Explores the importance of unity in the church, urging believers to overcome divisions and work together to bear fruit for God's glory.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather together in this place of worship, united by our shared faith and the love of Jesus Christ. We find ourselves today on the precipice of a powerful message from God's word, a message that echoes through the ages and resonates in our hearts today.
Before we immerse ourselves in the divine wisdom of 1 Corinthians 3:1-6, let's pause and reflect on the words of Corrie Ten Boom, who once said, "Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together." Isn't that so true?
Now, let's turn our hearts and minds to the words of the Apostle Paul, as he writes to the church in Corinth:
"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."
As we stand on the threshold of this message, we are called to a deeper understanding of unity, a deeper commitment to breaking down divisions, and a deeper desire to bear fruit together.
Let's bow our heads in prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we set our hearts on your message today, we pray for wisdom and understanding. Help us to grasp the depth of unity you desire for your church, to strive for peace and harmony, and to bear fruit that glorifies you. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.
Let’s get started!
In the passage we've read today, Paul addresses the church in Corinth, a community that was struggling with division and infighting. He uses the metaphor of infants and milk to describe their spiritual maturity. They were not ready for solid food, for the deeper truths of the gospel, because they were still caught up in petty squabbles and jealousy.
A picture of a church that is divided: It’s a picture of a body of Christ that is not unified. It's a picture that, unfortunately, we can sometimes relate to in our own communities. We see the same kind of divisions, the same kind of infighting. We see people who claim to follow Christ, but who are more interested in their own agendas than in the work of the kingdom.
A call to unity: He reminds them that they are not followers of Paul or Apollos, but followers of Christ. He reminds them that their role is not to build their own kingdoms, but to be servants in God's kingdom. This is a call that we need to hear in our own communities. We need to remember that we are not here to build our own kingdoms, but to serve in God's kingdom. We are not here to promote our own agendas, but to promote the gospel of Christ.
Recognize that we are all servants: We are all called to serve in God's kingdom, to use our gifts and talents to further the gospel. This means setting aside our own agendas, our own desires for recognition and power, and instead focusing on the work of the kingdom.
Recognize that we are all part of the same body: Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, so too does the body of Christ. We each have a role to play, a part to contribute. No one part is more important than another. We need each other, we depend on each other.
Focus on the common goal: We are all working towards the same end – the furtherance of the gospel, the growth of the kingdom. This means that we need to work together, to support each other, to encourage each other. We need to celebrate each other's successes, not compete with each other.
It’s God who gives the growth: We can plant the seeds, we can water them, but ultimately it is God who makes them grow. This means that we need to rely on Him, to trust in His timing, to submit to His will.
As we continue to reflect on the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-6, we find ourselves confronted with a challenge ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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