ROUTE 66 EP 052

Mike Blake opened with an overview of the New Testament’s structure to set the context for studying 1 Corinthians, emphasizing the necessity of rightly dividing the Word to avoid doctrinal errors and to apply Scripture correctly.

• The Gospels & Acts:

  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John present the “good news” of Jesus Christ.

  • Acts begins with the resurrection and documents the birth and expansion of the early church by the Holy Spirit. Some call Acts the “fifth gospel” because it bridges the Gospels and the Church’s mission.

• The Pauline Epistles:

  • From Romans to Philemon are letters by the Apostle Paul. These provide core doctrine for the Church Age.

  • Important distinction: All Scripture is written “for” us, but not all is written directly “to” us. The Pauline epistles are directly instructive for church doctrine.

• Transitional Books:

  • Matthew: Transitions from Old Testament Law under Israel to the inclusion of Gentiles; much occurs before Christ’s death and resurrection (pre-church age). Caution against building primary church doctrine from mid-Matthew.

  • Acts: A transitional historical account; “The Acts of the Apostles” records a unique, foundational period. Apostles were eyewitnesses of the resurrection; their office was temporary.

    • The pastor cautioned, “Danger, Will Robinson!” about building doctrine solely from Acts due to its transitional nature.

  • Hebrews: Another transitional book to be explored in future sermons.

• Doctrinal Foundation:

  • Romans as the “gateway to the New Testament,” laying out theology of salvation and Christian living after historical narratives.

  • The Pauline epistles supply both inspiration and doctrine for how the church should live.

• Dispensationalism:

  • Definition: God works in distinct periods (“dispensations”) throughout redemptive history.

  • Example: Contrast between life under the Law (Old Testament) and life in the church age after Christ.

  • Relevance to Revelation: When understood dispensationally, Revelation’s structure is clear and outlines periods leading to Christ’s second coming, including the Tribulation.

Introduction: Rightly Dividing the Word (First Corinthians Focus)

The pastor underscored the importance of correct interpretation and discipleship, noting Acts as a “dangerous book” if misused for doctrine due to its transitional nature.

• The Danger of Misinterpretation:

  • Without guidance, people may easily fall into heresy; many churches “believe strange things” by failing to rightly divide Scripture.

• The Importance of Discipleship:

  • God designed the Bible to be taught; the church prioritizes discipleship and robust teaching over brief inspiration.

• The Bible as Ultimate Authority:

  • The pastor’s challenge is “Bring your Bible.” Scripture—not personal experience—is the standard. The congregation is urged to hold the pastor accountable to the Bible.

The Transitional Nature of the Early Church

• Acts as History:

  • Acts 18 recounts Paul’s second missionary journey to Corinth to preach the gospel, make disciples, and plant a church.

• Romans as Foundation:

  • Provides doctrinal stability after the transitional events of Acts.

  • Clarifies the role of the Holy Spirit for the Church Age and affirms God’s ongoing plan for Israel.

The Church’s Mission: Planting Churches

The congregation actively participates in global church planting, continuing the mission seen in Acts.

• Kosovo: Planting through missionary Vinny.

• England: Church plant by Brian Clark; supported at $500 per month.

• Malawi: Support for John Mark Ziegler in one of the poorest regions; funds provided for roofs ($8,000) and personal support ($1,200).

  • Pastoral example: “Give us this day our daily bread” is real for families unsure of their next meal.

Part 1: Primary View of 1 Corinthians

First Corinthians addresses the “messiest, most messed up church” in the New Testament, revealing the collision of human carnality with God’s doctrine.

• The City of Corinth: Commerce and Culture

  • A major commercial hub with three harbors; a magnet for diverse people, religions, and cultures.

  • Dominant idolatry centered on the temple of Aphrodite (Roman Venus), funded by religious prostitution (over 1,000 female priests).

  • Corinth became globally known for “sex and pleasure.”

• Planting a Church in Darkness:

  • Paul intentionally went into darkness to plant a church—“light shines brightest in the darkness.”

  • Modern caution: Focus on facilities and debt can distract from mission.

  • Pastoral example: A church struggled to make a $9,000 monthly building payment; buildings can become business-like distractions.

• Founding of the Corinthian Church

  • Acts 18:1-3:

    • Context: Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers; works with them to support ministry.

  • Influence of Incomplete Doctrine

    • Acts 18:24-25:

      • Context: Apollos, eloquent and “mighty in the scriptures,” knew only “the baptism of John.”

      • Application: John’s baptism prepared people to meet Jesus; believer’s baptism comes after Christ’s death and resurrection. Corinth was caught between transitional phases.

The Church at Corinth: Experience vs. Scripture

• Principle: Your experience should never override Scripture.

• Modern Examples:

  • People reject church due to bad experiences (“hurt at church,” “rich hypocrites”). Experience becomes the lens, leading to skepticism.

• On Hypocrisy:

  • The church contains hypocrites—people who know right but sometimes fail. Expecting perfection is unrealistic. The church is for imperfect people.

Foundation in Acts 18: Discipleship and Early Converts

• Discipleship in Action: Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos

  • Acts 18:24-26:

    • Context: Apollos arrives with incomplete understanding; Aquila and Priscilla expound the way of God more perfectly.

  • What is Discipleship?

    • Guiding a new believer, still battling the flesh, to live spiritually through the completed Word of God.

• Early Converts in Corinth

  • Acts 18:4: Paul reasoned in the synagogue, persuading Jews and Greeks.

  • Acts 18:7: Justus, a Gentile worshiper of God, first convert; house adjacent to the synagogue.

  • Acts 18:8: Crispus, synagogue ruler, believed with his house; many Corinthians believed and were baptized.

    • On Infant Baptism:

      • Text does not state infant baptism; pattern is hearing, believing, then baptism.

      • Likely meaning: Crispus led his household—“So goes the leader, so goes the gang.”

• Leadership in the Home

  • A man’s role is spiritual leadership per Scripture. The aim is not mere “happiness” if it leads to carnality, but leading the family to serve the Lord and follow the Bible.

The People of Corinth: God’s Calling

• 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:

  • God chose the common and lowly to confound the wise and prevent fleshly boasting.

• The Problem of Name-Dropping:

  • Early conversions like Crispus led to factions (“I’m of Paul,” “I follow Apollos”), mirroring status-based judgments in modern culture.

Purpose of 1 Corinthians

• While in Ephesus, Paul received letters from Corinth (1 Corinthians 16) detailing serious problems.

• 1 Corinthians is a letter of rebuke and correction; nearly every chapter addresses errors.

• Irony of Spiritual Gifts:

  • Many build charismatic doctrine from 1 Corinthians 12–14, yet Paul wrote these chapters to correct misuse and misunderstanding.

• Root Problem:

  • Corinthians were not apostles yet tried to mimic apostolic signs and wonders; they elevated experience over Scripture.

• Key Word:

  • “Divisions” describes their state, fueled by lack of a completed Bible and reliance on experience.

Facts, Faith, and Feelings: The Foundation of Christian Living

• Facts:

  • Scripture is an unchanging foundation. Facts validate or correct emotions.

• Faith:

  • Faith must rest on biblical facts, not tradition or family heritage.

  • Pastoral example: Conversation with Mormon missionaries—offered to change beliefs if proven from Scripture; they refused reciprocal openness, showing faith not testable by Scripture.

• Feelings:

  • God-given but unreliable when detached from facts and faith.

  • Pastoral example: Emotional worship is valid when rooted in biblical truths; prayer—“God, kindle that fire that’s in me.”

• Danger of Emotion-Driven Living:

  • Applies to men and women; emotion without truth is dangerous.

  • Pastoral example: Youthful emotional intensity in football, lacking framework to steward feelings.

  • Encouragement for women: Emotions are not weakness; learn biblical facts to avoid being controlled by feelings. Community helps, but Scripture stabilizes.

Context of Corinth: The Spirit of the City vs. The Spirit of God

• The City of Corinth:

  • Wealthy port; immorality, sexual perversion, idol worship; success at any cost. “Man of Corinth” could mean successful or morally corrupt.

• The Church at Corinth:

  • The spirit of the city invaded the church. They became “the church of Corinth” rather than “the church of God at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

  • Lacked a complete foundation; relied on feelings and culture.

• The Solution:

  • The facts of the Gospel and the Spirit of Christianity must invade the city, homes, and lives. 1 Corinthians offers corrections to expel the city’s spirit from the church.

Chapter-by-Chapter Overview of Problems in 1 Corinthians

• Chapters 1–4: Division, Wisdom, and Carnality

  • Chapter 1: Divisions and favoritism (1 Corinthians 1:10-12). Allegiance must be to Christ.

  • Chapter 2: Intellectual pride—preferring human philosophy over God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

  • Chapter 3: Spiritual immaturity—“carnal,” unable to handle solid food.

  • Chapter 4: Judgmental attitudes—questioning Paul’s authority (1 Corinthians 4:5, 9).

• Chapters 5–6: Moral Issues

  • Chapter 5: Incest and sexual immorality; worst issue was toleration.

    • Application: Uphold God’s standards for sexuality in a perverse world.

  • Chapter 6: Lawsuits among believers; resorting to secular courts.

    • Application: Handle disputes within the church; only when rejecting God’s law should civil law apply.

• Chapters 7–10: Lifestyle and Liberty

  • Chapter 7: Confusion about marriage, singleness, sex; Scripture provides clarity for a broken culture.

  • Chapter 8: Idols and Christian liberty—meat sacrificed to idols.

    • Modern “gray areas”:

      • Corporate boycott questions (e.g., Procter & Gamble allegations).

      • Not going to Target for “Happy Holidays.”

      • Boycotting Starbucks for politics.

      • Refusing to eat out on Sundays.

      • Avoiding establishments serving alcohol.

    • Key point: If your pre-conversion worship hasn’t changed, question conversion. Corinthians tried to keep Christ and their old idols.

  • Chapter 9: Entitlement—Paul models surrendering rights for the gospel.

  • Chapter 10: Overconfidence and idolatry—Israel’s wilderness failures warn against presumption.

    • Application: We’re all equal at the foot of the cross; flee idolatry and believe change is possible.

• Chapter 11: Disrespectful Worship and the Lord’s Supper

  • Issues: Head coverings, abuse of communion; wealthy overeating and drunkenness—casual irreverence.

  • Application: Treat worship and communion seriously.

  • Pastoral example: Shaved mohawk and wore a suit for a funeral to show respect and avoid distraction.

• Chapter 12: Spiritual Elitism

  • Elevating tongues above other gifts created hierarchy.

  • Pastoral example: A “prophet” claiming extra-biblical visions—called a “charlatan” and a “liar”—later used “the spirit told me” to justify inappropriate conduct. Warning against abusing supposed spiritual authority.

• Chapter 13: Lovelessness

  • The “love chapter” confronts performative spirituality; gifts without love are empty.

• Chapter 14: Chaos in the Church

  • Corrects misuse of tongues and disorderly worship; Paul defines what tongues are not to restore order.

• Chapter 15: The Resurrection of Christ

  • Largest resurrection chapter; some denied future resurrection of believers.

  • Application: Resurrection is our victory—through Christ, we can change and overcome struggles.

• Chapter 16: Financial and Logistical Issues

  • Collection for suffering saints in Jerusalem—lost jobs for professing Christ.

  • Application: Give to meet needs; parallels church support for Malawi and local benevolence (e.g., roofs).

First Corinthians: Signs for the Jews (Cessationist Teaching)

The pastor contrasted artificiality of modern information (including AI) with the life-straightening power of the Bible. Clarity comes from immersion in Scripture, discipleship, and obedience.

• The Foundation of Faith

  • Ephesians 2:20:

    • Teaching: The church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”

  • Ephesians 4:11-12:

    • Teaching: God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers for perfecting the saints.

    • Apostles: Received direct revelation; their office ceased with their deaths.

    • Prophets: In the early church, foretold by revelation; today, “prophesy” means proclaim Scripture.

• Purpose of Sign Gifts

  • Hebrews 2:3-4:

    • Teaching: God confirmed the apostles’ message with signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit to validate the gospel.

• Cessationism vs. Continuationism

  • Cessationism: Sign gifts (tongues, healing) ceased with the apostles and completion of the New Testament; the pastor holds this view.

  • Continuationism: Belief that sign gifts continue.

  • Romans discusses gifts but notably omits tongues; Corinthians were preoccupied with sign gifts.

• The Gift of Tongues: Clarifications

  • Misconceptions addressed:

    • “Tongue of angels,” private prayer language, tongues as necessary for salvation, inviting the Spirit to “come into the room” when the Spirit already indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19).

  • “Tongue of angels”:

    • 1 Corinthians 13:1:

      • Analysis: Likely hyperbole—speaking every human and heavenly language is worthless without love. Angels in Scripture always speak human languages; no biblical example of an “angelic tongue.”

  • “Prayer language”:

    • Romans 8:26:

      • Analysis: The Spirit intercedes with “groanings which cannot be uttered.” If uttered, it contradicts the verse. This is every believer’s experience in weakness, not a special gift.

      • Pastoral question: Why did Jesus never pray in tongues if it were superior?

  • Biblical tongues:

    • Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 19:

      • Tongues are known human languages miraculously spoken to proclaim the gospel to foreigners.

    • A sign for unbelievers:

      • 1 Corinthians 1:22: “The Jews require a sign…”

      • 1 Corinthians 14:22: “Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not…”

      • Warning in 1 Corinthians 14: Incomprehensible tongues cause unbelievers to think you’re “mad.”

    • “Unknown” tongue:

      • 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 13:

        • Note: “Unknown” is italicized in the KJV—added for clarity; not defining a separate heavenly language.

• The Gift of Healing

  • God heals today; we should pray for healing.

  • No individual today possesses the apostolic gift of healing with 100% success, which validated the apostolic message (e.g., Peter’s shadow).

• Conclusion on Gifts:

  • Build beliefs on Scripture’s facts, not experiences or emotions.

  • Love brothers and sisters who disagree while holding firm to biblical teaching.

  • The primary characteristic of a Spirit-filled believer is being a faithful witness for Christ.

Main Theme: Pictures of Jesus—Christ is Our Lord

• 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:7-10, Chapter 5, Chapter 9, 1 Corinthians 15:57 reinforce that Christ is Lord.

• Who is God?

  • Jesus Christ is Lord; He is the supreme authority over all life. He has given us His mind in the Bible (1 Corinthians 2).

• Who Am I?

  • I am called to be a servant; He is the Lord. My opinions, ideas, and desires must submit to His authority.

• How Should I Live?

  • Stop relying on personal feelings or worldly wisdom (e.g., Google). Run every issue—idolatry, carnality, sexual struggles, marriage, chaos, opinions—through Scripture and ask, “What does God think?” Make Jesus Lord over every decision.

Key Applications and Pastoral Examples

1. Scripture over experience:

   • “Bring your Bible”; hold leaders accountable to the Word.

2. Discipleship:

   • Aquila and Priscilla modeling patient instruction of Apollos (Acts 18:24-26).

3. Leadership in the home:

   • Crispus’ household likely followed his leadership (Acts 18:8); spiritual headship matters.

4. Worship reverence:

   • Abuse of the Lord’s Supper corrected in 1 Corinthians 11; pastor’s funeral attire example underscores respect.

5. Emotional stewardship:

   • Feelings are good when anchored in facts; pastor’s worship prayer, and football story illustrate channeling emotion through truth.

6. Liberty and conscience:

   • Modern “gray areas” need wise, loving application of 1 Corinthians 8–10.

7. Gifts and order:

   • Avoid spiritual elitism and chaos; pursue love and edification (1 Corinthians 12–14).

8. Resurrection hope:

   • 1 Corinthians 15 promises victory and change through Christ.

Final Exhortation

• Let the facts of Scripture be the foundation of your faith; place your faith in those facts, and allow feelings to follow.

• Do not let the spirit of the city invade the church; let the church, filled with the truth of the Gospel, invade the city.

• Submit every area of life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.