The Gospel Lived In The Church

READ: 1 Corinthians 3

True Spiritual Maturity is seen in how we live amongst one another. - John 13:34-35

- 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 - “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual (governed by the Spirit) people, but as people of the flesh, (worldly, sinful) as infants (childish, untaught, unskilled) in Christ. 2 I fed (offer water, teaching easy to understand) you with milk, (simple truths) not solid food, (that which delights and truly satisfies the mind) for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

All of God’s people are one in Christ; no one is more valued than the other. - Galatians 3:28

- 1 Corinthians 3:4-9 - “For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not being merely human? ...6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ...9 For we are God's fellow workers. (co-laborer, associate, helper) You are God's field, (cultivated field, farm land) God's building.” (structure, His temple)

God will not only judge our lives lived in service but especially on how we work, care, and guard His church, His people. - Galatians 6:10

- 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 - “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ...16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Since all things concern God’s people, we must become fools so that we may become wise. Wisdom is to be skilled in the ways of God. - Ephesians 5:15-17

- 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 - “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ...21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (all things concern you) ...all are yours, (all concern you) 23 and you are Christ's, (you are in Christ) and Christ is God's. (Christ is God)