September 19, 2021

How do you view the Church?

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Beginning a new series looking at Paul's letter to the Corinthians
    • May not look at every chapter or verse (it is a long book)
    • Starting with the first 9 verses
  • The title of tonight's message - 'How do you view the Church?'
    • Quote from Spurgeon
  • It is the church of God in Corinth
    • The church does not belong to Paul, Peter or Apollos
    • The church belongs to God, loved by Jesus, set apart and sanctified by Jesus
  • How do you consider the Church of Jesus Christ?
    • We are a work in progress
    • He is perfecting His Church
    • The Church is precious to God
  • We must be careful in our assessments of the church - if we see defects we must first see these in ourselves
    • Example of Nehemiah
    • When we consider the faults and failings of the church - we consider our own faults and failings first
  • As we look at the first nine verses - we must remember that Paul is writing to a very problematic church
    • It had come out of a very pagan culture
    • There was lots of compromise and severe sin
    • The people were very immoral - the word Corinth was a byword for immorality
      • Explanation
    • Corinth was very materialistic
    • It was a place of much idol worship
  • These people had been saved out very difficult backgrounds
    • There was a spiritual battle going on
    • There was a big problem with worldiness
  • Paul does not mention any of these defects in the opening of his letter
    • If the Corinthian church was somewhere near us - we might say have nothing to do with it
    • Thank goodness the Apostle Paul was not like this and had himself received the grace of God
    • Having experienced God's love he loves the Corinthian church
    • Instead he begins by commending and confirming before correcting them

Problems in the church

  • The cult of the celebrity
    • They were following different people
  • A split church - carnal
    • Not mature but infighting, envy and strife
    • A problematic church - but a real church of Jesus Christ
  • Sexual immorality, covetous, greed, idolatry (1 Cor 6:9-11)
    • They were cleansed and set apart by God
    • Consider the Church of Lord Jesus Christ on a broad basis
      • If they are born again then they are the people of God
      • If they are struggling and battling against sin they are still the people of God - works in progress
  • People in the church falling out with one another and taking each other to Court
    • 1 Cor 6
  • Incest (1 Cor 5)
  • Drunkenness at the Lord's table
  • There were many problems in this church
    • Never the less it was a church of Jesus Christ
    • Paul address them as beloved
    • Paul calls them brothers
    • Paul saw the church as a bride of Christ
  • Paul brings his authority as an apostle to bear v1
    • He writes alongside Sosthenes (Acts 18)
    • He writes to those called to be holy
  • They may have problems but the are to call on Jesus Christ
    • Grace to them

To ask some questions

Reflect - what is your view of the Church of Jesus Christ

Do you see the church purely on a horizontal level?

  • Do you think of the:
    • People, their backgrounds, the characters that make up the church?
    • Structure?
    • Leadership?
    • Decisions that are made?
    • Activities and events?
  • Do you think just on the horizontal?
    • The New Testament places little emphasis on these things
    • Instead it focuses on what God is doing in and through His Church - the vertical
  • Paul thought of the Church in Corinth being in Christ Jesus
    • x10 times
      • United by Christ
      • Called by Christ
      • God's people call on the name of Jesus Christ
    • When we consider the body we must always consider the head
      • Be careful how you speak as the church belongs to Jesus Christ

What is your greatest desire for the Church?

  • Do you wish the church success? - consider Ps 122
    • An increase in numbers
    • A greater influence on society
    • A unity
    • Holiness
  • What is your biggest desire for the church?
  • All these are laudable but v3 combines them all
    • Grace and Peace - beyond just a greeting, it is a prayer and desire
      • The church can only be holy by the grace of God
      • The church can only grow in peace
      • This only comes from the Lord Jesus Christ
    • We need the Grace and Peace from God for a stronger and holy church
      • We need peace to have unity
        • Disunity does not bring blessing
      • David longed for the peace amongst God's people in Jerusalem

How much do we complain/thank God for the church?

  • v4 - Paul thanks God
    • For the grace and gifts given to the people of the church
      • How much we complain - examples
    • Paul was concerned that the church would not complain
      • 1 Cor 10:10-11
    • So often we complain
      • Yes we must think things through
      • We must not have a complaining spirit
    • Paul did not let the views of a few colour the majority
    • Examples of what to thank God for
      • Paul always gave thanks to God
      • We need to cultivate a thankful spirit
      • Paul is praying for different churches
      • God wants us to remember whole churches

What can we give thanks for?

  • An enrichment by God (v5)
    • People who are great speakers and knowledge
      • He does later have to deal with their pride caused by knowledge
    • No shortage of gifts (v7)
      • Tongues
      • Prophesy
      • Miracles
      • Administration
      • Words of knowledge
  • They eagerly await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
    • There was real vibrancy amongst the church
  • What can we say about the church in the UK?
    • We must give thanks for church planting projects
    • A resurgence of reformed theology
    • A multiplicity of God-honouring churches
    • A resurgence of sound theological books
    • A resurgence of biblical teaching around the world
  • As people are saved from the world - the church will become 'messy'
    • There will be problems to work through

Do we focus on the faithfulness of God above all?

  • Paul was confident that God would complete His work in them (v8)
    • 2 Corinthians - there was great zeal from the church as they had repented of their sins
  • 1 Cor 4:14-16
    • He is wanting to bring them back to the gospel and a holy life
  • 1 Cor 16:19-24
    • Paul tells the other churches about Corinth and they greet the church
    • The brothers and sisters greet them

Closing Remarks

  • We have seen how the Apostle Paul loved the Church in Corinth
  • We will look at some difficult things
    • We need to focus on God, not the people of God (v8)
    • God is faithful
  • We need to confirm and encourage one another
    • Yes sin must be corrected
    • First from a heart of love (as the Apostle Paul did)
  • How do you view the church of Christ - it is the church of God which is at Corinth
« Parable of the Lost Son The Missionary Call »