Death of a Church

If you go to the doctor because you are sick in order for the doc to figure out how to heal you, how to make you better he has to diagnose what is wrong. It is just as important for a doctor to study ailments and illnesses as it is that he study treatments. Proper treatment requires proper diagnosis… The same is true when it comes to having a healthy church....

I have been reading a lot in 1 Corinthians, praying for God's direction on a new short sermon series – I’ve always admired the Apostle Paul. He was never one to sugar coat his letters, he was far from politically correct in his correspondence, and he was not concerned about being popular. His letter to the church at Corinth is no different.

1 Corinthians 1:1-17 is broken into three clear divisions - a greeting, a praising, and a scolding. Take a look:

(Greeting)

1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother:

² To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Praising)

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. ⁶ In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, ⁷ so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Scolding)

¹⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. ¹² What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

The church in Corinth had started out so faithfully, and had such an impact in its community and the world around it but it had allowed sin to creep in. It had fallen away and as a result it had become a defiled church, full of sexual immorality and drunkenness.  Some lived very worldly, taking God’s grace and forgiveness lightly. It had become defiled because it had become a divided church with differing cliques and factions vying for leadership.  People talking behind the scenes, and taking sides. As a result of becoming defiled and divided it became a disgraced church.  Not only were they not glorifying God, they were hindering the progress of the gospel all around.

We need to take measures to prevent ourselves from following in the footsteps of the church at Corinth, we as a body of believers must stand united for the name of Christ. We must call sin what it is; we must be more than united on paper, as believers we must hold each other accountable and guard each other as we guard ourselves. We must strive to do nothing to hinder the work of the gospel.

What are you working towards this week? Come this Sunday and see how to kill a church (and the steps to healing)...