RockPointe Church
Preventing Division | 1 Corinthians 2
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RockPointe Church - Central Campus
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https://www.rockpointechurch.org/openingdoorsThe Corinthian believers were experiencing division.
This division was personality driven.…each one of you says:
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- “I follow Paul”
- “I follow Apollos”
- “I follow Cephas”
- “I follow Christ”
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- “I follow Paul”
- “I follow Apollos”
- “I follow Cephas”
- “I follow Christ”
What caused these divisions?
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The new city of Corinth allowed people the chance to acquire wealth through commercial ventures. The citizens of Corinth were no longer fated to remain in their allotted position on the social scale but had a real opportunity for upward social mobility.
The community and the culture of the city were those of trade, business, and entrepreneurial pragmatism. These values fed the zeal to attain public status, to promote one’s own honor, and to secure power. Perhaps no city in the Empire offered so congenial an atmosphere for individual advancement. Corinth seems to have been a city designed for those who were preoccupied with rising the ranks of social status.
This culture was dominated by the ‘Big Man,’ who would impose himself as a leader, and derive power and prestige from the size of his following.
Few Christians would have been unaffected by this dominant culture surrounding them. The problem was not that the church was in Corinth but that too much of Corinth was in the church.
Could this be the case with us today? How can we keep from becoming status junkies, honor obsessed and addicted to a type of self-promotion that divides? What’s the solution?
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The new city of Corinth allowed people the chance to acquire wealth through commercial ventures. The citizens of Corinth were no longer fated to remain in their allotted position on the social scale but had a real opportunity for upward social mobility.
The community and the culture of the city were those of trade, business, and entrepreneurial pragmatism. These values fed the zeal to attain public status, to promote one’s own honor, and to secure power. Perhaps no city in the Empire offered so congenial an atmosphere for individual advancement. Corinth seems to have been a city designed for those who were preoccupied with rising the ranks of social status.
This culture was dominated by the ‘Big Man,’ who would impose himself as a leader, and derive power and prestige from the size of his following.
Few Christians would have been unaffected by this dominant culture surrounding them. The problem was not that the church was in Corinth but that too much of Corinth was in the church.
Could this be the case with us today? How can we keep from becoming status junkies, honor obsessed and addicted to a type of self-promotion that divides? What’s the solution?
The first solution Paul provides to prevent division is for believers to have the RIGHT PRIORITY.
The priority you need to keep to prevent division is Christ & Him crucified.
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When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified the power rests in the MESSAGE, NOT in the METHOD or the MESSENGER.
Paul doesn’t argue against a method of preaching which employs literary figures as a means to better convey the message of the Gospel, but as ornamentations intended to please and amuse the congregation.
When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified, it prevents division in that it TETHERS everyone to the CENTRAL MESSAGE of the GOSPEL.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. This is not to the exclusion of all other knowledge this is an escalation above all other knowledge.
“Any attempt to make the gospel palatable by bringing it into line with the tastes of those to whom it is preached distorts it.”
When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified, it prevents division in that it should keep us all HUMBLE.
“The message of the cross is an antidote to human self-glorification. It is hardly a message for the ambitious.”
It’s hard to stand at the foot of the Cross & Boast. People addicted to status can’t admit their failures, flaws and shortcomings. But Paul says, “I am the chief of sinners”
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When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified the power rests in the MESSAGE, NOT in the METHOD or the MESSENGER.
Paul doesn’t argue against a method of preaching which employs literary figures as a means to better convey the message of the Gospel, but as ornamentations intended to please and amuse the congregation.
When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified, it prevents division in that it TETHERS everyone to the CENTRAL MESSAGE of the GOSPEL.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. This is not to the exclusion of all other knowledge this is an escalation above all other knowledge.
“Any attempt to make the gospel palatable by bringing it into line with the tastes of those to whom it is preached distorts it.”
When you prioritize Christ and Him crucified, it prevents division in that it should keep us all HUMBLE.
“The message of the cross is an antidote to human self-glorification. It is hardly a message for the ambitious.”
It’s hard to stand at the foot of the Cross & Boast. People addicted to status can’t admit their failures, flaws and shortcomings. But Paul says, “I am the chief of sinners”
Summary of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:
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In short, the Corinthians came to faith by focusing on the cross of Christ which seemed so foolish to the ungodly. They must now return to that focus rather than splitting the church by magnifying human leaders.
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In short, the Corinthians came to faith by focusing on the cross of Christ which seemed so foolish to the ungodly. They must now return to that focus rather than splitting the church by magnifying human leaders.
Division happens when we make much of ourselves. Unity comes when we make much of Christ and Him crucified.
Application:
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- What are you known for? Your one thing? Your priority? Your focus?
- What could you do this year, month, week to make it more about Christ?
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- What are you known for? Your one thing? Your priority? Your focus?
- What could you do this year, month, week to make it more about Christ?
The second solution Paul provides to prevent division is for believers to keep the PROPER PERSPECTIVE.
Human wisdom leads to destruction and division.
Human wisdom cannot comprehend spiritual wisdom.
When confronted with Spiritual wisdom, unbelievers are like a donkey at a concert – they can hear it, they just don’t get it.
Human wisdom cannot comprehend spiritual wisdom.
When confronted with Spiritual wisdom, unbelievers are like a donkey at a concert – they can hear it, they just don’t get it.
True wisdom is from God, who has revealed Himself and His ways.
Division occurs when people:
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1) Rely on human wisdom.
2) Try to take credit for spiritual wisdom that is ultimately from God.
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1) Rely on human wisdom.
2) Try to take credit for spiritual wisdom that is ultimately from God.
Believers should not let the natural (unspiritual / unsaved) person tell us how to live our spiritual lives. Spiritual persons have the mind of Christ.
Success in the kingdom of God, is not about how high you can climb, but about how high and how many others you can lift up. Instead of pursing status for yourself, when you PRIORITZE CHRIST and Him crucified (making that the main thing), and when live with a SPIRITUAL PRESPECTIVE (having the mindset of Christ) human wisdom and secular culture will tell you that you look silly, foolish and weak.
Don't choose pride over gospel effectiveness.
If you have power, prestige, followers, influence, intelligence, wealth, beauty, health - don’t use those as status symbol for your greatness (which will cause disunity and division), use them as tool for the gospel to make Christ and him crucified known no matter what the natural world says or thinks.
If you have power, prestige, followers, influence, intelligence, wealth, beauty, health - don’t use those as status symbol for your greatness (which will cause disunity and division), use them as tool for the gospel to make Christ and him crucified known no matter what the natural world says or thinks.