How do you view the Church?
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