The Church Called
Date: 6/1/08
Sermon Series: 1st Corinthians – The Church ___________.
Sermon Title: The Church – Called
Text:
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 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: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Theme:
This message will introduce he sermon series through Corinthians. We will look at some background and contextual material and talk about the fact that the Church is called.
Introduction: Have you ever noticed how people answer the phone? Although its kind of silly I get a kick out of listening to the initial salutation people give when they first pick up the phone. One of my favorite shows on TV is called NCIS. The main character is played by Mark Harmon and his character’s name is Jethro Gibbs. He always answers the phone “Gibbs”. No flash no get to know you kind of chatter nothing even friendly about it just Gibbs! A lot of people use the almost universal hello, but even in that one word it is amazing how much different the same word can sound. Some people can almost make it into a question by adding rising inflection. Others make it sound like a flat statement to which there is no adequate response. I think that one of the things that makes the way people answer the phone so interesting to me is that I don’t think most people actually learn how to answer the phone they just pick it up as a part of their personality.
Transition: There were no phones in the 1st century and letter writing was an art that every youngster learned. It was the only adequate way that personal and professional information could be carried back and forth. Today we are going to start a new Sermon series together as we study Paul’s letters to the Church at Corinth. As we explore Paul’s address and greeting to the Church at Corinth we will see a Church which has been called. It has been called out, called up and called into.
I. Called – Out
a. Ecclesia
i. Ecclesia is the regular word which is used in the New Testament to talk about the church. Specifically it usually refers to the local church or individual congregation. The term literally means “called out.” This is a fitting term for people who have been called out from their communities, their families and their world to be a part of the kingdom of Heaven, a kingdom whose citizenship is only attainable because we have entered onto relationship with Christ.
b. The church is “called out” of the world.
i. The church in Corinth was called out of this incredibly worldly place.
1. Corinth was probably the wealthiest city in Greece during Paul’s day.
2. It boasted a large population for an ancient city – about 80,000 people lived in the city with another 20,000 in the surrounding area.
3. It was home to the Isthmian games which carried an incredibly important social place in the Grecian culture.
4. Its geographical location was important to the shipping industry.
a. Good harbor
b. The location was used to move the boats overland.
5. A large theater which seated 18,000 people.
6. A concert hall which could seat 3,000.
7. Capital city of Achaia
8. But the dominating factor of Corinthian society was the temple of Aphrodite. This imposing structure was built on a large stone hill which overlooked the city and according to writers of the time housed about 1000 temple prostitutes.
9. The profusion of prostitutes was not limited to the temple and Corinth became so well known for its sexual degeneracy that the term “Corinthian” became a colloquialism which meant someone who practiced adultery.
c. It was out of this culture of wealth and sexual perversity that the Corinthian church was called from.
d. A big part of this letter will deal with what it means to be a church in place where you are surrounded by immorality and how do we behave as a church where the culture around us has clearly delineated lines depending on your social and fiscal stature.
e. The Church in America in many ways is facing the same dilemma as the Church in Corinth did. We find ourselves more and more confronted by a culture which does not match up with our calling as Christians. I believe that we will find ourselves having to make decisions about our Christian walk and whether or not we are willing to go against the prevalent cultural norms.
i. Such issues as abortion and homosexual marriage are big indicators of this attitude but we see it in small more subtle ways which force us t make a choice about our Christian walk. We are now living in a culture which does not see a problem with scheduling activities on Sunday, a day which used to be set aside for worship. What do we do about that? Do we participate and compromise our commitment to Church or do we keep our kids from being able to participate in everything thy might want to.
ii. These are the kind of social issues which we will deal with as we encounter the Christian principles Paul lays out for the Church in Corinth.
II. Called – Up
a. While parts of the introduction of this letter are pretty standard for the 1st century, there are some things which kind of stick out a little bit.
i. Paul makes it crystal clear to the Church that not only are they called out by God; both Paul and the Church are called up by God as well. What I mean by this is that God has an intention for Paul as an Apostle and for the Church as an instrument of His kingdom in that part of the world.
ii. I think that the tenor of the letter makes it clear that the Holy Spirit through Paul has a two fold purpose in this greeting (Paul called by the will of God as an apostle).
1. He needs to make sure that the Corinthians know that he has God given authority as he deals with them on some very tough issues.
2. He wants to remind them of the fact that conversion is not the goal of the Christian life it is the beginning. Our walk is about the fact that we have been called into relationship with God the Father through Christ as Lord and Savior. This means the relationship continues and we have to continue to make sure we are fulfilling the purpose to which God has called us to accomplish.
iii. Paul says that they are sanctified and called to be saints.
1. Both of these terms are from the word which we get holy from.
2. I think that the idea that Paul is impressing upon his readers is that as Christians we are now called to be holy – that is set apart for a purpose which God has determined for us.
b. In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. “Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.” “I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.” “Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.” When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.” When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we’ll rule together with him.
III. Called - Into
a. Community
i. With all believers everywhere.
ii. With the believers in the local church.
b. Part of the reason that we can abandon ourselves into the larger community to which we have become a part is because we give up ownership.
i. Paul uses a possessive tense here to express that idea that the church at Corinth is the Church of God. It belongs not to any individuals who are in residence there but to God. He is the Head, Chief Operating Officer and sole owner of the church.
ii. So much of the disunity which occurs in churches is because there is this kind of unseen power struggle which can go on just below the surface. As people push to get there own way and exercise their dominance we simply push God out of the drivers seat.
