“Now you are the body of Christ” “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV The Church at Corinth: Living in the Letters to the Corinthians A ten-week journey focused on relationships in the Body of Christ Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland Sunday 25 October 2020 Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor Reformation Sunday
The Body of Christ and Family Feuds 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided?” NIV “I ask you, ‘Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces…?’”
The Body of Christ and family feuds: Personalities - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 “I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family brought a most disturbing report to my attention – that you’re fighting among yourselves! I’ll tell you exactly what was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, ‘I’m on Paul’s side,’ or ‘I’m for Apollos,’ or ‘Peter is my man,’ or ‘I’m in the Messiah group.’ I ask you, ‘Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces …?’”
Q: In what ways have you observed personalities dominate and divide in …. Family______Organizations______Work place ______Church______
The Body of Christ and family feuds: Offenses - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 “And how dare you take each other to court! When you think you have been wronged, does it make any sense to go before a court that knows nothing of God’s ways instead of a family of Christians? The day is coming when the world is going to stand before a jury made up of followers of Jesus. If someday you are going to rule on the world’s fate, wouldn’t it be a good idea to practice on some of these smaller cases? Why, we’re even going to judge angels! So why not these everyday affairs? As these disagreements and wrongs surface, why would you ever entrust them to the judgment of people you don’t trust in any other way? I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up to the stupidity of what you’re doing. Is it possible there isn’t one levelheaded person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements and disputes come up? I don’t believe it. And here you are taking each other to court before people who don’t even believe in God! How can they render justice if they don’t believe in the God of justice? These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn’t it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it? All you’re doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family.” “An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.” Proverbs 18:19 NLT
Q: When it comes to being offended … Have you been offended by someone? Who?______If so, have you been obedient to Matthew 18:15, not a suggestion but a command? “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” NIV ______
Have you offended someone, even if unintentionally? Who?______If so, have you been obedient to Matthew 5:23-24, not a suggestion but a command? “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” NIV ______
The Body of Christ and family feuds: “Me first.” 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 “God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track. For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused – maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong. Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to a dinner for him – because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these ‘weak ones.’ So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.”
“… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, …” Matthew 20:28
Q: Is there any area of your behavior and conduct that could pose a ‘stumbling block’ for another Christian?______If so, are you willing to give it up or alter it for the benefit of others who also belong to Jesus? ______How would you go about doing that? Think of concrete steps.______MONDAY MORNING Each week you are being asked to take 30 minutes each morning (leaving you 23 ½ hours) to spend in quiet time with the Lord going over the outline for the week. If you will do this, He will speak to you about some of these things. If you don’t, He will remain silent in your life.