SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB
Newsletter 255 V August 7, 2011
THE CHURCH IN CORINTH
1 Corinthians 3: 1-17
Years ago, many fled Europe to settle in this country to escape the persecutions that were troubling Europe. Many were the result of official state sponsored churches. In England the State church, the Anglican church, In Germany The Lutheran, in Italy Catholic and so forth. Those were State supported to some extent, churches. America was relatively unpopulated at that time and there were few ministers. What there were, often became ”circuit riders” traveling from place to place to conduct services and serve communion at regular intervals.. This resulted in less emphasis on various denominations, and far more family worship using just the Bible as God’s authority. The result was that there came about a movement known simply as the Restoration Movement. Even the Constitution of our land reflect this, desire to be united in faith and not permit one official, State Supported church to be tax supported and have special privileges.
When we went to South Africa in 1953 as missionaries, we encountered, for the first time, State tax supported churches. They had beautiful buildings, but more troubling were the laws that could still be enforced. Worship services in private homes were illegal, and first choice was given to State churches for sites in African areas. One of the requirements to get a site was that you had to have seventy five members living within a walking distance from the site. How does one get that many members without having a building? Fortunately, most people ignored that law, even officials. Many of our services then were held on farms, or in school buildings and applications for sites were made as soon as we could come anywhere near the number. In most cases we already had the sites with derelict buildings on them that had to be replaced as soon as possible.
When we tell people that we do not represent any denomination and do not have an official Denominational headquarters because Christ is the head of His church, and spoke of it as his body they often say, “But look at the church in Corinth, surely you don’t want to restore that, we don’t want to be like them.” Of course not. Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth were to correct those flaws. Corinth provided the opportunity to deal with many different evil problems. Paul begins by calling them babies in the faith, worldly, not growing. They were filled with jealousy and internal problems and had divided over their favorite leaders. .
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
As a body, every part of the church has its own function. When our body gets out of balance, we rush for medical treatment. Paul used himself and Apollos as examples. Saying, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Planting and watering are important, but remember it is God who gives the increase and it is he we worship.
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Each of us has his own special abilities, even though we often work in other areas and ways as well. In Africa one member of our team was an experienced teacher, but was also excellent at working with his hands. He helped the building of many church buildings and the school for training ministers. I, on the other hand, could read and draw up the plans but as a builder had absolutely no experience, so I was elected to be the treasurer and handle the building fund money. I also took on the preparation and printing of the documents needed by the elders, deacons, and ministers, and tracts and booklets of many kinds as were needed. Since that went well with a Bible book store that also became my job. Many of the booklets and tracts stocked in the book shop came from our own press, and were distributed through the shop and our van. (See the pictures attached.)
Here, Paul changes his illustration and compares us to a building, God’s building. This Godly building is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. We have no message, but that of Christ. He said, “I am the way,” “no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” There is no other way, but through Him. If Christ is not the heart of our preaching, we have missed the mark. South Africans build most buildings of brick, and the corners of the building are where they start and with a level and stretched cord they always measure back to that corner.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
AUGUST
7th. Sunday – 1 Chronicles 11, 12, 1 Corinthians 6, Psalm 92
8th. Monday – 1 Chronicles 13, 14, 15, 1 Corinthians 7:1-19, Proverbs 19:11-20
9th. Tuesday – 1 Chronicles 16, 17, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40, Psalm 93
10th. Wednesday - 1 Chronicles 18, 19, 20, 1 Corinthians 8, Psalm 94:1-11
11th. Thursday - 1 Chronicles 21, 22, 1 Corinthians 9, Psalm 94:12-23
12th. Friday – 1 Chronicles 23, 24, 1 Corinthians 10:1-17, Proverbs 19:21-29 13th. Saturday - 1 Chronicles 25, 26, 1 Corinthians 10:18-33, Psalm 95
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
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Warm Up Humor
A counselor was helping his kids put their stuff away on their first morning in Summer Camp. He was surprised to see one of the youngsters had an umbrella. The counselor asked, "Why did you bring an umbrella to camp?"
The kid answered, "Did you ever have a mother?"
The kid answered, "Did you ever have a mother?"
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