December 5, 2021

Maturity and Growth

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
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N.B. The audio goes a bit funny between 9:30 and 10:30 minutes
Introduction

Paul was writing his first letter to the Corinthians

It was about 5 years after he last visited the church
He preached earlier for about 18 months
He has news of the Corinthian Church from Chloe’s household – chapter 1

You can read of the division in 1 Corinthians

Paul was writing from Ephesus

He longed to come to Corinth

Lots of problems

Doctrinal problems – 1 Cor 15
Moral problems – 1 Cor 5 &  6
Questions of conscience

The first problem to deal with – unity

If the church is not united – the other problems cannot be solved
Paul pleads with the church – 1 Cor 1:10
It is right that we examine ourselves before coming to the Communion Table

He returns to the subject of division in chapter 3

He tells them three times that they are carnal
They are not spiritual but carnal (v1)
They do not have spiritual discernment
Paul must go back to the basics with them

Looking at negative verses in a positive way

What is Christian maturity?
What makes a church grow? (v5-9)

What is Christian maturity?

They are enriched in all things – 1 Cor 1:5,7

Yet they were not mature
This is a lesson for us!
The graces of the Holy Spirit are more important on the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Paul was not able to go into deep matters with them

They were spiritually dull
They could not be taught doctrine
Even now (after 5 years) they could still not receive Paul’s teaching

Paul teaches the same truth

Simple for the immature
For the mature – given it’s full understanding
Example

James 1:22-25

v22 – The Corinthians were hearing the word but not practicing it
v25 – The mature Christian

The Corinthian church are taken up with matters of the world

See chapter 2
They weren’t looking for the word in power but putting too much emphasis on the preacher
They were interested in how eloquent the preacher was
Corinth was said to be the centre of intellectual culture – this spirit had entered the church

Heb 6:1 – the writer desires the Christian grows

We need to put on Christ daily
We need to put off the old man
We need to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit

Carnal Christians

Paul is not setting up a different category of Christian – as some have taught

The spiritual vs the carnal

Rom 8:9

We are in the spirit
We are no longer in the flesh

Rom 6:11

Dead in sin but alive to Christ

All Christians are spiritual

These Christians are giving way to the flesh

They needed to examine themselves to check they are Christians – 2 Cor
They should not be deceived – Gal 5, 1 Cor 5

There is no such thing as a carnal Christian
There is a difference to those who fall back into old ways

Maturity

To war against the flesh
Who feels his sin
Who looks to Christ to overcome
Who seeks peace with others
Who thanks God for the gifts in others
Humility
Who yield to others
Who are kind and generous

Closing thoughts – 1 Pet 21:2

What makes a church grow? (v5-9)

People say they are human preachers (v4)

Paul, Apollos, Cephas and Jesus
There now seems to be two main divisions – around Paul and Apollos

Examples of favouritism

Paul makes clear he is just a channel

“What is Paul and what is Apollos?”
He who scatters and waters does not make things grow – God makes the Church grow
No titles – just brother Paul and brother Apollos

They are complimentary (v8)
They work together (v8)

Different people have different gifts

Rom 12:3,6-8

God gives the gifts
They are complimentary and all to be used

Not people on pedestals – it is God’s work
Example of Revival – God raised up the men and God used them

We must focus on Jesus Christ – especially as we come to the communion table

We are to be faithful – 1 Cor 4:2

Closing thoughts

Closing Remarks