page 1145 of your red church bible first corinthians chapter three brothers i could
not address you as spiritual but as worldly mere infants in christ i gave you milk not solid food
for you are not yet ready for it indeed you are still not ready you are still worldly
for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you are you not worldly are you not acting like
mere men for when one says i follow paul and another i follow apollos are you not mere men
what after all is apollos and what is paul only servant through whom you came to believe
as the lord is assigned to each his task i planted the seed apollos watered it but god made it grow
so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything but only god who makes things grow
the man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose and each will be rewarded according to
his own labor for we are god's fellow workers you are god's field god's building by the grace god
has given me i laid a foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it
but each one should be careful how he builds for no one can lay any foundation other than the one
already laid which is jesus christ if any man builds on this foundation using gold silver costly stones
wood hay or straw his work will be shown for what it is because the day will bring it to light
it will be revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each man's work
if what he has built survives he will receive his reward if it is burned up he will suffer loss
he himself will be saved but only as one escaping through the flames
don't you know that you yourselves are god's temple and that god's spirit lives in you
if anyone destroys god's temple god will destroy him for god's temple is sacred and you are that temple
do not deceive yourselves if any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age he should
become a fool so that he may become wise for the wisdom of this world is foolishness in god's sight
as it is written he catches the wise in their craftiness and again the lord knows that the thoughts
of the wise are futile so then no more boasting about men all things are yours whether paul or apollos
or cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours and you are of christ
and christ is of god
thank you chris
well we're going to pray please keep your bibles open in first corinthians chapter three
as we go through this section together and we continue in our studies
messy church holy church
let's pray together
we have not received the spirit of the world
but the spirit who is from god
that we may understand what god has freely given us
our father god we thank you for the wonderful gift
of your holy spirit
and we pray for his help
right now
that he would give us understanding of these words
that he would drive them deep into our hearts
that he would help us to see
who you are
what you have done
and what it means to be
the holy church
of god
we need your help
and we humbly ask for it
and it's in jesus name we pray
amen
would you ever grow up
you're behaving like a baby
i'm sure we all remember that rebuke from our parents
if you keep behaving like a baby
then i'll treat you like a baby
well sadly it's a rebuke
the church also needs to hear
look at verse one of chapter three
brothers and sisters i could not address you as spiritual
but as worldly
mere
babies
in christ
in fact he says you're about as mature as a baby
on the bottle
verse two
i gave you milk
not solid food
for you were not yet ready for it
indeed you are still
not ready
do you see we can we can start off
with milk
we can start off with the simple gospel of
jesus christ who died for our sins and
forgave us and rose again from the grave
but we never move on into
solid food
not that we put the gospel aside
but that we don't grow up in the gospel
and when we don't grow up
well then we mess up
verse three
you are still worldly
for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you
are you not worldly
are you not acting like mere men like the rest of people
for when one says i follow paul and another i follow apollos
are you not mere men
you see instead of this church being united by gathering around christ and his cross
they have divided by gathering around people and their status
they each have their own little group of followers
paul they say well he's a powerful speaker
he plants churches
have you seen all that he does
we're following him
he knows what strategy is all about
others were saying
well we follow apollos
he's an educated man
a great speaker
do you see the way he draws in the crowds
if the church is going to grow
then we need a program that's going to be delivered in style
we need pastors who are going to be successful
and so the fights continue today
christians behaving like babies
my youth group leader has more people coming to faith than yours
well my pastor is a lecturer in a bible college
we've had people healed in our church
well we've had more baptisms than you
it's all worldly and immature
instead of growing up in the gospel
they are messing up
relying on people
and their status
you see if we were spiritually mature
if we were spiritual adults
well then we would understand that the church
is gods
have a look back at chapter 1
and verse 2
because this is how he wrote to the church
reminding us at the very beginning
chapter 1 verse 2
to the church of God in Corinth
you see the church doesn't belong to any person
and the success is not dependent on any program
it's God's church
he owns the church
and we are to be united around God
and the way in which he works
so there's three things we're going to look at this morning
three things that we're told
about God and his church
that will help us to grow
to be spiritually mature
here's the first one
he tells us that the church
is a field
that God grows
the church is a field
that God grows
so look at verse 9
this is back in chapter 3
he says
for we are God's fellow workers
you
that's the church
are God's field
God's building
the church is to be seen
as a large field
that is meant to grow
and produce a crop
but all the growing
that takes place
is done by God
look at verse 5
so they've been dividing
and arguing about
who they should follow
and he reminds them
what after all
is Apollos
and what is Paul
but well
they're only servants
through whom
you came to believe
as the Lord
has assigned
to each his task
Acts records for us
this whole story
of how the church began
when Paul went
first to Corinth
he went persuading
and reasoning
that Jesus
was the Christ
and we're told
that people
came to believe
and we're also told
in Acts
that when Paul
left Corinth
then Apollos
arrived
and he began
to teach
and to prove
that Jesus
was the Christ
so we had
two great teachers
two great minds
who came to this city
working together
well able to reason
and debate
with the best
each of them
building
on the other
each bringing
the gospel
and encouraging
people
in God's word
but notice
where the credit
lies
verse 6
Paul says
I planted
the seed
Apollos came
and watered
it
but God
made it grow
you see
we can so
quickly
put all our
attention
on people
and status
we think
it's about
getting the right
person
with the right
experience
with the
proven track
record
and if you
get them
then you
will be
guaranteed
that your
church
is going
to grow
after all
success
and popularity
will always
draw a crowd
but it's
never about
us
or our
gifts
verse 7
so neither
he who
plants
nor he
who waters
is anything
only God
who makes
things grow
it's crystal
clear
it's God
who grows
the church
just as a
farmer will
plant
and water
his seed
he has
no control
over the
germination
process
no control
over the
fruitfulness
of the crop
he may have
a full harvest
the harvest
might be
sparse
and in the
same way
we don't
have control
over the
growth
of the
church
God
does
it's his
church
he owns
it
and he
grows it
now that
doesn't mean
we're just
useless
bystanders
just trotting
along and
letting God
do everything
no have a
look back
at verse 5
verse 5
tells us
we are
servants
that God
has gifted
as the
Lord
assigned to
each his
task
so God
distributes
amongst
his church
gifts
as he
pleases
to each
of his
people
and some
of the
people
within
church
life
will be
those
who
sow
the
gospel
seed
and there
will be
others
who
water
the
gospel
seed
they
build
upon
it
it's
a
team
effort
everybody
working
together
verse
8
the
man
who
plants
and the
one
who
waters
have
one
purpose
our
united
desire
together
as
God's
people
is to
see that
the good
news of
Christ
goes out
that people
are built
up and
growing in
it
that they
come to
faith
one
person
may
invite
somebody
to an
event
a
different
person
might get
to share
the good
news
with them
then another
person
might build
upon it
and teach
them
and explain
it a little
bit more
and there
will be
another
person
who's
praying
for that
person
each
one
is
gifted
each
role
is
vital
and
nobody
can
say
well
my
part
is
better
than
your
part
should
you
only
invite
it
I
explained
there's
no
superiority
in
all
of
this
we
have
one
purpose
so
neither
he
who
plants
or he
who
waters
is
anything
it's
not
about
us
it's
about
God
who
does
all
the
growing
so
that's
the
first
picture
he
gives
us
the
church
is
a
field
that
God
grows
the
second
is
he
says
the
church
is
a
building
that
God
tests
the
church
is
a
building
that
God
tests
so
in
verse
nine
we're
told
yes
we
are
God's
field
and
then
he
uses
a
different
metaphor
he
says
we're
God's
building
the
church
is
to
be
seen
like
a
great
big
building
that
God
tests
to
see
if
it
is
structurally
sound
so
that
it
will
endure
look
at
verse
10
by
the
grace
God
has
given
me
I
laid
a
foundation
as
an
expert
builder
so
what
is
the
foundation
that
Paul
has
laid
well
look
down
at
verse
11
he
says
no
one
can
lay
any
foundation
other
than
the
one
already
laid
which
is
Jesus
Christ
so
when
Paul
arrived
in
Corinth
the
foundation
that
he
laid
was
the
message
of
Christ
and
his
cross
that's
what
he
preached
and
people
heard
that
good
news
and
they
believed
in
it
and
as
a
sign
of
their
commitment
to
Christ
they
were
baptized
that's
how
the
church
in
Corinth
started
and
that's
how
this
church
here
in
Carigoline
has
started
and
that's
how
any
true
church
starts
so
the
gospel
has
been
laid
the
good
news
has
been
rooted
in
people
have
come
to
faith
but
go
back
to
verse
10
again
let's
read it
he says
by the
grace
God
has
given
me
I
laid
a
foundation
as
an
expert
builder
and
someone
else
is
building
on
it
now
I
think
the
context
is
implying
that
there's
a
problem
with
the
building
that's
going
on
top
of
the
foundation
yes
the
foundation
is
solid
but
the
bricks
and
blocks
going
up
are
a
little
suspect
it
seems
Paul
is
concerned
here
that
new
teachers
have
come
along
and
they're
not
building
with
the
gospel
instead
of
preaching
Christ
and
his
cross
instead
of
bringing
people
back
to
God's
word
they're
more
interested
in
programs
and
style
they're
more
interested
in
clever
arguments
and
clever
people
but
what does
he say
the end
of verse
10
but
each
one
should
be
careful
how
he
builds
verse
12
if
anyone
builds
on
this
foundation
using
gold
silver
costly
stones
wood
hay
or
straw
his
work
will
be
shown
for
what
it
is
because
the
day
will
bring
it
to
light
the
day
the
day
the
day
of
the
Lord's
return
when
Christ
will
come
back
again
to
judge
and
when
he
comes
back
again
to
judge
it
will
be
complete
and
thorough
no
stone
will
be
left
unturned
everything
will
be
laid
out
in
finite
detail
and
everything
and
everyone
will
be
tested
look at
the rest
of
verse
13
it
will
be
revealed
with
fire
and
the
fire
will
test
the
quality
of
each
man's
work
when
any
large
structure
is
built
when
it
is
finished
it
must
be
tested
by
the
chief
engineer
the
materials
used
in
the
building
will
be
tested
to
see
if
it
is
structurally
sound
so
that
when
the
wind
and
the
rain
comes
that
building
is
going
to
remain
strong
it's
not
going
to
fall
down
in
the
same
way
when
the
Lord
Almighty
comes
to
his
church
he's
going
to
test
it
with
fire
to
see
that
it
is
sound
he
will
test
to
see
what
materials
were
used
in
the
church
so
what
did
we
use
to
build
this
church
in
Carigoline
did
we
build
with
the
gospel
or
did
we
rely
on
programs
and
style
did
we
make
the
cross
of
Christ
central
to
our
gatherings
was
God's
word
the
priority
and
the
focus
and
did
that
drive
everything
we
did
or
were
we
relying
on
people
and
their
status
anything
that
is
not
of
God
will
be
burned
up
and
shown
to be
nothing
verse
14
if
what
he
has
built
survives
well
he
will
receive
his
reward
if
it
is
burned
up
he
will
suffer
loss
you
see
the
church
of
God
will
not
escape
God's
judgment
and
all
those
who
are
involved
in
the
building
up
of
the
church
those
who
sow
and
those
who
water
that
is
people
like
you
and
me
we
are
not
going
to
escape
this
judgment
either
we
will
have
to
be
tested
our
work
in
Sunday
school
the
things
that
we
taught
the
children
what
we
did
at
polo
our
conversations
what
the
rock
was
all
about
what
we
teach
our
children
in
our
own
homes
the
things
that
we
share
with
our
friends
at
work
our
witness
the
work
that
I
do
as
a
pastor
every
single
sermon
and
every
talk
that
is
given
it's
all
going
to be
tested
and if
people
have been
saved
because
they
heard
the
message
of
Christ
they
will
remain
because
it
will
be
true
and
they
will
last
but
if
people
have
just
been
trusting
in
programs
and
leaders
and
all
sorts
of
other
things
then
people's
faith
will have
been in
something
that is
not
solid
and
it
will
be
burned
up
and
it
will
be
shown
for
nothing
can
you
see
the
picture
that
he's
building
here
that
we
could
do
all
kinds
of
things
together
as
a
church
and
have
lots
of
people
here
and
think
my
isn't
it
great
that
all
these
people
have
come
to
Christ
but
when
it's
all
tested
we
discover
that
they
haven't
been
trusting
Christ
they've
been
trusting
in
other
things
the
shocking
reality
is
that
believers
who
trust
in
their
methods
rather
than
the
message
will
just
about
escape
God's
judgement
look
at
verse
15
these
are
serious
words
he
himself
this
is
the
end
of
verse
15
he
himself
will
be
saved
as
if
just
by
the
mercy
of
God
he
will
be
saved
but
only
as
one
escaping
through
the
flames
just
as
a
person
would
jump
out
the
window
of
a
burning
building
so
God
is
saying
the
person
who
has
built
the
church
and
invested
in
all
sorts
of
other
things
rather
than
the
gospel
even
though
they
believe
they
will
just
escape
so let
me ask
us all
the
question
what
are we
building
this
church
with
is it
going to
stand
make
every
conversation
count
because
it will
be tested
so it's a
field
that God
grows
it's a
building
that God
tests
and
third
the
church
is a
temple
that
God
protects
a
temple
that
God
protects
verse
16
don't
you
know
that
you
yourselves
are
God's
temple
and
that
God's
spirit
lives
in
you
the
Old
Testament
temple
that we
read
about
was
central
and the
focal
point
of the
city
but
more
importantly
it was
the
place
where
God
came
to
dwell
amongst
his
people
of
course
this
great
and
grand
Old
Testament
temple
it
could
never
contain
God
it
was
simply
a
way
for
God
to
show
his
desire
to
be
with
his
people
in
a
sense
God
was
declaring
to
his
people
I'm
moving
in
with
you
I
want
to
get
close
to
you
now
all
of
that
was
a
picture
of
the
true
temple
to
come
which
was
the
church
God
doesn't
live
in a
building
made
of
wood
and
stone
look
at
verse
16
again
don't
you
know
that
you
yourselves
are
God's
temple
and
that
God's
spirit
lives
in
you
the
local
church
carigoline
baptist
church
has
become
God's
home
address
where
does
God
live
here
within
his
people
he
resides
in
his
people
he
says
I
have
moved
into
you
by
my
holy
spirit
and
because
God
has
made
his
church
his
home
he
cares
deeply
for
his
home
he
is
protective
of
his
home
he
jealously
guards
his
home
verse
17
if
anyone
destroys
God's
temple
God
will
destroy
him
for
God's
temple
is
sacred
and
you
are
that
temple
let
me
read
verse
17
again
and
just
change
the
word
slightly
if
anyone
destroys
God's
church
in
Karigaline
God
will
destroy
him
for
God's
church
in
Karigaline
is
sacred
and
you
are
the
church
in
Karigaline
can
we
see how
protective
God
is of
his
church
his
home
his
people
we're
the
holy
church
of
God
and
he
cannot
tolerate
any
kind
of
unholy
behavior
so
he's
saying
to
them
if
you
fight
and
squabble
if
you're
the
cause
of
division
if
because
of
your
sinful
behavior
you
start
leading
people
away
from
Christ
then
look at
verse
17
God
will
destroy
you
we
can't
treat
God's
house
as we
please
and
expect
God
to
ignore
it
and
say
you
know
what
it
doesn't
matter
just
do
what
you
like
it's
alright
no
the
church
is
special
and
precious
to
God
in
other
words
God
will
see
to
it
that
they
do
not
enter
our
eternal
home
the
kingdom
of
heaven
instead
they
will
be
shut
out
from
his
presence
the
church
is
God's
holy
temple
where
he
dwells
where
he
lives
and
he
will
protect
it
so
we
are
a
field
that
God
grows
a
building
that
God
a
temple
that
God
protects
and
if we
are to
follow
that
we
will
be
a
wise
church
look
at
verse
18
do
not
deceive
yourselves
the
church
doesn't
belong
to
any
person
and
its
success
is
not
dependent
on
any
kind
of
program
the
church
is
God's
he
owns
it
God
alone
grows
it
God
will
test
it
and
he
will
protect
it
God
is
verse
18
if
any
one
of
you
thinks
he
is
wise
by
the
standards
of
this
age
he
should
become
a
fool
so
that
you
may
become
wise
stop
behaving
like
immature
babies
and
grow up
to be
spiritually
mature
grow up
to be
adults
who
follow
the
Lord
Jesus
verse
19
for
the
wisdom
of
this
world
is
foolishness
in
God's
sight
following
the
ways
of
this
world
are
never
going
to
achieve
anything
we
are
to
follow
the
wise
ways
of
God
verse
21
so
then
no
more
boasting
about
men
it's
not
about
pastors
and
their
programs
it's
not
about
style
and
success
it's
all
about
God
verse
21
let's
read the
rest of
it
there
all
things
are
yours
whether
Paul
or
Apollos
or
Cephas
or
the
world
or
life
or
death
or
the
present
or
the
future
all
are
yours
you
see
God
owns
the
church
and
God
has
given
to
his
church
leaders
and
teachers
sometimes
it's
been
somebody
like
Paul
sometimes
it's
been
somebody
like
Apollos
or
Cephas
he
gives
all
kinds
of
people
to
the
church
to
gift
the
church
and
God
is
sovereignly
in
control
over
everything
it
tells
us
here
that
he
over
the
world
over
life
and
death
God
rules
over
the
present
and
the
future
and
God
works
all
of
that
for
the
good
of
his
church
so
he
says
under
God
all
are
yours
everything
belongs
to you
the
church
for
the
growing
up
and
the
building
up
of
God's
church
because
God
owns
everything
because
God
rules
over
everything
he
gives
it
to
his
church
for
the
building
up
and
for
its
growth
and
the
reason
this
is
true
look
at
verse
23
for
you
are
of
Christ
or
because
you
belong
to
Christ
and
Christ
belongs
to
God
do
you
see
what
he's
saying
there
all
that
belongs
to
God
belongs
to
Christ
and
all
that
belongs
to
Christ
belongs
to
his
church
so
everything
belongs
to
you
for
the
growing
and
the
building
up
of
God's
church
that's
what it
is
to be
wise
not
trusting
in
things
of
this
world
so
he
says
to
us
don't
be
a
baby
and
rely
on
the
wisdom
of
the
world
in
all
their
fancy
programs
and
all
their
fancy
styles
and
all
the
things
that
people
go
in
for
instead
he
says
grow
up
and
trust
in
the
almighty
power
of
God
who
rules
and
owns
everything
and
gives
it
to
you
the
church
for
its
building
and
for
its
growth
let's
pray
together
our
father
god
we
thank
you
for
the
church
we
thank
you
that
you
have
rescued
us
and
saved
us
so
that
we
can
be
a
part
of
your
church
your
family
we
pray
that
you
would
use
each
one
here
in
all
their
gifts
and
abilities
we
pray
we
pray
to
build
up
your
church
that
you
would
grow
it
to
see
people
come
to
faith
to
see
people
grow
in
maturity
and
father
we
pray
for
your
help
that
every
gospel
conversation
we
have
that
it
would
count
that
we
would
not
sell
our
message
cheaply
but
that
we
would
be
careful
over
every
word
and
everything
that
we
do
and
say
because
we
want
it
to
last
and
we
thank
you
that
you
love
the
church
we
thank
you
that
you
protect
it
and
we
pray
father
god
that
we
would
follow
your
ways
and
not
the
ways
of
the
world
we
ask
for
your
help
to
each
one
of
us
in
Jesus
name
amen
we're
going
to
sing
together
it's
a
prayer
that
the
Lord
of
the
church
that
he
would
renew
us
that
he
would
do
his
work
within
us
that
we
would
be
everything
that
God
calls
us
to
be
as
we
say
thank
you
to
him
for
his
work
in
our
lives
so
let's
stand
together
as
we
sing
Indeed
O
fin
of the church
we pray for
our renewing
Christ over
all
our undivided
aim
fire up the
spirit