Lesson 15. The Gospel: the Message of the Spirit
Day 3
The title of this course is "Living and Growing in the Gospel" because it is a study of 1 Corinthians, and the Corinthians were immature and needed to grow in the gospel.
Please read the following passage and note how the Corinthians' immaturity manifested itself:
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
1 Corinthians 14:18-25
Question 1. According to 1 Corinthians 14: 18-25, in what way did the Corinthians evidence their immaturity?
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In today's text, Paul explains how a wrong emphasis on right doctrine keeps believers immature spiritually. He describes how speaking in tongues is a blessing, so much so that he wishes everyone would do it, but then tells the Corinthians to "stop thinking like children," meaning, stop emphasizing speaking in tongues over speaking out the gospel.
Christians are to be identified by their faith in the gospel rather than by their spiritual gifts. We should not put our emphasis on anything that would cause unbelievers to come into church and think, "These people are ridiculous; they babble nonsense." Church services should be a clear and understandable presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins so that unbelievers can understand and come to faith in Jesus, and so that believers can be built up in the faith. The church is not meant to be a private club where only certain elite members know what is going on; it is meant to be a place of refuge, healing, life, joy, and love.
The gospel guides every instruction Paul wrote to the Corinthians, and rightly so. Jesus was outwardly focused when He came and died for us; it is appropriate that the body of Christ acts like its Head, loving others by speaking the gospel clearly so that unbelievers can become believers and be added to the church.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 shows that three things happen when the gospel is clearly preached: 1) they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment; 2) the secrets of their hearts are laid bare; 3) they will fall down and worship God. This is the power of the message of the cross!
The way to live and grow in the gospel is to have the mind of Christ and let it drive our decisions. The way to have the mind of Christ is to focus on His death and resurrection:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
Philippians 2:5-11
Question 2. What is “the mindset of Christ Jesus” according to Philippians 2:5-11?
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Question 3. How can you demonstrate the same mindset as Jesus today, thereby maturing in your Christian faith?
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