Series: The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Speaker: Daniel Sweet
August 17: I Corinthians 3:16-23
The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Foolishness and Wisdom in the Service of the Church, I Corinthians 3:16-23
Background, Ministry that is tested with fire, I Corinthians 3:9-15
- The Spirit of God Dwells in You, I Corinthians 3:16
A. "You" - Meaning the Church
B. Later is a reference to the individual, I Corinthians 6:19
- Destructive Leadership, I Corinthians 3:17
Warning of Judgment for Leaders that Harm the Church, I Corinthians 3:17
- Foolishness and Wisdom in the Service of the Church, I Corinthians 3:18- 23
A. Foolishness comes from worldly wisdom and is self-deceiving
B. Humility, teachability, and dependence on God and His revealed wisdom are essential to the Christian life
C. Divine wisdom comes from God and is God honoring
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The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Foolishness and Wisdom in the Service of the Church, I Corinthians 3:16-23
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Background, Ministry that is tested with fire, I Corinthians 3:9-15
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I Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able
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I Corinthians 3:5-6 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
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I Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
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I Corinthians 3:14-15 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
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I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
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- The Spirit of God Dwells in You, I Corinthians 3:16
A. "You" - Meaning the Church
B. Later is a reference to the individual, I Corinthians 6:19
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I Corinthians 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
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- Destructive Leadership, I Corinthians 3:17
Warning of Judgment for Leaders that Harm the Church, I Corinthians 3:17
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III. Foolishness and Wisdom in the Service of the Church, I Corinthians 3:18- 23
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I Corinthians 3:18-19 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.
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A. Foolishness comes from worldly wisdom and is self-deceiving
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I Corinthians 3:19-21 For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” So then let no one boast in men.
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B. Humility, teachability, and dependence on God and His revealed wisdom are essential to the Christian life
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"He he knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool, avoid him. He that knows not and knows that he knows not is wise, teach him."
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I Corinthians 3:21-23 For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
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C. Divine wisdom comes from God and is God honoring
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2 Corinthians 4:5-6 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
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Ephesians 1:9-12 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth...
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...In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
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John 17:1-2 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.
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I Corinthians 3:21-23 For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
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