Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Serving in Partnership with Each other” I Corinthians 3:5-8a
Review
Address and Introduction (Greeting and Thanksgiving) 1:1-9
I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6
A. Reproof concerning divisions 1-4
1. Opening appeal for unity 1:10-17
2. The Biblical foundation for Unity 1:18-4:5
a) Focus on the priority of Christ and the cross 1:18-31
b) Depend on the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit 2:1-3:4
c) Faithfully serve as partners for the Kingdom of God 3:6-4:5
If we serve in partnership (cooperation not competition) with the other members of the family we will avoid conflict. Paul calls the Corinthians to adopt the right perspective on Kingdom service. We must not form cliques around personalities but form camaraderie around the purposes of God. Stop saying I am of Paul, or Apollos or Peter. Stop saying this or that method or ministry is more important. The ultimate mission is the point not the missionaries or methods. Paul argued that people have their place in the plan but it is God who produces the growth and thus deserves ALL the credit. Someone once commented on the wonder of how much could be accomplished if no one cared who got the credit. Individuals are not to be seen as points of attention but only vital parts of a team designed and directed by God. The points of Paul’s argument in this third and last foundation stone for unity unpack as follows.
• We are all servants of the same God.
• Only God generates the growth.
• All the servants function as one unit to accomplish God’s purposes.
• Each servant will be individually rewarded for faithful service
? Construct the temple with care
? Humbly keep the focus on Christ
? Stop judging God’s servants
(1) We are all servants of the same God. 3:5
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
Paul fires another missile of truth into the divisions among the Corinthian believers. Stop focusing on people. As loyal as you may feel to those who introduced you to faith in Christ, they are only servants of Lord who initiated your faith. Sometimes we forget we are all servants and not Master. When we do, we invite conflict. We must continually keep that perspective and not exalt ourselves of others. Paul describes both he and Apollos as mere servants not fellow apostles or co-pastors or mutual mega-church leaders but fellow servants of God. We are merely servants belonging to and directed by God. We are servants of the body of Christ. The early use of the term translated “servant” (diakonos) referred to table waiters. In its verb form, it was a word describing the menial task of doing the household tasks on behalf of another which at times could feel demeaning. In its noun form it would have been the label assigned to the one doing such work. Its core meaning had to do with serving others. Paul described their role as a waiter or busboy.
They didn’t provide the food or even cook it; they only served what was provided them by God. The Greeks ascribed little value to this virtue because their whole drive was the development of one’s own personality. It is usually translated “servant” or “minister” or “deacon.”
It is important here to note how Jesus’ used the term. Regarding Himself and those desiring significance…
Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45
Paul proudly considered himself and Apollos God’s busboys.
Wedged in this passage is an important point concerning evangelism.
“even as the Lord gave to each one”
This phrase could be interpreted two ways.
1. It could refer to Paul and Apollos given the task of serving by God.
2. It could refer to those who believed given the opportunity to believe by God.
The first interpretation would read, “even as the Lord gave to each one to serve”
The second would read, “even as the Lord gave to each one to believe.”
Either interpretation has merit and support from other New Testament passages. I lean toward the second in this case. God not only causes the growth but also creates the opportunities to plant and water. We are servants who serve those God has prepared to hear the good news. Paul asked the Colossians to pray that God would open doors of opportunity for sharing.
• God orchestrates the opportunities to plant by preparing the soil and assigning the workers.
• We respond to the call and plant and water by God’s gifting and enabling.
• God causes the growth based on our obedience to plant and water.
• We enjoy the harvest.
God designs and directs and empowers the WHOLE process.
We too often try to do God’s part of the plan while neglecting our part. We fret about the fruit when we should be concentrating on the planting and watering. Paul attempts to divert the Corinthian’s eyes off the waiter and focus them on the cook. Quit fighting over your favorite busboy and give proper credit to the one who cooked. However, don’t forget to tip the busboy. The laborer is worthy of his hire.
All of us are servants of the same God so serve Him and not yourself.
Paul reinforced the principle again focusing on God’s role in the process.
(2) Only God generates growth
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Cor. 3:6-7
Paul diminished his and Apollos’ role in professions of faith. Neither the one who plants nor waters is anything but God who causes the growth. Did you get that? Paul acknowledged differing roles in the cultivating process but God alone generates growth. Next to God’s role, theirs was nothing. God is the Master Gardener, the Master Chef, the Chief Architect.
We work so hard for affirmation and personal recognition. We can’t compel anything grow. God deserves prominence because He alone generates growth.
“Growth” = enlargement, increase
Imperfect tense indicates periodic growth from time to time.
Paul did his thing. Apollos did his thing. God generated the fruit and growth. The planting and the watering process is nothing without the ground preparation and the ultimate germination and growth.
God prepares the soil to receive the seed.
We plant the seed and water it.
God brings the growth and fruit.
We enjoy the harvest.
Therefore the planter and waterer pale in importance to the one generating the growth. God assumes the primary role of generating growth and we execute a secondary cooperative role of planting and watering. The better everyone understands that relationship, the less opportunity for division and conflict and striving for credit and affirmation from others.
We are called as partners in the building of the kingdom of God; each one with a specific role in the cultivating of God’s field. Give up trying to build your own little kingdom and erecting monuments to yourself. Many have stood in disbelief at the arrogant proliferation of pictures, plaques and monuments of Saddam Hussein these past weeks all through Iraq. That is fallen nature gone to seed. All of us harbor such desires, wanting OUR stamp on the project, our signature on the artwork, recognition for our contribution. If we focus on nurturing a primary passion for Kingdom growth, it won’t matter who gets credit. Only God’s will and glory matters. It is HIS image we want stamped in every corner of the Kingdom. The only label we care about is “Loving grown by the Heavenly Father.”
In the next phrase, Paul used present tense (continuous action) verbs for all three elements.
Neither the one continually planting or watering is anything.
But
The one continually causing the increase, namely GOD, is EVERTHING.
Here Paul drops any human names altogether and replaces them with the generic, “the one who”. The only important name to be attached to such Kingdom work is GOD.
God has employed a multitude of migrant workers to build His buildings, tend His fields and wait His tables over the centuries. Many have come and gone. The only constant in God’s field and vineyard and table over the centuries is God Himself.
Workers could argue forever as to whose work brought about the fruit.
“It wouldn’t have happened without planting.” The planter is more important!
“It would have dried up and died without watering.” The waterer is more important!
The point is that nobody can germinate the seed and cause the plant to grow but GOD!
Only the master gardener, the Creator generates the growth. With such a focus we easily avoid the petty little “credit” game and a “party spirit” and we all rejoice together in the God who lovingly germinated another seed which produced fruit that lasts for eternity. Paul even switches the order of the names to illustrate no one has greater importance over the other in the field.
What is planting and watering? Other passages depict “seed” planted as the word of God.
Other passages picture the Word of God as water. Both planting and watering have to do with the declaration of the Word of God. Planting perhaps has to do with evangelism. Watering has to do with discipleship. Perhaps one expressed the declaration of the truth in love with an emphasis on truth. Watering could refer to the declaration of the truth in love with an emphasis on continuing relationship. Paul visited various cities declaring God’s truth resulting in belief. Apollos hung out in Corinth to continue teach the word by establishing relationships.
So far Paul fights against divisions by a proper understanding of how we are all servants of God serving in partnership with one another for God’s kingdom building.
We are all servants of one God with a job to do so keep focuses on the work.
Only God generates growth so glorify Him and not yourself.
(3) All the servants function as one for the mission. 3:8a
Now he who plants and he who waters are one (team)
Literally this would read, “the one planting and the one watering are ONE.” Here Paul affirmed the true nature of partnership in the body. Each member fulfills a different function yet unified by a mutual mission. We are coalition partners focused on the common objective -- liberation of those living in darkness. Understanding the integrated nature of the body avoids the jealousy and conflict that arises from wanting to do someone else’s role or disparaging someone else’s role because it is less important. The body stands or falls as it partners together.
If we eliminate players from a ball team rather than work with them, we end up loosing games. When Edger doubles to left field and drives in Ichiro, it is not Edgar who won the game but the Mariners, the team. Players come and go.
They can be traded to other teams. Games are won by the team. The team does not function by individual effort. When we partner together, we win games, we gain victories, and we realize fruit and growth. When we devalue one another or discount one another, we lose games. When we fuss over who is more valuable or gets the most credit we lose the game. When we serve one another and defer to one another, we all enjoy the win. hen we fight and scrap over who plays more, we all suffer the loss.
It is true in marriage. It is true in the body of Christ. When one hurts, we all hurt. When one wins, we all win. Paul will address this pride problem again when he talks about spiritual gifts in 12-14.
Is planting more important than watering or any other function in the body?
Is serving less important than preaching?
Is administrating less important than showing mercy?
Are the speaking gifts more glorious than the serving gifts?
Do the sign gifts demonstrate more anointing than the teaching or serving gifts?
Is the Childcare ministry more important than the Sunday school?
Are the adult classes more important than the youth or children’s classes?
Is the praise team more important than the custodian?
Is the pastor more important that the prayer warriors?
Is the Sunday Service more important than the small groups or Bible Study?
Are the cooks less important than the elders?
EVERYONE has a position on the team a task in the field. Everyone has been gifted by God to effectively fulfill that responsibility. All must be engaged in the ministry of planting and watering. Remember however it is GOD’S field. We must not get possessive of HIS field. We must not demean his servants. We must not build cliques around personalities.
To get involved in fights over personal preference and personalities is a sign that we have lost our focus on Christ, we are driven by the selfish passions of the flesh and don’t understand that we are partners, co-workers for the Kingdom.
Everyone works for the same team so focus on the team not the players.
We must learn to serve as partners embracing ONE mission under ONE Commander.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephes. 4:1-7
How can we walk worthy of our remarkable calling?
1. By forbearing one another in love
2. By being eager or diligent to preserve or guard the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The manner of our walk is…
• With all humility
• With all gentleness
• With long suffering
Why, because we all part of the SAME body. Poke your eye out and it affects the rest of the body. Slam your finger in the door and the rest of the body feels it. Neglect your part in the body and the rest must compensate. Allow infection in one part of the body and it jeopardizes the whole.
We must patiently forebear the other parts.
We must earnestly guard the unity of the whole.
We cannot ignore parts of the body because we think we are more important. (Humility)
We cannot run roughshod over other parts of the body and treat them harshly. (Gentleness)
We cannot be short-tempered with the other parts and cut them off. (Longsuffering)
Whatever we do to the other members of the body ALWAYS affects us; both negative and positive, encouraging and discouraging. We are organically connected. We have been supernaturally united with Christ into one body.
For even as the (human) body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ (and His body). For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:12-13
Whether you feel it or not, it affects you and the Kingdom.
What is the mission?
Why has God gifted all of us? The rest of Ephesians four puts summarizes the point.
God sends various equippers among the body to help them more effectively function.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor/teachers…
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,
Mission!
to the building up of the body of Christ;
Goal! until
we all attain to the unity of the faith (doctrine), and of the knowledge of the Son of God (experience),
to a mature man (who through practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil)
to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (the character of Christ)
Result! As a result,
we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men,
by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
but, by speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies,
causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
according to the proper working of each individual part,
Lessons to live by…
• All of us are mere servants of the same God so serve Him and not yourself.
• Only God generates growth so glorify Him and not yourself.
• Everyone works for the same team so focus on the team not the players.
If we are to live in unity we must learn to…
1. Focus on the priority of Christ and His Cross. (not on human wisdom)
2. Depend on the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit (not on human energy)
3. Serve in partnership with one another for the sake of the Kingdom. (not our own agenda)
Next week we will look at the fourth point of his argument highlighting the fact that even though we function as a team, we are still all individual accountable to God who will give or withhold reward on the basis of our labor for the kingdom. Then we will finish his concluding appeal for unity to the end of chapter four.
Remember! If you want to go deeper and do further application of these principles sign up for the weekly study guide or pick on up in the back.
PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK’S COMMUNION
We participate in Communion the first Sunday of each month. The communion celebration is a God-directed ceremony not only of remembrance but of celebration and communication of our Covenant relationship with Christ and His body. Because of its significance we are encouraged to regard this time of remembrance as something special and not to be taken lightly. It is a time to remember the time we entered into a covenant relationship with Christ. It is a time to communicate that commitment before others. It is a time to celebrate the wonder and beauty of that relationship. Therefore, I have come to believe that we can dishonor that covenant in a couple ways.
1. We can fail to participate in something Christ commanded us to do.
This would be like forgetting an anniversary or a failure to communicate to your spouse that you are committed for life and treasure your relationship.
2. We can fail to honor the covenant relationship with Christ by our sin against Him or his body.
Since none of us are without sin and there is usually not sufficient time to deal with it all in the few moments before Communion served I suggest that we as a church make it a habit to set aside some time the week before (perhaps on Saturday evening) we celebrate as a body to prepare our hearts to properly remember, communicate and celebrate our covenant with Christ and His body.
Ask God to reveal any offenses against Him.
Where have we failed to do what He asked us to do?
Where have we failed to avoid what He asked us NOT to do?
Ask Him to expose inappropriate thoughts, attitudes, words and actions.
Ask Him to point out harmful habits or patterns of life.
Ask Him to point out priorities or values that need to be adjusted.
Ask God to reveal any offenses against others.
Attitudes, thoughts, words, actions.
How about a failure to really accept them as Christ accepts us?
You cannot embrace the Head without accepting and embracing the body!!
Let’s remember, communicate and celebrate our covenant relationship together.
But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 1 Cor. 11:28-31
