Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Reading of Scripture

This is God’s Word, Amen.

[ Title Slide ]

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 “Do You Not Know?”

[ Title Slide ]

A. Introduction to Theme

“Do you not know?”

This is the question lifted from verse 16 in this text, and it is a very revealing question about the ignorance of the church in Corinth.

“Do you not know?”

“Do you not know?”

Is that more of a question?

A frustration?

Or a lament?

“Do you not know?”

(???????? question tone)

“Do you not know?”

(!#$^@*&^%@! frustration tone)

“Do you not know?”

(!!!!!!!!!!! lament tone)

Perhaps it is all three - a question, a frustration and a lament!?

What this statement highlights for us is clear, and it summarizes this whole chapter — there was an ignorance among the church in Corinth.

There is no good reason for the church of Jesus Christ to be ignorant - to be uninformed, or to lack knowledge about the basic things concerning who we are, and whose we are, and what God is doing among us.

Why?

Because God has revealed these things to us!

For the church to remain ignorant about what God has revealed and graciously provided for by His indwelling Holy Spirit is sin.

There are some things that have not been revealed to us and that are not ours to know.

For example, Jesus’ disciples came to him after his resurrection, before he was taken up into Heaven.

Some things do not belong for us to know.

Some things are not given for us to know, but what is given is revealed that we might know and obey.

God gives us what we need to know so that we might be empowered to be witnesses for Jesus in all the earth!

So that we might do what God wants us to do with what we know from God.

Sin stops up our ears, and covers up our eyes so that we do not know what God has given us to know.

And this is what the enemy wants!

To keep us from hearing God’s revelation.

If the enemy keeps us from hearing God’s revelation, then he has kept us from obeying.

God has graciously revealed Himself to us, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and has given to His Holy Spirit that we might have knowledge of Him - not ignorance.

This text in 1 Corinthians is not speaking about individuals being ignorant.

This text is speaking about a shared ignorance.

A collective ignorance.

The church, the body of Christ at Corinth, is ignorant, and it was hindering their empowered obedience and witness.

But lest we think that this ignorance is limited only to the church at Corinth, may we all remember that God did not preserve His inspired word so that we might hear it today, because the church in Corinth was the last ignorant church!

This text presents ignorance in four divisions:

They did not know how to be godly people.

(3:1-4)

They did not know how God’s church is served.

(3:5-9)

They did not know how God’s church is built.

(3:10-15)

They did not know that God’s Spirit dwells in them.

(3:16-17)

III.

Exposition

First,

A. They did not know how to be godly people.

(3:1-4)

Notice that word “brothers.”

Do not mistake their ignorance to mean that they are not part of God’s family.

They are!

They are the church.

They are the saints.

God is their Father!

We need to understand this if we are going to hear this as Southside Baptist Church.

This is a word not for outsiders to the faith, but to those in the faith.

We need to hear this not as a word for other congregations but for us, for Southside Baptist Church, who are gathered in this time and place.

Already in a previous chapter, the apostle has addressed two groups of people: those who are being saved, and those who are perishing.

Now, he is addressing only one group, those who are being saved, you — church!

And he says there are two types of people who are being saved - two types of people in the church: spiritual people, and fleshly people.

We could say “spiritual saints” and “fleshly saints.”

The “fleshly saints” are “infants in Christ.”

The “fleshly saints” are focused only upon their own basic, physical desires (LN).

“Feed me…play with me...clean me…put me to bed.”

Practically and sadly, in the church that sounds something like this: “Marry me, elevate me, entertain me, bury me.”

You are in Christ, but you are a baby.

So the apostle could not impart to them the secret and hidden wisdom of God that has been revealed in Jesus Christ.

He could not challenge them.

Instead, he had to adapt his teaching and instruction to a diet that they could consume.

That is a haunting statement.

“Even now you are not yet ready.”

“Dad - can I learn how to drive?”

No my daughter, you are only 5.

You are not yet ready.

“Dad - can I drink coffee with you?”

No my son, you are only 4.

You are not yet ready.”

I have started putting milk in a coffee mug so my son could enjoy drinking coffee with me.

I have my mug of coffee, and he has his mug of milk.

One morning, I asked him “How do you like your coffee?

He said: “White and Cold!”

They are not ready for these things!

But the apostle in 1 Corinthians is not writing to 4 and 5 year olds, and he is not writing about driving cars and drinking coffee.

He is writing to brothers who — notice the text in verse 2 — were not ready, and are not yet ready.

These brothers have had their milk, and they are still drinking it.

The apostle cannot move on to more substantial food for them.

Why?

The problem is not with their appetite.

The problem is with their behavior.

They are behaving as unregenerate people (LGNT).

They are behaving as sinners.

They are behaving in a way that is no different from the people outside the gathering of the saints!

Notice the language - you are STILL of the flesh.

And here is what that means -

there is jealousy and strife.

Jealousy is resentment.

Envy (LN).

I want to be like that person.