When You’ve Lost Your Way | Messy Church, Part 1

Messy Church, pt 1 – “When You’ve Lost Your Way”

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes ,2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you inChrist Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I followApollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Idid baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

We’re a mess

1 Corinthians 1:1

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

1 Corinthians 1:2

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

1. Sexuality

2. Spirituality

3. Status

Paul planted this church in Corinth (Acts 18)

Paul stayed with this church for 18 months

Paul wrote to this church at least 4 times

Drunkenness

Sexual immorality

Division

Bad doctrine
These were people who knew Jesus but had lost their way.

1. Remember your identity as a follower of Christ

1 Corinthians 1:2

“…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints”

They are saints not because of what they achieved but because of what they received.

By grace, you can become what God declares you to be!

2. Remember the unity that Christ calls His Body to

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I followApollos,” or “I follow Cephas (Peter),” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

How can we be divided if we are one in Christ?

Sin

God’s grace

“united” – mended

For God to unite us is for God to heal us.

3. Remember the Good News of the Gospel

1 Corinthians 1:17

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.