Sibling Rivalries Series

Sunday Morning February 2, 2003 Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: ¡§Church On The Rocks¡¨ [#11]

SIBLING RIVALRIES

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Introduction:

1. Several weeks ago, my family was all together. There were uncles, aunts, cousins, parents, in-laws, etc¡K all there. We were at mom¡¦s house and while the adults were trying to talk, the kids were fighting and arguing over everything imaginable. Now, my kids were right in the middle of this and so I got up to go take care of the problem. As I got up, I heard my mom say, ¡§I enjoy watching my grandkids fight all the time because Shawn is being ¡§paid back¡¨ for all the times he and his brother fought. But then all of sudden she said, ¡§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 one 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 this difficult situation 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.

2. I have seen good people fight with their siblings over things like inheritance to the point that they never speak again. Unfortunately, I have also seen Christian brothers and sisters fight so bad that they didn¡¦t want to ever see them again. See, 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?

3. This is what Paul was addressing to this church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. This morning I too am going to address this problem of sibling rivalries in our Churches.

1 Corinthians 6:1-3

Why Are You Fighting?

1. Have you ever noticed that most of the things we fight about are so 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?

2. Did you know that believers will judge the world and angels? Talk about an important responsibility!

3. 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? So 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!

1 Corinthians 6:4-8

Why Do You Refuse To Fix It?

1. 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 before unbelievers.

2. 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.

3. As the text says, when we do that we are already defeated Christians. 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.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Why Do You Forget Who You Are?

1. 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.

2. 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.

1 Corinthians 6:11

3. 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.