PREACH THE GOSPEL!

February 7, 2014

PREACH THE GOSPEL!

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Raymond Hawkins

Central Truth

As followers of Jesus, we have many roles: mother, father, brother, sister, friend, coach, sibling, or grandparent. Yet, we all share the same mission: preach the gospel.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17)

Greeting

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brothers,^{1

1:10
Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 11, 26} 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. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Footnotes

[1] 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 11, 26

Be thankful:

Paul encourages us in his first letter to the Thessalonians "in everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18a, NASB) The idea of thankfulness appears many times throughout Scripture. Corinth was a wealthy port city and Roman governmental seat. Corinth had much for which to be thankful, including resources and power. Yet, Paul reminds the Corinthians to be thankful for JESUS. I need the same reminder: I have been "enriched in Him"; I'm "not lacking in any gift"; and "[Jesus] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verses 5-8). Every day between now and His return, Jesus is the ONLY person we have to hang on to. I am so thankful for JESUS!

Be united:

How many different protestant denominations are around today? The estimates vary widely from 300 to more than 40,000. Division in the church is not something new. Even the church in Corinth was developing divisions. Paul was not on board with these divisions, and he made it clear Jesus was not on board either. Paul presses the Corinthian church in verse 13 with three pointed questions: "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" Jesus said He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). We are one church, the body of Christ, with one head, JESUS!

Preach the gospel:

God wants you and everyone you know to spend forever with Him. He made a way for our sinful souls to be reconciled to Him in JESUS! Once you trust in Jesus, He appoints you to share His story. This is your primary role in life: to be a disciple and to make disciples. In other words, your mandate is to reproduce Christ-followers. This is how the world will hear about Jesus, from someone like you. Jesus sends US to PREACH THE GOSPEL!

SEMPER FIDELIS to the task Jesus has assigned: be thankful, be united, preach the gospel!

1. Are you thankful? Everything we have is a blessing from Jesus! Too often, I'm thankful for just the really good stuff: loving wife, healthy kids, tasty food, faithful friends, and the church. We are called to be thankful for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

2. Are you divided from someone right now? What can you do to repair the damage? (Romans 12:18)

3. With whom can you share the gospel today? (1 Peter 3:15)

4. Do you know Jesus? If not, we would love to talk with you! Please come visit us at Watermark or reach us online at watermark.org.