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call
on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
A.
It is good to hear words of encouragement from someone
who knows us and has
Our best interest.
1.
It is good to be reminded of what Jesus has done
for us.
2.
It is good to be reminded of our mission.
3.
It is good to be reminded that we are part of the
worldwide body of
Christ.
B.
It is good to be included in the prayers of
other believers.
1.
It is good when we pray the favor of God on
others
2.
It is good when we pray the peace of God for
others.
3.
Our thoughts and prayers unite us in the body of
Christ.
4.
We were cleansed with Word and set aside to be
in the Lord.
5.
We have been positioned for the work of Christ.
6.
We Have God the Father and the Lord Jesus seated
at the right
Hand
of the Father making intercession for us.
THE BLESSING
OF POSITION AND GIFTS
V:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given
you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all
your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ
was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you
eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you
strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, is faithful.
A.
We ought to be thankful for all brothers and
sisters in Christ. Whatever good they do will have an effect on us.
1.
Each of us has been given God’s grace.
2.
Out of His love, God favored each of us with His
call.
3.
He gave us His grace first then His peace,
a.
We have access to peace, but we must accept it.
b.
Once His peace is accepted, we must pursue it.
c.
We must make all efforts to stay in a state of
peace.
4.
We have been enriched in speaking the Word of
God.
5.
We have been enriched in the knowledge of God.
a.
We must study the Word to apply it to our
situations.
b.
We must meditate on the Word to continually be ready
In an instance to proclaim and apply it.
6.
We have been equipped with spiritual gifts to
bless others in the Lord.
7.
We have been strengthened to remain blameless under
trials
And temptations.
8.
We have been called into fellowship with our
Lord Jesus Christ.
9.
Maintaining our fellowship with Jesus is our
daily work.
10.
It is that continuing fellowship with Jesus that
prepares us for the
Work
outside the Church.
THE
BLESSING OF UNITY
V:10. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 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.
11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are
quarrels among you.
A.
There is nothing more important to Satan than
creating division in the church.
1.
When we disagree with one another, we open the
door for Satan to slip in.
2.
A Church can be torn down from the inside when
there are quarrels of
Any kind among the members.
3.
Satan specializes in divisions, therefore we
must be on guard.
4.
Divisions arise when there are differences in
opinions.
5.
The Word of God is not based on our opinions or
desires.
6.
Divisions start when we oppose the Word of God.
7.
All activities in the church should be governed
by the Word.
B.
Quarrels should be a red flag to stop and pray.
1.
Quarrels should be a red flag to study the Word.
2.
Quarrels should be a red flag to study similar
situations in the Word.
3.
Quarrels should be a red flag that Satan is
operating in the minds of
The members.
Luke
11:17
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them:
"Any kingdom divided against itself will be
ruined, and a house divided against
itself will fall.
4.
Adherence to the Word of God unites us.
THE
BLESSING OF TEACHING SCRIPTURE
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."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you
baptized into the name of Paul? 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.)
A.
Divisions can occur when we don’t understand the
meanings of the Word.
1.
We cannot apply the Word without an
understanding.
2.
We cannot get an understanding without a
teacher.
3.
You and I have the completed Bible and many
commentaries, plus
The Holy Spirit.
4.
The early church in Corinth had only a memory of
the words of Paul.
The Old Testament was complete, but it may not have arrived in Corinth.
B.
Today we do not have an excuse for not studying
the Word
1.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of
truth.
2.
The disputed issue was a misinterpretation of
baptism.
3.
Different Christians had put the importance on
who performed their baptism.
4.
They did not understand that the physical
baptism was an outward sign
Of their confession of faith in Jesus Christ.
5.
Paul explained that the physical baptism by him
or any other person
Did not affect their faith In Jesus Christ.
6.
We are baptized in the name of Jesus not the
name of the baptizer.
The key point in the lesson is to make sure we understand
the scripture pertaining
To the issue. Make
sure the issue is worth fighting for.
Paul said this
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified.
1.
Much of what we argue about has nothing to with
salvation.
2.
We can disagree on tradition but never on
scripture.
3.
Disagreement on the interpretation of scripture
is a cause for
Immediate and intense Bible Study.
4.
We must study to unified in the purpose of our
call.
5.
We must study to be unified in the purpose of
our work.
6.
We must study to be unified in the purpose of
our salvation
7.
We must study to be empowered for the outreach
work of the
Gospel.
Rev. M. Mitchell
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