1144.
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another,
so that there may be no divisions among you,
and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
My brothers, some from Chloe's household,
have informed me that there are quarrels amongst you.
What I mean is this.
One of you says, I follow Paul.
Another, I follow Apollos.
Another, I follow Cephas.
Still another, I follow Christ.
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.
Beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.
Not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved.
It is the power of God.
For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
the intelligence of the intelligent.
I will frustrate.
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of his age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God,
the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs,
and Greeks look for wisdom.
But we preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews,
and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who God has called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God
is wiser than the man's wisdom,
and the weakness of God
is stronger than the man's strength.
Thank you very much, Maria.
Well, if you were here last week,
you'll know that we started our new series,
our new studies,
in 1 Corinthians,
Messy Church, Holy Church.
And if you haven't yet got a copy of this,
which I'm holding up here,
there's some more on the table,
which is just a little overview,
and helps you to get a big picture idea
of what the letter is all about,
and what we'll be looking at
over the coming Sundays.
Well, we need God's help, as always,
when we look at his word,
and so we're going to pray for God's help.
Now, let's do that.
Our Father God, we thank you
for this letter of 1 Corinthians
written centuries ago,
but a word which comes from you
to us today
by your Holy Spirit
speaking into our lives
and into our context.
Father, we do not want
the wisdom of the world.
Rather, we want the wisdom of God.
And we want your power
to change us
because we are powerless
to change ourselves.
So, as we look at your word together,
would you please do that work amongst us
and bring us closer
to an understanding
of what it is to be
a united church
because of the cross of Christ.
Christ.
We pray this
in his name.
Amen.
Well, this church in Corinth
was a real mess.
Sinful attitudes,
immoral behaviours
were not being dealt with
and so the church
was beginning to
fragment
and fall apart.
Have a look at verse 11
from our reading this morning.
My brothers and sister,
some from Chloe's household,
so this is a family
within the church,
he says,
have informed me
that there are quarrels,
that there is arguments
among you.
What I mean is this,
one of you
or one group
is saying,
I follow Paul.
He's a great speaker.
I love the way
he puts his arguments.
He's brilliant.
Another group is saying,
well, I follow Apollos.
He's much easier
to understand.
He's simple.
I like him.
Still another group
are saying,
we follow Cephas
or Peter.
He's direct
and straight
to the point.
People, you see,
were fighting
over which leader
and speaker
was better.
So instead of
one united church,
they were one
unholy mess.
In fact,
some of them
even thought
that they were
far superior
to these other
divided groups.
Look at the end
of verse 12.
It's like,
you know,
we don't follow
Peter or Paul
or Apollos.
We're much better
than that.
We follow Christ.
The problem is,
they've all become
personality focused,
not spiritually
focused.
instead of being
united by gathering
around Christ
and his cross,
they have divided
by gathering
around people
and their status.
Now,
this kind of behaviour
that we see
in the church
then
is not a million
miles away
today.
I mean,
have you heard
about that new
pastor in town?
Apparently,
he's got an amazing
gift at speaking.
Brilliant.
I think I'll start
going there.
All the students
think he's wonderful
and they've got
a great band
as well.
Or have you heard
about the church
down the road?
The amount of people
that are going
to that church,
it's incredible.
There are hundreds
going.
And they've got
a brilliant children's
programme in creche.
My kids are going
to love that.
I think I'll go there.
Or did you catch
that online ministry?
The lady
who speaks there,
she registered
over 200,000
downloads last week
and that was
just on one talk.
I get much more
out of that
than I ever do
at church.
You see,
the danger is
we can become
personality-focused
rather than
spiritually-focused.
Instead of us
gathering around
Christ and
his cross,
we gather
around people
and their
status.
But perhaps
we don't get
sucked in by
popularity and
programmes.
We think of
ourselves much
too spiritual
to be kind of
led down that
road.
We just like to
say, oh,
I follow Christ.
Me and Jesus,
we get along
fine.
I don't need
the church
or its leaders.
I can just
stay at home,
me and
Jesus.
Oh, it all
appears to be
spiritual,
but in reality,
like all these
other groupies,
it causes
unholy
division.
So how do we
maintain
our unity?
unity?
Well, we need
to go back
to where
it all
began.
Have a look
at verse
10.
I appeal
to you,
I plead
with you,
I love
and I
care for
you so
much,
brothers and
sisters,
in the name
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ,
that all
of you
agree with
one another
so that
there may
be no
divisions among
you and
that you
may be
perfectly
united
in mind
and thought.
Now,
perfectly
united
is not
the name
of the
local
soccer team.
It's what
God's holy
church should
look like
to a
watching world.
Literally,
being perfectly
united means
to knit
together or
to mesh
together.
So you
think of
a wire
mesh the
way it's
all integrated
and locked
together.
So instead
of being
ripped apart,
they are
tied together,
bound and
strong.
And what
ties and
unites this
church together
is the
cross of
Christ.
It is the
common thread,
that common
piece of wire,
if you like,
that holds
everything together.
Have a look
down at
verse 13.
Here we're
asked a
series of
questions.
They may
seem odd
at first,
but it
gets to
the heart
of what
it is to
be united
in the
cross of
Christ.
He asked
us,
is Christ
divided?
I mean,
can you
split Christ
up into
lots of
different
little parts
and still
call him
Christ?
No,
of course
not.
You can't
do that.
So just
as Christ
is one
and just
as you
cannot
divide
Christ,
so the
church,
the people
are one
and cannot
be divided.
He actually
gets back to
this a little
bit later on.
If you jump
forward to
chapter 12,
I think this
very helpfully
illustrates what
he's getting
at or what
he introduces
at the very
beginning.
So chapter
12 and
verse 12.
chapter 12
and verse
12.
Here he's
talking about
the body,
the physical
body,
and he uses
it as an
illustration
to talk
about the
church.
So do you
see it there,
chapter 12
verse 12?
He says the
body,
he's talking
there about
the physical
body is a
unit,
it's one,
though it is
made up of
many parts.
So a body
has arms
and legs
and eyes
and ears
and different
parts.
And though
all its parts
are many,
they form
just one
body.
So you
are one
unit,
you're not
all different
pieces,
you are one,
I'm one.
So it
is with
Christ.
Now look
at verse
27 of the
same chapter.
What does
it tell us
we are?
Now you
are the
body of
Christ.
And each
one of
you is a
part of
it.
So the
church,
that is the
people who
have entrusted
their lives
to Jesus,
we are the
body of
Christ.
There's many
parts to
that body,
but together
we form one
united body.
So just as
Christ is
one,
we the
church are
one.
Back to
chapter
one.
So this
unity,
this gathering
around
Christ,
is not
something that's
humanly
manufactured.
It isn't
coming from
our ideas
or our
design.
It is a
supernatural
work of
God.
And it
happens in
two ways.
Firstly,
through the
death of
Christ.
So he
goes on
with his
questioning in
chapter one
verse 13.
He says,
is Christ
divided?
No,
he's not.
Was Paul
crucified for
you?
What a silly
question, but
he's trying to
make a point.
Did some
church leader
take the
punishment that
you deserve
for your
sins?
I mean,
Ralph is
sitting over
there.
Did he die
for you?
No,
Christ died
for you.
He alone
takes the
blame for
our sin so
that we
might be
incorporated
into his
body.
through
Christ's
death we
are now
included,
brothers and
sisters of
the Lord
Jesus and
of each
other.
He goes
on with a
third question.
Was Christ
divided?
Or is
Christ
divided?
Was Paul
crucified for
you?
Were you
baptized into
the name of
Paul?
When you
got baptized,
if you were
baptized,
did somebody
say, I
baptize you in
the name of
the Father
and of
Johnny Grant
and of
the Holy
Spirit?
Well, it
sounds a bit
crazy, doesn't
it?
We're
baptized into
the name
of Christ,
symbolizing
our being
united to
Christ and
being united
to his
church.
That's what
baptism is a
symbol of.
You see,
what Christ
has united,
we cannot
divide.
If Christ
has died
for you,
if you
have been
baptized into
Christ,
then we
are one
in Christ,
whether we
behave like
it or
not.
That's why
Paul has
been crystal
clear in
his task.
In verses
14 and
15, he
talks about,
he says,
yes, I
baptized
certain people
in the
church when
I was
there.
There were
some people
I didn't.
But that
wasn't the
real reason.
I'm not
wanting
followers of
Paul.
No, he's
something much
more important
that he's
about.
Look at
verse 17.
For Christ
did not
send me to
baptize,
but to
preach the
gospel,
to preach
the message
of the
cross,
not with
words of
human wisdom,
not by
telling jokes
and little
stories,
not that
they're
wrong,
but just
that,
or clever
little
arguments
and little
asides.
No, I
just want
to preach
simply the
plain and
simple message
of Jesus.
Lest the
cross of
Christ be
emptied of
its power,
because that's
where the
power is,
in the
message.
So Paul
is saying,
when I
preach,
I'm not
looking for
more likes
on Facebook.
I'm not
interested in
more followers
on my blog
or checking
how many
downloaded
my sermon.
No, I
want people
to know
Christ,
because through
Christ we're
saved and
we're brought
into the
family of
the church.
That's how
we're united.
So church
is not about
finding the
most popular
preacher.
Or maybe
you're a
student here,
and you're
thinking,
well, I'm
going to be
leaving soon,
and I'm
going to be
getting a
job somewhere
else, or
whatever the
case may
be.
When you're
looking for
a church,
it's not
about how
many people
go, or
how cool
the music
is.
It's not
even how
dynamic and
how energetic
their programs
are.
It's not
about clever
arguments or
slick
presentations.
It's all
about the
cross of
Christ.
That is
what brings
us, and
that is
what unites
us together,
and that's
what we
should look
for when
we are
looking for
a church.
Is the
message always
about Christ
and his
cross?
Now, there
are two
reasons why
we need to
unite around
the cross of
Christ, why
it is so
important that
we keep it
central, and
he goes on to
explain the
reasons why.
Here's the
first one.
The cross of
Christ is
God's wisdom
to save.
You see, for
some people, and
maybe you're a
person here today
who thinks like
this, they see
the cross of
Christ as
absolute
nonsense,
silly, not
important.
Look at
verse 18.
for the
message of
the cross is
foolishness to
those who are
perishing, but
to us who are
being saved, it
is the power of
God.
For those who've
rejected Christ
and have turned
away from him,
and their
eternal destiny is
separation from
God, hell
itself, for
them the message
of the cross is
absolutely stupid,
a complete waste
of time.
There's some
very clever
people around.
One clever
person, he's
just recently
passed away,
was the
scholar
Christopher
Hitchens.
He wrote a
book called
God is
Dead.
A very, very
clever and
intelligent man,
an amazing
debater.
God is
a
God is
a wonderful
mind, but
this is what he
thought.
He said, I
find something
repulsive about
the idea of
vicarious redemption.
That's just a
technical way of
talking about the
cross of Christ.
This impossible
action of a
Jesus dying
robs us of
individual
responsibility.
So the
whole apparatus
of absolution
and forgiveness
strikes me as
positively
immoral.
Or take
another person,
Professor Richard
Dawkins.
He's a world
leader in
science.
Again, a very
capable and
very intellectual
man.
But here's what
he said,
you cannot
be an
intelligent
scientific
thinker
and still
hold to
religious
beliefs.
In other
words, you
can't say
you're an
educated
person and
still believe
in the
cross.
Now these
are world
thinkers who've
written many
things and
people listen
to what they
have to say
and they're
telling everybody
the cross is
foolish, it's
silly, it's
a nonsense.
We don't need
anybody to
save us, we
can save
ourselves.
Salvation for
humanity is
found in the
wisdom of
learning and
of understanding.
That's how
we're going to
better the
world and
better humanity.
But listen to
what God has
to say.
Verse 19.
He says,
for it is
written,
I will
destroy the
wisdom of
the wise.
the
intelligence of
the intelligent,
I will
frustrate.
So the
very thing
that the
world counts
as foolish,
that's the
message of
the cross.
God says,
I'm going to
take the
message of
the cross
and it is
going to be
the means of
salvation for
the world.
So look at
verse 20.
Again, he
asks a whole
load of
questions.
Where's the
wise man?
Where's the
scholar?
Where's the
philosopher of
this age?
In other
words, what
has all this
learning done
for the
world?
All the
great minds
that have
ever lived,
the great
intellects that
there have
been down
through the
centuries,
what has it
all led to
for the
world?
Well, there's
been some
great things,
hasn't there?
There's been the
advancement in
science, which
means we all
live a little
bit longer
than before
and there's
now more
cures for
illnesses.
That's a good
thing because
of learning.
Yes, our
understanding of
physics means we
can go further
into space and
maybe somebody
one day is
going to live
on planet
Mars.
Who knows?
We might
need to.
Yes, our
application of
mathematics means
we have better
technology and
communication
systems.
That's all
great things.
But with
all this
learning and
all this
advancement and
all the wisdom
of the world
down through
the centuries,
the human
heart is
still the
same.
We are
still broken
and sinful.
By nature,
we specialize
in unholy
division.
I mean,
look around
the world.
How many
nations are
fighting and
at war today?
Look at the
pictures on
our TVs.
As thousands
upon thousands
of people are
leaving countries
because they're
all fighting.
Or look at our
communities.
We've seen it
again in the
news this week
in Northern
Ireland.
A community
again falling
apart.
Look at our
own individual
families.
How many of
them can we
all say are
so nicely
together?
The reality
is so much
is broken and
falling apart.
What about
our friendships?
How many
of us have
lost friends
because of
things we've
said or
done or
because of
something they've
said or
done?
The reality
is we
specialize in
unholy
division.
We divide.
We fall
out.
We quarrel.
Look at the
end of verse
20.
Has not
God made
foolish the
wisdom of the
world?
God made
the wisdom of
God.
God made
the world
through its
wisdom did
not know
him.
God was
pleased through
the foolishness
of what was
preached to
save those
who believe.
The world's
wisdom says
this.
We can go
it alone.
We don't
need God.
We don't
need a cross.
Don't talk
to me about
a cross.
That's nonsense.
It's foolish.
It's silly.
The world
thinks it can
save itself and
save humanity
along with it.
But God in
his wisdom
comes along
and says
what the
world thinks
is foolish
and stupid,
what the
world laughs
at,
I will use
that to
save the
world and
save people.
That's what
he's saying
at the end
of verse
21.
That God
was pleased
through the
foolishness
of what was
preached to
save those
who believe.
In the
first century
there was
a piece
of graffiti
that was
found on
a wall
and it's
a little
picture,
it's just
kind of like
a chalk
kind of
drawing and
there's a
picture of
a man
spread like
this as
if he's
on a
cross.
But for
a head
is a
donkey,
an ass.
And there's
a little
caption underneath
and it
says,
Alex
Amenos
worships
his
God.
So
obviously
in the
first century
there was
a little
guy called
Alex,
a Christian
who had
heard the
message of
the cross
he'd come
to believe
and other
people thought
it was
stupid.
Maybe a
neighbour,
maybe one
of his
mates in
school,
who knows,
but they
draw a
little picture
and say,
what a
stupid
boy to
follow
that.
And maybe
that's what
people think
of you
and me.
Why would
you follow
such a
simple and
stupid
message?
A man
dying on
the cross,
how utterly
pathetic.
But that
is God's
wisdom,
to take
something the
world thinks
is foolish,
to save
people like
you and
me.
Let me
try and
apply this
through to
some situations
today.
Look for
example at
Northern Ireland.
We've seen
it on the
news,
the Northern
Ireland
Assembly.
The world
in its
wisdom has
put in
millions of
dollars into
that.
There's been
thousands of
hours around
the negotiating
table.
The world's
brightest and
most talented
politicians of
lawyers have
been employed.
Nothing has
been spared to
make it work.
But where are
we at again
this week?
Division,
brokenness,
distrust,
falling apart.
What if I
were to go to
them or
somebody else
and say,
why don't we
sit them all
down round
the table and
we'll preach
them the
message of
the cross?
What kind
of response
would you
get?
Don't be
so foolish.
Don't be
so stupid.
What an
ignorant and
uneducated idea
to do that.
But I could
take you to
churches today
where the
cross of
Christ has
been preached,
the message
has been
proclaimed,
and in
those churches
are people
from either
side,
nationalist
and unionist.
I even
think if
you were
to dig
around here
you would
find people
on different
sides.
I could
take you
to churches
where there
are people
from a
Jewish
background
and a
Palestinian
background
united
together,
Muslim
backgrounds
united
together.
Why?
Because they
have come
to hear the
message of
the cross
and they
have been
saved because
they've
trusted in
Jesus,
they've been
forgiven of
all their
sin and
they are
now together
as one
people.
the cross
of Christ
is God's
wisdom
to save.
So that's
what he
says to
the church.
Guys,
if you're
going to
be perfectly
united,
it's got
to be
the cross
of Christ.
The second
big thing
he says
is this,
the cross
of Christ
is God's
power to
unite.
You see,
those God
saves,
he doesn't
just save
individually
and say
there you
are all
on your
own.
He saves
to bring
them into
a community,
into a
family,
into a
church.
There's no
such thing
as an
individual
Christian.
You are
brought in.
So let's
have a look
at how
this works
out.
Verse 22.
Jews
demand
miraculous
signs and
Greeks
look for
wisdom.
So some
people are
like Jews
and they
look for
proof of
God's
power.
So they
say something
like this
to God
or to
the church
or to
the teacher.
Do some
miracles.
Go on,
heal somebody,
raise somebody
from the
dead,
change my
circumstances
and get me
a job.
If you do
all of this
then I'll
believe in
God's
power.
Then there's
another group
of people
like the
Greeks
and they
look for
proof in
clever
arguments
and they
say give
us something
deep and
philosophical,
something that
we've never
heard before,
some new
kind of
teaching.
Tell us
something
different that
we've never
ever heard
before.
Then I
will believe
in God.
But look
at the
answer,
verse 23.
We don't
do those
things,
Paul says.
We preach
Christ
crucified,
a stumbling
block to
Jews and
foolishness to
Gentiles.
Instead of
just throwing
them miraculous
healings,
instead of
just firing
out new
philosophies and
new teaching,
God says,
here's what I
give you.
I give you
my crucified
son.
If you
want to
see the
power of
God at
work,
if you
want to
see the
greatest
display of
God's
power that
the world
has ever
seen,
then I
want you
to look
at the
cross.
And look
carefully at
the cross.
Look at
this broken
God
man.
beaten,
crushed,
naked,
hanging on
a cross
to die.
Look at
those nails
that have
been driven
through his
hands and
feet,
ripping and
tearing flesh
apart.
Look at
the crown
of thorns
as it is
crushed into
his skull,
blood
pouring down,
blinding his
eyes and
dripping from
his side.
Hear the
cries of
agony and
pain,
the grasping
for breath
as his
life edges
away.
Listen to
his shouts
from the
cross,
my God,
why have
you forsaken
me?
Watch the
scene around
the cross
as the
crowds jeer
and taunt
and they
spit and
laugh and
the so-called
followers all
run away in
the other
direction.
Look at
the cross
of Christ.
It's a
picture of
weakness.
It's a
bloody mess,
foolish,
stupid and
pathetic.
verse 24.
But to
those whom
God has
called,
both Jews
and Greeks,
Christ the
power of
God and
the wisdom
of God.
He is
saying for
those who
would dare
to look at
the cross
and dare
to listen
to its
message,
for those
who would
believe that
this God
man crucified
on the
cross that
looks foolish
and stupid
to everybody
else,
is God's
means for
taking the
sin of the
world on
himself,
punishing it
and judging
it so that
messy, sinful
people like you
and me can be
forgiven of all
of our sin and
united together.
Paul knew that
he had a hard
job to try and
pull this church
together,
the Jews and
the Greeks.
Well, trying to
get them together
was like trying to
get Sinn Féin and
DUP to talk.
It would be like
the GAA trying to
join forces with
the IRFU.
It's like trying
to make Russia
and Ukraine
one.
It's impossible
from a human
point of view.
Jews and
Greeks, they just
didn't get on
with each other.
They didn't fit.
And here they are
now clumped
together in this
church.
But through the
cross of Christ,
every barrier has
been broken down.
Every division has
been healed because
their every sin has
been forgiven.
And that's how
God united them
together as his
church.
Not in miraculous
healings, not
through clever
arguments, but
through the simple
preaching of the
cross of Christ.
Because that is
God's power and
the only power to
unite the people
of God.
As I look out on
this church, the
people who trust
in Jesus, as
we're gathered here
this morning, I
see, myself
included, people
of different
backgrounds and
cultures.
But we're a
diverse, motley
crew, aren't
we?
Different ages.
Some are single,
some are married.
We speak different
languages.
Even the colour of
our skin can be
different.
Our incomes and
our jobs are
different.
We've got different
hobbies and
different interests.
We're at
different stages of
life, with kids,
without kids,
looking for work,
retired from work.
But we're all kinds
of different people.
And if we were to
meet each other
walking down the
street, there might
be not one thing
that would have
anything in common
that would connect
us to each other.
Nothing.
We just pass each
other as we pass
by lots of other
people.
So what are we
doing here?
This mixed bunch
that we are.
Why do we meet
each other with
each other here
on a Sunday and
Wednesdays?
Why do we gather
together?
Why do we love
and care?
What's brought us
all together?
From all our vast
backgrounds.
The cross of Christ.
Because what the
world sees as foolish,
we have come to see
as incredibly wise.
What the world sees
as weak, we have come
to see as power.
Look at verse 25.
For the foolishness
of God is wiser
than man's wisdom,
and the weakness
of God is stronger
than man's strength.
In Christ, we have
been saved from all
our sin, and in Christ
we have been united
together.
So how do we remain
perfectly united to a
watching world?
not by gathering
around people and
their status, not by
running here and
there to different
things and other
situations, but by
gathering around
Christ and his
cross and pointing
each other to there
every single day.
Let's pray together.
our Father God, we
come to you with a
confession and in
repentance for thinking
that our ways are better
than your ways, or
thinking that we know
and we know how to do
things and how to save
and how to unite.
But we humbly come
before you and we
stand at the cross and
we look at the cross and
we listen to its message
and we say thank you God
for your amazing power,
for your great wisdom
to send your son to us
so that we could be
forgiven, incorporated
into your family,
to love you, to belong to
you, and to belong to
one another.
Father, we praise you for
all that we have and we
pray your continued
protection upon this
church family from every
squabble or every
disagreement that we
would not divide over
personality or program,
but that we would be
united around Christ and
all that he has done.
Please help us to go on
showing this wonderful
unity to the world and
the hope that the cross
brings to broken
nations, broken
families, and divided
communities.
We pray this in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We're going to sing
together a song that
does what we've been
thinking about and that
is to...