Well, everyone's heard the saying, no doubt, if you don't aim at anything, you'll hit it every time.
It's important to have goals.
We have goals in career, we set ourselves goals in sporting achievements, in relationships, personal development.
We need goals.
Because without goals, we just wander.
And there's no way of measuring growth or progress.
Well, it's exactly the same when it comes to being Christians.
And so I asked this morning, what is your goal as a believer or a member of this church?
Now, hopefully, you're not just wandering.
Hopefully, you do have a goal.
And hopefully, you'd say to me, your goal is to be a faithful, mature servant of Jesus.
Or in the terms of this sermon series, hopefully, you want to say, I want to be plugged in and switched on to Jesus.
Now, jumping into the church at Corinth, it seems that there's no doubt at all that the believers there were keen to be spiritually mature.
The problem is they had wrong ideas of what spiritual maturity would look like on the ground.
They understood that they were spiritually new.
In other words, they had been converted.
They were plugged into Jesus.
But they confused that with being spiritually mature.
It seems like they thought, well, since I'm a believer, therefore, whatever I think and do as a believer is evidence of being mature in Christ.
And to that, Paul says, no, not so.
Paul's saying to them right through these first three chapters, to be spiritually mature is not just to be plugged into Jesus when you're converted,
but to be like Jesus in all your thinking and all your actions or to pick up the link from chapter 2 that we looked at last week to chapter 2, verse 16.
It's to have the mind of Christ and be able to apply the mind of Christ into every circumstance of life.
In his letter to these believers at Corinth, Paul's been contrasting the spirit of the world and the spirit of God.
And he's been helping these believers see that they've been more influenced and driven.
They were still more influenced and driven by the spirit of the world.
That is, the spirit of the Corinthian culture that they had lived in for so many years and continued to live in even as believers.
That they were more influenced by that than they were by the spirit of God, the wisdom of God, the mind of Christ.
And that takes us to Paul's confronting conclusion, which is where, in a sense, I want to leave my formal ministry among you with.
Chapter 3, verse 1.
These believers at Corinth thought they were spiritually mature, but Paul calls them out as being spiritually immature and worldly.
Now, surely, friends, if anything would make you sit up and listen and engage this morning,
then the frightening possibility of thinking that you're mature in Jesus, spiritually mature in Jesus,
while being spiritually immature, should actually be that motivation.
And Paul gives them some really helpful pointers towards being spiritually mature,
which will also make them the most useful disciples they can be in that church in Corinth.
And, of course, the lessons are for us, too.
The first one is, Paul says to these believers,
don't be happily immature with a correct but limited understanding of the gospel.
And when you look at these verses that Linda's just read to us,
there's no way you can sugarcoat Paul's challenge.
It's really a very, very abrasive, abrupt challenge.
Essentially, he's saying, for goodness sake, grow up.
Your thinking and your actions are more like unbelievers than believers.
Grow up.
The evidence that would bring Paul to say that?
Well, chapter 1, 2, and 3.
Disunity.
Jealousy.
We've looked at it over the last few weeks.
Competitive individualism.
Factions.
Obsession with personalities.
Striving for dominance and preeminence.
Even if it meant going to war with each other.
So, for Paul, growing up is simply to become skilled in the mind of Christ.
To express the mind of Christ.
In all things.
Not only understanding God's grace in their own personal salvation,
but also in its wider implications of how they should live in this new community called the church.
A community of saved people.
A community of Christ's people.
So, Paul's really saying to them, as he summarizes these first three chapters, as he writes to them,
that their aim, their aim should have been to be known for speaking the truth in love.
Loving generously those hardest to love.
Carrying the cost of being wronged and forgiving those who wrong you.
Being other person-centered and ministry-minded.
Being concerned for God's glory.
Being concerned for God's reputation.
Not your own.
Not your own position.
Being concerned for God's reputation.
And as I've said over the last three weeks,
those things can't exist.
Cannot coexist with self-promotion.
Competitive individualism.
And personality factions.
And so, I think we can say, these believers were happily immature.
That's a pretty strong statement, but these believers were happily immature because they were happy with a correct but limited understanding of the gospel and God's word.
Yes, I'm wonderfully excited that I'm saved.
But they haven't thought about the implications of that in a community.
They were happy to enjoy all the blessings and security of being saved.
Equally happy to live with a dreadful contradiction of continuing to be self-centered.
To be self-promoting.
Dismissive of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
And Paul said, grow up.
You can't do these two things together.
And the application, I think, is fairly obvious.
If you are happy
knowing that you've been saved
by Christ through grace
but continue to think and act towards others using the world's attitudes,
then
you're actually making a commitment
to be happily immature.
and therefore a commitment
to not being useful
in this church.
Over my ministry years,
it's been a real source of sadness
to observe some people
who seem to be the same today
as what they were 20 years ago.
How does that happen?
Unless people are happily immature.
Second thing then is
be a team player.
Happy with the position God plays you
verses 5 through to 9.
The problem for the Corinthian believers
was that they had put people on a pedestal.
And that pedestal
was God's pedestal
and God should have been on the pedestal.
Not people.
Not personalities.
And Paul uses a farming metaphor
to make his point clear.
And the metaphor is,
as Dave's already referred to,
it's crop production.
And of course we know
that they grow a crop.
There's different inputs,
different human inputs
at different points.
Each input is critical
in its own stage.
But none of it amounts to anything
unless the Lord
causes the growth to harvest time.
And Paul's point is very simple.
In the same way,
God puts individuals
in a church family
to do a job
that he has gifted them to do
at that particular time,
that particular season.
Each individual will contribute
in different ways,
in critical ways.
But all of it
is God's process
of growing his new community
to maturity.
And ultimately,
the end of the process
is that God is glorified
as he deserves to be.
Now,
again,
practically,
Paul is not saying here
that we should never
and that he would never
have a deep sense
of indebtedness
and fondness
for a particular individual
that's been formative
in our Christian walk.
That's not what Paul's saying here.
Or a Christian leader
who have been
particularly helpful
in our lives.
What he is saying is
that we need
to be team players.
Team players
never think
the team
is carried
by one person.
No matter
how helpful
that person
has been,
he's only one person
in a team.
team players
never sort of
parade their own
gifts or abilities.
Whether that person
is themselves
a leader
or just
an ordinary
person
in the church.
Team players
value
every contribution
and know
that each
is essential
for the team
to be successful.
And so my friends
I say to you this morning
you will be
most useful
in this church
whether it's up front
in some sort of
formal role
or behind the scenes
not heard of
during the week.
You'll be most useful
if your aim
is consistently
and happily
to contribute
to the growth
and maturing
of this family
as God gives you
opportunity
to do so.
The future
needs
team players.
Now
speaking very
personally
for a moment
individuals
take me
at this particular
moment in time
individuals
will come
and go.
And when the
Lord brings
an individual
perhaps me
into your life
it's for
your benefit
for your
spiritual
maturing.
And equally
true
when the
Lord takes
an individual
perhaps me
out of your
life
then it's
because that
individual
perhaps me
has served
their purpose.
And the
Lord's got a
new stage
of growth
for you
to enter
into
under his
hand
and under
his grace
and perhaps
with a new
personality
or a new
group of
personalities.
And here's
the point
and this is
so crucial
in times of
change.
The team
will always
be changing.
changing.
We might
wish it
to be
static
but we
can't
get it
like that.
The team
will always
be changing
but the
Lord
will always
be the
coach
for
preparing
the team
of the
moment
for heaven
through
maturity.
Churches
don't get
that and
that's why
transitions like
this are so
notoriously
bad.
Third thing
is be a
team leader
a team
builder
rather
using
you be a
team leader
self-promotion
Freudian slip
there.
Be a team
builder
using the
best mind
of Christ
building
materials.
Picking up
the thoughts
of 10 to
17
and you
know I'm
just going
to skate
over the
top of
this.
I'm not
going to
dig into
all the
details
that could
be
lifted
out here.
Paul
essentially
changes
the
metaphor
to
a
building
site
and
he's
really
saying
look
the
church
at
Corinth
you
guys
are
God's
special
building
project.
Paul
his
fellow
workers
and all
the
believers
in Corinth
says
Paul
well
you're
the
subcontractors
you're
engaged
to
actually
do
the
work
on
the
ground.
God
is the
owner
builder
or
project
manager
constantly
monitoring
the quality
of the
build.
In
verses
10 and
11
Paul
says
well look
I
started
I put
down
the
foundations
as a
skilled
master
builder.
He calls
himself a
skilled
master
builder
I think
because
he's
saying
I
used
the
right
tools
for
a
solid
foundation.
It
really
told us
what those
tools are
in chapter
2.
The
message
of
Jesus
crucified
who is
God's
righteousness
wisdom
power
redemption
sanctification
he's the
one who
can renew
people from
the inside
out.
So
Paul
uses
the gospel
message
in
conjunction
with
carefully
applied
practical
gospel
wisdom
and power.
In
other
words
the
gospel
message
in
conjunction
with the
mind
of
Christ.
That's
what makes
Paul
a skilled
master
builder.
And
that's
why the
foundation
is so
solid.
Verse
12
through
15
Paul
says
well
that's
only
stage
one
of
God's
build.
Others
will
follow
and
build
upon
what
I've
done.
Doing
the
framing
the
roofing
the
external
cladding
internal
fit out
all of
that
needs
to be
done
and
will
be
done
as
part
of
God's
build
in
Corinth.
And
says
Paul
you
also
are
called
to be
skilled
master
builders.
And
then he
sets up
a bit
of a
contrast.
Well
there's
an option
there's
a choice
here.
You
can be
skilled
master
builders
using
top
shelf
building
materials.
Or
which is
gold
and silver
and precious
stones
in there.
That's
the
metaphor.
Or
you
can be
a
shunky
builder
using
stuff
that's
sort of
cheap
and nasty
but looks
alright
when you
first use
it.
It
just
doesn't
stand
the test
of
time.
Wood
and hay
and stones.
That's the
picture in
there.
I think.
Things that
look good
now but
will cause
the build
to fail
in the
long term.
And again
Paul's
point is
simple but
again very
confronting.
Either your
ministry
contribution
to this
church
will be
worthwhile
and lasting
or
and this
is very
confronting
or
it is
building
weakness
and failure
into the
church
family
even
though
it might
look good
now in
the short
term.
There's a
huge challenge
in that
I think.
And all
of this
is put in
the context
of knowing
that the
Lord
who's the
owner builder
and building
inspector
says Paul
well the
Lord himself
will expose
the master
builders
and the
shonky
builders.
And that's
not a threat.
I think that
Paul uses that
an encouragement
to use
quality materials
that the
Lord himself
as the
project manager
and the
chief builder
and the
owner builder
use the
materials the
Lord has
actually provided
to ensure
that the
build is
good
and materials
that will
bring God's
approval for
a job well
done.
And for
Paul
his ultimate
concern was
not to win
the approval
of people
in Corinth
or to impress
people in
Corinth
but to win
the approval
of the
owner builder
himself.
Now
just one
little thing
to note
carefully in
passing.
These verses
are not
suggesting for
a moment
that a
believer might
lose their
salvation
if their
ministry is
not gospel
shaped as it
should be.
That's taken a
metaphor and
making it
absolute.
It's taken a
metaphor way
way too far.
What he is
saying here
I think is
that we
should be
focused on
maximizing our
usefulness in
this church
family.
In this church
family build
by making
sure we
use top
gospel
materials in
our ministry
contribution.
One of the
reasons I get
a tradesman to
do my work
at home is
because I've
learned the
pain of trying
to do it
myself.
Only to have
to redo it
six months
later.
Because this
particular builder
when it comes to
those projects
is your
ultimate
chunky builder.
It's expensive
and it's a
pain.
Brothers and
sisters let's
build with the
right materials
top shelf
materials and
then build
once knowing
that it's going
to stand the
test of time.
verses 16
and 17
Paul's
encouragement
then is if
only you could
see your
church family
there in
Corinth.
If only you
can see your
church family
here as to
use the terms
of modern TV
shows as
God's dream
build.
Paul says if
only you can get
that into your
mind then you
will no longer
be concerned
about yourselves
or your own
reputation or
your own
preeminence.
You'll be
concerned to
build carefully
for God's
approval.
So what are
quality building
materials which
will make you a
skilled master
builder in this
church family?
Well same as
what Paul had.
The gospel
message of
Jesus crucified.
God's
righteousness,
wisdom,
power to
renew people from
the inside out
and carefully
applied practically
with the mind
of Christ.
It's not
rocket science.
It's building
on the unity
we already
share because
we are defined
and blessed
equally in
Jesus.
It's producing
discipleship
that's marked
by allegiance
to Jesus
not a
personality.
It's valuing
the whole
team with
all the
different
and varied
contributions
rather than
competitive
individualism.
I'm more
important than
you.
I know
more than
you.
I've been
here longer
than you.
It's building
self-sacrificial
commitment to
this church
family.
That's
increasingly a
rare commodity
in our
selfish world,
isn't it?
Self-sacrificing
commitment to
this church
family.
That is
intentionally
choosing to
use your
time, to
use your
energy to
volunteer and
get involved in
the jobs which
need doing to
make this church
operate on a
week-to-week
basis.
I have to
say, it's
getting harder
and harder to
do that in a
congregation that's
getting bigger and
bigger.
How does that
work?
It's being
intentional and
generous with
your money, if
I might say
this.
Choosing to
use your money
sacrificially to
make sure that
this church
family has the
money to pay
the staff that
are required to
do the work
that's existing
and then to
grow and
expand into
new ministry
that hasn't
even been
thought of yet.
The mind of
Christ is
saying that
money is to
be used for
kingdom purposes.
So the
question is very
simple.
Are you
giving
sacrificially?
Is that a
goal or a
sub-goal?
Because if you
don't have a
goal and if
you're not
intentional, then
I can guarantee
you'll be
controlled and
driven by our
culture.
What does our
culture say to
us?
You're the most
important person.
Giving your
money away is
stupid.
gather,
hoard,
accumulate all
the things you
desire because
you're worth it.
Or,
accumulate all
those things
because in the
end, you know,
your identity and
your security is
in the amount of
things you have
around you.
Well,
you hear the
contrast again.
You're worth it.
Paul would say,
is Jesus worth it?
We're going to sing
a song along
asking that very
question.
Is he worth it?
Surely, my
friends, the
mind of Christ
would say, I
will sacrifice my
own comfort, my
own rights, for
the sake of God's
kingdom.
fourth point, and
very briefly then,
don't compete for
blessing already
yours from our
generous God,
verses 18 through
to 23.
I think Paul is
both doing two
things.
He's anticipating
an objection to
what he's been
saying, but he's
also starting to
move towards a
conclusion.
He's anticipating
an objection to
his notion about
being spiritually
mature and useful
in ministry.
And I think it
comes back again,
circles around,
like each of his
points have been in
these first three
chapters.
See, being
spiritually mature
ultimately doesn't
fit with the
world's understanding
of what being
mature is.
The world's
understanding of
being mature is
about being
flashy, about
being outstanding.
Put simply, the
world thinks it's
stupid to put the
needs and concerns
of others before
ourselves.
The world says
protect yourself,
promote yourself,
get what you can
for yourself,
because nobody
else will.
The world says
being quietly
useful in a
church family
rather than
seeking personal
popularity and
reputation is
wasted effort.
Paul's response?
Christ, you have
it all in Christ.
How could we
possibly think that
having the mind
of Christ, being
ministry minded, how
could we possibly
think that that is
stupid?
Quite the opposite
in God's eyes.
Being ministry
minded, team
player, committed
to building
spiritual maturity
in this church
family is simply
the expression of
who we are in
Christ.
the outworking
of the mind
of Christ in
us.
So my friends,
I finish where I
start with in
chapter 1,
verses 1 to 9,
four weeks ago.
You don't have
to compete for
recognition,
for approval,
for security,
for love,
because in
Christ you
already have all
of that and
more besides.
flip the coin,
disunity,
competition,
jealousy,
resentment in a
church family
always arises
from thinking
that others
have an
advantage that
you don't
have.
That's the
source of it.
but that
tells me that
you've forgotten
that you have
it all in
Christ.
I'll just
finish with this
opening sentence.
if you don't
aim for this,
spiritual maturity,
usefulness in
this church
family,
then my friend,
you'll hit it
every time.
And there
ends 24 years
of formal
ministry,
for better or
for worse.
Thank you for
the last time
for listening.
Sarah.
do
you