(#014) 1 Corinthians 3 - What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

Class Outline:

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The son of dawn is waiting for you to conform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries we know this truth…that Jesus Christ is God.  As the Lord He is 100% Deity.  He is God the Son.  He is also 100% true humanity just like you and me… His name is Jesus Christ.  The Lord, God the Son…became flesh…Jesus Christ... and lived among us.  He is the Sovereign God of the Universe…He is the Savior of the whole world…and He is the Jewish Messiah.  

 

Those who make Barah Ministries their spiritual home, believe in Jesus Christ.  We are Christians, and as Christians, we have a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.  The Lord Jesus Christ is a Person and not a thing.  Just as we would do with any person that we love, we spend time getting to know Him through the study of His Word.  You can’t get to know the Lord without studying His Word.

 

There are several reasons we worship the Lord.  One of those reasons is that we love how He treats the people the world considers insignificant.  Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord which led to the Lord’s crucifixion.  In omniscience, the Lord has always known all that is knowable, and He was completely aware that Judas Iscariot would betray Him.  Yet the Lord still put Judas in charge of His ministry’s treasury.

 

The apostle Peter was the Lord’s right-hand man.  The Lord knew Peter would betray him as well.  Yet we learn that when Jesus was raised from the dead, one of His first concerns was that a despondent Peter would know about His resurrection…Mark, Chapter 16, Verses 6 and 7…

MARK 16:6

“And the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be amazed…you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen…He is not here… behold, here is the place where they laid Him.’”

 

MARK 16:7 

“But go…tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee… there you will see Him…just as He told you.’”

 

The Lord’s concern for him caused Peter to marvel at the Lord’s goodness in Acts, Chapter 10, Verse 34…

 

ACTS 10:34

Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality…”

 

In other words, God is good to everyone, even those who betray Him.

 

Finally, there is the apostle Paul, the worst person who has ever lived, even by his own admission, because He wanted to wipe out the Christian Church.  What did the Lord do for Paul?  Ephesians, Chapter 3, Verses 8 to 10…

 

EPHESIANS 3:8

To me (Paul), the very least of all believers in Christ (saints), this grace was given to me by God…to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ…

 

EPHESIANS 3:9 

…and to bring to light what is the dispensation of the mystery (The Church Age) which for ages has been hidden in the God who created all things (the Lord…God the Son)…

 

EPHESIANS 3:10 

…so that the manifold wisdom of God the Father might now be made known through The Church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

 

God made Paul, a worse person than Judas Iscariot, the replacement apostle for Judas…and gave Paul one of the most important assignments in divine history…the assignment to reveal to the Gentiles the mystery doctrine of the Church Age…the revelation of the “much more” God was willing to do for His creatures after they did the most despicable thing imaginable…sending Jesus to a Cross to be crucified.

 

We love worshipping a God who knows how to treat people, especially the nobodies among us.  He loves us unconditionally and He wants to be in unity with us.

 

Barah Ministries makes a difference by teaching the Word of God from the Lord Jesus Christ’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective.  We search the Scriptures to learn who the Lord is as a Person, and to learn what our God has to say about Himself, about His plan for all mankind, and about His personal plan for each of us.  We look at life from His perspective.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

Where did rivalries begin?  As we continue our study of Frist Corinthians, we’ll take a look at the original rivalry created between the Lord and His enemy, Satan.  Every division and every rivalry since are simply a duplication of Satan’s nefarious scheme to rebel against the Sovereign God of the Universe and to convince everyone to turn on the Lord.  Where are you duplicating Satan’s dissentions and rivalries in your own lives? In today’s lesson we’ll reflect on these truths.

 

SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s listen to some music!  In spite of our imperfections, at the Cross the Lord created a way for us to be perfect in His eyes.  Hebrews, Chapter 10, Verse 24 says…

 

HEBREWS 10:24

For by one offering the Lord Jesus Christ has perfected FOR ALL TIME those who are sanctified (that’s believers in Christ).

 

Let’s listen to MercyMe sing about our perfection in their song FLAWLESSS.

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

FLAWLESS

MercyMe 

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father thank you for teaching us how to treat each other by being the perfect example of relationship…help us to change the way we treat others as a result of what we are learning from You…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

 

We continue our study of the third passage of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, which extends from Chapter 1, Verse 10 to Chapter 4, Verse 21.  In this passage the apostle Paul is addressing rivalries and dissensions in the Corinthians Church.  First Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verses 10 and 11…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:10 

Now I (Paul) exhort you, brethren (fellow believers in Christ), by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…that you all agree…and that there be no divisions among you…but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 1:11 

For I (Paul) have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

 

Arguing about which Pastor is best is not the habit of those in unity.

What rivalries and division are you the source of in your own lives?  What is the source of rivalries and divisions among us?  What would cause the Lord to warn us this way…Mark, Chapter 6, Verses 1 to 4…

 

MARK 6:1

Jesus went out from there (Capernaum…the city of Nahum) and came into His hometown (Nazareth)…and His disciples followed Him.

 

MARK 6:2 

When the Sabbath came, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue…and the many listeners were astounded (at His teaching), saying, “Where did this man get these things (that He is teaching)…and what is the origin of this wisdom given to Him…and what is the source of power of such miracles as these performed by His hands?

 

The source of Jesus’s power was either God or Satan…that’s what people were wondering in their minds.

 

MARK 6:3 

Isn’t this the (lowly) carpenter…the son of Mary…and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And the crowd took offense at Him (they rejected his teachings).

 

That’s just a fancy way of saying what they were thinking … “Who does Jesus think He is?” Or as Nathaniel asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

 

MARK 6:4 

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”

 

The people closest to us don’t value us.  In Matthew, Chapter 10, Verse 36, Jesus says…

 

MATTHEW 10:36

“…and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”

 

So, what is the source of divisions and rivalries among people?  Don’t

forget…human history is an exact duplication of divine history.  Romans,

Chapter 1, Verse 25 reminds us…

 

ROMANS 1:25

For they (unbelievers) exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature (Satan) rather than the Creator (the Lord Jesus Christ) … the One who is blessed forever. Amen.

 

All of us make a simple choice in this life…we choose to worship and serve the Creator or the creature. 

 

Division and rivalry all started in angelic history…Ezekiel, Chapter 28, Verses 12 to 19…

 

EZEKIEL 28:12

“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “You (Satan) had the seal of perfection…you were full of wisdom and you were perfect in beauty.’”

 

EZEKIEL 28:13 

“You were in Eden, the garden of God…every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz and the diamond…the beryl, the onyx and the jasper…the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald…and the gold…the workmanship of your settings and sockets was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared.”

 

EZEKIEL 28:14 

“You were the anointed cherub who covers (the four-winged bodyguard…an officer angel), and I (the Lord) placed you in that position.  You were on the holy mountain of God (the third heaven) … and you walked in the midst of the stones of fire (you had access to God in the throne room of heaven).”

 

EZEKIEL 28:15 

“You were blameless (perfect) in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness (sin) was found in you.”

 

EZEKIEL 28:16 

“By the abundance of your trade (rekulah…the trafficking of slander against the Lord…dishonest trade…going about from one to another) you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned…therefore I (the Lord) have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.  And I have expelled you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.”

 

EZEKIEL 28:17 

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty…you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.  I cast you to the earth…I put you before kings, that they may see you.”

 

EZEKIEL 28:18 

“By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries.  Therefore, I have brought fire from the midst of you, it has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you.”

 

EZEKIEL 28:19 

“All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you…you have become terrified (by your horrible end in the Lake of Fire) and you will cease to be forever.”’”

 

What was the purpose of Satan’s rivalry?  Isaiah, Chapter 14, Verses 12 to 14…

 

ISAIAH 14:12

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning (Satan)…O son of the dawn!  You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!”

 

ISAIAH 14:13 

“But you (Satan) said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to (the third) heaven…I will raise my throne above the stars of God (above the angels in the second heaven)…and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (the first heaven).’”

 

ISAIAH 14:14 

“‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds ( I will take over the function of God)…I will make myself like the Most High.’”

 

So that’s where rivalries come from…Satan!  When we return from our five-

minute break we’ll take your offering, and then we’ll talk about the rivalries

you sponsor in your own relationships.

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

 

There is a sad but true fact about Christian giving.  When people are guilt tripped into giving, they give more than those of us who are taught what the Bible teaches...that giving is voluntary…and that the Lord loves it when our giving is done without grudge or compulsion.  In a nation with the highest prosperity in the history of mankind, giving to charities is at an all-time low.  Hmmm.  Let’s not be typical.  Let’s be generous, just as the Lord is generous with His love for us.  Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:17 

If any man (a Pastor-Teacher) destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him…for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are (holy).

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

 

SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28 says…

 

 

ROMANS 8:28

And we (believers in Christ) know (with absolute certainty) that God the Father causes all things to work together for good for those who love God (that’s believers in Christ) … for those who are called according to His purpose (that’s believers in Christ).

 

Or as Steven Curtis Chapman sings, God is turning us all into SOMETHING

BEAUTIFUL.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Steven Curtis Chapman

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What is at the Source of Divisions and Rivalries Among Us?

 

Let’s talk about the rivalries YOU sponsor in your own lives…let’s talk about your relationships.  As we do, I reflect on First Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verse 1 where the apostle Paul says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:1a

And I (Paul), brethren, could not speak to you (Corinthians believers) as I would to spiritual persons (those with the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit…believers in Christ) …

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:1b

…but (I have to speak to you) as (if I am speaking) to men of flesh (those without the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit…unbelievers) … as if I am speaking to infants in union with Christ.

 

Can I talk to you as adults…or do I have to treat you like babies?  Because I guarantee one thing…no one should ever have to talk to you about your own conduct.  You need to be assessing the effectiveness of your Christian conduct for yourselves!  Does your handling of relationships reflect the Christian virtues of unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace?  Let me save you the suspense.  It doesn’t, and it’s ironic.  Why?  Because it should be rather easy for you to treat others as you are treated.  You are loved by God unconditionally.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 38 and 39…

 

ROMANS 8:38

For I (Paul) am convinced that neither death nor life…nor angels nor principalities…nor things present nor things to come…nor powers…

 

ROMANS 8:39

…nor height nor depth…nor any other created thing…will be able to separate us believers in Christ from the unconditional love of God the Father, which comes from being in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

You are forgiven by God for every sin you will ever commit…past, present, or future…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 1…

 

ROMANS 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with Christ Jesus.

 

You are welcome to grow while making mistakes…GRACE!  Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 18…

 

SECOND PETER 3:18

…grow in the sphere of grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

 

Do you give the same thing to others that you are receiving from God?  Does your handling of relationships reflect the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians, Chapter 5, Verses 22 and 23?

 

GALATIANS 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (toward self)…patience, kindness, goodness (toward others)…faithfulness…

 

GALATIANS 5:23 

…gentleness, self-control (toward God)…there is no law against such virtues.

 

How well are the Christians virtues showing up in your relationship with

Self, with others, and with God?  God gives us four primary relationships as classrooms to help us learn how to have unity in relationships.

 

GOD’S CLASSROOMS FOR RELATIONSHIPS

 

         The relationship between God and You

 

         The relationship between Husband and Wife

 

GOD’S CLASSROOMS FOR RELATIONSHIPS

 

         The relationship between Parents and Children

 

         The relationship between Government and Citizens

 

In the relationship between us and God, it boils down to two things…you’re on God’s team or you’re not.  In the relationship between husband and wife, you are for each other (unity) or against each other (rivalry and division).  In the relationship between parents and children, there is obedience and authority orientation or there is disobedience and rebellion.  In the relationship between government and citizens, there is respect and honor or there is disrespect and dishonor.

 

Between you and God…do you accept or reject the gospel message?  Between husband and wife, are you married or divorced?  Between parents and children, are you in relationship with your parents or alienated from them?  As a citizen, do you support your government or do you meribah (complain) against them?

 

How you treat others when they are despicable is a direct reflection on your character.  WE doc well to reflect our God in this matter.  When we do, we will take advantage of our unity and we will avoid divisions and rivalry.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU. 

 

Is religion the way to be saved?

 

Many people believe that religion and its rituals is their ticket into heaven. They embrace religious beliefs that tell them how to live a spiritual life. The religion claims either that there is a god…or there are many gods…but the religion does not discuss how to have a personal relationship with god.  In fact, religions propose that if you don’t do everything their god expects that he will be quite disappointed with you. And regardless of your best efforts to follow the religious rituals (which you CAN’T do…by the way) the religions do not GUARANTEE that following the rituals will get you into heaven.

 

Christianity is NOT a religion…it is a relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In John, Chapter 4, Verses 13 and 14, the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to a woman at a well…a Samaritan woman whom the Jews wanted nothing to do with.  After a brief introduction, the Lord says to the woman…

 

JOHN 4:13

“Everyone who drinks of the water in this well will thirst again…”

 

JOHN 4:14 

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him (the water of the Word…the gospel message) shall never thirst…but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to the resurrection life.”

 

It is the Lord’s will for those with whom He has a relationship to live with Him in heaven forever when they close their eyes in this life.  First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4 say…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3

This is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior…the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4 

…who desires all men to be saved and who desires for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

The truth the Lord wants us to know about how to be saved…about how to get to heaven…is as simple as a nine-word conversation with God the Father…Luke, Chapter 23, Verses 42 and 43…

 

LUKE 23:42

And a thief being crucified next to Jesus was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

 

LUKE 23:43 

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you…today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

 

Just nine words can get YOU to heaven… Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.  Or if you prefer…it’s a five-word conversation with God the Father… “Father…I believe in Christ.”  Simply believe… merely take God’s word for what it takes to be saved…and that is the moment of eternal life for you.  

 

Who is this God who saves you?  The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4… 

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received (the gospel message)… that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4 

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

 

Now once the Lord saves you, no matter how hard you try, you cannot lose your salvation…John, Chapter 10, Verse 28 says…

 

JOHN 10:28

“…I (the Lord Jesus Christ) give eternal life to believers in Christ, and they will never perish…and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

 

Anyone who tells you that you can lose your salvation is lying to you.  On the other hand, if you reject the relationship offer of this God who does not want you to perish, He will honor your rejection…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 49 and 50…

 

MATTHEW 13:49

So it will be at the end of the age…the elect angels will come forth and take out the wicked (a description of unbelievers) from among the righteous (believers in Christ)...

 

MATTHEW 13:50 

…and will throw the wicked into the furnace of fire…and in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

So, follow the advice of Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

It’s not religion that gets you to heaven…it’s relationship…relationship with the one and only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

SONG INTRODUCTION

 

In one of the best rebukes ever, the Lord says of his mother and his siblings in Matthew, Chapter 12, Verse 50…

 

MATTHEW 12:50

“…whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

Here’s June Murphy to sing about the key to success in life…VOLITION… in her song I WILL.

 

CLOSING SONG

I WILL

June Murphy                                

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

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