Sunday, March 11, 2018

Called to Be Saints - 1 Corinthians 1-2 - Wisdom from God


Called to Be Saints
13-Lesson Outline of 1 Corinthians
1-2 Wisdom from God   11 Acceptable Worship
3 Cooperative Ministry   12 Spiritual Gifts – What
4 Servants of Christ       13 Love – the Greatest
5-6 Goals of Godliness  14 Spiritual Gifts – Why
7 Marriage Matters        15 His/Our Resurrection
8-9 Liberty: Self-Limits  16 Keys to Growth
10 Liberty: Cautions
1-2 Wisdom from God
Identify – 1:1-9
1. With What God has Named You – 1:1-3
The church of God (ownership)
Sanctified in Christ (allegiance)
Called by the Lord (vocation)
Saints (character)
Calling upon the Lord (dependence)
With others everywhere (brotherhood)
Under Jesus’ lordship (surrender)
Implication:
Become what God says you are!
Identify – 1:1-9
2. With What God has Given You – 1:4-7a
His grace in Christ – life, forgiveness, freedom
His wealth – in speech, knowledge, everything
His firm testimony – solid, unshakeable truth
Implication:
Count your blessings!  Stop competing and bickering!
Identify – 1:1-9
3. With What God has Promised You – 1:7b-9
He will reveal Jesus Christ.
He will confirm you until then.
He will regard you as blameless.
Why?  Because He is faithful.
Implication:
Live this day for that day!
Agree – 1:10-17
The Plea
The Problem
The Personalities
The Principle
The Power
Discern – 1:18-2:16
Cross-eyed people …
Treasure the “cross-word” that saves.
Redefine words like power and weakness, wisdom and folly, rich and poor, failure and success.
Live among others: who ridicule us as foolish, who seek “signs” or “wisdom,” who are perishing without Christ.
Do not follow the “experts” of this age. Isa 29:14
The wise man. The scribe. The debater.
Epicureans and Stoics, then and now.  Acts 17:18
Epicureans
Followers of Epicurus, 340-270 BC
“If any gods exist, they are not interested or involved.”
“Life’s highest aim is a pleasant and smooth life.”
“Avoid excess, stress, fear of death, and pain.”
“Seek tranquility and love mankind.”
“Eat, drink, and be merry.” (cf. 1 Cor 15:32; Isa. 22:13; 56:12; Luke 12:19)
Stoics
Met at the “stoa.”
Followers of Zeno (c. 340-265 BC)
“Live consistently with nature.”
“Man is highly rational and self-sufficient.”
Pantheism (all is “god”). “Purpose” directing history.
Goal: accept both tragedy and triumph.
Results: pride and self-sufficiency.
Discern – 1:18-2:16
Cross-eyed people …
Know how God saves.
Therefore proclaim Christ crucified.
Because God is wiser, stronger … and just plain right!
Know they are the called, in spite of worldly status.
Know they are the chosen, aware of the gospel’s irony.
Dare not boast in self, but only in the Lord.
Admit their inadequacy. “Weakness, fear, trembling.”
Help others see what they see.
Discern – 1:18-2:16
The Word of God
2:6-12        Its Origin
2:13            Its Transmission
2:14-16      Its Reception
3 Cooperative Ministry
Mature – 3:1-23
It’s OK to be infants … for awhile.
Babies cry!  Weak, dependent, and defenseless.
“Born again.”  Jn 3:3-5 
“Newborn babes … milk … grow …” 1 Pet 2:2-3
God: “I taught Ephraim (Israel) to walk.” Hos 11:3
Jesus: “Don’t make little ones stumble!”  Matt 18:5-6
Train.  Nurture.  Help.  Do not exasperate!
Define “age” based on spiritual development.
Mature – 3:1-23
But then it’s time to grow up, …
“No longer children.” Eph 4:14-16
“By this time … teachers.” Heb 5:12-14
“As babes (evil), but mature (thinking).”  1 Cor 14:20
When Christians don’t grow, they gripe.
“Jealousy and strife.”  Jas 3:13-18
“Church growth” = ???
put people into perspective …
Paul and Apollos: servants. Agents. Tools. Field hands.
“Nobodies” through whom God brought growth.
“One:” united in purpose and aim.
To be rewarded for their labor.
focus on the farm … plant and water!
build on the foundation … Jesus Christ alone!
and respect God’s holy temple … the church,
indwelt by His Spirit!
          humbly seeking His wisdom …
          because all belongs to you …
          and you belong to Christ …
          and Christ belongs to God!

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