Sermon Tone Analysis

! NEW SERIES:  THE TROUBLED TRIUMPHANT CHURCH

!

Sermon 3 – “Unity at the Cross”

! 1 Cor.

1:10-17

*Introduction*

We continue this morning in our series */The /**/Troubled/**/ /**/Church/**/….The /**/Triumphant/**/ /**/Church/**/!

/**Life in the Body of Christ – *with our 3rd sermon in the series….and

today we get into the actual body of Paul’s letter.

Structurally, this section of the epistle goes from 1:10 to 4:21.

So far, Paul has been reminding the Church in Corinth who they are in Christ - and more importantly, how they are to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

*Now*, we come to the *first problem *in the church Paul addresses – the problem of division in the church!

I want us to talk a minute about unity!

Unity is something that we pray for….something that we long for in the Body of Christ….and for good reason!

*The Beauty and Power of Unity** – *The Bible makes a big deal of unity!

In fact, Jesus prayed in *John **17:11* *11* And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.

Holy Father, *keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.*

The oneness Jesus calls for here is a oneness in our community….also in verses 21-23…..v.23:  *23** I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one,* *so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.*

It is clearly our Lord’s desire that there be unity in the church; and we see from these passages that there is a great testimony to the lost when they witness a united church….there is a confirmation of the gospel…there is a  display of God’s love for His people….and of the transforming power of that love in His people!

This is what we see displayed in the early church……after Pentecost in Acts 2, Luke tells us that the people (that is…the church) were eating, praying and worshipping together….v.

44 “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

(Acts 2.44) Again in (Acts 4.32) - *32* Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, ……….but they had everything in common.

In unity there is spiritual power unleashed in and through the church!

*But* Unity in the church is *also beautiful*….listen

to David’s description of “dwelling together in unity” in the 133rd Psalm:

     *1*     Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

     *2*     It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

          on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

*3*     It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

          *For there the* *Lord has commanded the /blessing, /*

*/life forevermore/*/./

(/bold and italics added/)

                                     

David says there is blessing and life found in unity!

We find *more in the NT concerning unity* or….maybe another descriptive word of the same meaning-*harmony!*

Here are just a couple:- From Paul in Rom.

12.16 *16* Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Never be wise in your own sight.

- Paul prays for it in *Rom.

15.5*  *5* May the God of endurance and encouragement */grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ./*

 - And Peter writes in 1 Pet.

3:8 *8* Finally, */all of you, have unity of mind/*, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

There are many other passages that deal with harmony and unity among believers….but

I think we’re getting the picture here…that being “of one accord” is desired by our Lord Jesus; that it is powerful in its effect and that it’s a beautiful sight to behold in the church!

Now….let’s read our text this morning and look at the heart of disunity in the Corinthian church:

Stand with me….Read TEXT

*The Plea:  Doctrinal Agreement* – v.10

In v.10, we find our word “exhort” (ESV uses “appeal” but it is the Greek word _________________) used by Paul as he says, “I’m encouraging you, brothers (and sisters), in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…that you all, literally, will */speak the same thing/* and there will be no division among you….”

*Now, remember v. 9* – where Paul has reminded them that “you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

They are *one in fellowship with Christ* and they *must be one in fellowship with each other!*

It is Key that Paul, here, exhorts them “in the name of our Lord Jesus” – what does this mean?

/It means the same as when we pray in Jesus’ name….we

are praying in accord with His Word…..in agreement with His will/.

Our harmony must be grounded in the Word of God!

The Word of God perfectly reflects the character and will of Christ…..and so agreement begins with Scripture!

Here’s the truth the Holy Spirit is conveying through Paul:  *The Local church must be in doctrinal unity in order to be healthy, to be in harmony with one another.*

The teaching of the church cannot be a smorgasbord from which people pick and choose.

*/ /*

*/[Aside/**/ – /*/Doctrine is NOT synonymous with Denomination!

– (/*Doctrine* is a word that describes the teachings of Scripture; it also includes the historical, well accepted teachings of Scripture in the church.

*Denomination* is an organization or association of churches with like faith and practice.

As Southern Baptists, we adhere to certain doctrines or teachings that other SBC churches also believe - but one of our “doctrinal” stances is the autonomy of the Local church-so homogeneity is not found in SBC churches!]

So, I am NOT saying that all SBC churches have 100% correct doctrinal teaching…..but what I am saying is that it is up to us at CBC to make certain that our doctrine is Biblical…..and we must agree on the essentials of the faith…..the gospel,  our belief in God and Who He is….our understanding of the incarnation and life of Jesus of Nazareth….our

understanding of Humanity.

These are ALL important to our harmony as a church.

*Illust*.

- There is a well known mega-church in Illinois that grew from a few dozen to over 20,000 members as a “seeker” church.

This church (WillowCreek) preached freedom in doctrine and prided itself on being tolerant of differing views on baptism, the operation of spiritual gifts, worship liturgy – including communion, etc.

The church is now over 25 years old and recently released a study that concluded the church had made a great error in not teaching and agreeing on doctrine.

There was no depth to the church and the disciple-making ministries had continued to suffer from a lack of unity and fellowship in the Body.

Doctrinal confusion fosters strife and spiritual weakness in the church!

The Holy Spirit is exhorting the church to “speak the same words” – be united – in the name of Jesus!

Now, it’s true that we cannot know perfectly….we

cannot be */dogmatic/* in areas where revelation is not clear….there

is room for different views, for example, on the rapture of the church and the period of tribulation – but there can be NO variation in the belief that Jesus Christ is physically coming back again!

There is room for differing views on whether creation occurred in a literal 7 day period or over many years….but

there can be no disagreement that God is the Creator of all the universe!

*It is so important that we know what we believe*.

Same Mind and Judgment:  Look at the balance of v.10 – “*10* I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, *but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment**.

*

The harmony in the Local Body of Christ is both internal and external!

It is in our beliefs….our

doctrine – AND in our /praxis…../our actions!

“But that you be */united/*/…./”

is really better translated “you be *made complete*” (NASB) and the Gk word ________________ means “to mend or to make whole what was broken.”

It was used in Matt.

4.21 where the disciple was “mending his nets.”

*Harmony* in the church means we are “speaking the same”….that

we are living in the same way….and

that our hearts are “mended” together – we are complete in Christ! 

*The Parties – Divisions /in/ men:*  In the next two verses (11-12), Paul describes what “has been reported” to him by Chloe’s people.

Chole could have been a member of the Corinthian church, but more than likely she was a wealthy trader whose agents frequently traveled between Ephesus and Corinth.

In any event, the news is not good!

The word translated “quarreling” (__________________) really should denote a stronger meaning….such

as “strife or verbal conflict.”

It would appear that there are 4 parties to this division…..some claiming allegiance to Paul…others to Apollos…..still others to Peter.

Each of these three were teachers (Paul and Apollos were former pastors in Corinth….and

Peter had either visited or, more likely, some of his disciples (with judaizing, legalistic tendencies) had visited.

Most commentators agree that the fourth party….those

claiming Christ, were similar to many today who are anti-authority and constantly attack those in leadership in the church….they