Cross City Church - North
October 3, 2021 / In Focus / Image Issues
Christianity can be confusing, it certainly was at Corinth. The catastrophe that was the church at Corinth was so bad because they were confused about many things! They were confused about their faith, their world, and how the church should operate. They needed to focus on living out the gospel. Our new message series, "In Focus” will help you have focal points that clarify how we live out our faith in an otherwise strange world.
Locations & Times
Cross City - North
2775 Bobcat Blvd, Roanoke, TX 76262, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
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LAST WEEK:
Black, White, Gray??
- Running from the things that move you AWAY from God is always good.
- Running to the things that move you CLOSER to God is always best.
- You can’t RUN to both and expect God to bless it.
- Running to please yourself – you will offend someone else.
Black, White, Gray??
- Running from the things that move you AWAY from God is always good.
- Running to the things that move you CLOSER to God is always best.
- You can’t RUN to both and expect God to bless it.
- Running to please yourself – you will offend someone else.
1. Be imitatable for all the right reasons.
1 Corinthians 11:1-2...
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
- To do this you have to imitate the right people.
Imitation...
- to mimic, act or practice of imitating
- a copy or reproduction of a genuine article
Don’t like these word associations:
- Counterfeit
- Impression
- Fake
- Phony
- Impersonation
Other related words from today’s vocab:
- Replicate
- Duplicate
- Ditto
- Echo
- Resemble
Counterfeit Bills...How to tell if money is fake:
1. Color shifting in
2. Watermark
3. Blurry borders
4. Raised Printing
5. Security Thread with Microprinting
3 John 1:11...
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Jesus in John 13:15...
15 Beloved, For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
1 Corinthians 11:1-2...
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
- To do this you have to imitate the right people.
Imitation...
- to mimic, act or practice of imitating
- a copy or reproduction of a genuine article
Don’t like these word associations:
- Counterfeit
- Impression
- Fake
- Phony
- Impersonation
Other related words from today’s vocab:
- Replicate
- Duplicate
- Ditto
- Echo
- Resemble
Counterfeit Bills...How to tell if money is fake:
1. Color shifting in
2. Watermark
3. Blurry borders
4. Raised Printing
5. Security Thread with Microprinting
3 John 1:11...
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Jesus in John 13:15...
15 Beloved, For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
"If we would FOCUS more on the things that are imitatable and Christlike – we would have way more followers. If you think you are leading and no one is following – you may not be a great leader. Imitatable people have some of the best followers!”
2. God defined IMAGE - it's not ours to redefine.
1 Cor. 11:3...
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
The 1st Theological Basis for IMAGE is found in this verse:
- Begins with the Head of every man is Christ.
- Ends with the Head of Christ is God.
- He was there in the beginning.
- He was there in the creation of man & woman.
- God is the Head, the Beginning & End...Alpha & Omega...that means I am not – you are not – whatever political activist/group that forms is not – He is.
The 2nd Theological Basis for IMAGE is found in here too:
- God calls the husband to be the head of his family.
- Nowhere in scripture does it imply women are unequal to men.
- They have different roles in the home & in the church.
- These roles are complementary.
Husbands & Wives:
Genesis 1:27...we are both created in the image & likeness of God
Genesis 2:18...God could’ve left us all alone with just us guys.
Genesis 2:24...The woman was suitable, not inferior, she was created from him, for him & to become one flesh with him.
1 Peter 3:7...be considerate, treat them with respect
1 Cor. 11:3...because of this role, you will answer to God for how you treat your family/wife
Complementarian vs. Egalitarian
Complemtariian:
- Males/females have complementary roles in ministry
Paul landed here:
1 Tim. 2:9-15...I do not permit a woman to teach men
1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1 seem to limit church leadership “offices” to men.
Egalitarian:
- Males/females have no biblical based gender-based roles/restrictions in ministry
- Men/women are interchangeable in all roles
Gal. 3:28 is their basis...
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The egalitarian view argues that in Christ the gender distinctions that characterized fallen relationships have been removed.
Gotquestions.org says...
“What is truly the crux of this argument, and what many egalitarians fail to understand, is that a difference in role does not equate to a difference in quality, importance, or value. Men and women are equally valued in God’s sight and plan. Women are not inferior to men. Rather, God assigns different roles to men and women in the church and the home because that is how He designed us to function. The truth of differentiation and equality can be seen in the functional hierarchy within the Trinity. The Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to the Father and the Son. This functional submission does not imply an equivalent inferiority of essence; all three Persons are equally God, but they differ in their function. Likewise, men and women are equally human beings and equally share the image of God, but they have God-ordained roles and functions that mirror the functional hierarchy within the Trinity."
Husbands, as the “head” you are called to be:
- Sacrificing
- Protecting
- Not-outranking
- Not-self-centered.
Ephesians 5...If we will imitate that chapter, we will have a great following with our wives, families, church members.
1) Called to love your wife like Jesus loved His church...1 Corinthians 9 kind of love
2) Called to serve her like Jesus did the church.
3) Called to sacrifice like Jesus did Himself for you and me.
1 Cor. 11:3...
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
The 1st Theological Basis for IMAGE is found in this verse:
- Begins with the Head of every man is Christ.
- Ends with the Head of Christ is God.
- He was there in the beginning.
- He was there in the creation of man & woman.
- God is the Head, the Beginning & End...Alpha & Omega...that means I am not – you are not – whatever political activist/group that forms is not – He is.
The 2nd Theological Basis for IMAGE is found in here too:
- God calls the husband to be the head of his family.
- Nowhere in scripture does it imply women are unequal to men.
- They have different roles in the home & in the church.
- These roles are complementary.
Husbands & Wives:
Genesis 1:27...we are both created in the image & likeness of God
Genesis 2:18...God could’ve left us all alone with just us guys.
Genesis 2:24...The woman was suitable, not inferior, she was created from him, for him & to become one flesh with him.
1 Peter 3:7...be considerate, treat them with respect
1 Cor. 11:3...because of this role, you will answer to God for how you treat your family/wife
Complementarian vs. Egalitarian
Complemtariian:
- Males/females have complementary roles in ministry
Paul landed here:
1 Tim. 2:9-15...I do not permit a woman to teach men
1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1 seem to limit church leadership “offices” to men.
Egalitarian:
- Males/females have no biblical based gender-based roles/restrictions in ministry
- Men/women are interchangeable in all roles
Gal. 3:28 is their basis...
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The egalitarian view argues that in Christ the gender distinctions that characterized fallen relationships have been removed.
Gotquestions.org says...
“What is truly the crux of this argument, and what many egalitarians fail to understand, is that a difference in role does not equate to a difference in quality, importance, or value. Men and women are equally valued in God’s sight and plan. Women are not inferior to men. Rather, God assigns different roles to men and women in the church and the home because that is how He designed us to function. The truth of differentiation and equality can be seen in the functional hierarchy within the Trinity. The Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to the Father and the Son. This functional submission does not imply an equivalent inferiority of essence; all three Persons are equally God, but they differ in their function. Likewise, men and women are equally human beings and equally share the image of God, but they have God-ordained roles and functions that mirror the functional hierarchy within the Trinity."
Husbands, as the “head” you are called to be:
- Sacrificing
- Protecting
- Not-outranking
- Not-self-centered.
Ephesians 5...If we will imitate that chapter, we will have a great following with our wives, families, church members.
1) Called to love your wife like Jesus loved His church...1 Corinthians 9 kind of love
2) Called to serve her like Jesus did the church.
3) Called to sacrifice like Jesus did Himself for you and me.
3. When our IMAGE is found in Christ, we understand how to live & work inside our roles more uniquely.
1 Corinthians 10:4-5...
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Cultural vs. Spiritual:
- The veil or covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God.
- Could mean a cloth covering or her hair.
- Longer hair marked her as a female and not a male & showed her submission to her husband.
1 Corinthians 10:6...
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
CULTURAL:
- Women with shaved heads in that culture were a disgrace...a sign of mourning.
- Her hair was her glory.
- If a woman isn’t going to cover her head – she might as well cut off her hair because of the cultural mandate.
1 Corinthians 10:7-10...
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
SPIRITUAL: Why is that important to angels?
- The relationship of God with men is something that angels watch and learn from (1 Peter 1:12).
- Even a woman’s submission to God’s delegated authority over her is an example to angels.
- Angels, who are in perfect and total submission to God, expect that we, as followers of Christ, be the same.
1 Corinthians 10:11-16...
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
SPIRITUAL: We complement each other...
- If you are more worried about your IMAGE of “I don’t submit to anybody!” – don’t get married.
- We aren’t independent of each other.
- Woman was made from man. Man is born of woman. Both are from God.
CULTURAL: Judge for yourselves...
- v. 13...proper for a wife to pray with her head uncovered.
- v. 14...long hair on a man
- v. 16...inclined to be contentious...
- Antagonistic
- Combative
- Testy
- Arguementative
1 Corinthians 10:4-5...
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Cultural vs. Spiritual:
- The veil or covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God.
- Could mean a cloth covering or her hair.
- Longer hair marked her as a female and not a male & showed her submission to her husband.
1 Corinthians 10:6...
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
CULTURAL:
- Women with shaved heads in that culture were a disgrace...a sign of mourning.
- Her hair was her glory.
- If a woman isn’t going to cover her head – she might as well cut off her hair because of the cultural mandate.
1 Corinthians 10:7-10...
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
SPIRITUAL: Why is that important to angels?
- The relationship of God with men is something that angels watch and learn from (1 Peter 1:12).
- Even a woman’s submission to God’s delegated authority over her is an example to angels.
- Angels, who are in perfect and total submission to God, expect that we, as followers of Christ, be the same.
1 Corinthians 10:11-16...
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
SPIRITUAL: We complement each other...
- If you are more worried about your IMAGE of “I don’t submit to anybody!” – don’t get married.
- We aren’t independent of each other.
- Woman was made from man. Man is born of woman. Both are from God.
CULTURAL: Judge for yourselves...
- v. 13...proper for a wife to pray with her head uncovered.
- v. 14...long hair on a man
- v. 16...inclined to be contentious...
- Antagonistic
- Combative
- Testy
- Arguementative
Paul is saying..."USE YOUR DISCERNMENT!"
What things should I focus on most?
- My personal happiness
- My personal comfort
- My personal likes/dislikes
NO! I should focus on these things:
Philippians 4:8...
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
There is enough right here to focus a lifetime on...
- Truth
- Honorable
- Just
- Pure
- Lovely
- Commendable
- Excellence/Praiseworthy
What things should I focus on most?
- My personal happiness
- My personal comfort
- My personal likes/dislikes
NO! I should focus on these things:
Philippians 4:8...
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
There is enough right here to focus a lifetime on...
- Truth
- Honorable
- Just
- Pure
- Lovely
- Commendable
- Excellence/Praiseworthy
4. In living your life – make sure to live it for His glory.
Can’t live it for His glory if you haven’t trusted His Son for your salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33...
31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
What’s your end game? Your glory or His?
1 Corinthians 9:19...
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
Paul wanted one thing...
- His faith lived out in such a way that the watching world would see it & mimic it…
- He knew it was the only way to please God
Hebrews 11:6...
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Can’t live it for His glory if you haven’t trusted His Son for your salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33...
31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
What’s your end game? Your glory or His?
1 Corinthians 9:19...
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
Paul wanted one thing...
- His faith lived out in such a way that the watching world would see it & mimic it…
- He knew it was the only way to please God
Hebrews 11:6...
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.