Yesterday, we saw part of a letter in the Bible that revealed the reality that when we are involved in rivalries over personalities, it reveals our spiritual immaturity. A second thing that the Apostle Paul reveals that can occur in the lives of Christians who act unchristian as a result of rivalries based on personalities is that rivalries based on personalities fail to recognize roles. We see this reality revealed for us in 1 Corinthians 3:5:
"What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one."
In verse 5, Paul explains that he and Apollos, who were the focus of the jealousy and rivalry, were simply the intermediaries that God used to proclaim the wisdom of the message of the gospel that led the church to place their trust and confidence in Jesus Christ as Lord and Leader. Apollos was the teaching pastor at the church in Corinth. Paul, on the other hand was what we would call a catalytic church planting pastor. Paul came to Corinth and planted the church, and then after spending some time starting and growing the church, he handed over the reigns of leadership to Apollos and went on to go plant other churches.
Instead of embracing the transition of leadership had taken place, the members of the church in Corinth failed to recognize the transition and instead spent their time having arguments and engaging in rivalries over who was the better pastor or who should really be the pastor. When Paul states that the Lord gave opportunity to each one, he is simply explaining that Paul and Apollos simply served the Lord according to the task and the role that was given them.
The problem that the church of Corinth experienced, and that many churches today still experience, is that they failed to recognize that Paul and Apollos had different roles in the ministry and growth of the church. And that failure to recognize differing roles resulted in rivalries over personalities.
Different pastors have differing roles and responsibilities within the church and these differing roles and responsibilities are meant to be complementary in nature so as to advance the kingdom mission that we have been given. Christians act unchristian when we fail to recognize the different roles that pastors and leaders have within the church and instead view pastors as leaders as competing with one another.
So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by failing to recognize roles within the church and instead involve yourself in rivalries over personalities?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
When Christians act Unchristian by rivalries over personalities...
Yesterday we talked about Christians who are still being breast fed instead of growing in our relationship with Jesus. So what would keep followers of Jesus on the bottle, when they could and should be eating steak? What would keep followers of Jesus from being weaned from the breast so that they could feed themselves and grow in their faith?
We see the reason that the members of the church of Corinth, and many followers of Jesus today, are still on the bottle in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4:
"for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?"
In these verses we see the Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth that reveals the reason why many followers of Jesus still find themselves being breast fed instead of growing and maturing spiritually. And that timeless truth is that Christians act unchristian when rivalry reveals our immaturity.
In verse 3, Paul states that there was jealousy and strife that ran rampant in the church at Corinth. Paul is explaining to the church in Corinth that the proof that they were unable to process and integrate the deeper truths of the faith into their lives was revealed in rivalries over personalities and successes that revealed their disappointing and immature behavior and character. The members of the church at Corinth consistently displayed negative feelings over the achievements and successes of others. In addition, the church members were engaged in rivalries over the leaders in the church. This jealousy and rivalry revealed the reality that they were not growing in their relationship with Christ.
Instead, in verse 4, Paul explains that the jealousy, strife and rivalries over personalities that marked their behavior were no different than those who were not followers of Jesus. They were Christians who were acting unchristian. And in the same way, when we are jealous over the spiritual growth or success and achievements of other individuals or ministries in the church; when we become engaged in rivalries over personalities or over other ministries within the church, we reveal the reality that we are Christians who are acting unchristian in spiritual maturity.
Ministries and ministry leaders are not in competition with one another in the local church; ministry and ministry leaders are to work in cooperation with one another in order to advance the common kingdom mission that we have as members of the body of Christ.
Tomorrow, we will look at a second reality that occurs when Christians act uchristian as a result of rivalries based on personalities.
So are you a christian who acts unchristian by being involved in rivalries based on personalities that reveal spiritual maturity?
We see the reason that the members of the church of Corinth, and many followers of Jesus today, are still on the bottle in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4:
"for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?"
In these verses we see the Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth that reveals the reason why many followers of Jesus still find themselves being breast fed instead of growing and maturing spiritually. And that timeless truth is that Christians act unchristian when rivalry reveals our immaturity.
In verse 3, Paul states that there was jealousy and strife that ran rampant in the church at Corinth. Paul is explaining to the church in Corinth that the proof that they were unable to process and integrate the deeper truths of the faith into their lives was revealed in rivalries over personalities and successes that revealed their disappointing and immature behavior and character. The members of the church at Corinth consistently displayed negative feelings over the achievements and successes of others. In addition, the church members were engaged in rivalries over the leaders in the church. This jealousy and rivalry revealed the reality that they were not growing in their relationship with Christ.
Instead, in verse 4, Paul explains that the jealousy, strife and rivalries over personalities that marked their behavior were no different than those who were not followers of Jesus. They were Christians who were acting unchristian. And in the same way, when we are jealous over the spiritual growth or success and achievements of other individuals or ministries in the church; when we become engaged in rivalries over personalities or over other ministries within the church, we reveal the reality that we are Christians who are acting unchristian in spiritual maturity.
Ministries and ministry leaders are not in competition with one another in the local church; ministry and ministry leaders are to work in cooperation with one another in order to advance the common kingdom mission that we have as members of the body of Christ.
Tomorrow, we will look at a second reality that occurs when Christians act uchristian as a result of rivalries based on personalities.
So are you a christian who acts unchristian by being involved in rivalries based on personalities that reveal spiritual maturity?
Monday, June 28, 2010
When Christians Act Unchristian by Still Being Breast Fed..
At the church where I serve, we have been looking at a letter in our Bibles that, if we did not know any better, could have been written today about many of the problems that plague the modern church. And in this letter, we have already seen many of the problems that can plague a church when Christians act unchristian. And as Paul continued in his letter to this church, we see him reveal another problem that can plague a church when Christians act unchristian:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Paul begins by explaining that he could not speak to the members of the church of Corinth as to spiritual men but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. And it is in this sentence that Paul reveals a timeless problem that has plagued the church. At the timeless problem that can still plague the church is followers of Jesus who are still being breast fed.
The point that the Apostle Paul is making is that he was unable to proclaim the deep truths of the wisdom of the message of the gospel to the church because the members of the church at Corinth were not reflecting a growing and maturing relationship with Jesus Christ in their day to day lives. Instead, the members of the church at Corinth were thinking and living life as though they were nonchristians. Paul uses the phrase infants in Christ to paint a word picture of an infant still breast feeding to describe the churches spiritual immaturity.
And because of the reality of their spiritual immaturity, in verse 2 Paul states that he gave the members of the church at Corinth milk to drink not solid food. Paul then explains that the reason that he was only giving them milk to drink and not solid food, was because they were not yet able to receive it. Instead of communicating the deeper and transcendent truths about Christianity, he was only able to give the church the elementary truths and instructions when it came to following Jesus. He was unable to provide the deeper truths of the faith to the church because they had not demonstrated the ability to process and integrate the deeper truths of the faith into their lives. Just as an infant would become sick and vomit up any attempt to give them solid food that required their digestive systems to work harder than they were equipped to work, the church at Corinth was unable to digest the deeper truths that would result in spiritual growth and maturity.
But this morning, what would keep followers of Jesus on the bottle, when they could and should be eating steak? What would keep followers of Jesus from being weaned from the breast so that they could feed themselves and grow in their faith? Tomorrow, we will see Paul answer these questions and expose a problem that still plagues churches today.
So this morning, are you a Christian who acts unchristian because you are still being spiritually breast fed?
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Paul begins by explaining that he could not speak to the members of the church of Corinth as to spiritual men but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. And it is in this sentence that Paul reveals a timeless problem that has plagued the church. At the timeless problem that can still plague the church is followers of Jesus who are still being breast fed.
The point that the Apostle Paul is making is that he was unable to proclaim the deep truths of the wisdom of the message of the gospel to the church because the members of the church at Corinth were not reflecting a growing and maturing relationship with Jesus Christ in their day to day lives. Instead, the members of the church at Corinth were thinking and living life as though they were nonchristians. Paul uses the phrase infants in Christ to paint a word picture of an infant still breast feeding to describe the churches spiritual immaturity.
And because of the reality of their spiritual immaturity, in verse 2 Paul states that he gave the members of the church at Corinth milk to drink not solid food. Paul then explains that the reason that he was only giving them milk to drink and not solid food, was because they were not yet able to receive it. Instead of communicating the deeper and transcendent truths about Christianity, he was only able to give the church the elementary truths and instructions when it came to following Jesus. He was unable to provide the deeper truths of the faith to the church because they had not demonstrated the ability to process and integrate the deeper truths of the faith into their lives. Just as an infant would become sick and vomit up any attempt to give them solid food that required their digestive systems to work harder than they were equipped to work, the church at Corinth was unable to digest the deeper truths that would result in spiritual growth and maturity.
But this morning, what would keep followers of Jesus on the bottle, when they could and should be eating steak? What would keep followers of Jesus from being weaned from the breast so that they could feed themselves and grow in their faith? Tomorrow, we will see Paul answer these questions and expose a problem that still plagues churches today.
So this morning, are you a Christian who acts unchristian because you are still being spiritually breast fed?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Christians who are still sucking on a bottle...
Have you ever wondered why some followers of Jesus are still sucking on a bottle when the could and should be eating steak?
This week, we will be looking at a problem that has plagued churches throughout history and still plagues churches today. To get you thinking check out this video and see if you can relate to the message that it communicates...
http://www.highwayvideo.com/Grow-Up-P1772.aspx
This week, we will be looking at a problem that has plagued churches throughout history and still plagues churches today. To get you thinking check out this video and see if you can relate to the message that it communicates...
http://www.highwayvideo.com/Grow-Up-P1772.aspx
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Roadblocks...
On of the most frustrating things that we can experience while driving is a roadblock. This is especially the case if you live in an area of the country where there are few roads and few options when you come across a roadblock. When there are only a few options to get from point A to point B, and we come face to face with a roadblock, we can find ourselves stopped in our tracks. At a roadblock, our progress is stopped and, as a result, we end up angry and frustrated as we sit at a standstill.
We can find ourselves having a similar experience in our spiritual life. As followers of Jesus, we can find ourselves face to face with a roadblock that blocks us from experiencing intimacy with Christ and from growing and maturing spiritually. And as a result, we end up feeling angry and frustrated as the process of spiritual growth and maturity grinds to a halt.
As I am thinking about this whole idea of roadblocks, I am interested in some feedback from you. What are some roadblocks that you have run into? What are some of the roadblocks that you have run into that cause people to reject the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel? What are some of the roadblocks that cause us to stop growing and maturing in our relationship with Jesus?
I would love to hear from you so that we could examine these roadblocks and look at possible ways to overcome what can hinder our progress as we travel the road of life as followers of Jesus.
We can find ourselves having a similar experience in our spiritual life. As followers of Jesus, we can find ourselves face to face with a roadblock that blocks us from experiencing intimacy with Christ and from growing and maturing spiritually. And as a result, we end up feeling angry and frustrated as the process of spiritual growth and maturity grinds to a halt.
As I am thinking about this whole idea of roadblocks, I am interested in some feedback from you. What are some roadblocks that you have run into? What are some of the roadblocks that you have run into that cause people to reject the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel? What are some of the roadblocks that cause us to stop growing and maturing in our relationship with Jesus?
I would love to hear from you so that we could examine these roadblocks and look at possible ways to overcome what can hinder our progress as we travel the road of life as followers of Jesus.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Why the Wisdom of God is Often Misunderstood, Part 3...
This week, we have been looking at the reality that for over 2,000 years, the wisdom of God is often misunderstood. People have looked at the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel and have responded by saying “this makes no sense to me”. Yesterday we saw that the wisdom of God is often misunderstood because of an absence of the Holy Spirit. The impact that the absence of the Holy Spirit has on understanding the wisdom of God then leads the Apostle Paul in this letter to reveal a third reason why the wisdom of God is misunderstood. We see this reason revealed for us in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16:
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul makes a sharp contrast between a person who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence and the person who has experienced the Holy Spirit’s enabling work in their lives. Paul explains that the natural man, who is a person who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit, does not approve or accept the wisdom of God as contained in the message of the gospel. Instead, they view the message of the gospel as foolishness and respond by rejecting the message.
In addition, Paul states that this natural man, having not been impacted by the Holy Spirit, does not possess the capability to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God or the message of the gospel, because only the Holy Spirit is able to examine and unpack the wisdom and message of God in a way that leads to understanding. Without the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in their lives, a person will view the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel as a fable or foolishness, because our selfish and sinful nature apart from Christ drives us to reject the truth about the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. Only the Holy Spirit can break through our flawed and broken nature apart from Christ so that we understand and embrace Jesus for who He is and what He has done for us.
Paul the contrasts the natural man who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s enabling work with he who is spiritual. This is a person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s enabling work in their lives. Paul explains that the person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit embraces the wisdom of God as contained in the message of the gospel. Paul’s point is that the person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit is enabled by the Holy Spirit to examine and unpack the wisdom and message of God in a way that leads to understanding and acceptance.
Paul then states that followers of Jesus who have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit have received the mind of Christ, which means that they have the ability to understand Christ and the wisdom and message of God. As followers of Jesus, it is not incumbent on us to save anyone; as a matter of fact you cannot save anyone.
As followers of Jesus, we are simply responsible for being faithful in the opportunities that we are given to invest in the lives of those around us who are skeptical and seeking and invite them to experience the forgiveness of sin and the relationship with God that they were created for by believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader. And when we are faithful to do what we are supposed to do, we can step back and trust God to do what only He can do by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, which is to open hearts and minds to understand and accept the wisdom of God as seen in the message of the gospel.
So are you faithful in the opportunities that you are given to invest in the lives of the those who are far from God and invite them into the relationship with God that they were created for? Are you partnering with what God wants to do in the world?
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul makes a sharp contrast between a person who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence and the person who has experienced the Holy Spirit’s enabling work in their lives. Paul explains that the natural man, who is a person who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit, does not approve or accept the wisdom of God as contained in the message of the gospel. Instead, they view the message of the gospel as foolishness and respond by rejecting the message.
In addition, Paul states that this natural man, having not been impacted by the Holy Spirit, does not possess the capability to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God or the message of the gospel, because only the Holy Spirit is able to examine and unpack the wisdom and message of God in a way that leads to understanding. Without the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in their lives, a person will view the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel as a fable or foolishness, because our selfish and sinful nature apart from Christ drives us to reject the truth about the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. Only the Holy Spirit can break through our flawed and broken nature apart from Christ so that we understand and embrace Jesus for who He is and what He has done for us.
Paul the contrasts the natural man who has not been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s enabling work with he who is spiritual. This is a person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit’s enabling work in their lives. Paul explains that the person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit embraces the wisdom of God as contained in the message of the gospel. Paul’s point is that the person who has been impacted by the Holy Spirit is enabled by the Holy Spirit to examine and unpack the wisdom and message of God in a way that leads to understanding and acceptance.
Paul then states that followers of Jesus who have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit have received the mind of Christ, which means that they have the ability to understand Christ and the wisdom and message of God. As followers of Jesus, it is not incumbent on us to save anyone; as a matter of fact you cannot save anyone.
As followers of Jesus, we are simply responsible for being faithful in the opportunities that we are given to invest in the lives of those around us who are skeptical and seeking and invite them to experience the forgiveness of sin and the relationship with God that they were created for by believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader. And when we are faithful to do what we are supposed to do, we can step back and trust God to do what only He can do by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, which is to open hearts and minds to understand and accept the wisdom of God as seen in the message of the gospel.
So are you faithful in the opportunities that you are given to invest in the lives of the those who are far from God and invite them into the relationship with God that they were created for? Are you partnering with what God wants to do in the world?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Why the Wisdom of God is often Misunderstood, Part 2...
For over 2,000 years, people have looked at the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel and have responded by saying “this makes no sense to me”. A man named Paul reveal a simple, yet timeless truth when it comes to why some people respond the way that they do when they encounter the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. And that timeless truth is that the wisdom of God is often misunderstood. In a section of a letter that was written to a church, we see the second of three reasons why the wisdom of God is often misunderstood:
"For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." 1 Corinthians 2:10-13
Paul reveals a second reason why the wisdom of God is misunderstood in that the wisdom of God is often misunderstood because of the absence of the Holy Spirit. In these verses, we see three ways in which the Holy Spirit enables followers of Jesus to understand the wisdom of God. First, the wisdom of God is made known by the Holy Spirit. God graciously chooses to make known the wisdom of the timeless truth of the message of the gospel by the Holy Spirit.
Second, the Holy Spirit carefully and thoroughly knows the deep truths about God. Paul explains that the reason that the Holy Spirit is able to make known the wisdom of God is because the Holy Spirit makes a careful and thorough effort in order to know the deep and profound truths of God. The Apostle uses an analogy to help us understand this timeless truth. He explains that just as only the spirit of the man can understand the deep and profound truths that lie deep in the core of their being, only the Holy Spirit can grasp the significance of the deep and profound truths of God and the message of the gospel.
And because of this reality, we see that the Holy Spirit enables us to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God. Paul is explaining to the church at Corinth that as followers of Jesus we do not receive the spirit of the world, which is hostile to God and sets itself up in opposition to God and His kingdom. Instead we receive the Holy Spirit, which enables us to grasp the significance of what God has graciously given us through His Son Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel.
The Holy Spirit combines the transcendent thoughts of the wisdom of God with the transcendent message of the gospel in a way that brings understanding of the timeless truth of God that has now been made known through Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who connects the timeless truth about the wisdom of God with the timeless message of the gospel so that we are able to understand and embrace our need for forgiveness and for the relationship with God that we were created for. Therefore, an absence of the Holy Spirit makes that connection impossible and results in a misunderstanding of the wisdom of God.
So are you thankful for the Holy Spirit's work in our lives that enable us to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God as seen in the message of the gospel? Do you recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives as followers of Jesus?
"For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." 1 Corinthians 2:10-13
Paul reveals a second reason why the wisdom of God is misunderstood in that the wisdom of God is often misunderstood because of the absence of the Holy Spirit. In these verses, we see three ways in which the Holy Spirit enables followers of Jesus to understand the wisdom of God. First, the wisdom of God is made known by the Holy Spirit. God graciously chooses to make known the wisdom of the timeless truth of the message of the gospel by the Holy Spirit.
Second, the Holy Spirit carefully and thoroughly knows the deep truths about God. Paul explains that the reason that the Holy Spirit is able to make known the wisdom of God is because the Holy Spirit makes a careful and thorough effort in order to know the deep and profound truths of God. The Apostle uses an analogy to help us understand this timeless truth. He explains that just as only the spirit of the man can understand the deep and profound truths that lie deep in the core of their being, only the Holy Spirit can grasp the significance of the deep and profound truths of God and the message of the gospel.
And because of this reality, we see that the Holy Spirit enables us to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God. Paul is explaining to the church at Corinth that as followers of Jesus we do not receive the spirit of the world, which is hostile to God and sets itself up in opposition to God and His kingdom. Instead we receive the Holy Spirit, which enables us to grasp the significance of what God has graciously given us through His Son Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel.
The Holy Spirit combines the transcendent thoughts of the wisdom of God with the transcendent message of the gospel in a way that brings understanding of the timeless truth of God that has now been made known through Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who connects the timeless truth about the wisdom of God with the timeless message of the gospel so that we are able to understand and embrace our need for forgiveness and for the relationship with God that we were created for. Therefore, an absence of the Holy Spirit makes that connection impossible and results in a misunderstanding of the wisdom of God.
So are you thankful for the Holy Spirit's work in our lives that enable us to grasp the significance of the wisdom of God as seen in the message of the gospel? Do you recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives as followers of Jesus?
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