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1 Corinthians Lesson 3
Copyright 1999. John Creamer. All rights reserved.
Questions: How do quarrels begin? …How are they resolved? …Is it when
the weakest—or the strongest gives in? Where (among whom) might a quarrel take place? (Between 2 or more nations,
U.S. Senate, fans of opposing teams, husband/wife, parent/child, at a
tennis match…) Why do people quarrel? What do people hope to achieve in a quarrel? Scripture: What appeal does Paul make to the people in Corinth, Greece in verse
10? How likely is it for everyone in any group of people to ‘agree with
one another so that there may be no divisions among them and that they
may be perfectly united in mind and thought’? Was Paul suffering
from some ‘human behavior delusion’ to even suggest they could
do this? No. He knew they could…and we still can today. More on ‘how’
later in the lesson. Verse 11 says the Greeks were quarreling. According to verse 12, why
were they quarreling? What would a possible equivalent be for us today? (Who has the best minister,
differences of opinion over which denomination is right, etc.) What does Paul ask in verse 13? (Is Christ divided?) i.e., Christ certainly
isn’t divided, but since we are the Body of Christ, how could we
be divided? (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each
one of you is a part of it. How to avoid divisions… (Ephesians 4:2-7 NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. {3} Make every effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit through the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one
Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- {5}
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all. {7} But to each one of us grace has
been given as Christ apportioned it. Paul explains we are the body of Christ in verses 4-7, but what does
he tell them in verse 2? (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some
to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
{12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up {13} until we all reach unity in the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ. These verses show us that the unity between Christians is more than just
everyone agreeing to get along; it is a by-product of something. What
are the leaders of the church, named in v.11, supposed to do according
to verse 12? What is the end result in verse 13? (That we will ‘reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God—Jesus Christ.) 1 Individually, it is up to us to ‘make every effort’…by
being humble and gentle and patient with one another (vs.2-3). 2 Collectively, as people in the body of Christ perform their unique
functions (v.11), everyone should become mature (v.13) through the unity
of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. The previous verses in Ephesians said we are to ‘make every effort’
to keep unity. The next passage gives us some practical ways to do this…
(1 Peter 3:8-17 NIV) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one
another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
What 5 things does v.8 tell us to do? What does live in harmony with one another mean to you? Did any of you ever sing in a choir or play in a band or orchestra? What causes singers to ‘sing in harmony’? What is the lack of harmony called? What causes this musical ‘discord’? What parallels can be made between people ‘living in harmony’
and people ‘singing or playing instruments in harmony’? Even though people are singing notes that are different, the ones that
harmonize are complimentary to the overall sound. In the Body of Christ,
even though we have different gifts and abilities, all should be complimentary
to each other. In good harmony, everyone listens carefully to all the others and adjusts
their tone and volume to the group rather than trying to ‘out-sing’
the others. In the Body of Christ, rather than trying to make the group
adjust to us, we need to learn how to listen carefully to others. The conductor is not the only one who needs a copy of the music; each
member of the group must have his/her own copy of the music to read and
follow. In the Body of Christ, it is absurd to think that since the minister
has a Bible and reads it everyone will live in harmony with each other.
Each of us should have our own Bibles to constantly read and follow. In the orchestra, different instruments add to the distinctive sound.
In the Body of Christ people who bring different gifts and abilities add
to the distinctive ministry of the overall group. What does it mean to ‘be sympathetic’ with each other? What does it mean to love as brothers? (What is distinctive about the
love brothers have for each other?) What does ‘be compassionate’ mean? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
says: 1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow
caused by the distress or misfortunes of another. Compassion is a mixed
passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love
generally attends the pain or regret. Extreme distress of an enemy even
changes enmity into at least temporary affection. What does it mean to be ‘humble’? How do you think people sometimes
miss the meaning of humble? Perhaps the best way to understand its meaning
is to understand its antonyms: Proud, Haughty, Arrogant. How are these
antonyms counter-productive to unity? For example, why is it difficult
for a proud, haughty, arrogant person to live in harmony? …be sympathetic/compassionate/
…love as brothers? …be humble? {9} Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing,
because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. {10}
For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue
from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. What ‘do’ and ‘don’t’ are we given in vs. 9-10?
(Notice that either one—insult or blessing—is done with the
tongue.) If we followed the admonition in this verse, what percentage of quarrels
do you think would be eliminated? {11} He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue
it. {12} For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are
attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who
do evil." What does it mean in verse 11 to turn from evil? What could be some examples
of that in your life? (Don’t answer out loud!!!) What good would
(could) be done instead? What do you think ‘he must seek peace and pursue it’ means?
According to verse 12, what happens when we do these things? (We put
ourselves in a favorable position with God.) {13} Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? {14} But
even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do
not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." {15} But in your
hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect, {16} keeping a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ
may be ashamed of their slander. {17} It is better, if it is God's will,
to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Verse 13 suggests that if we operate in this manner probably everyone
will relate well to us, but what do vs.14-17 tell us we should do even
if people try to run over us for doing the right things? Proverbial advice about quarrels and divisions… (Proverbs 10:12 NIV) Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over
all wrongs. (Proverbs 13:10 NIV) Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found
in those who take advice. (Proverbs 26:21 NIV) As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so
is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. (Proverbs 26:22 NIV) The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts. (Proverbs 29:22 NIV) An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered
one commits many sins. (Proverbs 3:30 NIV) Do not accuse a man for no reason-- when he has
done you no harm. …instead of picking a fight… (Proverbs 17:14 NIV) Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so
drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 20:3 NIV) It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every
fool is quick to quarrel. (Proverbs 26:17 NIV) Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by
who meddles in a quarrel not his own. (1 Timothy 6:3-4 NIV) If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not
agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
{4} he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest
in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife,
malicious talk, evil suspicions… According to these verses, what is a source of quarreling in the Body
of Christ? What ‘warning lights’ should we learn to detect given the information
about quarreling in these verses? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with
you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk
as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in
the Christian life. {2} I had to feed you with milk and not with solid
food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't
ready, {3} for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You
are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove
you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who
don't belong to the Lord. What do these verses say about us if we ever find ourselves in a quarrel—regardless
of which side is ‘right’? (Our behavior is that of immature
Christians…like that of people before they came to know the Lord…infants
in the Christian life…controlled by sinful desires…jealous of
one another…quarrel with each other…controlled by our own desires…acting
like people who don't belong to the Lord.’) (1 Corinthians 6:1-8 NIV) If any of you has a dispute with another,
dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the
saints? {2} Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And
if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial
cases? {3} Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the
things of this life! {4} Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters,
appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! {5} I say
this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise
enough to judge a dispute between believers? {6} But instead, one brother
goes to law against another--and this in front of unbelievers! {7} The
very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely
defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
{8} Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your
brothers. Where is the best place to resolve disputes between members of the Body
of Christ? Why? What ‘qualifications’ are needed to be a competent ‘arbiter’
in the Body of Christ according to verse 4? (Philippians 2:1-4 NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united
with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, {2} then make my joy complete
by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
{3} Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. What are some practical steps given in these verses that will lead us
away from quarrels and toward unity? How do you think people will respond to a person who treats them the
way verses 3 and 4 advise? i.e., How do you respond to the person who
makes it clear they feel superior to you? By contrast, how do you respond
to the person who always has a genuine interest in you and what you are
doing? (2 Timothy 2:14 NIV) Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them
before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only
ruins those who listen. What practical advice do these verses give us about quarreling? What is the bottom line about quarreling? But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:14-18 NIV) |