Sermon notes

The situation – Jesus is perfect, but his followers, the church, are not

• The Corinthian church was in ancient Greece and was started during Paul’s second missionary journey, around 50 to 52 AD. See Acts 18:1-18 for more details.

• The church was in a place known for sexual immorality and idolatry. Many Christians there used to live this way until the good news of Jesus changed their lives.

• However, the church in Corinth still faced many problems. Some Christians found it hard to let go of their old habits, so Paul wrote two caring letters to help them address these issues and return to the right path.

Application 

The church in Corinth reminds us that no Christian church is perfect, and every church has its strengths and weaknesses. Corinth was blessed to have the Apostle Paul, who addressed their concerns with a pastoral heart; likewise, we have the wonderful books of the Bible to help us when we face struggles and challenges in the church. 

The Problem – The church (Corinth) was conceding own goals  – The Church was working against itself

1Co 1:10 MSG  I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.

1Co 1:12  I’ll tell you exactly what I was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.”

Why do some people struggle to get along? 

Why do relationships break down? 

Why is there tension and sometimes misunderstandings in the church and in everyday life?

The Solution – Consider the following points

1Co 1:13  I ask you, “Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptised in Paul’s name?”

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The Celebration – What would SBC look like if we had genuine unity in the church?

1Co 1:17  God didn’t send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn’t send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the centre—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.

• – Corinth was a gifted church with an array of spiritual gifts and blessings, but without unity, they were powerless.

Application 

Corinth teaches us that we are one team, not separate groups within the church. Jesus leads us, and we all work together to carry out his plan for the world. This way, others can believe the gospel and experience the love and joy we share through Christ.

Questions

1. How do the divisions in the Corinthian church compare to divisions in churches today?
2. What social and cultural forces present the greatest threat to the unity of Christ’s church today? 
3. Why is division so damaging to a local church and its witness to the world?
4. What can your church do to build unity and guard against division?
5. At what point is it necessary for a parting of ways if reconciling is not possible? Does the Bible give grounds for the removal of a church member? (See Acts 15:36-41)