The Church When The Church Divides Ebenezer Baptist

The Church When The Church Divides Ebenezer Baptist Church 5. 17. 20

1. The Problem of Division: The word was spreading (I Cor. 1: 11; 11: 18) • Paul heard it(a delegation was sent to Ephesus) 2 weeks travel minimum. • Several people were talking about it in the church-likely the whole church. • Several people outside the church no doubt knew about the conflict.

• • • The reputation of the church was in danger in the community. Gossip no doubt arose its ugly head. The church was in danger of being weakened. The weaker believers in the church would be hindered. Families were at odds.

• • The Word of God and the Holy Spirit were not being heeded (disobedience) Division stemming from strife is clearly addressed (Prov. 6: 16 -19; Gal. 5: 19 -26; II Tim. 2: 14 -26)

2. The Problem of Division: The people were carnal (I Cor. 3: 1 ff) • Sarkikos=“fleshly” • These were believers who had slipped into carnal thinking, attitudes and actions. • Lack of humility-it had become about the personality rather than Christ.

• “What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? ” James 4: 1(AMP)

• • The are personal carnal wars raging within us that if not brought under submission to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will lead to interpersonal carnal war. Because we tend to be in the selfish, stubborn and unsatisfied in the flesh.

3. The Solution for Division: The Right Upward Focus (I Cor. 1: 1 -23) • I beseech you…how? In Christ • Christ focus(17 x in 23 verses) • Preach Christ(the gospel) if we will focus on making disciples a lot of other things would quickly fade. (we have too much time on our hands)

• The great treatise on being Christ’s Ambassadors(II Cor. 5)-if we are quarreling internally how are we going to have an external influence?

4. The Solution for Division: The Right Inward Focus (I Cor. 1: 10) • We need the right thinking and the right speaking and right theology. • We need to be scripture saturated and have the mind of Christ. • Self centered (Matt. 15: 1 -20) • Christ centered (Phil 2: 1 -16, 4: 4 -9)

5. The Solution for Division: The Right Outward Focus: Love One Another (I Cor. 1: 13) • We are God’s mouthpiece to the world by the love we show to one another (Jn. 13: 34 -35) • Our love for one another is indicated in our fruitfulness (Jn. 15: 1 -17)

• • We should be able to lovingly disagree without becoming carnal. We are ignorant of God if we do not love one another (I Jn. 4: 7 -21)