Why do we slip so easily from applause to hate, on television, online, and sometimes even in church? This sermon on 1 Corinthians 3 shows a community in which believers split into fans of Paul, Apollos and Cephas, and explains why Paul calls them fleshly rather than spiritual. You will hear the parable of the rebellious little screw on a great ship and the moving story of two preachers, Billy Graham and Charles Templeton, whose paths parted forever. Listen and discover that wisdom means being captivated by Christ, not by people.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Paul calls the believers in Corinth worldly, infants in Christ, because they quarrel and are divided (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). According to this passage, what distinguishes a spiritual person from someone who is merely religious?
- Paul writes that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth, and that each person's work will be tested by fire. What did building with gold or with straw mean for the Corinthians, who were captivated by their leaders?
- The sermon compares the church to a world of fans and celebrities: first we admire people, then we turn on them when they disappoint us. Where do you notice this way of seeing people in the church in yourself?
- The story of the little screw that wanted to leave its place in the ship's hull shows that the church has room for co-workers, not rivals. What helps you value your role, even when it seems barely noticed?
- Billy Graham and Charles Templeton were a close team, but their paths parted. What does their story teach you about the difference between the wisdom of this world and being captivated by Christ?
- What is one specific task or step of working together with others in the church that you want to take this week, so that you build on Christ rather than on people?
