1 Corinthians 1:1-4:7
Unified
or
Merely Human.
You choose.
A small but deadly trend
• Factionalism: parties, sects
(Act 5:17,15:5,24:5,24:14)
A small but deadly trend
• Factionalism: parties, sects
(Act 5:17,15:5,24:5,24:14)
• “the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
rivalries, dissensions, divisions” (Gal 5:19-20)
an Apostle’s Appeal
• 1 Corinthains 1:1-4:7
an Apostle’s Appeal
• 1 Corinthains 1:1-4:7
• 1:10
– Agree: have a common purpose
– Division: disagreement that tears apart
– United: mended and joined
an Apostle’s Appeal
• 1 Corinthains 1:1-4:7
• 1:10
– Agree: have a common purpose
– Division: disagreement that tears apart
– United: mended and joined
• 1:12-13
– The issue: Politics within the church
– see 16:12
Immunising our Church against
Factions
1. By Remembering : the Weakness of yourself
and every other Christian (1:26-31)
Immunising our Church against
Factions
1. By Remembering : the Weakness of yourself
and every other Christian (1:26-31)
• God chooses the foolish, weak, lowly and
despised Nothings!
Immunising our Church against
Factions
1. By Remembering : the Weakness of yourself
and every other Christian (1:26-31)
• God chooses the foolish, weak, lowly and
despised Nothings!
• Anyone is only ‘in Christ’ “because of Him”
Immunising our Church against
Factions
1. By Remembering : the Weakness of yourself
and every other Christian (1:26-31)
• God chooses the foolish, weak, lowly and
despised Nothings!
• Anyone is only ‘in Christ’ “because of Him”
Therefore, let the one who boasts,
boast in the Lord (31)
(3:3-4) for you are still of the flesh. For while
there is jealousy and strife among you, are you
not of the flesh and behaving only in a human
way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and
another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being
merely human?
Immunising our Church against
Factions
2. By Realising : the Position of yourself and
every other Christian (3:18-23)
Immunising our Church against
Factions
2. By Realising : the Position of yourself and
every other Christian (3:18-23)
• (21) all are yours’ and you are Christ’s...
Immunising our Church against
Factions
2. By Realising : the Position of yourself and
every other Christian (3:18-23)
• (21) all are yours’ and you are Christ’s...
• 2Tim 2:11-12, “we will also reign with Him”
Immunising our Church against
Factions
2. By Realising : the Position of yourself and
every other Christian (3:18-23)
• (21) all are yours’ and you are Christ’s...
• 2Tim 2:11-12, “we will also reign with Him”
So let no one boast in men (21)
Immunising our Church against
Factions
3. By Regarding : your leaders as what they are,
Servants and Stewards (4:1-5)
Immunising our Church against
Factions
3. By Regarding : your leaders as what they are,
Servants and Stewards (4:1-5)
• Don’t be a cause of celebrity leaders in your
church!
Immunising our Church against
Factions
3. By Regarding : your leaders as what they are,
Servants and Stewards (4:1-5)
• Don’t be a cause of celebrity leaders in your
church!
• Appreciate your leaders. Don’t be prejudice.
Immunising our Church against
Factions
3. By Regarding : your leaders as what they are,
Servants and Stewards (4:1-5)
• Don’t be a cause of celebrity leaders in your
church!
• Appreciate your leaders. Don’t be prejudice.
It's often not about leaders' pride, but the
people following! (6-7)
Immunising our Church against
Factions
1. By Remembering : the Weakness of yourself
and every other Christian (1:26-31)
2. By Realising : the Position of yourself and
every other Christian (3:18-23)
3. By Regarding : your leaders as what they are,
Servants and Stewards (4:1-5)