July 27: I Corinthians 3:1-8

The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Measuring Spiritual Maturity and Spiritual Growth,

I Corinthians 3:1-8

1. Fleshly Maturity and Spiritual Infancy, I Corinthians 3:1-5

          A.      Milk versus solid food: Fleshly versus spiritual

          B.      Spiritual milk to address fleshly issues

          C.      Jealousy and strife over earthly leaders reflects spiritual immaturity

1. Planting, Watering and Growth: The Church as a Plant, I Corinthians 3:6-8

          A.      Paul planted - evangelized, taught, and organized the first believers

          B.      Apollos watered - nurtured and cultivated growth in the church

          C.      Neither Paul nor Apollos nor any other earthly leader deserves credit

          D.      Ultimately, God caused the growth so that all glory goes to God

 

 

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The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Measuring Spiritual Maturity and Spiritual Growth,

I Corinthians 3:1-8

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I.   Fleshly Maturity and Spiritual Infancy, I Corinthians 3:1-5

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A. Milk versus solid food: Fleshly versus spiritual

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I Corinthians 3:1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

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I Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

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Hebrews 5:11-12 ...you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

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I Corinthians 3:1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

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Hebrews 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

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Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

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Ephesians 4:12-13 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

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Ephesians 4:14-15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

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Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

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I Corinthians 3:2-3 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, for you are still fleshly...

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B. Spiritual milk to address fleshly issues

C. Jealousy and strife over earthly leaders reflects spiritual immaturity

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I Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

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I Corinthians 2:3 For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

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Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions...

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I Corinthians 2:4-5 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

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I Corinthians 2:6-7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

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II. Planting, Watering and Growth: The Church as a Plant, I Corinthians 3:6-8

A. Paul planted - evangelized, taught, and organized the first believers

B. Apollos watered - nurtured and cultivated growth in the church

C. Neither Paul nor Apollos nor any other earthly leader deserves credit

D. Ultimately, God caused the growth so that all glory goes to God

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I Corinthians 2:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

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