The 3^rd problem – Division in the church – spirtual immaturity… vs. 1-8

• Spiritual vs. carnal… vs. 1-4
  • The 3^rd reason for division in the church – the immaturity of the believers…
  • Paul rebuked the church – I could not speak to you as ‘Spiritual’ instead as ‘Carnal’…
    • Spiritual – mature in the faith – able to handle the ‘meat’ – deeper truths of God’s Word…
      • Understanding life is about far more than momentary needs and pleasure…
      • Recognizing the consequences – both temporary and eternal – for actions…
      • Desiring to please and serve the Lord in both actions and thought…
    • Carnal – immature in the faith  – only able to swallow the ‘milk’ – simple teachings…
      • Those who know Jesus – but live for their flesh – their basic desires…
      • Live to eat / sleep / enjoy the pleasures of this passing life…
      • Still bound to their sin – they live only to please themselves…
  • I fed you with milk – not with meat…
    • At first – Paul could only feed the believers with ‘milk’ – which is to be expected…
      • The believers in Corinth had not grown in their walk with the Lord…
      • But right up to the writing of Paul’s letter – they still could only receive ‘milk’!
      • They had never grown in their faith – they had never matured in the Lord…
      • When we first come to know the Lord – we are not going to understand much…
      • There is a LOT about Jesus and God’s Word we do not comprehend…
      • We are going to make a lot of mistakes – and struggle to overcome our sin…
      • But we should not stay that way – as we get into God’s Word – we should grow…
      • It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise when they mess their diapers 
      • But when a 20-year-old adult is still on the ‘bottle’ – still wearing diapers…
      • It is a tragedy – something has gone terribly wrong…
      • When a believer whose been saved for 20 years – is carnal – still living for this world
      • It is a tragedy – they never grew in the Lord – they never matured in their faith…
    • When those who should be teaching others – still need to be taught simple truth…
      • * Hebrews 5:12 – “You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food.”
      • As believers in Jesus we should – by spending time in God’s Word…
      • Be growing out of ‘milk’ – the simple truths – salvation by faith / eternal judgment…
      • Growing in the Lord to a place where we can begin to teach others about Jesus!
  • The proof of their childishness…
    • The believers in Corinth should have been zealous – for Jesus…
      • Instead they zealously debated with each other over their ‘divisions’…
      • Their ‘denominational’ attitude – I am of Paul / I am of Apollos…
      • Showed their immaturity – showed they were still babes in Christ…
      • Paul does not hold back here – those who divide over denominations – are immature
      • People who argue over being Catholic / Baptist / Adventist…
      • Reveal they are either not saved – or have never grown in the Lord…
    • Because they are acting no differently than before they knew Jesus!
      • People in the world love to divide – they have their groups / barkada…
      • In the world it is all about who is your family / town / county…
      • Men have fight and kill each other just because they are rival sports teams…
      • But it should not be the same in the church – we are to be united by love!
      • John 13:35 – “All will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
      • When we divide the church over denomination – we show we are like the world!
        
• Planting and watering… vs. 5-7
  • It’s not about the messenger…
    • Who is Paul – who is Apollos – just servants of God – who told you about Jesus…
    • If you got a letter in the mail with 1000 pesos from a good friend…
    • You don’t thank the messenger – you go and thank the friend who gave the money…
    • In the same way it does not matter who told you about Jesus – the Gospel…
    • It does not matter what church you got saved in – the point is you received Jesus!
  • One plants – another waters – God gives the increase!
    • One man might sow a seed – another adds the water – but only God can make it grow!
    • So it is not about the one who plants or waters – the credit goes to God!
    • The one who plants and the one who waters work together so the plant will grow
    • Paul planted the seed of the Gospel  – and Apollos watered those seeds…
    • But it was God who ultimately caused the people to grow in the Lord!
    • Churches – pastors – do not get the credit for people growing in Jesus…
    • You might have gotten saved (planted) listening to a pastor – in one church…
    • Then you grew in God’s Word (watered) in a different church…
    • That does not make one church better than the other – both were used!
    • And ultimately it was God who used both to plant and water you in the Lord!
    • So don’t look to the church – don’t give credit to men – give credit to Jesus!

A warning to pastors… vs. 8-15

• The reward for the labor… vs. 8-10
  • So if all the credit goes to God – what do the Pastor’s get…
    • In farming – both the planter and one who waters receive a reward for their labor…
    • If either one failed to do their part – then the crop would fail…
    • The reward they receive is the fruit that comes from their combined labor…
  • Their reward for serving God…
    • 1^st – The church in Corinth was God’s field – Paul was sent to ‘farm’ in…
      • The reward Paul received was seeing the fruit in the lives of those who believed…
      • He planted / Apollos watered – both rejoiced in seeing the people grow – fruit!
      • It is a sad thing to me that many pastors today think they are the ‘only farmer’…
      • As though there is only one church – their church – that is the ‘right’ church…
      • The joy of the pastor should be to watch the people grow and mature…
      • No matter where they attend church – we are all one in Christ!
    • 2^nd – The church (people) was God’s building – Paul was sent to build…
      • The reward Paul received was seeing the church of God built in Corinth…
      • The reward of the pastor – is seeing people grow and the church of God built…
      • My greatest joy is seeing people grow in the Lord – bear fruit for the Lord…
      • I am constantly amazed as I get to be a part of God building His church!
      • III John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

• The works tested by fire… vs. 10-15
  • Paul was the wise master-builder (architect) of the church in Corinth…
    • Paul set the foundation of the church – cause he was the first to share the Gospel there…
    • Other men came – and added to the work – building on that foundation…
    • But he warns – they needed to be careful on how they added to the church…
  • Because the only foundation – is Jesus Christ…
    • Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church…”
    • The ‘Rock’ that is the foundation of the church – is Jesus Christ!
    • The foundation that Paul set – the only foundation that the church can stand upon!
    • There were those who sought to ‘replace’ the foundation…
    • They wanted to build the church upon a denomination – name – rather than Jesus!
    • When a church uses a man’s name / churches name – more than Jesus names…
    • When a denomination become more important than Jesus – wrong foundation…
  • If any one builds upon the foundation (Jesus) – their work will be tested…
    • It will be tested to see if it is Gold/Silver/or precious stones or Wood/Hay/ Straw…
    • It will be tested – by putting the ‘work’ through the fire – on THE Day (Judgment Day)…
    • The idea is the works of pastors/leaders who serve and teach in the church – are tested
    • Was their work based on Jesus – or on their own name / their own efforts…
  • If anyone’s ‘work’ endures – he will receive a reward…
    • If the foundation of their work was Jesus – then the work will endure…
    • It will be obvious because of the fruit that comes from the work – mature believers!
    • You can always spot a church that is founded on Jesus – the people grow in the Lord…
    • Faith comes by hearing God’s Word – Romans 10:17 – getting to know Jesus…
    • The fruit of the church is gold/silver/precious – because it lasts – John 15:16
    • In the same way you always spot a church that is full or wood/hay/ and straw…
    • There is no maturity in the believers – 20 years down the road – still babes…
    • Still arguing over denominations – still living like they did before they knew Jesus!
  • If anyone’s ‘work’ is burned – he will suffer loss – but himself will be saved…
    • The pastors work is burned up (sermons, lectures, books, teaching, all dry as dust)
    • He will still be saved – but all of his efforts are lost in the fire…
    • It is the tragedy of a fruitless life – a minister who built so poorly on the true foundation 
    • His work goes up in smoke – His sermons were empty words without building power… 
    • They left no mark in the lives of the hearers – it is the picture of a wasted life!

Therefore do not cause division… vs. 16-23

And you are Christ’s – and Christ is God’s!

You are the church of G od… vs. 16-17 

Paul turns back to the saints of Corinth – you are the temple of God…

The Holy Spirit  (who is God) dwells within you – within the Church of God…

The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…

There is only one church of God – we are all part of the Body of Christ…

No matter what name – no matter what traditions – we are all part of God’s church!

If you destroy the building of God (the church) – God will destroy you…

Going back to the idea of causing divisions within the church – tearing down the church

The punishment is equally effective – God will wreck the church-wrecker!

If we cause division within God’s church – if we focus on denominations – watch out…

If someone beat up your wife – what would you do to them…

We are the Bride of Christ – what do you suppose God will do to someone who hurts us

Do not follow the wisdom of men… vs. 18-23

If any of you are wise in this world – become a fool for Jesus…

Cause the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God – the thoughts of the wise – futile!

Just because others divide – do not follow in their example – don’t follow men’s wisdom!

Keep in simple – stay firmly planted on the foundation of Jesus!

Don’t settle for less – don’t rob yourself of the blessings of the riches of the church…

Not just one church – but the blessing of knowing all of God’s kids…

Everything is already yours – Paul / Apollos / the whole world!

Things present – things to come – life and death – are all yours!