• Grow
• Live unlike “mere humanity”
• Team Oneness / Unity
• God’s Coworkers
• God’s Field
• God’s Building

That’s what I wrote down yesterday morning as reading this passage in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church.

Before this, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul said, the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually 15 the spiritual person however, can… 16 … we have the mind of Christ

Paul is setting expectations for the Child of God, reborn through God’s grace, received by faith.

Paul then states in 13:1, I’m not able to speak as spiritual but as flesh, (not because they aren’t spiritual, but) because you are babies in Christ.

Praise God they are IN Christ, as that IS the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27)

But Paul has expectations, or he wouldn’t write. Their condition was worldly – sarkiko = physical, material… and their state is evident since there is envy and strife. James 3:14 spoke similarly – if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart… Bitterness and Selfishness lead to Envy and Strife – the result of misplaced ambition. That’s why Paul told Titus, avoid foolish debates… disputes… they are unprofitable and worthless (Titus 3:9)

Ok – Paul has expectations – Maybe you have said to your children, or your parents said to you, “In THIS house, we don’t do that…” or “Grow up”.

Paul says, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans. I like this CSB rendering, “behaving” is peripeteo = to walk about in a manner of … All men may act a certain way, but there are greater expectations for the People of God – the Children of God… not mere humans.

I’m thinking of much of the social media climate for Christians today… So Paul gives several instructions… let me offer them up for a minute and move on…

• Grow Up – they in v4 had been boasting over who their salvation “father” was – Apollos or Paul… are you not acting like mere humans? Again, there is an expectation – a lot longtime, learned, leading Christians even need still to Grow Up, Stop acting like “the world” – “mere humans” and be more Spiritual / Truly Godly
• Live Differently – not like “mere humanity”. If our reactions are “natural” we need to check WHICH nature it comes from… flesh or spirit. Think of Paul in Romans 7, or 2 Corinthians 10:5 – take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
• Team Oneness / Unity of Purpose – what is Apollo? What is Paul? they are just servants (diakonos = servants ministers). That means they work FOR someone else, they just serve. They are not the END for following, just a means to the end of the gospel. Don’t misplace “ownership” – I belong to…Apollos/Paul. No we belong to Christ and his service. v5 each has the role the Lord has given.
  • I planted
  • Apollos watered
  • Neither is ANYTHING – Only God gave Growth
  • he who plants / waters are ONE = equal in status, one in purpose

We all have a purpose, a position, but on this team, if my name is on the back of the jersey, it doesn’t really matter, what matters is what’s on the Front. We can’t all have the same job or position, but together we have the purpose of the work of Christ, in that we are ONE. We all have the Grace Gift of Salvation, which we don’t deserve… and then we all have the Grace Positions given by God in the work… and don’t worry each will receive reward

• Team Purpose
  • God’s Co-workers – together we work
  • God’s Field – that word means cultivated land
  • God’s Building – house, building, edification

We are part of a team, to work together. If I’m not working, fulfilling my expectation, the team suffers

If my field is not broken, planted, prepared, I cannot produce; and production is the purpose of the field

If there is not building going up… I’m not living up to the expectations. What is the purpose of a building? Protection, Provision, Postured for People.

I COULD go on and one, but notice

• One Lays a foundation
• another builds on it
• each one is careful – blepo = see, look, notice
• guarding how – what we do DOES matter
• as builders – Only ONE foundation – Jesus Christ – it must be authentically Christ. Paul scolds them in 2 Corinthians 11:4 for allowing preaching another Jesus… different spirit… different gospel… what we do does matter
• As Farmers – I may plant, another may water, but GOD makes it pay off
• Give Care to How… use good material vv12-15 because we get what we put in… it will be revealed by fire … receive reward for what survives

Let’s Get to It… For Christ… Together for God’s Glory