Sermon Central
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A Letter Of Concern- Get Along Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Nov 14, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 78th sermon in the series "Action". This is the 9th sermon from 1 Corinthians.
Series: Action [#78]
A LETTER OF CONCERN- GET ALONG
Introduction:
Who has ever put the curse on your kids? You know, the curse that says, “I hope that your kids act twice as bad as you do”. My experience has been that it works. It also works as a former Coach. I have had many swimmers that I have told them, “When you get older and coach swimming, I hope that your swimmers act worse than you do”. Apparently, this works also. To the kids here this morning, I wonder if your Sunday School Teacher has said the same thing.
I learned something from mom concerning my Grandchildren- It’s enjoyable to watch your Grandchildren fight. I know that my 3 oldest Grandchildren are pretty good at it. It is payback; but then, we changed our mind. “I really am not glad they fight because I know siblings who fought all the time growing up and as adults, they hate each other”. My mom will tell you that the 1 good thing that came from her mom having Alzheimer’s so long was the fact that her brother and her became friends again. See, it had gotten to the point that they couldn’t stand in a kitchen together without fighting; but through that difficult time, not only can they spend time together without fighting but they go out of their way to see one another and talk to one another.
Unfortunately, I have also seen Christian brothers and sisters fight so bad that they didn’t want to ever see them again. As Christians, we are all members of God’s family which makes us brothers and sisters. Why then do we hurt each other? Isn’t family supposed to love one another, forgive one another, and help one another? If our family can’t do that for us, who can? This is what Paul was addressing to the Corinthian Church.
This morning, I too am going to address this problem of sibling rivalries in Churches.
1. Why are you fighting?
Have you ever noticed that most of the things we fight about are minor? Fighting always occurs because of selfishness. I want things my way and you want them your way. Instead of figuring that out and working it out we fight. Why don’t we fix the problem? Did you know that believers will judge the world and angels? Talk about an important responsibility.
If God is going to give us that great responsibility, why can’t we handle the little things? Don’t we love each other enough to not keep hurting one another? What if you don’t always get your way? Is it worth losing family over? God’s family needs to mend relationships with one another, and we need to do it soon.
2. Why do you refuse to fix it?
Maybe you have allowed this problem to get so bad that you and that person can’t fix it. You need some help. Why do you not go to another brother or sister in Christ to help you? We as Christians are bad about gossiping and putting down our Christian family and to make it worse, we do it in front of unbelievers.
Even the most immature believer in the world would be a better judge than a lost person. It would be better for you to be done wrong by a Christian brother or sister and just let it go than it would be to get unbelievers involved. When we do that, we are defeated. Keep family problems in the family and get them fixed. When unbelievers see God’s family fighting, it keeps them from becoming a part of God’s family. Please stop refusing to fix the problem. Consider for just a moment, maybe it is you who is the problem and not the other person. There is no way that you could always be right. Open your eyes and do the right thing.
3. Why do you forget who you are?
Before a person is saved, they are bound for Hell. The Scripture tells us in verse 9-10 about all the different types of sinners and that they will not go to Heaven; but once we are saved, we are no longer looked upon by God as any of these. You may be sitting there nervously wondering if you are saved because you are still doing those things; but notice what verse 11 says.
When a person is saved look at what happens-
* They are washed clean by the blood of Jesus.
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
* They are sanctified.
That means they are set apart from the world. They are set apart as a member of God’s family.
