1
Corinthians 1:10
[ A Church Divided Over Leaders ] I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
[ A Church Divided Over Leaders ] I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1
Corinthians 1:12
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
The first
problem mentioned in Corinth: Division. Not just a small matter; songs in
the choir, color of the robes, the format on the weekly program. No, no, these
were weighty, theological divisions.
Consider the possible points of division:
Paul: The
Apostle. Called of God. The greatest church organizer of his day.
Apollos: An
Alexandrian Jew, who powerful in the Word of God. Versed in Jewish History,
Judaism, and Greek Philosophy. He preached that Jesus was coming (the message
of repentance) until Aquila and Pricilla shoed him a more excellent way.
Acts
18:24
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
Acts
18:26
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Cephas: Peter, the Apostle, called by Jesus, Himself. Chief
among the twelve original disciples.
Jesus Christ: Very God, The Son of God, God in the flesh,
Immanuel……
This
doesn’t sound right does it? We divide over the smallest things, not the
biggest. Leaders divide of the big stuff. That was the problem. If the
leadership is divided, how does the house stand?
‘I follow Paul, He was taught by Gamilael, he was a Jew of
the Jews. He received his message directly from Jesus by revelation…’
‘I follow Apollos, the great orator. He preaches with a
knowledge and a passion that tells you that he has had an experience with God.’
‘I follow Peter, called by Jesus, he learned directly from
Jesus. He’s Hebrew, raised in Israel.’
‘I’m above it all, I’m all about Christ. You guys are missing
it…’
Can
you imagine the depth of the schism that is developing here? Here’s the deal.
They were all doing this behind one another’s back at Chloe’s house. Just like
common gossipers.
1
Corinthians 1:11
My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
If,
suddenly, the elders among us seem this small, then what is to become of us?
These may have seemed like weighty, worthy theological arguments, but the fact
that they were quarreling and not working out their issues in the proper spirit
indicates that they had devolved into commonness and pettiness, far beneath
their station in God’s Kingdom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````
1
Corinthians 3:6
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
Paul
planted the church at Corinth. He’d preached the gospel there for about
eighteen months before moving on to other tasks. In that period of time,
Apollos showed up and everyone was impressed with his knowledge of scripture
and his zeal for God. With Paul’s blessing, Apollos was installed as part of
the leadership in the church at Corinth. In essence, he was one of the pastors,
if not the Pastor. You plant once. You water everyday. Paul planted.. once.
Apollos watered…everyday.
Take a
bag of marbles. Separate them by colors and size. What do you have? A lot of
different groups of marbles. This marble is not like that marble. Those marbles
are smarter that those marbles, prettier the these marbles, bigger than most
marbles. You get the picture. A lot of different groups of marbles. But what if
what if each group of marbles could see and accept what the other marbles
brought to the table? What if the big marbles weren’t intimidated by the little
ones? What if the dull marbles could see the value in the pretty ones? What if
all the marbles just let the owner of the bag of marbles determine how he wants
to use them. After all, He designed them for His plan, His purpose.
Ephesians
2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Beloved, there is no greater demonstration of God’s power within the Body of
Christ; The Church, than that we all dwell together in unity. John said it like
this:
1
John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
…………………………………
A morsel for thought: High mindedness and pride place in a
place so far beneath our inheritance.
1
Corinthians 3:3
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
Another morsel: If this is what ‘mere’ humanness looks like,
what kind have people have we become? Who, what are we in Christ? Really?
1
Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
…………………………..
One last thing….
1
Corinthians 16:12
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Apollos, possibly the set man, the pastor of the
church at Corinth was not in Corinth, with Paul. Why? I’m not sure? But it
appears that he was receiving some personal encouragement from his mentor,
Paul. Had he become discouraged because of the growing division in the church?
Maybe. Was he doubting his calling, his ability to lead? Maybe. Was God
removing one of His candlesticks (Apollos) from the church in Corinth because
of sin? Maybe. Did God have a plan to restore the church at Corinth and
Apollos? Definitely. The tone of the letter to the church at Corinth was one of
appealing to their Christian sensibilities to love one another with their whole
heart. The verse above reveals to us that Apollos was receiving very personal
face time with Paul, seemingly for the express purpose of having him return to
a place of leadership in Corinth. There is no greater glory for the church than
when we dwell together in unity..
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Selah
Selah... In a perfect world. Unfortunately we don't get a break from division. It's everywhere; workforce, household, school playground, and so much in our politics which impacts our workforce, household, our school playgrounds. Where does it come together wb?
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