Sermon Tone Analysis

The Ball is in Your Court

1 1 Cor 21

Paul had admonished the church at Corinth from chapter 1 all the way to the text tonight.

How I come and what gets said from this pint on will be determined by you....

Elitist Snobbery in the Church 1 Corinthians

Divisions and backbiting

1 cor

Paul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church.

This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict.

Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who think of themselves as the spiritual elite.

They are proud and smug because of their associations, especially with their leader, and they look down upon those who are not in their group.

The elitism evident in Corinth was based upon two things: (1) who they followed – who their leader was; and, (2) the message and method of their leader

If the Corinthians thought of themselves as “the elite,” then they had certainly forgotten their origins and the true source and object of their boasting:

The first section comes to a close ......

What will you do?

The choice is yours

Illustration -

Children

Bible training

Educational training

Its now up to you

The ball is in your court......

Its time for you to decide.

Paul say when he comes it will be with a rod or in the spirit of meekness

1 cor 4.

You will determine which Paul shows up.....

I Warning Given

1cor 4.14

Up to this point Paul had warned the church or the divisions and the man center ways along with puffed up knowledge.

1 cor 4.17

1cor 3.1

The final statement in vs 16 Is follow my example !

Is follow my example

Who do you follow?

Tragedies that could have been avoided.

The sinking of the British RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat during World War I wasn’t supposed to be unexpected or surprising, since Germany had ran several advertisements in The New York Times, warning of the ship’s impending doom.

On January 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle exploded over the skies of Florida while being watched by millions of people on the ground and on live television.

The explosion was caused by the formation of ice around the space shuttle’s O-rings, which were used to separate the rocket boosters from the shuttle.

Of course, there were warnings.

This time, they came from Bob Ebeling, an engineer who worked for the company that produced the booster.

He had warned that the extremely cold weather would prevent the O-rings from sealing properly and would cause an explosion.

He and another engineer then requested that the shuttle’s launch be delayed until the weather was favorable.

Paul's warning had been given!

The ball is in your court.

You are destroying the church and its unity

illustration -

II Window of Opportunity

Since Paul could rightfully claim to be their spiritual father, he feels he can ask them to become imitators of him (cf. 1 Cor 11:1; Gal 4:12; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thess 1:6; 2 Thess 3:9).

In the light of this request, he says he has sent Timothy to them to help them in their progress.

Timothy, too, was Paul’s beloved child, “begotten” through the gospel, and faithful in the Lord—i.e., in his service for Christ.

Since Paul could rightfully claim to be their spiritual father, he feels he can ask them to become imitators of him (cf.

; ; ; ; ).

In the light of this request, he says he has sent Timothy to them to help them in their progress.

Timothy, too, was Paul’s beloved child, “begotten” through the gospel, and faithful in the Lord—i.e., in his service for Christ.

Paul had their interests at heart.

For that reason he urged them to imitate him (1 Cor.

4:16; cf.

vv.

9–13).

He had one spiritual child who did just that, namely, Timothy (Phil.

2:20).

Timothy could remind them by precept and example of Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus, which was in turn an imitation of their Lord

Paul had their interests at heart.

For that reason he urged them to imitate him (; cf.

vv.

9–13).

He had one spiritual child who did just that, namely, Timothy ().

Timothy could remind them by precept and example of Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus, which was in turn an imitation of their Lord

Paul sent timothy to remind them of their obligation and to point out their sin.

This was an opportunity to repent and get right with God before Paul comes.

Praise God for preachers and those God sends to us to straighten us out

Praise God for second chances

Praise God for his patience

Timothy was sent to them to renumber Paul's way of Christ

Will you listen or keep in divisions and bickering?

2 cor 36.15-16

The window may be closing .......

Lasko Foundation - 2009/10 foundation was changing and we had to act fast… first proposal was rejected ..... was told what needed to be done and re-submission ASAP....

Window closed.....

Paul was saying when I come I will not hold back

III Words or God’s Power

1 cor 4.

Paul anticipated that not all would be moved by his appeal.

Some, probably the unnamed party leaders (v. 5) or guardians (v.

15), were arrogant, which was the cause of the Corinthians’ division problem.

They might not be swayed by exhortation.

They required action.

And that, Paul knew, he was capable of meting out in the power of the Spirit (Acts 13:9–11).

When he had preached to the Corinthians, he had not depended on his own ability but on the power of the Spirit (1 Cor.

2:4–5).

He would rely on this same power for discipline (2 Cor.

10:4–6).

This was the authority of God’s rule (cf.

Acts 5:3–11).

Though Paul loved the Corinthians he knew that a loving father did not shy away from discipline (cf.

Heb.

12:7).

If it were needed, he would wield a whip (rabdos, a “rod”).

From the Greco-Roman point of view this “rod” was a symbol of discipline executed by one in authority.

Paul himself had been punished by rods more than once (Acts 16:22–23; 2 Cor.

11:25).

But he preferred a visit characterized by love and … a gentle spirit.

Puffed up - Paul anticipated that not all would be moved by his appeal.

Some, probably the unnamed party leaders (v. 5) or guardians (v.

15), were arrogant, which was the cause of the Corinthians’ division problem.

4:18 When Paul explained that he was sending Timothy to them, perhaps some of his detractors in Corinth would rise quickly to suggest that Paul was afraid to come himself.

These men were puffed up in suggesting that Paul was not coming personally.

4:19 But he promises that he will come in the near future, if the Lord wills.