Fractured?     1 Corinthians 1,3

I remember first discussing the options for writing this latest Sunday School material assignment for Bible Studies for Life - Life Truths. The Life Truths editor and I discussed writing on marriage or church conflict. We laughed at the similarities between the two! Although my wife and I will soon be celebrating 19 glorious and wonderful years of marriage, I still consider myself to be in a serious learning curve when it comes to marriage. Considering my past years of ministry, I really have more experience with church conflict!

That is not to say, however, that I have learned to deal effectively with every conflict that may arise in the local church. Sometimes churches can act and react in ways that defy rational explanation. Many of you reading this could supply examples from your own painful experiences. It is not my intention to air dirty laundry from the past or to tear down any local church. With the material I was privileged to author, and with these blog posts, it is my firm purpose to direct our attention to the Scriptures as our guide for healing from church hurts, and prevention from more of the same.

Paul wrote this first letter to a troubled church at Corinth. It is evident that he had received troubled news from this church that he had founded earlier, and so wrote to offer much-needed instruction to guide them through these rough spiritual and relational shoals. This week as we examine 1 Corinthians 1:10-15,26-29 it becomes clear that there were serious fractures in the Corinthian church. Misplaced loyalties and rotten human pride were evident in their words and actions. However, the crux of the problem is found in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. Paul accuses the Corinthian believers as being "fleshly" and "living like ordinary people" (vs. 3). He uses a bit of creative word play to capture his readers' attention in verses 1 and 3. In 3:1 "flesh" (Greek sarkinos) is literally 'made of flesh'. In 3:3 "fleshly" (Greek sarkikos) is more accurately 'characterized by the flesh'. What is the difference?  There is no blame attached to those who are babes in Christ (3:1) when they act like babes. It is expected. But when those who have been Christians for years still act like babes, "characterized by the flesh" (3:3) and not the Spirit, this is scandalous.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul expressed his desire that the Corinthians be "united". This is a word that means to restore something to its rightful condition. It is used of James and John in Matthew 4:21 when they are "mending" their nets after a night of fishing. He also expresses in verse 10 his desire that there be no "divisions" among them. This word is the Greek schisma, and is the origin of our word "schism", which means a division. In John 21:11 when the disciples caught an enormous amount of fish, the text says there were no "schisms" in the net; no divisions, tears, or fractures that would allow fish to fall through and be lost.

What a picture of what church conflict does to our efforts for Christ's Kingdom! When churches fight and divide, a rift is made in our witness and precious souls needing Christ are turned off by us and slip through the gaps. How important is it, then, to heal these fractures in the fellowship? It is vital!

Change Your Mind  Philippians 3

What do you depend on to know God and to know Him better? God is not impressed with our family history, church attendance record, giving receipts, or personal accomplishments. We will each be judged according to what we have done with Jesus Christ and how He has been Lord of our lives. Salvation is not only about deliverance from eternal judgment, but is also about a dynamic relationship with Christ on a deeper level that changes our entire lives. Do you know Christ as Savior and Lord? Has your relationship with Him changed your manner of living?

In 2007, LifeWay Research surveyed 2500 American adults who attended a Protestant church once a month or more. Only 36% of respondents agreed strongly with this statement: "With reference to my values and priorities, I can honestly say that I try to put God first in my life." Knowing Christ better should be every Christian's goal, and this passion should be reflected in our values, priorities, and our way of thinking.

In Philippians 3 the Apostle Paul talks about what he used to rely on to know God vs. what he then relied upon to know God. He had cast away his former resume' and pedigree and instead embraced Christ alone. He had to change his mind about what was important. When he did, his manner of thinking regarding knowing God and spiritual growth changed. This chapter in Philippians was penned primarily to refute the false doctrine of a group known as the Judaizers. These were a group of Jews who denied the grace of God and the work of Christ in salvation, adding or substituting human effort to obtain it. Their dogma was 'Christ plus works'.

Paul admitted that he knew well the religion of works to impress God; he had lived it to the farthest degree himself. He had long relied upon his lineage, pedigree, and resume' of accomplishments as a means to get ahead with God and with others. But once he discovered the spiritual circumcision of the heart that even the Law of Moses demands (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6), he stopped boasting in all he had accomplished and began trusting and glorying in what Christ has accomplished. In fact, the language he chooses to describe his former accomplishments is quite graphic. He considers them all to be filth; the Greek word here is literally manure. To him, everything paled in significance to knowing Christ.

This is the mind-set of maturity, to seek to know Christ in a dynamic, ever-deepening relationship. Paul's expression of this desire is one of the best-known passages of the New Testament (3:10-14). Review these verses carefully. Do they express your desire to know Christ? Is He more valuable than all you have and all you are? If not, you need to Change Your Mind!

Work on Your Humility  James 4

No you didn’t…not again. Oh yes you did. It usually happens right after we think we have it all together. We make a commitment to the Lord, make the decision to obey, and then begin to feel a sense of self-sufficiency. Before we realize the pride that is swelling up within us, we fall into the same old sinful pattern. We are quick to notice others and judge their sins, but fail to recognize that we do the same things they do. And then, we wonder if “one little indulgence” or “one little vice” will really make a difference in our relationship with the Lord. Pride hinders us from seeing that even the smallest compromise is still a compromise and the “smallest sin” is still sin.

Humility is recognizing God's total sovereignty and willingly submitting yourself completely to Him. Godly humility acknowledges that in ourselves we have no basis for pride. Because we are created in God's image we have infinite worth and dignity in His eyes. Therefore, all that is worth bragging about is from God. In James 4 we learn that ugly pride is the source of strife and discontent. Verses 1-5 paints an unsightly picture that we most often notice in how our children respond when they desire something. However, adults show these tendencies in more vicious ways. If you disagree with that you have never been shopping on the day after Thanksgiving! Alleged mature adults push, maneuver, squabble, and fight over the latest toys for their children. It is no small wonder that children in our day have no degree of submission to authority or humility.

How bad is the sin of pride? It robs us of all God would have for us. James wrote that God resists the proud. When we operate out of pride we act against God! But when we submit to God, He gives grace. Grace to grow, grace to hear His voice, grace to enjoy His goodness, grace to triumph through trials, grace to enjoy living. Submission allows God's grace to transform us in Christ's likeness and produces gratitude and a gracious, gentle spirit.

Submission to God doesn't mean we have no responsibility for our lives. When we submit to God's sovereignty every plan and intention is trusted to His authority and power. He may choose to alter our plans to fulfill His purposes. Our wise and good God controls everything and we can trust Him completely. When we trust Him completely, we can then practice submission in other areas. Believers are called to submit humbly to governing authorities (Romans 13:1,5), and to one another (Ephesians 5:21). Wives are called to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22,24). The church is called to submit to Christ (Ephesians 5:24).

Below is a reprint from the Fall 2009 Life Truths Learner Guide LIVE pages for this lesson, page 113. It is called "The 5 P's of Hearing God's Voice in Scripture" adapted from Can We Talk? Soul-Stirring Conversations with God by Pricilla Shirer and published by LifeWay Christian Resources. Review them carefully and use them to discover God's truth and submit completely to it in all things.

1. Position yourself to hear from God (Habakkuk 2:1). God can speak any time and anywhere, but hearing is often easier when distractions are limited.
2. Pore over the Scriptures and paraphrase the major points (James 1:25). When you're expecting God to speak, you cannot skim the passage.
3. Pull out the spiritual principles. What is God teaching? What is He revealing about Himself?
4. Pose the question. form a personally directed question from each spiritual principle you listed in the previous step. For example, "Does my life coincide with the message of this verse?"
5. Plan obedience and pin down a date (James 1:22). Plan to obey. Record the steps you can take immediately to begin responding to what God ha said to you. Follow through with actions.