Sunnyside First Baptist Church
Our New Series - "Live Life Through the Lens of the Gospel."(1 & 2 Corinthians)
- God So Loved
- Forever
- You Are My Strength
- 1 Corinthians 1.1-17 - “Keep Strong”Before we get to the scripture note, it’s important that we understand some things about Corinth.This city was a major seaport located on the coast of today’s Greece.They were very connected to world commerce. Consequently, the population was large and was continually growing throughout the years of Paul’s three missionary journeys.They were heavily involved the the cult worship of the idols of Roman paganism. Corinth was home to dozens of temples and shrines dedicated to more than a dozen pagan forms.This city was a “religious” center… In other words they were sensitive to the influence of the the unknown and unseen.Paul picked this very connected city filled with culture and people from many different backgrounds to come and bring The Gospel.Why here — why then… Paul was bold and he was up for the task.The opportunity was too great… If Paul could make a difference here, the dozen or more people groups that he reached with the true Gospel would take that new found faith back to their homelands. This encouragement fired up his drive to meet this task.There could have not been a MORE difficult task that Paul undertook.He was in Corinth, on his first, second and maybe third missionary journey.The story of Corinthians begins in Acts 18
Acts 18:1–4 NIV84 1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.Aquila and Priscilla were already believers of Christ and had relocated to Corinth after being expelled from Rome.I want to look at verse 4, there is some importance here.Paul was a Jews, Jew. He also was a Roman citizen. That Roman citizenship protected Paul in many situations.Paul went to the synagogue, that’s interesting, there were enough Jews in Corinth to have a synagogue.That was not always the case.But there were enough here...Why would Paul go to the synagogue… This was a people, a spirit and a “religion” that he understood.He understood what it was to be a Jew and to worship in the synagogue.He “reasoned” with them… the Gr. here indicates a “conversation.” What was his drive, what did he want.He didn’t beat them over the head with the truth.He found commonality with them and let God do the heavy lifting.After he witnessed their conversion...Acts 2:42–47 NIV84 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.----------------------------QUESTION FOR TODAY - DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO “KEEP STRONG?”No matter the people, the barriers, the difficulties… people touched by God will respond.We have built ourselves up to be strong…Trouble is coming...What are the things that can build us up, give us immediate help and assistance when we need it. God, His Holy Spirit is forever available to us!One of those things that builds us up and gives usPRINCIPLE #1 - ARE WE THANKFUL FOR GOD IN OUR LIVES?Are we thankful for the hot line to God when we need it most.I want to look closely at verses 4-9 follow me as I read.God’s grace in our life (4)1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV84 4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.God’s enrichment in your life (5)1 Corinthians 1:5 NIV84 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—--------------------For in him… you have been made RICH in every way.God’s salvation in your life (6)1 Corinthians 1:6 NIV84 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.-------------------------Hidden is this little verse is the full circle of evangelism. A “testimony” was shared, Christ was “confirmed” in you.We who have been in the church, or have been “saved” or whatever language you use to explain it. We forget what it was like to be just hanging by a thread. We forget the chaos. We forget this unknown.You see we have a future we have a home after this one is gone. We are just passing through here. We are Heaven boundGod’s gifts in your life (7)1 Corinthians 1:7 NIV84 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.------------------------------------You have the Holy Spirit… He has sealed you! He has given each of us gifts to edify, build up the body in ways that don’t even know.God’s future work in our lives (8)1 Corinthians 1:8 NIV84 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.---------------------------Ultimately the goal is be found faithful on the “last” of our days. Paul is saying here that we don’t have to do that on our own anymore. God will keep us strong and ready to meet Jesus.God’s faithfulness in our lives (9)1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV84 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.---------------------------He is not like a “sometimes friend” he is not like anyone you have ever know. He is reliable, He is “calling us” into Fellowship with His sonYou see God doesn’t ask much… He saves after we model and introduce others to him in the same that we at some point in our lives were called into the same fellowship.Because our condition, as saved and secure,we return praise,honor,glory,obedience,worship to Godand we are encouraged by what we get back from GodAre we regularly THANKFUL to God for these things:God’s graceGod’s enrichmentGod’s salvationGod’s giftsGod’s future workGod’s faithfulnessI guess that I would not have wrote it if I thought that I had it all figured out.I’m not Thankful enough to God for these core gifts that He has given me...PRINCIPLE #2 - DEAR GOD RETURN US TO OUR FIRST LOVE!1 Corinthians 1:5 NIV84 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—-------------------Literally, you have been made rich in ALL ways because of Jesus in your life1 Corinthians 1:6 NIV84 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.----------------------That is the starting and ending point in our of our relationship with God…Have we acknowledged, reasoned and gotten to the point of where we heard the testimony about our Christ and believed it?--------------------------Paul, is called to be an Apostle, of Christ by the will of God.The Corinthians were getting “saved” and dedicating their lives to Christ by the 10’s, 100’s and 1000’s.Paul never takes the credit for the opportunities that the Corinthians now have.In Paul’s thanksgiving he says that God has given them speech and “knowledge” or gnosis.1 Corinthians 1:7–8 NIV84 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.PRINCIPLE #3 - WE HAVE ALL OF THE TOOLS NECESSARY; TO KEEP STRONG UNTIL THE END.There was an expectancy that the “end” would be coming soon… WE are still expecting the “end.” It is being held back for reasons only God knows.When great things are happening, “the church” is growing, attendance is up, we are singing and praising God, we are meeting all of our expense, we have a youth group for our kiddo’s - Everything seems to be as it should be.This might have been the case in Corinth...It was going to toooooo well...1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV84 10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.-----------------STOP FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER… JUST STOP!1 Corinthians 1:11 NIV84 11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.If the Gospel is being preached and looks different, sounds different… but the Gospel is being preach back off and let the Spirit reign.The Gospel and it’s methods are an easy yoke, But must be embraced to be effective.Your salvation is NOT passive on your part. For Jesus to take the cross and march up to Golgotha and take the sin on his shoulder was not a passive act.Yes, He was compelled by all of the history, by the prophets, by His place in fulfilling so many of God’s open ends in scripture. HE WAS THE LAST SACRIFICE!The least we can do for him is STOP FIGHTING!Major on the majors, minor on the minors, but do not major on the minors… It drives away others, it turns us into a legalist. We forget about GRACE and we major on really minor things.Paul is indignant over their unhealthy, allegiance.Over there squabbling.1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NIV84 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?--------------------In verse 13… Paul proposes to settle the argument by dividing Christ as you would pass out Christmas dinner.Your divisions only make you weaker...Matthew 12:25 NIV84 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.Now practically, it is easy to follow behind the person that led you to Christ. We all need mentors in our lives.Hopefully yours has the perspective that they are part of God’s plan and have no space to interject their personal bias.Unfortunately that it not the case...Our world has been ROCKED to our knees by manical individuals to led people a strayHilterMaoA series of rulers of the Soviet UnionUng - North KoreaThe bigger better Gospel from Joseph SmithDavid KoreshNeed I go on… This are men who divided faith in Christ and did it for their own reasons.OUR divisions make us weaker. I get it we, Americans are stronger than any other society in the world… at least if you ask us.But we are digesting ourselves. We are tearing our society apart. As one follows this and another follows thatThe result will be as Christ put it… a city or household divided against itself will not stand.Stop arguing and putting our brand of X as the only way.Find common ground with brother and sisters.Find common ground with others as a way to bring them closer to God.As a way of closing I want go back to where we started from...QUESTION FOR TODAY - DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO “KEEP STRONG?”I pray that we do!! 1 Corinthians 1:1–17NIV
Acts 18:1–4NIV
Acts 2:42–47NIV
1 Corinthians 1:4NIV
1 Corinthians 1:5NIV
1 Corinthians 1:6NIV
1 Corinthians 1:7NIV
1 Corinthians 1:8NIV
1 Corinthians 1:9NIV
1 Corinthians 1:10NIV
1 Corinthians 1:11NIV
1 Corinthians 1:12–13NIV
Matthew 12:25NIV
Leviticus 16NIV
1 Corinthians 11NIV
- The Stand
Sunnyside First Baptist Church
509-837-3084
11 members • 3 followers