Some at Corinth were taking their brothers to court, indicating their unwillingness or inabilty to settle their disputes in the Church. Paul regarded this practice as shameful, but not because of the mere fact of Christians engaging in civil suits against fellow believers. To reduce the issue to this is to miss Paul's fundamental concern. Paul viewed this practice as he did all of the maladies in the Corinthian church - as a symptom of their disregard of their identity and calling in Jesus Christ. Whether their factions, their poor judgment or their lawsuits, the Corinthians were failing to live into the truth of who they were in Christ, thereby bearing false witness in the Church and in the world.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
“ Great Sermon! ” Eschatology matters Saints! Hear this sermon brothers and sisters. Even Peter was rebuked by Christ for thinking of the ways of man instead of the ways of God. Without a holistic, eschatological view of God's unfolding plan of Creation, Israel, new creation in Christ, and ultimately cosmic restoration (new heavens/earth), we quite easily (naturally) reduce the Bible (God's testimony of Himself) into a rule book for living "our" temporal lives. And then, like little children, say "my verse is right and yours is wrong" and, like the Corintians, His body divides over all sorts of earthly things.
How did Saul/Paul know all the words of the O. T. scriptures and yet later counted all things before knowing Christ rubbish (Philippians 3) because he didn't know the Old Testament was portraying life in Christ and ultimately the summing-up of all things in Him. But when taught by Christ, he knew life was "In Him" and consequently our lives should be lived "In Him. Let us all know Him as the scriptures speak of Him and His purposes - such that we grow up into the fullness of Him who is the head. For his glory and our faithful witness to a lost and dying world.
