Spunk

Hundreds of writers and artists lived in Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s and were part of a vibrant, creative community that found its voice in what came to be called the “Harlem Renaissance.” Alain Locke’s 1925 collection The New Negro—a compilation of literature by and essays about “New Negro” artists and black culture—became a “manifesto” of the movement. Some of black America’s foremost writers contributed stories and poems to the volume. The work of these artists drew upon the African-American experience and expressed a new pride in black racial identity and heritage. Zora Neale Hurston—novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist—was known during the Harlem Renaissance for her wit, irreverence, and folk writing style. She won second prize in the 1925 literary contest of the Urban League’s journal, Opportunity, for her short story “Spunk,” which also appeared in The New Negro.

“Well, Ah’m goin’ after her today. Ah’m goin’ an’ fetch her back

Spunk’s done gone too fur.”

Synonyms for spunk:

backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck

Illustration: Spunk of the Black Church

“Well, Ah’m goin’ after her today. Ah’m goin’ an’ fetch her back

Spunk’s done gone too fur.”

Well the Apostle Paul decides to fetch back the bride in our text for today. But this bride is or just one woman, instead the bride is the body Jesus Christ at Corinth...- the local church at Corinth, the fellowship of believers we call the Corinthians...

backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck

Transition To Body

Well in our text today, the Apostle Paul decides to fetch back a bride too so to speak.

But this bride is not just one woman, instead the bride is the body of Jesus Christ at Corinth...

- the local church at Corinth, the fellowship of believers we call the Corinthians...

Chapters 1-4

1 Corinthians 3:10–11 ESV

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:10-

Do you not know that you are God’s temple!!!

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 ESV

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:14–15 ESV

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:

Body: Re: Biblical Church Disipline

porneia

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.271 πορνεύω; ἐκπορνεύω; πορνεία, ας

to engage in sexual immorality of any kind, often with the implication of prostitution—‘to engage in illicit sex, to commit fornication, sexual immorality, fornication, prostitution.’

pornois

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.274 πόρνος, ου

one who engages in sexual immorality, whether a man or a woman, and in some contexts, distinguished from an adulterer or adulteress—‘a sexually immoral person

Addresses Unrepentant Sin

the sin Corinth was well known, revolting, & ongoing

Illustration: World standard’s vs. church’s standards

Re: quid pro quo impeachment trial & no witness testimony

Quid pro quo- a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.

Like if instead the Senate did not even bother to have an impeachment trial & just moved to acquit

Holy Spirit Is Present

1 Corinthians 5:3–4 ESV

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

Dispensed With Christlike Love (Redemptive Intent)

1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV

5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Keeps God’s Holy Temple Incorruptible

1 Corinthians 5:6–8 ESV

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

(When Biblically Consistent) malice & evil vs. sincerity & truth v6-8. Incorruptible- not subject to death or decay; everlasting.

Illustrate: Dusting your home periodically because dust particles pile up

Galatians 5:9 ESV

9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Illustrate: During Passover, no yeast was to remain in the home. Leaven became associated with evil within the community.

Illustrate: “Souls to souls are like apples, one being rotten rots another” - Thomas Traherne

Insulated But Not Isolated Christian Witness

Insulated (From Influences Of The World) But Not Isolated (From People Of The World) Witness

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 ESV

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9

The Natural Person does not accept the things of the spirit of God

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 ESV

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.”- ESV

Transition To Close

Illustration: It was in “The Negro’s Church” by Benjamin E. Mays & Joseph W. Nicholson

within the Chapter titled “The Negro Ministry” , page 50

page 50

“A minister is respected in the community now, not because he belongs to the ministerial group, nor because he claims to be “called “by God to preach, but because as an individual he has admirable qualities, merits recognition, and has a unique contribution to make to life. The focus of attention has shifted from the profession as such to the individual.”

The authors go on to further state:

“therefore the Negro ministry of tomorrow, in addition to being convinced that it is “called “of God, will be confronted with the task of making an honest, intellectual, and moral appeal to a somewhat sophisticated and critical generation. The Negro minister will be challenged to assume more and more the role of a true prophet – the one who interprets the will of God to men- in personal, social, economic and religious life.”

Re: quid pro quo impeachment trial & no witness testimony

Quid pro quo- a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.

Like if instead the Senate did not even bother to have an impeachment trial & just moved to acquit

The Negro’s Church by Benjamin E. Mays & Joseph W. Nicholson

“for many of these people the church is the chief place where they are stimulated morally and intellectually. It becomes then the center of religious, moral, and intellectual teaching for that part of the Negro population that is cut off from cultural and moral contact in other areas. Furthermore a goodly number of Negroes believe what their pastor tells them. He still exercises a dominant influence in the lives of many.“

1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Close- God Judges the world!

1 Corinthians 5:13 ESV

13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Psalm 119:71–72 ESV

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Psalm 119:

Psalm 30:1–12 ESV

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8 To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

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