CCF Sunday Messages

This week we continue our 1st Corinthians study in chapter four and finish the chapter together.

Paul has been dealing with the immaturity and pride that have caused division in the church there in Corinth.  They, like so many, have developed an over-inflated view of themselves that is totally inconsistent with the Spirit of God. They are “all that and a bag of chips”, and before transitioning to other matters in chapter five, Paul will provide a closing summary to the points he has been making for the past few chapters.

This is an especially interesting passage as it shows how “real” the situation was.  Paul is frustrated by their behavior and amazed at their pride and immaturity.  Have you ever felt that way? The way people think about themselves—inflated ego, self centered, proud—can be so off-putting.  So Paul uses some cutting irony and contrast to hopefully rattle their cages and bring them back to reality!

St Augustine said: " It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”  These Corinthian saints had devilish behavior and pride was the culprit. In fact, Paul uses a word translated “puffed up” in the NKJV, to describe them. This word is used seven times in the New Testament, and six of those are in this first letter to the Corinthians!  

Paul continues to teach them using more analogies: a victory parade and, a father with his children. So how do we cultivate humility? Why is pride so dangerous? How can we grow in maturity? Listen in to this message from 1st Corinthians chapter four and find the answers to these important questions!

This week we continue our 1st Corinthians study in chapter four and finish the chapter together.

Paul has been dealing with the immaturity and pride that have caused division in the church there in Corinth.  They, like so many, have developed an over-inflated view of themselves that is totally inconsistent with the Spirit of God. They are “all that and a bag of chips”, and before transitioning to other matters in chapter five, Paul will provide a closing summary to the points he has been making for the past few chapters.

This is an especially interesting passage as it shows how “real” the situation was.  Paul is frustrated by their behavior and amazed at their pride and immaturity.  Have you ever felt that way? The way people think about themselves—inflated ego, self centered, proud—can be so off-putting.  So Paul uses some cutting irony and contrast to hopefully rattle their cages and bring them back to reality!

St Augustine said: " It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”  These Corinthian saints had devilish behavior and pride was the culprit. In fact, Paul uses a word translated “puffed up” in the NKJV, to describe them. This word is used seven times in the New Testament, and six of those are in this first letter to the Corinthians!  

Paul continues to teach them using more analogies: a victory parade and, a father with his children. So how do we cultivate humility? Why is pride so dangerous? How can we grow in maturity? Listen in to this message from 1st Corinthians chapter four and find the answers to these important questions!

We live in a culture, not unlike the Corinthian culture, where the opinions of others mean a great deal to us—maybe too much in fact!  Between Facebook “likes” and followers on Twitter, people go crazy looking for approval.  Is there a deep insecurity in each of us?

Even our ambitions for more — to have more, to be more, to climb the ladder, get the promotion, be successful — have led some to call this generation, Generation Stress.  Helicopter parents drive kids to have greater and greater achievements, adding additional pressure for kids to reach academic and athletic success.  Why? What is the motivation?  Good question.

If we are going to be ambitious, then we should know how to handle success. What about failure? Acceptance? Rejection? Popularity? Unpopularity? 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, Paul is dealing very personally with such things. The problem in Corinth was that the people were taking sides and they were not siding with Paul,  but with others who they judged as more gifted, more charismatic, more refined, more popular. We have all possibly been there at one time or another. So how does Paul press on without being crushed by this?  How does he stay in ministry when it would have so easy to quit? How do you handle, or even judge, success, failure, ambition, reputation, and the like?

It's all about perspective, so listen in and see for yourself how to live free like the apostle Paul!

We live in a culture, not unlike the Corinthian culture, where the opinions of others mean a great deal to us—maybe too much in fact!  Between Facebook “likes” and followers on Twitter, people go crazy looking for approval.  Is there a deep insecurity in each of us?

Even our ambitions for more — to have more, to be more, to climb the ladder, get the promotion, be successful — have led some to call this generation, Generation Stress.  Helicopter parents drive kids to have greater and greater achievements, adding additional pressure for kids to reach academic and athletic success.  Why? What is the motivation?  Good question.

If we are going to be ambitious, then we should know how to handle success. What about failure? Acceptance? Rejection? Popularity? Unpopularity? 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, Paul is dealing very personally with such things. The problem in Corinth was that the people were taking sides and they were not siding with Paul,  but with others who they judged as more gifted, more charismatic, more refined, more popular. We have all possibly been there at one time or another. So how does Paul press on without being crushed by this?  How does he stay in ministry when it would have so easy to quit? How do you handle, or even judge, success, failure, ambition, reputation, and the like?

It's all about perspective, so listen in and see for yourself how to live free like the apostle Paul!

As we approach the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul brings a stern warning to church leadership: be careful about mixing in worldly wisdom with the Word of God to build or grow the church.

The mixing in and value placed on wisdom from the worldly experts is really affecting the life and health off the church in Corinth. They believed in Jesus, but when it came to understanding marriage, divorce, sexuality, conflict resolution, and life after death, they turned to the opinions of people!  Supplementing the Word of God with the expert opinions and methods of the world kept them immature like babies.

Using the example of a building, specifically a temple, Paul gives a picture to explain the warning those who are in church leadership. In doing this, he helps us catch a cool understanding of the church! In Corinth there was no lack of temples to Greek gods and goddesses. But what about a temple to Jesus?  Remember the early church met primarily in homes for a few hundred years!  So, they knew where to worship Aphrodite or Apollo or Poseidon. But Jesus?  Hmmmm; should He have a temple? Maybe He already does!

Surprisingly, the passage ahead of us is the primary one used in Catholic teaching to defend the understanding of purgatory!  Is purgatory real? Do people have to experience suffering and pain after death and before heaven? Listen is as Pastor Steve unpacks this important set of truths about worldly wisdom versus the wisdom of God!

As we approach the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul brings a stern warning to church leadership: be careful about mixing in worldly wisdom with the Word of God to build or grow the church.

The mixing in and value placed on wisdom from the worldly experts is really affecting the life and health off the church in Corinth. They believed in Jesus, but when it came to understanding marriage, divorce, sexuality, conflict resolution, and life after death, they turned to the opinions of people!  Supplementing the Word of God with the expert opinions and methods of the world kept them immature like babies.

Using the example of a building, specifically a temple, Paul gives a picture to explain the warning those who are in church leadership. In doing this, he helps us catch a cool understanding of the church! In Corinth there was no lack of temples to Greek gods and goddesses. But what about a temple to Jesus?  Remember the early church met primarily in homes for a few hundred years!  So, they knew where to worship Aphrodite or Apollo or Poseidon. But Jesus?  Hmmmm; should He have a temple? Maybe He already does!

Surprisingly, the passage ahead of us is the primary one used in Catholic teaching to defend the understanding of purgatory!  Is purgatory real? Do people have to experience suffering and pain after death and before heaven? Listen is as Pastor Steve unpacks this important set of truths about worldly wisdom versus the wisdom of God!

Continuing our study in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, we turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 3.  

You know, some chapters in the Bible are more complicated or more technically challenging than others. But some others are just plain and simple!  Well, 1 Corinthians 3 is one of the latter: right there, easy to grasp, and challenging to boot!

So what is chapter three about?

What would you say if you met a 30-year old who drinks from a baby bottle and sleeps in a crib and wears diapers? That would be astounding wouldn’t it!  It would be alarming and maybe troubling! You would know that something was really, really, really wrong. By age 30 this person should have long been past the baby stage.

In this passage, Paul confronts the Corinthian christians about their behavior. They wanted real wisdom. They fancied themselves “mature” and felt Paul’s message was just not stimulating. But Paul turns the tables on them in chapter three. 

He called them “infants”!  Imagine that!  Ouch!  As unbecoming as a 30 year old in diapers, so is the selfish behavior of the church in Corinth. Are they even saved? Can they be Christians and act that way? How can we tell if we are mature or babies?

Listen in as Pastor Steve shares what God says through the apostle Paul about “carnal Christianity.”

Continuing our study in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, we turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 3.  

You know, some chapters in the Bible are more complicated or more technically challenging than others. But some others are just plain and simple!  Well, 1 Corinthians 3 is one of the latter: right there, easy to grasp, and challenging to boot!

So what is chapter three about?

What would you say if you met a 30-year old who drinks from a baby bottle and sleeps in a crib and wears diapers? That would be astounding wouldn’t it!  It would be alarming and maybe troubling! You would know that something was really, really, really wrong. By age 30 this person should have long been past the baby stage.

In this passage, Paul confronts the Corinthian christians about their behavior. They wanted real wisdom. They fancied themselves “mature” and felt Paul’s message was just not stimulating. But Paul turns the tables on them in chapter three. 

He called them “infants”!  Imagine that!  Ouch!  As unbecoming as a 30 year old in diapers, so is the selfish behavior of the church in Corinth. Are they even saved? Can they be Christians and act that way? How can we tell if we are mature or babies?

Listen in as Pastor Steve shares what God says through the apostle Paul about “carnal Christianity.”

Continuing our study in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, we turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 3.  

You know, some chapters in the Bible are more complicated or more technically challenging than others. But some others are just plain and simple!  Well, 1 Corinthians 3 is one of the latter: right there, easy to grasp, and challenging to boot!

So what is chapter three about?

What would you say if you met a 30-year old who drinks from a baby bottle and sleeps in a crib and wears diapers? That would be astounding wouldn’t it!  It would be alarming and maybe troubling! You would know that something was really, really, really wrong. By age 30 this person should have long been past the baby stage.

In this passage, Paul confronts the Corinthian christians about their behavior. They wanted real wisdom. They fancied themselves “mature” and felt Paul’s message was just not stimulating. But Paul turns the tables on them in chapter three. 

He called them “infants”!  Imagine that!  Ouch!  As unbecoming as a 30 year old in diapers, so is the selfish behavior of the church in Corinth. Are they even saved? Can they be Christians and act that way? How can we tell if we are mature or babies?

Listen in as Pastor Steve shares what God says through the apostle Paul about “carnal Christianity.”

This Sunday we return to 1 Corinthians, covering chapter 2; yes, you read that right, the whole chapter!  Remembering back to chapter one, Paul has the mission to try and unite the people in the Corinthian church.  

Have you ever uttered the words or thought the thought, “What were they thinking”? Sure you have! I bet you have watched the news and thought that! If you have teenagers you have said that.  Maybe you have seen someone doing something you thought was absolutely ridiculous and stupid (by your estimation) and said that!

You know what? I bet someone has said that about you, too!  But in our own minds, our decision seems completely rational. Other people just don’t understand!  If you explain your behavior, however, then they can understand. Without an explanation it seems like a mystery!

Eight times in chapter 2 the word wisdom is mentioned.  You might substitute the word “opinion” or “decision” for wisdom. Now if we can’t understand each others thoughts or behavior without explanation, then how can we ever understand God’s thoughts? As it turns out, we can’t unless He reveals them to us.

How does this affect my ability to read the Bible and make good decisions, and trust the right people? Listen in as Pastor Steve unpacks these secrets revealed in 1 Corinthians chapter 2.