Deeper Life Adult Search The Scripture 22 August 2021 Lesson 1014
ADULT SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
LESSON 1014
TOPIC: ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS
MEMORY VERSE: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ” (l Corinthians 12:12).
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Deeper Life Adult Search The Scripture 22 August 2021 Lesson 1014
Paul the apostle, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote to the Corinthian church on the need for unity among believers in Christ. This subject of unity has become more relevant in view of the prevailing divisions and strife among believers predicted to be signs Of the last days. When Paul arrived Corinth with his team (Acts 18: 1), he preached and many of the Corinthians turned to the Lord. “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
Though the growing impact and influence of the gospel message caused a stir in the city and there was persecution, the Lord encouraged him, saying, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace” (Acts 18:9). so, he continued there eighteen months and established them in the truth of the gospel before leaving for other mission assignments (Acts 18:11).
CONTENTIONS AND DIVISIONS AMONG BELIEVERS IN CORINTH (1 Corinthians 12:15,16,21,25; 11; 3:1- 4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-7)
Paul received reports of the contention among members of the church in Corinth, which was an obvious deviation from the unity he left behind. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you” (l Corinthians 1:11).
The unity Paul left in the Corinthian church appears to have been threatened. Some contentions had come in probably due to the demographic distribution of the church — the mighty, the wise, the strong, the foolish, the base, the weak, the despised, the philosophical and highly educated — which compares with that of large churches today (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).
But Paul’s focus was the truth of the word of God. Today, every true Bible church too will be interested in seeing the truth of the word of God blossom and having spiritual power and impact on the hearers (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
The problem that came into the church brought along with it debate, carnality, strife and division (l Corinthians 3:1-4). The brethren there struggled over positions and privileges, preachers and preaching. And in whichever Christian assembly these arc found, sin is right on the fringes. Such problems turn people away from fighting sin.
The eyes Of some believers in Corinth turned away from Christ to key personalities in the church — Paul, Cephas and Apollos. This is a carnal trait which must not be found in the church.
Today, when there is preference for a leader or pastor, then carnality has crept in. When we begin to struggle for position, privileges, places, power and personality in the church, sin will reign and become rife.
The Corinthian church glided from this carnality to fornication. Sin was spared In the church. In Corinth, the hearts and motives of the brethren were affected. They stopped fighting against sin and Satan.
Next, they started taking one another to court (l Corinthians 6:1-7). Their marriages, homes and lives became muddled up (1 Corinthians 7). They began to rationalise idolatry and shirk their ****ACHIEVEN HEAVEN’S GOAL****
Deeper Life Youth Search The Scripture 22 August 2021 Lesson 1014
