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What business is the church in? Dr. John Neufeld explores 1 Corinthians 5:6-13, challenging believers to understand their true identity as God's people. Using Paul's analogy of leaven, he shows how tolerating sin transforms a church from the inside out, causing it to lose its unique identity. The church's business isn't fitting into culture to attract people—it's being the redeemed people of God who provide a hopeful alternative to a broken world.
The Gospel Alternative to the Cultures of Men: Being a Christian inevitably puts you in conflict with culture. In this three-week series, Dr. John Neufeld examines 1 Corinthians 5-7 to explore how the gospel creates a distinct counter-culture in the church. Addressing sexual purity, church discipline, and Christian identity, Dr. Neufeld challenges believers to live faithfully in a broken world—not by condemning culture, but by demonstrating Christ's transforming power through humble accountability, moral courage, and authentic community that offers hope to a watching world.
Karen DeArmond Gardner describes her 30-year abusive marriage — living with a man who was charming and overly affectionate at first but soon became a nightmare to live with. Karen explains the majority of domestic abuse is not physical; abusers also use insults, threats, control, manipulation, and other forms of emotional intimidation. Finally, after reading a Christian magazine about abuse, Karen recognized the trauma she had been accepting as “normal” and escaped her husband. Today she counsels other women who’ve experienced abuse.
Moses—and other heroes of the faith—were willing to endure hardship because they trusted the unseen God. Does our faith equip us to do the same? Hebrews says that the world was not worthy of these men and women. Could the same be said of us as we live by faith today?
Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Genesis 10-11
There is coming a kingdom of Christ, as well as a kingdom of Satan. These two kingdoms have been at war since the Book of Genesis, and we are in the middle of it. If we want to recognize Satan’s kingdom to come and know how it will ultimately face its gruesome demise, we must look at one which was already strategically defeated.
In Genesis 10-11, we are introduced to a Babylonian man named Nimrod. He wanted to be king and to be worshiped like God. A few chapters prior, God gave the commandment to His people to be scattered and replenish the earth after the Great Flood. Rather than obey God, the Babylonians centralized their government under Nimrod’s authority and began building a tower to reach the heavens, all to make a name for themselves and to be equal with God. They directly disobeyed God and followed Nimrod in rebellion.
How did this tower of blunders end in Genesis? The Babylonians spoke one language at this time. But God confounded their speech, and they suddenly couldn’t understand each other. The construction of the Tower of Babel ended with Almighty God coming down to earth and sending confusion into the camps of His enemies.
We are not too far off from the blunder of Babylon.
Have we not substituted our own wit for God’s wisdom? Through new minds, machinery, and money, are we not trying to make a name for ourselves? Do New Age religions not bank their ideology on finding the power within ourselves, generating independence from Almighty God?
Dr. Adrian Rogers says: “What is the difference between manmade religion and the true salvation that comes from God? Man tries to build from earth to Heaven. True salvation reaches down from Heaven to man.”
The only hope for this world is the coming of Jesus Christ. And when He comes, He will destroy the kingdom of Satan, and any other kingdom that dares to make an enemy of God.
These are the days to get right with God. Let us not wait another second.
Apply it to your life
If you’re practicing any kind of new-age religion or dabbling with astrology or witchcraft, get out of it. Repent. The time is coming soon when our Lord is going to step down from glory to judge Babylon. Let us rejoice and give honor to Him today.
Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Hide and Seek." Enjoy!
Excommunication reminds us of church wounds and harsh judgments, yet the Bible teaches it has a place. Dr. John Neufeld examines 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 to show that biblical church discipline, when done correctly, is actually an act of love. A faithful church grieves over sin and, when necessary, removes unrepentant members—not to be cruel, but to protect the church's holiness and hopefully lead the person to repentance. Paul teaches that excommunication must be done under Christ's authority, yet is always undertaken with hope for restoration.
The Gospel Alternative to the Cultures of Men: Being a Christian inevitably puts you in conflict with culture. In this three-week series, Dr. John Neufeld examines 1 Corinthians 5-7 to explore how the gospel creates a distinct counter-culture in the church. Addressing sexual purity, church discipline, and Christian identity, Dr. Neufeld challenges believers to live faithfully in a broken world—not by condemning culture, but by demonstrating Christ's transforming power through humble accountability, moral courage, and authentic community that offers hope to a watching world.
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