(s/c) Resisting Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Which Disturbs You Most?

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1 1 Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (s/c) Resisting Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Which Disturbs You Most? A soul lost or a scratch on your new car? Your missing the worship service or missing a day s work? A sermon 10 minutes too long or lunch half hour late? A church not growing or your garden not growing? Your Bible unopened or your newspaper unread? The church work being neglected or housework neglected? Missing a good Bible study or your favorite TV program? The millions who do not know Christ or your inability to keep up with the neighbors? The cry of the multitude for bread or your desire for another piece of German chocolate cake? Your tithes decreasing or your income decreasing? Your children late for Sunday school and Church or late for public school? Which really disturbs you most? The Bible Friend (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc) As you grow up in the Christian life, the options become obvious. When you are a child, immature things capture and hold your attention. When you are an adult, you begin to see that the things that disturbed you as a child were not always the things that needed your attention. There are phases in life, and we obviously grow through each of them. The problem occurs when we stay in a certain phase. There is nothing that bothers me more (I do not dwell on it though) than seeing a person caught in a time warp of sorts. You see a person that got locked into the look of the early seventies and you gotta wonder why didn t he ever move on? (I have a cousin like that. I idolized him in the seventies, but now I think, why didn t he ever move on.) But worst of all is when that happens in our spiritual lives. We get stuck in a growth phase spiritually, and never grow out of it. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 give us 4 insights into why spiritual immaturity.

2 2 3 I. Spiritual immaturity has always been a common ailment in the life of the church/believers. (1 Cor3:1-3) 1 Corinthians 3:1 3 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? How can you tell that a church is spiritually immature? 1) The congregation refuses a spiritual diet. (v.2) 2) The congregation participates in unspiritual deeds. (v.3) (s/c) I. Spiritual immaturity has always been a common ailment in the life of the church/believers. (1 Cor 3:1-3) (s/c) 1 Corinthians 3:1 3 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? (s/c) How can you tell that a church is spiritually immature? 1) The congregation refuses a spiritual diet. (v.2) I gave you milk, not solid food for you were not yet ready for it. Immature Christians cannot stomach the solid teaching and principles of God s word. Why is that a problem? Paul says: "I am not able to talk to you..." - This means I must change the way I approach you when I want to say something to you - This means I must treat you differently and expect less of you when I give you instructions - This means I must watch you more closely and make you more accountable if I expect to see the results that I desire What is the congregation's problem that Paul thinks he must change the way he talks to them in order to make them understand? a) they lack spiritual maturity - and I am not able to speak to you as to the spiritual ones (I am not able to say things to you assuming that you are spiritually tuned in nor that you will get my message) b) they languish in fleshly conditions (attitudes) c) they listen only to "baby talk" The second indicator that a congregation or a believer is immature is that

3 4 5 II. Spiritual immaturity, left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the way people do ministry. (1 Cor. 3:3-5) What does spiritual immaturity cause? 1 Corinthians 3:3 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1) It causes a behavior becoming of mere men. (v.3b) II. Spiritual immaturity, left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the way people do ministry. (1 Cor. 3:3-5) What does spiritual immaturity cause? 1 Corinthians 3:4 5 4 For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not mere men? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? 2) It causes the idolization of human leaders (vv.4-5a) (s/c) 2) The congregation participates in unspiritual deeds. (v.3) The lack of diet led to a litany of unspiritual deeds. Paul had described already the deeds they had participated in. They were motivated by human wisdom. They ignored the way of the cross. They trusted in human persuasiveness and power rather than Christ-like character and cross-bearing behavior. In this passage, Paul draws their attention back to how spiritual immaturity leads to a divided congregation. What is the second insight that Paul offers us into why spiritual immaturity must be resisted? Wrong Response: (So What?) (s/c) II. Spiritual immaturity, left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the way people do ministry. (1 Cor. 3:3-5) (s/c) What does spiritual immaturity cause? (s/c) 1) It causes a behavior becoming of mere men. (v.3b) a) divisions b) jealousy and quarreling Paul faults the Corinthian Christians for being no different from anyone else in Corinth: you [plural] act like mere human beings. Paul makes this accusation three times in vv It opens v. 3, and the end of v. 4 repeats it in the form of a question expecting a positive [or yes ] response... (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (s/c) 2) It causes the idolization of human leaders. (vv.4-5a) (s/c) 1 Corinthians 3:4 5 4 For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not mere men? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?

4 6 II. Spiritual immaturity, left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the way people do ministry. (1 Cor. 3:3-5) What does spiritual immaturity cause? 1 Corinthians 3:5... Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task.... It credits God s transformation to human endeavors and enterprise. (v.5) or stated in another way... It credits God s transformation to human endeavors and enterprise. (v.5) (s/c) 1 Corinthians 3: Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. Why does Paul make such a big deal about himself and Apollos? Are they not faithful? Why does he seem to say, Don t give us so much credit? Paul explains it this way. a) Paul and Apollos are not SOMEBODIES - as the Corinthians were wanting to make them out to be. b) They were simply "SERVANTS" = deacons, table waiters, people who perform tasks of an unskilled nature; "to Gentile ears, servant spoke above all of a low social status" (PNTC) i) They are the means by which faith came to you. They simply brought the plate of divine food to you. They are not inventors of faith. They are not the Cook. They are merely the dispensers of divine food. ii) Their job was not to receive praise, but to perform a task. It is the LORD who is SOMEBODY. In ancient eastern culture the servants were trained to perform their duties. The training was always under the auspices of the Master. Therefore, when done well, the servant did not receive the credit, the Master was praised for his good management of his household. The praise for the servant's good performance did not come from those served but from the Master himself. (This is what I see throughout the Bible as a pattern in many stories. Larry) The point Paul is making is who in their right mind would boast (3:21) about their adoring attachment to a servant? In so doing Paul deliberately undermines the cultural values that lie at the root of stunted Corinthian spiritual growth. (PNTC) God s Revelation: (What if?) What is the third insight that Paul offers us into why spiritual immaturity must be resisted?

5 7 8 9 III.Spiritual immaturity can only be prevented through growing in one s understanding of God. (1 Cor 3:5-9) 1 Corinthians 3:5 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apolloswatered it, but God made it grow. III.Spiritual immaturity can be prevented through growing in one s understanding of God. (1 Cor 3:5-9) 1 Corinthians 3:7 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. What do the spiritually mature understand about ministry? 1. We are servants, but God alone is Master. (3:5) 2. God is the object of your faith not us; we only point to him. (3:5) 3. We did not make ourselves servants or make you converts, God did. (3:5) 4. Apollosand I planted and watered, but God alone can create spiritual life. (3:6) (s/c) III. Spiritual immaturity can only be prevented through growing in one s understanding of God. (1 Cor 3:5-9) Such understanding places less emphasis on man s wisdom and effort and more confidence in God s strength and purpose. It reduces man s criticism and competition with his fellow man and increases one s expectation of God and his sovereignty. 1 Corinthians 3:5 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (s/c) 1 Corinthians 3:7 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. How would our church be different if we were to follow God s design for spiritual maturity? What do the spiritually mature understand about ministry? (s/c) 1. We are servants, but God alone is Master. (3:5) 1 Corinthians 3:5 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (s/c) 2. God is the object of your faith not us; we only point to him. 1 Corinthians 3:5 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. You did not come to believe in us. We did nothing worthy of your esteem. We were deacons mere servants whose task it was to take to you the message the Lord gave to us. (s/c) 3. We did not make ourselves servants or make you converts, God did. (3:5) 1 Corinthians 3:5 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is

6 10 11 What do the spiritually mature understand about ministry? 5. Apollosand I amount to nothing compared to God.(3:7) 6. Apollosand I are not competitors but allies with a common goal, and in the end God will give us our rewards, not you. (3:8) 7. We are workers on the farm and the building, but God owns it and us. (3:9) - (Cited from John Piper) IV. Spiritual immaturity will not disappear until we act by faith upon what we have understood about God. (1 Cor 3:5-9) 1) Humility (v.5) servants 2) Faithfulness (v.6) planted watered 3) Reality check (v.7) but only God 4) Focus (v.8) different responsibilities - one purpose Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (s/c) 4. Apollos and I planted and watered, but God alone can create spiritual life. (3:6) 1 Corinthians 3:6 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (s/c) 5. Apollos and I amount to nothing compared to God. (3:7) 1 Corinthians 3:7 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (s/c) 6. Apollos and I are not competitors but allies with a common goal, and in the end God will give us our rewards, not you. (3:8) 1 Corinthians 3:8 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (s/c) 7. We are workers on the farm and the building, but God owns it and us. (3:9) 1 Corinthians 3:9 9 For we are God s fellow workers; you are God s field, God s building. (Cited from John Piper) Right Response: (Now what?) (s/c) IV. Spiritual immaturity will not disappear until we act by faith upon what we have understood about God.(1 Cor 3:5-9) What are the actions of the spiritually mature upon understanding God s sovereignty in ministry? (s/c) 1) Humility (v.5) servants (s/c) 2) Faithfulness (v.6) planted watered (s/c) 3) Reality check (v.7) but only God (s/c) 4) Focus (v.8) different responsibilities - one purpose

7 12 My Response: 1) Recognize that all spiritual progress is ultimately divine grace, not human enterprise. 2) Join God in what He is doing. Be a team member with Him. 3) Seek to be a good servant, rather than a great leader. 4) Remember that the field in which God has placed you to work is His. (s/c) My Response: (s/c) 1) Recognize that all spiritual progress is ultimately divine grace, not human enterprise. (s/c) 2) Join God in what He is doing. Be a team member with Him. (s/c) 3) Seek to be a good servant, rather than a great leader. Perfect your servanthood skills not your leadership edge. Let God decide if you are a great leader. Let God determine whether you are a great leader. Don t let people s accolades go to your head. 4) Remember that the field in which God has placed you to work is His. Plant. Water. Pray. Wait. Between an airplane and virtually every other form of transportation there is one great contrast. The horse and wagon, the automobile, the bicycle, the locomotive, the speedboat, and the great battleship all can come to a standstill without danger, and they can all reverse their engines, or their power, and go back. But there is no reverse about the engine of an airplane. It cannot back up [in the medium it was made to function in]. It dare not stand still. If it loses its momentum and forwarddrives, then it crashes. The only safety for the airplane is in its forward and upward motion. The only safe direction for the Christian to take is forward and upward. If he stops, or if he begins to slip and go backward, that moment he is in danger. (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.) Outline of Message: Spiritual Immaturity 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 give us. I. Spiritual immaturity has always been a common ailment in the life of the church/believers. (1 Cor 3:1-3) How can you tell that a church is spiritually immature? 1) The congregation refuses a spiritual diet. (v.2) 2) The congregations participates in unspiritual deeds. (v.3) II. Spiritual immaturity, left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the way people do ministry. (1 Cor. 3:3-5)

8 What does spiritual immaturity cause? 1) It causes a behavior becoming of mere men. (v.3b) a) divisions b) jealousy and quarreling 2) It causes the idolization of human leaders. (vv.4-5a) 3) It credits God s transformation to human endeavors and enterprise. (v.5) III. Spiritual immaturity can only be prevented through growing in one s understanding of God. (1 Cor 3:5-9) Such understanding places less emphasis on man s wisdom and effort and more confidence in God s strength and purpose. It reduces man s criticism and competition with his fellow man and increases one s expectation of God and his sovereignty. How would our church be different if we were to follow God s design for spiritual maturity? What do the spiritually mature understand about ministry? 1. We are servants, but God alone is Master. (3:5) 2. God is the object of your faith not us; we only point to him. (3:5) 3. We did not make ourselves servants or make you converts, God did. (3:5) 4. Apollos and I planted and watered, but God alone can create spiritual life. (3:6) 5. Apollos and I amount to nothing compared to God. (3:7) 6. Apollos and I are not competitors but allies with a common goal, and in the end God will give us our rewards, not you. (3:8) 7. We are workers on the farm and the building, but God owns it and us. (3:9) (Cited from John Piper) IV. Spiritual immaturity will not disappear until we act by faith upon what we have understood about God.(1 Cor 3:5-9) What are the actions of the spiritually mature upon understanding God s sovereignty in ministry? 1) Humility (v.5) servants 2) Faithfulness (v.6) planted watered 3) Reality check (v.7) but only God 4) Focus (v.8) different responsibilities - one purpose My Response: 1) Recognize that all spiritual progress is ultimately divine grace, not human enterprise. 2) Join God in what He is doing. Be a team member with Him. 3) Seek to be a good servant, rather than a great leader. Perfect your servanthood skills not your leadership edge. Let God decide if you are a great leader. Let God determine whether you are a great leader. Don t let people s accolades go to your head. 4) Remember that the field in which God has placed you to work is His. Plant. Water. Pray. Wait.