The Third Sunday after Epiphany
\nJanuary 22, 2017
\nI Corinthians 1:10-17<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.\u00a0 What I mean is this:\u00a0 One of you says, “I follow Paul”: another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas;” still another, “I follow Christ.”\u00a0 Is Christ divided?\u00a0 Was Paul crucified for you?\u00a0 Were you baptized into the name of Paul?\u00a0 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.\u00a0 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)\u00a0 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel\u2014not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n
Are you familiar with the slogan \u201cWWJD\u201d?\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen those four letters on everything from bumper stickers to T-shirts to bracelets.\u00a0 The letters stand for, \u201cWhat Would Jesus Do?\u201d\u00a0 Almost without exception I have heard that slogan used in situations where you or I are encouraged to base our actions on what we think Jesus would do if He were in that same situation.\u00a0 While there is some merit to having that conversation with ourselves, it very easily becomes very subjective, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Think about it.\u00a0 You and I could be in a very similar situation and end up doing very different things because I <\/strong>think Jesus would do this and you <\/strong>think Jesus would do that.\u00a0 And since it is so subjective we could end up deciding that Jesus would do two things that actually contradict each other!<\/p>\n While it is very common today for individual Christians and for entire Christian congregations to decide for themselves what they<\/strong> think God\u2019s will is\u2014 I personally find it rather troubling that many of these decisions are often based on someone\u2019s own personal opinion and not on what God says here in His own Word!<\/p>\n For five weeks you and I are going to follow a sermon series that gives us the opportunity to study God\u2019s will.\u00a0 Our study, however, will not be based on my opinion\u2014 nor will it be based on your opinion.\u00a0 No, rather, our study of God\u2019s will be based on the divinely inspired words of the apostle Paul as we find them recorded for us in his first letter to the Christian church in the city of Corinth.\u00a0 Today then, let\u2019s begin this study by seeing how this portion of I Corinthians chapter one reveals to us:\u00a0 God\u2019s Will for Our Congregation \u2014 Be Perfectly United!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 There are two points that I hope we all take home with us today.\u00a0 First, let\u2019s see that God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we consciously strive to remain \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> because Satan is always trying to divide us.\u00a0 Secondly, let\u2019s see that God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we consciously strive to remain \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> because that \u201cunity\u201d <\/em>will enable us to stay focused on the work that God has given to us to do.<\/p>\n You may recall from our Epistle Lesson last Sunday that God had given the congregation in Corinth every<\/u> spiritual gift.\u00a0 (See I Corinthians 1:1-9)\u00a0 This is the most gifted congregation we read about on the pages of the New Testament Scriptures.\u00a0 And yet, even with all these spiritual gifts, even with all these wonderful blessings from the Lord, the Christian congregation in Corinth is perhaps the most troubled congregation we read about on the pages of the New Testament Scriptures!<\/p>\n Why was this gifted congregation so troubled?\u00a0 One of the reasons they were troubled, my friends, was because they had allowed Satan to divide them.\u00a0 Look at what Paul says in verses 11-15 of our text, \u201cMy brothers, some from Chloe\u2019s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.\u00a0 What I mean is this:\u00a0 One of you says, \u2018I follow Paul\u2019; another, \u2018I follow Apollos\u2019; another, \u2018I follow Cephas\u2019; still another, \u2018I follow Christ.\u2019\u00a0 Is Christ divided?\u00a0 Was Paul crucified for you?\u00a0 Were you baptized into the name of Paul?\u00a0 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized into my name.\u00a0 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don\u2019t remember if I baptized anyone else.)\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This was obviously a congregation that was openly divided against itself.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Why did the congregation in Corinth divide into different groups?\u00a0 Were these divisions based on doctrine?\u00a0 Was Paul teaching something different from Apollos?\u00a0 Was Apollos teaching something different from Peter (Cephas)?\u00a0 Not at all!\u00a0 The members of this congregation had openly pledged their allegiance to either the church leader who baptized them or to the church leader whom they liked the best\u2014 whether it was Paul or Apollos or Peter.\u00a0 Other members reacted to these allegiances by proudly and perhaps even arrogantly proclaiming, \u201cI follow Christ.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The end result was that Satan was very successful in dividing this congregation into competing factions and cliques.<\/p>\n Could something like this ever happen here at our congregation?\u00a0 Since we all have that old sinful nature lurking inside of us and since Satan is extremely well versed in the military strategy of \u201cdivide and conquer,\u201d we would have to say yes\u2014 it is indeed possible for our congregation to fall into this same trap and become divided against itself.<\/p>\n How?\u00a0 How could Satan divide our congregation?\u00a0 Since our congregation only has one pastor there is very little chance that our congregation will fall into the trap of one group saying, \u201cI follow Pastor Lockman\u201d while another group says, \u201cI follow Pastor So-and-So.\u201d\u00a0 At the same time, since our congregation only has one pastor, Satan could tempt the congregation to divide into two groups with one group saying, \u201cI like our Pastor,\u201d while another group says, \u201cI wish someone else had accepted the Call to come here.\u201d\u00a0 Satan could also tempt you, the individual members of our congregation, to form alliances behind the men who are seen as leaders here at our congregation.<\/p>\n If Satan is not successful in dividing our congregation on the basis of personality traits and personal allegiances, will he simply give up, go away and leave us alone?\u00a0 Not at all!\u00a0 Satan has an entire arsenal of weapons that he has found to be successful in dividing and conquering Christian congregations.\u00a0 These weapons include:\u00a0 the sins of gossip, rumor and slander; \u201ccoldness\u201d towards both members and visitors; cliques and apathy; a lack of Christian love and a lack of Christian forgiveness.<\/p>\n Because Satan is always trying to divide and conquer us we need <\/strong>to consciously strive to follow God\u2019s will for our congregation.\u00a0\u00a0 And what exactly is God\u2019s will for our congregation?\u00a0 God\u2019s will for our congregation is exactly the same as God\u2019s will for His congregation in Corinth.\u00a0 Look at the opening verses of our text.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit has Paul say to us, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There are two points I want to emphasize here.\u00a0 First, God\u2019s will for our congregation is that there are no \u201cdivisions\u201d<\/em> among us.\u00a0 The Greek word that is translated here as \u201cdivisions\u201d<\/em> gives us the English word \u201cschisms.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Very literally, this word paints the picture of \u201ctears\u201d<\/em>\u2014 as in \u201ctearing\u201d<\/em> a piece of cloth.\u00a0 In fact, the verb form of this very same word is used in John chapter nineteen.\u00a0 After the soldiers had crucified our Lord they divided His clothes among them.\u00a0 John tells us that when they came to Jesus\u2019 undergarment and saw that it was \u201cwoven in one piece from top to bottom,\u201d<\/em> they said, \u201cLet\u2019s not tear<\/strong> it.\u00a0 Let\u2019s decide by lot who will get it\u201d<\/em> (John 19:24).\u00a0 God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we do not allow anyone or anything to \u201ctear\u201d<\/em> us!\u00a0 God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we strive to remain \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> as brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 We might even say that God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we remain \u201cwoven in one piece from top to bottom.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The second point that I want to emphasize here is found in the words, \u201cBe perfectly united in mind<\/strong> and thought<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Another way to translate the Greek here is to say, \u201cBe perfectly united in thinking<\/strong> and purpose<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 God\u2019s will for us as a congregation is that we be \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> in our \u201cminds,\u201d<\/em> in our \u201cthoughts,\u201d<\/em> in the way that we \u201cthink.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How is this even possible?\u00a0 How can God expect that all of us will be \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> in the way that we \u201cthink\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 It all comes down to this one Book, my friends.\u00a0 (The Bible)\u00a0 When we believe, teach and confess that the Bible is <\/em><\/strong>God\u2019s holy, inspired and inerrant Word then, as Paul said in his second letter to God\u2019s people in Corinth, \u201cWe demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ\u201d<\/em> (II Corinthians 10:5).\u00a0 Yes, my friends, God\u2019s Word empowers us to be \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> in our \u201cminds,\u201d<\/em> in our \u201cthoughts,\u201d<\/em> in the way that we \u201cthink\u201d<\/em> about everything from the virgin birth of the Christ-Child to the physical resurrection of the dead, from the definition of marriage to the sanctity of human life, from how the heavens and the earth came into existence to the respect and obedience we owe to our civil government.\u00a0 God\u2019s Word is both the basis and the yardstick for being \u201cperfectly united.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The Holy Spirit\u2019s encouragement to us to be \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> in \u201cpurpose\u201d<\/em> leads us directly into the second major point that I hope you take home with you today.\u00a0 What is our \u201cpurpose\u201d for existing as a congregation?\u00a0 If we answer that question based upon our own personal opinion we will get a tremendous variety of answers.\u00a0 If we answer that question based upon God\u2019s will for us\u2014 as it is revealed here in His Word\u2014 we will get a very clear, a very simple and a very focused answer!\u00a0 Look at the closing verse of our text.\u00a0 Paul says, \u201cFor Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel\u2014 not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Now please do not misunderstand what Paul says here concerning the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.\u00a0 Paul very clearly taught that our Baptism connects us to both the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 (See Romans 6:1-4)\u00a0 Paul lived the truth that through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism all of God\u2019s children enjoy an absolutely equal status<\/strong> in the eyes of the living God.\u00a0 (See Galatians 3:26-29)\u00a0 Paul believed and faithfully proclaimed that through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism God<\/em><\/strong> saved us<\/strong><\/em>!\u00a0 (See Titus 3:3-7)\u00a0 At the same time, my friends, Paul knew that his number one God-given purpose<\/strong> here on this earth was to focus on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n That\u2019s also God\u2019s will for our congregation.\u00a0 When we strive by God\u2019s grace to maintain \u201cperfect unity\u201d<\/em> among us this will enable us to remain focused<\/strong> on the number one reason we exist as a congregation:\u00a0 To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in both Word and Sacrament, to point both our members and others to the cross on Calvary\u2019s hill and guarantee to them that through faith in what Jesus has done for<\/strong> them all of their sins are completely forgiven and eternal life in heaven is God\u2019s free gift to them!\u00a0 That is why our congregation exists!<\/p>\n Does this mean that as a congregation we do not need to be concerned about helping the poor and needy?\u00a0 Does this mean that as a congregation we do not need to go the extra mile to support a fellow member who is going through a difficulty in their life?\u00a0 Of course not!\u00a0 What it does mean is that as a congregation\u2014 and as individual Christians\u2014 our focus<\/strong>, our purpose<\/strong> is to do everything we can do \u201cpreach the Gospel\u201d<\/em> to as many people as we possibly can!<\/p>\n WWJD\u2014 What would Jesus do?\u00a0 While there is indeed some merit in having that conversation with ourselves, we need to be extremely careful that we don\u2019t answer that question based upon our own personal opinion.\u00a0 As Christians, we need to let Scripture answer that question for us.\u00a0 So I ask you again:\u00a0 What is God\u2019s will for our congregation?\u00a0 Again, that is a very good question for us to ponder.\u00a0 Again, that is a question that needs to be answered on the basis of what God Himself tells us here in His holy Word and not<\/strong> on the basis of personal opinion\u2014 no matter whether it is your opinion or mine.<\/p>\n My prayer then this morning, my friends, is that you will indeed take to heart what God says to our congregation here in our text for today.\u00a0 God\u2019s will for our congregation is that we remain \u201cperfectly united.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Why do we need to remember this?\u00a0 We need to remember this because Satan is always trying to divide us.\u00a0 We need to remember this because being \u201cperfectly united\u201d<\/em> enables us to stay focused on the work that God has given to us to do.<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Third Sunday after Epiphany January 22, 2017 I Corinthians 1:10-17 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.\u00a0 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed 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