STILL WORLDLY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (3 OF 10)
by Joe Alain
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
This content is part of a series.
Still Worldly After All These Years (3 of 10)
Series: Beautiful Mess
Joe Alain
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (Key Verse, 9)
We can understand why babies cry, pitch fits and just roll around on the floor. That's kind of normal for babies. But we wouldn't think it was very normal if an adult fell out and pitched a fit and started rolling around the floor. There is a different expectation that we have of people who are mature and something is wrong when the supposedly mature act immaturely.
It was normal for the Corinthian believers to be immature when they first trusted Christ, after all they were new born ''infants in Christ'' (3:1). But that isn't the case now. They should be much farther along in their spiritual growth but they are still acting likes babes in Christ. They are still on ''Enfamil'' baby formula and it doesn't look like they are going to be ready for any ''solid food'' anytime soon (3:2).
Paul presents the evidence of the Corinthian's immaturity, that they are ''still worldly'' by telling them that there is still ''jealousy and quarreling among'' them (3:3) and they are still divided trying to make God's servants into superstars. Read 3:1-4. ''Are you not acting like mere humans?'' Paul says. For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings?'' (3:3:b, 4).
Key to overcoming their worldliness is a correct understanding that leaders are simply people that God is able to work through to accomplish his will (''through whom you came to believe,'' 3:5). Furthermore, all of God's people have been ''assigned'' a ''task'' (3:5).
Life Application: As Christians live out their calling as servants in ''God's field,'' they become spiritually mature. Growing up means finding your place of service, what God wants you to do.
Paul provides two images of the church which help us to understand our task as ''co-workers in God's service'' (3:9), the church (God's people) is compared to a ''field'' and a ''bu ...
Series: Beautiful Mess
Joe Alain
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (Key Verse, 9)
We can understand why babies cry, pitch fits and just roll around on the floor. That's kind of normal for babies. But we wouldn't think it was very normal if an adult fell out and pitched a fit and started rolling around the floor. There is a different expectation that we have of people who are mature and something is wrong when the supposedly mature act immaturely.
It was normal for the Corinthian believers to be immature when they first trusted Christ, after all they were new born ''infants in Christ'' (3:1). But that isn't the case now. They should be much farther along in their spiritual growth but they are still acting likes babes in Christ. They are still on ''Enfamil'' baby formula and it doesn't look like they are going to be ready for any ''solid food'' anytime soon (3:2).
Paul presents the evidence of the Corinthian's immaturity, that they are ''still worldly'' by telling them that there is still ''jealousy and quarreling among'' them (3:3) and they are still divided trying to make God's servants into superstars. Read 3:1-4. ''Are you not acting like mere humans?'' Paul says. For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere human beings?'' (3:3:b, 4).
Key to overcoming their worldliness is a correct understanding that leaders are simply people that God is able to work through to accomplish his will (''through whom you came to believe,'' 3:5). Furthermore, all of God's people have been ''assigned'' a ''task'' (3:5).
Life Application: As Christians live out their calling as servants in ''God's field,'' they become spiritually mature. Growing up means finding your place of service, what God wants you to do.
Paul provides two images of the church which help us to understand our task as ''co-workers in God's service'' (3:9), the church (God's people) is compared to a ''field'' and a ''bu ...
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