Three-Alarm Church Fire

If God’s people would, please
take your Bibles and turn to Acts chapter 19, Acts 19. As we left off last week, Paul
had just completed his second missionary journey. He paused
for an undetermined or unspecified amount of time in Antioch, Syria,
probably ministering, possibly resting, no doubt praying and
encouraging the brethren there. And then suddenly, without any
fanfare at all, he embarks on his third missionary journey.
Chapter 18 verses 22 provided us that transitional narrative,
but now as we open up into Acts chapter 19, Luke resumes his
lively chronicle of Paul’s great missionary work. Paul is eager
to fulfill his tentative promise to the Ephesian assembly. As he uttered it, it went something
like this, I will return to you if God wills. There is no slight
undertaking standing in the way, however. Paul has to travel nearly
750 miles in order to fulfill his promise. And along the way,
he would likely have visited not only churches, but individual
believers along the way, beginning with his hometown of Tarsus and
then to Derbe and Lystra and Iconium, all of which he had
ministered. But even Luke himself seems to
be almost eager to place Paul in Ephesus. Paul has longed to
serve there and Luke condenses his entire trip into a single
sentence. Look at verse one of chapter
19. Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus.
That’s it. Now, for our purposes this morning, as we glide into
chapter 19, we’re only going to take an overview of this chapter. We simply can’t and therefore
won’t take the time to interact and really enjoy all of the amazing
detail here in chapter 19. I only am going to do an introductory
overview to Paul’s ministry efforts in the region of Ephesus. We
have a purpose in doing so, a greater purpose. But like I say, I only
want to observe the general results of Paul’s ministry there. And
so if you’re in chapter 19, look again at verse one. It happened
that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper
country and came to Ephesus and found some disciples. Verse seven
would go on to tell us that it was about 12 men. If you would
jump down all the way to verse eight, Luke continues his overview,
general overview of this ministry. In verse 80 says, he entered
the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months,
reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But
when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil
of the way before the people, he withdrew from them and took
away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years
so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both
Jews and Greeks. God was performing extraordinary
miracles by the hands of Paul. And Luke’s overview resumes in
verse 17. This, these extraordinary miracles
became known to all, both Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus,
and fear fell upon them all. And the name of the Lord Jesus
was being magnified. And then if you would, jump down
to Luke’s final summary statement, beginning in verse 20. So the
word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Now,
after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to
go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and
Achaia, saying, after I have been there, I must also see Rome. And having sent into Macedonia
two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he
himself stayed in Asia for a while. As I suggested, we’re just doing
an overview of Paul’s ministry in the region of Ephesus. But
even as I read that smattering of verses, you’re probably wondering,
what in the world am I going to get out of this in order to
make it a substantial meal for God’s people? We’ll get there.
And I just pray that you would be patient with me. In verse
one, he begins this introductory overview, and as we saw in closing
last week, by the time Paul returns to Ephesus, Apollos has already
had his theology corrected and has been dispatched to Corinth,
where Paul had planted a church. Paul was eager to finally get
to spend some time in the bustling city of Ephesus, one of the busiest
cities in Western Asia. But the beginnings of Paul’s
work there in Ephesus were very small. If you’re in Acts 19.1,
Paul, it just says, simply found some disciples. But God had done
his work there. God’s word was being effectual,
and those who had heard believed and had begun to grow in their
faith. There is a great season of ministry
awaiting Paul in this region that is recorded in these chapters,
chapters 19 and 20. We know that Paul stayed and
labored in this region because Acts 19.22 says that he did so
for a while. Relatively undefined there, but
this time in Ephesus, he would have a long and rich ministry
in that region. As verse 20 tells us, the word
of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Jump down, if
you would, to verse 8. Just a few comments there as
well. There in verse 8, as was his
practice, we see that Paul begins proclaiming the gospel in the
synagogue, that is, to the Jews primarily. And this lasted a
mere 90 days this time. 90 days was all it took for the
shine to wear off of Paul’s wonderful message to the Jews. They hardened
their hearts, Luke records, and they hardened them rapidly. But
it got worse. It wasn’t enough for them to
personally reject the good news of salvation. They made a personal
effort to make such a scene so as to dissuade others from even
considering the claims of Christ. In their stubbornness, their
hearts gave way to slander, slander of Paul with the goal of turning
others away from him. Well, Paul couldn’t set up a
ministry in a situation like that. Luke records it this way,
they were speaking evil of the way, that is the way of Christianity. This label is used about a half
a dozen different times in the book of Acts, as you know, and
it appears to have been a friendly, familiar way of referring to
Christianity, probably a shortened version of the way of truth. Well, Rather than battle against
these enemies of the gospel, Paul again withdrew, verse 9,
he withdrew from the Jews, but he took the new believers, the
disciples of Christ, with him. He had done the same thing at
Pisidian, Antioch. He did the same thing at Corinth.
And just as in Corinth, he took up an alternate place to preach. the available space in a secular
school, the school of Tyrannus, about which we know nothing.
There is, however, a remarkable note that was preserved in an
ancient document that said that Paul was able to use the building
from the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. God had miraculously
provided. All Paul needed in order to get
a ministry firmly established was some space, right? As a church, we know this drill,
don’t we? At least you’ve heard the story. We started in a living
room. And from the living room, we went into a school. And then
for 14 years, we were hosted by a gracious church that just
happened to be in this building. Well, such as the course of church
planting. And in that sense, we are in
good company with Paul. Suddenly though, whereas Luke
usually gives a very tight timeline, suddenly he backs away and gives
us a very broad overview in a single sentence. Look at verse 10. The
time span of this overview was two years. And Paul’s great work
was conducted far and wide in those two years, not just in
the city of Ephesus, but in the entire region of Ephesus. So
that he says, all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord.
That’s a grand statement. Paul was very hard at work. And
if you recall, when he finally bade farewell to the elders of
the Ephesian churches in Acts 20, turn over to Acts 20 if you
would, just one page to your right probably. In Acts 20, he
called the elders there to remember his faithful and tireless efforts. Look at verse 18. When they had
come to him, he said to them, you yourselves know from the
first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the
whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears
and with trials, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews. how I did not shrink from declaring
to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and
from house to house, solemnly testifying both to Jews and Greeks
of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul was busy. Paul was laboring in the Word. Back, if you would, to chapter
19, and as you flip, jump down to verse 17 for yet another continuing
portion of this summary statement by Luke. Verse 17, this, that
is these remarkable miracles, became known to all, both Jews
and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus. And fear fell upon them all,
and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. And so God
is using Paul mightily in the spread of the gospel and in this
vast region which he’s ministering. The grand scope of his travels
would have included not only Colossae in the far east, but
also in the area nearer to Ephesus, the region, if you will, encompassing
a beautiful string of pearls that began with Ephesus and then
north to a city named Smyrna, some 50 miles to the north, and
another 50 miles to Pergamum, Think of the Front Range, Denver,
and then the cities ultimately culminating in Fort Collins.
And then the remainder of that string, four cities in a row
sweeping southeasterly from north to south. Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia,
Laodicea. You would know them if they sound
familiar to you as the churches mentioned in Revelation. And
so we begin to get a grasp on what a mighty work in which Paul
is engaged and with God is using Paul. And God was augmenting
his preaching, giving him opportunity by way of these extraordinary
miracles, verse 11, that he was doing through Paul. And even
sometimes though the miracles were associated with Paul, Paul
didn’t even have to be present. The result in verse 17 tells
us that there was great fear, reverence for God, glorying and
praising God and the Lord Jesus Christ. And so finally jump down,
if you would, to verse 20 for the culmination of Luke’s overview. You’re wondering, what am I going
to do with the rest of my time? Well, I’ll figure something out. Verse 20, so the word of the
Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Now, after these
things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem.
And after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying,
after I have been there, I must also see Rome. And having sent
into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and
Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. And so Luke
sets forth one final summary here beginning in verse 20, a
statement which now is easily affirmed by even the most critical
reader. The word of the Lord was growing
mightily and prevailing. And given that firm foundation,
God has allowed him to establish the churches in Asia, the region
of Ephesus. He made his intentions known
to God and to others that he wanted to make a swing through
Europe, Macedonia, and Achaia, ultimately heading for Jerusalem.
And then, if the Lord willed, he would proceed on to Rome as
he had long desired to do. Well, they need to collect a
monetary donation, a gift, from all of the churches that was
ultimately to be given to the Jerusalem church. That church
was in the midst of a drought-caused famine. Paul wanted to provide
that church made up of largely Jewish converts with a sustaining
gift from the churches made up of largely Gentile converts. It was a goodwill gesture designed
as such. But even as noble a gesture as
that was, the Spirit even still was guiding Paul, adjusting his
plans accordingly, And Paul sends two of his workers in the gospel,
Timothy and Erastus, on ahead of him. Timothy would have been
well known to these churches in Macedonia and warmly welcomed. He was a great choice as an emissary
for Paul, and yet for reasons that Luke doesn’t identify, and
perhaps reasons yet unknown to Paul himself, he lags behind. Luke says, for a while. Perhaps Paul sighed a great sigh
that at least he had faithful men to whom he could delegate
such precious responsibilities. And as I said, we don’t know
exactly what delayed Paul’s departure from Macedonia, what he purposed
to accomplish in his friend’s absence, But as so often is the
case in ministry, God is the one who fills the servant’s plate
with responsibilities. Such is the case on this occasion.
For it turns out that for all this great success that Paul
was experiencing there in the region of Ephesus, he suddenly
began to receive some distressing news from his little church plant. in Corinth. It may have started
slowly, some rumblings, some unconfirmed rumors and the like,
but the reports began to accumulate and independently confirm one
another. Sadly, it seemed that these reports,
these early reports were legitimate. There was truth to them after
all. All indications were that if this infant church, which
was so precious in God’s eyes, had not already split, it was
well on its way. There were factions that had
developed. And it seemed that everyone had begun to choose
sides, to make matters worse, the factions centered upon personalities,
each one aligning themselves with this leader or that leader,
this teacher or that teacher, some aligned with Paul, some
aligned with Apollos, some aligned with Peter, and the purists with
Christ alone. Even though none of these earthly
leaders supported and encouraged this kind of a following, the
division was real, and it was growing. The information shared
with Paul was so disappointing, so dreadful, so destructive,
and so contrary to everything that Paul desired for his growing
church that he must confront it, and he would. in time, but this would be a
process. There was a cycle, if you will,
a series of revelations, information about Corinth that Paul would
receive, followed by his response. We don’t know the precise order
of these things, but we do know that there were these series,
these elements that all fed into his information pool, at least
six such events. occasions where Paul received
news from or about the church in Corinth. We know for certain
that he received one direct report from a woman named Chloe’s household,
whether from her children or from her servants. We know that
Paul eventually received a delegation from Corinth, likely bringing
news to him as well. We also know that at some point,
The Corinthian church wrote Paul a note, a letter, seeking his
counsel. We know that Paul also must have
written at least a brief note to the Corinthian church. That
particular letter is now lost to eternity. We know that it’s
also very likely that the situation was such a concern to the apostle
that he paid a brief visit to the troubled little church. And
again, as I said, we can’t fix an exact order on these events,
but we know the end result was Paul was seriously concerned,
burdened for this church. This is what I would suggest
as a plausible order of those events, very briefly. The cycle
of events regarding Paul and the Corinthian church, it would
go something like this. Paul hears rumblings of worldliness
in the church that causes great distress. The kind of information
in life swirls about constantly, doesn’t it? It swirls about like
an informational dust devil. There’s an endless stream of
this kind of stuff, information and gossip and news and reports
and ideas and anecdotes. And often we don’t know what
to make of it, whether it’s true or false. It’s just stories,
information, news, unconfirmed and many times unverifiable,
just swirling about. And so while it probably got
Paul’s attention, I don’t believe that it moved him. But eventually
Paul makes an urgent visit to Corinth. Maybe the news had begun
to accumulate. This idea of a short visit by
Paul is really the result of some historical detective work
over the centuries. There are no indications at all
in the book of Acts that Paul visited Corinth even briefly.
For whatever reason, Luke chose not to speak of it, but when
Paul writes to the Corinthians For our, what we have as Second
Corinthians, he makes mention of several visits. And not only
he mentions them, but he puts them in context and even counts
them. Sometime between the time when
Paul departed from Corinth, after a great season of ministry, 18
months, and the time that he writes First Corinthians, he
must have visited this church. If you would turn to 2 Corinthians
for just a moment. There must have been a visit
because Paul tells us as much. And if you’re turning, please
turn to 2 Corinthians 2. This first note admittedly is
somewhat cryptic, but I think you’ll begin to get the gist.
In 2 Corinthians 2, verse 1, Paul says, I determined this
for my own sake that I would not come to you in sorrow again. Well, his time of ministry there
that we observed in Acts 18 was not a season of sorrow. And so
that points us to a ministry, an opportunity that Paul took
upon himself to visit that city where it was sorrowful. Near
the end of the letter, turn over to chapter 12, he alludes to
this painful visit again. Chapter 12, verse 21, where Paul says, I am afraid
that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you.
He was afraid that their sin would have grown and magnified.
And he again is alluding to that second painful visit. Because
of that visit, he is fearful of making a third, which is exactly
what he tells us. Just nudge your way up the page
a bit to verse 14. Verse 14, he forecasts when he
says, here for the third time I am coming to you. And he echoes
that same statement in chapter 13, verse one. So we don’t know
how successful this visit was yet, but we do believe that Paul
dropped in on the church of Corinth out of concern for the reports
that he had been hearing. That isn’t surprising to us that
Paul, given his affection for the church of Corinth and his
high regard for the gospel, In fact, it’s reasonable to think
that Paul would have visited during his time in Ephesus. It’s almost unreasonable to think
that he would not have if he heard of problems. And so with
this information, we draw our conclusion that Paul made a brief
visit to Corinth. And evidently this visit was
not pleasant. It wasn’t pleasant for Paul and
it wasn’t pleasant for the Corinthian church. It was a painful, sorrowful
visit. Well, when Paul realized that
that visit didn’t bear fruit, having received word of additional
difficulties, Paul writes a short letter, a letter which is now
lost. Perhaps his brief visit wasn’t
very effective at all. Perhaps sin was more deeply embedded
in the hearts of the Corinthians than even he realized. Perhaps
the Corinthians misunderstood Paul’s graciousness for tolerance
of their permissiveness of sin and the influences of their culture.
And instead of the church influencing the world, the world was influencing
the church. This was a dire situation. Paul
realized that stronger measures must be employed. A verbal correction
was necessary. And so Paul writes this now missing
letter. We don’t know what else Paul
might have addressed in this letter, but we do know that he
addressed the issue of abstaining both from immorality and immoral
individuals. How do we know this? Paul tells
us, please turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 5. Paul hears of a misunderstanding
that is so terrible he has to correct it. And in 1 Corinthians
chapter 5, Paul corrects his previous statements or their
misunderstanding of them. Look down at verse 9. When Paul
says, I wrote you in my letter. Now you’re reading first Corinthians.
So when he refers to another letter, that must be first Corinthians
making this second Corinthians. Don’t panic. I wrote you in my
letter not to associate with immoral people. I did not at
all mean with the immoral people of this world or with covetous
or swindlers or idolaters, for then you would have to go out
of the world. It’s partly why God leaves us here to begin with.
So somewhere along the line, Paul had written to the Corinthian
church in a letter that is now lost. And I know that this idea
complicates things in our mind a bit. I know that because it
makes our 1st Corinthians actually 2nd Corinthians and our 2nd Corinthians
at least 3rd Corinthians because there may have been yet another
fourth letter. Well, not to fret. In God’s good
providence, the other letter or letters did not survive. They’re
lost to eternity and they’re not important except for the
knowledge of this misunderstanding. While this letter is lost to
eternity, we know its content. Among the reports that Paul received,
whether from Chloe or a delegation or the Corinthians themselves,
evidently there was a significant misinterpretation of Paul’s instructions,
and it was floating all around the Corinthian church. So great
was their misunderstanding, and he had to correct it in this
letter. They had begun withdrawing from
interaction with unbelievers, implementing a total abstinence
and avoidance of them. Well, Paul gets some additional
news. He receives a difficult report
from a lady named Chloe and her household. Probably not long
after Paul’s painful visit to Corinth, he sends Timothy and
Erastus by way of Macedonia. We just read about that in 1922. No sooner are they dispatched,
Paul receives Chloe’s report. This must have been a sister
in Christ whom Paul knew from his time in Corinth, who took
it upon herself to provide this distressing news about their
little church. For this, Please turn back to
1 Corinthians and to chapter 1, which verses we just read
a moment ago. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. And look at verse 10. Now I exhort
you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that
you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s
people, that there are quarrels among you. There may have been
more to Chloe’s report, the sin issues in the church, But we
do know for sure that she reported about the disunity in that church. And it’s entirely possible that
she and her household had taken up one of the sides. Whether
she was completely independent or fully engaged in one of the
factions, we don’t know. The bottom line was that there
was disunity in the Church of Corinth, and it was so bad that
Chloe believed that she had to inform This planter of the church,
factions had formed, sides were being taken, lines were being
drawn. She had to tell Paul. But she
wasn’t the only one bringing news from Corinth because ultimately
Paul receives a delegation. Several men from Corinth come
who likely confirm and even add to the news that he’s already
received. Sometime after Chloe left, Paul
receives even more visitors from Corinth, this delegation of men. And it’s not surprising if you
think of the fact that this is basically a church split in progress. The sacred fabric of Christian
fellowship is already tearing. In that same letter of 1 Corinthians,
if you’re still there, please turn to the very end of that
epistle, chapter 16. Let’s take a look at this group
of would-be peacemakers that paid a visit to Paul. 1 Corinthians
16 and jump down to verse 15. Now, I urge you, brethren, you
know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits
of Achaia. In fact, Paul baptized him. that they have devoted themselves
for ministry to the saints, that you be in subjection to such
men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. I rejoice
over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus,
because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. They
have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, acknowledge
such men. So there’s this delegation, Stephanos,
Fortunatus, Achaicus, faithful men who come to Paul. Stephanos
is very special to Paul. He baptized him. He’s one of
the first ones in Corinth who responded to the gospel. The
others’ backgrounds are completely obscured. One of the main reasons
for visiting Paul, however, was to bring Paul some kind of financial
gift. Whether it was for his own ministry
support, because he says it supplied what was lacking on their part,
or whether this gift was to contribute to the saints in Jerusalem, we
don’t know, but it was incomplete. That much we do know. These men
would also have brought certain news from home on the status
of the church. But in addition to Chloe and
in addition to this delegation, Paul receives another means of
communication, this time a letter from the Corinthians. And it’s complete with doctrinal
questions. We don’t know whether the letter
might have even been brought by the delegation or Chloe herself,
or whether it was sent to Paul by some other means, a messenger.
In addition to Paul visiting and writing them, we know the
church had written to Paul, and we know that it must have contained
this series of questions. I’ll share more with you in a
moment about why I say that. But the last piece of information
that Paul receives during the same time Whether part of the
delegation officially or independent of them, Apollos also pays a
visit to Ephesus. You know this, brother. We met
him last week. His name is Apollos. If you’re
still in 1 Corinthians 16, glance down at verse 12. But concerning Apollos, our brother,
I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren. It
was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when
he has opportunity. So Apollos has come to Ephesus
as well, seeking Paul, whether for advice or to echo the concerns
that he and others have about what’s going on in Corinth. He’s
faithfully serving in Corinth, all the while beset, however,
with sin issues in the church and even factiousness. Perhaps
he needed a summit with Paul. complete with prayer for the
church. It’s also clear that Paul, Apollos rather, is there
with Paul at the writing of 1 Corinthians, perhaps even collaborating with
them. But now the meetings are over and Paul, it seems, is sending
Apollos back with these brothers. And so it’s against that backdrop. the news, and the visits, and
the notes, and the reports, and the delegations, all of it, that’s
what finally prompts Paul to write the Corinthians a letter. As bad as things are in Corinth,
however, Paul can’t leave. Not now. His ministry in Ephesus
is indeed drawing to a close and soon he purposes to travel
back to check on the Macedonian churches and ultimately head
to Corinth, but he can’t leave now. If you’re still in chapter 16,
glance down at verses eight and nine. where he tells them, I will remain
in Ephesus until Pentecost for a wide door for effective service
has opened to me. And there are many adversaries.
He explains to the Corinthians that it was very evident that
God was at work through him. He tells them that a wide door
for effective service has been opened to him. But the situation
in Corinth must be dealt with. And we should acknowledge here,
it had to be Paul. It had to be Paul who would do
it. Timothy, even though he had familiarity with them, he was
there when the church was planted, he was far too young, far too
timid. He lacked the credibility and
the authority to address so momentous a subject as a church split. Aquila and Priscilla were too
politically connected and seemed to lack the kind of strength
and influence that it would have required. Apollos, too, certainly
an erudite speaker and a knowledgeable brother, but he was far too new
to the Corinthians to carry any universal clout among them. It
had to be Paul. It had to be Paul who should
address them, and after all, it was through his own blood,
sweat, and tears that the church was planted. You might remember
that as he wrote to the Thessalonians, he cared for his churches like
a nursing mother tenderly cares for her children. It had to be
Paul. The situation before them called
not for polished preaching anyway, like a Paulist might render.
It called for the rare wisdom that could deliver a sharp rebuke
coupled with unambiguous teaching. that would liberate this church
from the tentacles of sure ruin. And so, as God himself would
have it, Paul commences to write the Corinthian church another
letter, a longer letter, a much more detailed, more confrontational
letter, what we know of as Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. It’s possible that Once completed,
Paul sent this epistle back with the delegation from the church.
And the reasons for the writing of the epistle are now very obvious,
aren’t they? There are significant sin issues
that are becoming commonplace in the church. And the church
itself had substantial doctrinal questions of their own. In addition
to division and turmoil, sinful behavior, doctrinal questions,
the Corinthians still had not followed through on their so-called
faith promise gift, that monetary gift that was destined for the
Jerusalem church. And while the Corinthians had
committed to participate, they had yet to honor their word.
Any of these issues alone would have been cause for Paul to write. Collectively, however, the need
was overwhelming. And so Paul takes up his pen
to write what we now possess as First Corinthians, a treatise
that will impact the church, not just in Corinth, but the
church down to our day. In this epistle, the breadth
alone of that which Paul addresses is sweeping in its scope by far
the most diverse of all of Paul’s epistles, but as broad as the
scope of his subjects, there is an equal measure of depth
to 1 Corinthians, sufficient to meet the church and its needs
of any era. Paul hides here no deformity,
no disfigurement in the church. Even their desecration of the
Lord’s table is there for all to witness. his rebuke, as well
as their toleration of gross sins and peevish bickering, he
allows the Corinthians, for the sake of all of God’s heritage,
to be seen in all of their shameless unloveliness. Because he, as
well as Christ himself, extends to them the grace of yet greater
sanctification. One faithful pastor and historian
declared that Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians in reference
to all practical matters in the establishment of the church among
the heathen and its conduct in Christian lands are among the
most important portions of the word of God. Here in this letter, Paul will
address the unseemly divisions threatening the church, the discipline
issues of the church, the heathen practices that were corrupting
the purity of Christ’s fellowship, the sinful conduct of believers
in full view of unbelievers, idolatry and lawsuits, and then
there were matters internal to the church, chaos over the use
of God-given gifts, even gluttonous disregard of others at the Lord’s
table. And remember that little Q&A
that I suggested the Corinthians had sent to Paul? That’s here
too. Remember I suggested to you that their little note to
Paul contained a list of questions? Paul tells us as he systematically
begins to work through their list, please turn to chapter
seven if you would. First Corinthians chapter seven,
look at verse one. Now concerning the things about
which you wrote, Here’s what it seems like Paul begins to
do. It’s as if he has this letter, at least the list of the questions,
right in front of him. And he begins to reply to them
one right after the other. He starts here in 1 Corinthians
7, but look down at 7.25. Now concerning virgins, unmarried
daughters, look at chapter 8, verse 1. Now concerning things sacrificed
to idols, look at chapter 12, verse 1. Now concerning spiritual gifts,
look at chapter 16, verse 1. Now concerning the collection
for all the saints. Paul then in writing this letter
is responding, responding to news of division, responding
to their financial gift. He’s responding to their own
plentiful questions about ministry and doctrine and life. Here in
the epistle to the Corinthians, as much as any other epistle,
we see the richness of Paul’s pastoral heart. Here we have
the truest test of a shepherd, great adversity. But his love
for Christ and his church, they meet together in a gracious harmony. Here, this faithful shepherd
has to guard and guide his troubled flock, lest the church be destroyed
and the flock be scattered and devoured by the world. When writing
to the Corinthians in his second letter to them, reviewing all
the personal abuses that he had suffered, Among all the sordid
list of cruelties, beatings and stonings and perils and hardships,
he places the burden of the daily pressure of concern for all the
churches as foremost. And so God’s people here at PBC might
well be wondering. Why should we study this letter? Or why now? Like Corinth, we too bear the
marks of division. Like Corinth, we too are heavenly
influenced by our culture. Like Corinth, we too are yet
unsanctified and yet unprepared for glory. Like Corinth, we too
are in need of instruction. In my studies this past several
weeks, I came across one quote in particular that stood out. It stood out because it seemed
to capture a very important observation. It answers the questions, why
us, why now? And it did so better than anything
else that I read. But before I read it, I want
you to know that this historian’s comments were published in 1911, more than 100 years ago. Consider his thoughts. In these
cities, with their mobile, eager, and excitable populations, crazes
of some kind are not only a common feature, but almost a social
necessity. There must be something or somebody
to rave about and either to applaud or denounce in order to give
zest to life. This craving naturally generates
cliques and parties consisting of those who approve and those
who disapprove of some new pursuits or persons. The pursuits of the
persons may be of trifling importance. That matters little. What is
wanted is something to dispute about and take sides about. Study of first Corinthians is
for us and it will be for us for some time. But in closing, I want to ask
you a question. Paul was so concerned for the
Corinthian church that even in the midst of a very fruitful
season of ministry, he not only wrote them a note, but he broke
away to pay a special visit to them, even if short. And then
when that bore no fruit, given the sustained reports about his
struggling church, he wrote not one, but two epic letters to
the Corinthian church. He knew that their sinful condition
was not only dishonoring to their savior, their heavenly father,
it was dreadful witness to a watching world. And if their sinful ways
were not checked, if they were not brought to repentance and
to reform and to restoration, This church would surely be brought
to naught in no time. And so I want to ask you a question. Do you love your brother or sister
enough? That if you see them living contrary
to the clear teaching of Christ. To lovingly confront them in
their sin. Paul traversed an ocean and nearly
400 miles for a journey that took him several days each way
just to address the sin of his children and the faith. Sometimes
I think we wouldn’t even cross the street to do likewise. Paul did so even though an entire
body of believers awaited him, some who were hostile to him.
And yet sometimes we won’t even address a single individual.
This is not a duty assigned to elders exclusively. The Bible
calls any believer, any Christian who believes and cares for a
wayward individual. This is the brotherly responsibility
of all Christians. It’s a friend, a true friend
who will come to a brother, come alongside the brother to show
him or her their sin. Such a person is the best of
friends, not an enemy. Such a person loves and cares
for the soul of his friend. We should draw near to a sinner
so as to turn them away from sin and back to God in the way
of righteousness. Paul in Galatians 6, 1 said it
well, brethren, if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who
are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness. And so Paul, in closing there,
identifies the attitude with which we go. It’s not done harshly. It’s not done in a way that’s
uninformed or rash. It’s not done without knowledge.
It’s not done hypocritically. But having already dealt with
your own sin, you go humbly and graciously and sweetly and biblically. and prayerfully. Would you examine
your heart before the Lord? Our merciful God, we thank you
for your servant Paul’s example. That as he heard of these things,
he didn’t fly off the handle. He wasn’t rash. But he began to measure his steps
and his words carefully. And then as the reports multiplied
and clarified and verified what it was he was hearing, he placed
himself as a tool in your sovereign hand. And he wrote one of the
most powerful letters ever written. God, give us grace as we come
before this letter, as this faithful friend confronts us. Give us
hearts to examine our own deeds, our own habits, our own attitudes,
and may God be pleased to correct and sanctify each one of us. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray,
amen.