Server Outage Notice: TheSeed.info is transfering to a new Server on Tuesday April 13th
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) TH 19 - Thee We Adore, Eternal Lord! Psalter 265 - The Majesty and Holiness of God Psalter 125 - The Church the Bride of Christ |
Grow Up in Love
1 Corinthians 16:1-24
If you could go back to your younger self, what would you say? Would you tell yourself to study harder, be kinder, and cherish moments with your parents? Would you say - take more risks, don’t be afraid to live, don’t be so uptight? Perhaps, this is good advice. But what spiritual advice would you give? Maybe you’d say - be zealous for the truly important things - like loving others, faithfulness, and a holy conscience; or live out the gospel, be tender-hearted, and fight your sins! Or would you say - don’t waste your time on Christ, eternal salvation’s not worth it, do what your heart tells you and love this world. So what would you say?
This morning, we see Paul’s final exhortation to this church. He already addressed urgent matters. He confronted their worldliness - pagan mindsets had led to divisions and personality cults. They were permissive - refusing to confront those living in sin. They were vindictive - suing each other instead of taking the wrong. They were insensitive - flaunting their liberty and stumbling weaker brethren. They were aggressive - fighting for preeminence. And they denied the resurrection thereby dismissing Christ’s eternal kingdom. That’s why they weren’t abounding in God’s work. In fact, they subverted God’s work. So at the close of his letter, Paul gave 4 commands to this divisive, permissive, vindictive, insensitive, aggressive, dismissive, and subversive congregation - Grow up. How? By submitting to Christ’s rule, by being gracious to each other, and by loving God’s kingdom.
So firstly, he told them to grow up in love. This was his overarching command. We even see it in the structure of the chapter. The passage is arranged so that the main point is verse 13-14 - “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.” There are 5 parts here - let’s examine each. “Quit ye like men,” meaning acquit yourself or show that you’re grown up. Man up! In chapter 13, he already told them to man up and put away childish things. This word includes the idea of moral courage - boldness to do what’s right; not to run or give excuses. So he told them to grow up. And you need boldness to change in order to be spiritually mature. It requires strength. So Paul commanded them to “be strong”. Now, there are 2 different Greek words for strength; one refers to possessed strength and the other here to a strength in action. A strong man possess strength, but it’s nothing unless he uses it. So Paul commanded them to actively work out their faith. But we can’t generate moral strength. It comes from God. Ephesians 6:10 - “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 3:16 - be “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” So the problem with the Corinthians was simple - they were immature because they wanted their own way. If only they let God strengthen them, they would’ve been bold to resist divisiveness, strong to deny self, loving to consider others, humble to submit themselves to God’s rule, and strengthened to reject the paganism around them. We must grow up in moral strength.
But we can’t, unless we’re alert. “Watch ye” - it means to do the work of a watchman. Cities are taken when watchmen sleep. So we must be sober, vigilant, because our adversary the devil, prowls like a lion seeking whom he can devour. Satan will exploit our weaknesses - our besetting sins - as he did with the Corinthians. They struggled with pride, wanted preeminence; so Satan used it to create divisions. If we’re not vigilant, the very things we think we’re strong in can become our very weaknesses. I’m frank and direct - but you’re tactless and cruel. I’m very tactful - but you’re evasive and unclear. I have very firm convictions - but you’re a jerk. I’m very shrewd - but you’re not generous. I’m very peace loving - but you have no convictions. I’m loyal - yes, but not to the Lord.
That’s why we must stand firm in the faith. The Corinthians struggled with worldliness because they were soft on the gospel. They forgot heaven was their home, so they didn’t value their resurrection. They didn’t want the promised land, Egypt has leeks and garlic. They aligned themselves with men, not Christ. They wanted authority, not submission; vindication, not forbearance; preeminence, not humility. And they served their lusts, not Christ. Why? Because they were soft on the gospel. So he told them to grow up - be strong in God, morally courageous, alert, and firm in the faith. This would result in love - “Let all your things be done with charity.” What’s love? God is love. He gave up all to die for sinners, to save them from themselves, sin, and this world, so that they’d live forever in his kingdom. If they knew the gospel fully, they’d love God’s kingdom. If they knew that, they wouldn’t desire preeminence; they’d love to wash each other’s feet, as Christ had washed theirs. They wouldn’t want vindication; Christ forgave them so they could forgive others. They’d love enough to confront sin - because Christ said go and sin no more. And they wouldn’t serve for personal glory, King Jesus left his glory behind so we’d have glory. This is love - where we deny self and the world, to give ourselves wholly to Christ and his people. Because Christ denied himself and gave himself wholly for his people.
That was the overarching command. And here, he told them how in a series of flanking commands. And these words are preserved for us. They show us how to be grown up in Christ. We see the first one. They were to grow up in love by submitting to Christ’s rule. We know the Corinthians struggled with submission to the Word and to Christ’s rule. They didn’t think much of Paul - he wasn’t impressive enough. But Paul preached the gospel - the Words of everlasting life. Reject that, and you’re not rejecting Paul but Christ. So he told them to receive the Word. In verses 10-11, he told them to receive Timotheus when he came. Timotheus was a pastor and Paul’s companion. Don’t intimidate him. He’s doing God’s work like me. Don’t let anyone despise him or treat him with contempt. Let his time with you be peaceful. When he returns to me, I hope to see some of you. Wow! Why did he write this way? Why did he have to say all of these words to them? Because they were very difficult. They needed the gospel. And he was sending another preacher to do God’s work - don’t give him a tough time. And perhaps verse 12 reveals just how difficult they really were. Paul had wanted Apollos to go to Corinth. Remember in chapter 1, there was an Apollos fan club in the church. He was, after all, very gifted. But we learn here that he wasn’t willing to go this time - may next opportunity he had - but not now. But why not? We’re not sure - but one very plausible contextual reason was because they were very difficult. Why go when they were so difficult; not willing to grow up? Maybe that’s why it wasn’t his will to go. Who knows? But it was probably very tough to be an elder there. That’s why Paul had to support Stephanus. Verses 15-16 - “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” Stephanus was clearly an officer of the church. He and his family, mentioned in chapter 1, were the only ones Paul baptized in Corinth. He’s an officer because, verse 17, he was part of a delegation that brought financial support to Paul - when the rest didn’t give. And verse 16 we learn he’d been appointed to the ministry of the saints.
But this church was unruly, stunted. So to grow, they had to submit to Christ’s rule. They were to submit to Stephanus and other officers who labored with him. We see their names in verse 17 - Fortunatus and Achaicus. They greatly encouraged Paul. So he told them to acknowledge them - to submit them. But don’t miss Paul’s wonderful contrast here. In the midst of a deeply troubled and immature church, these officers were grown up. They dared to be officers there. They’d addicted themselves to the ministry. The word tells us they weren’t only appointed, but they gave themselves over to the work. What a relief! In the midst of an immature church, there was maturity. These men had grown up in moral courage, vigilance, strength in God, and steadfastness, loving God and man. Congregation, we need men like this - grown up men, given to the gospel, with Christ’s character, to serve God’s people, out of love. We need to support such men and submit ourselves to them - because they not only bring the gospel, they embody it. This is how we grow up in Christ! Remember that Christ rules through his officers. But such submission is counter-intuitive. When Christ came preaching the kingdom - those who hated the gospel killed him. They also beheaded John the Baptizer for confronting sin. But this was no surprise - Jerusalem had always killed the prophets, why shouldn’t they kill the Son? We don’t submit to Christ because we don’t truly love the gospel. But those who do will grow up.
But they were also to grow up by being gracious to one another. We see another flank of commandments in verses 5-9 and 19-21. Paul said he intended to visit them after Macedonia. He’d stay possibly through winter, and then they’d send him to his next destination. Now, he didn’t only want to stay a short time, not a “by the way” trip - but a longer time, God-willing. And what an encouragement this was. Didn’t he already say how troublesome they were? And didn’t he tell them to tone down when Timotheus came? But Paul was grown up in love. He manned up to visit them. Now, was it just because he was appointed an apostle? No. Paul was hopeful toward them. They were still Christ’s congregation. Where the Lord was, there’s hope. Paul looked forward to stay long time with them - through the winter. He trusted them to send him to his next destination - meaning, with funds. He was hopeful they’d lay aside selfishness to abound in God’s work. And he wasn’t the only hopeful one. Verse 19 - all the church of Asia - including the 7 churches of Revelation - greeted them. Aquila and Priscilla greeted them much, together with their house church. Now surely, the news would’ve reached them. In chapter 1, Paul said he’d heard all about their contentions and fightings. Possibly the other churches knew - after all, these letters were also circulated. But yet, they greeted them. Where Christ is in a church, no matter how troublesome, there’s hope. Dearly beloved, are we a complicated church? Sure we are. There are cowboys and Indians, uncles and Karens, and rizz hungry youths who tolerate no Ohio. But there’s still hope.
He was gracious to them. He expected the same from them. That’s why he called them to love each other. Verse 20 - “greet ye one another with a holy kiss.” Now, what’s this practice? In short, it was a common greeting in the early church. It’s mentioned in other books like Romans, 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, and 1 Peter. The early Christians greeted each other with a kiss. Now, the interesting thing is this - historically, it was only a Christian practice. The pagans didn’t do it. They were too class conscious. But the church was made up of nobles and slaves; and Christ was the great equalizer. Colossians 3:11 - “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” But we know pagan ideas were still present in the church. So Paul had to instruct them to be what Christ purchased them to be - a community of equals marked by love and affection. If they manned up, and celebrated their equality, they wouldn’t fight for preeminence.
But lastly, they were to grow up by loving God’s kingdom. In the last flanking verses, 1-4 and 22-23, Paul told them to take a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. They were to demonstrate liberality towards others. The Galatian church was doing it. Why shouldn’t they? So on the Lord’s Day, they were to lay aside a donation, according to how God had materially blessed them - meaning the rich should give more. This was to help them grow up. Remember? The Corinthians only loved themselves, thought only about themselves. The rich would come to celebrate the Lord’s supper, but ate up all the food before the slaves came. They were always trying to outdo each other. But here, they were to outdo each other in charity. To be kingdom minded. They were to give liberally; urgently - now, not later; and with accountability - sending men to Jerusalem. They were once selfish - but now were called to think beyond themselves, to be kingdom minded.
And Paul was hopeful that his words would bear fruit. But he also knew the gospel shuts the kingdom as well. Like the Pharisees, there were those who heard but hated. I want my life. Don’t tell me to love the Lord Jesus. So he warned them to be loyal toward Christ. Verse 22 - “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” This was a strong warning. The strongest. If, despite all they’d learned - Christ came to save sinners, loving them - and by faith they’re God’s children who deny self, and hope in heaven - and they don’t want to follow him, but follow their lusts and self, not growing in the gospel - then they weren’t believers. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, if any man is not loyal to him after all that he’s done - let him be what he really is - an unbeliever - one who won’t bow the knee toward Christ, one who’s reserved for judgment. Lord Jesus, come quickly to judge these enemies of your church - those who subvert your cause. Come quickly!
Dearly beloved, God’s Word is hard today as we come to the end of our study of 1 Corinthians. But it’s also a tremendously encouraging and hopeful. We can grow up - strengthened by Christ to love his kingdom and deny self. Look at the disciples - how contentious they were; arguing who’d be first, calling down fire from heaven, stopping others from serving Christ, scolding Mary for spending a fortune on him, running away leaving him alone, denying him in his darkest hour, and Paul persecuting the disciples to the uttermost. But our Lord washed their feet, taught them patiently, praised Mary for her generosity, forgave their betrayals, and humbled Paul to preach the gospel. He can change us. And you can find strength at his table as you celebrate the gospel. As you resolve to deny self and grow in him. Yes even you, like Peter, who’ve been telling yourself that Christ may not be worth it - he graciously invites you to his banqueting table - and he feeds you this meal he’s prepared. Just like Peter was restored by the shores of Galilee, you can be restored and strengthened when you resolve to love Christ. If you love Christ, welcome to the banqueting table and be strengthened by him to love him more. But like Judas, some of you have resolved to betray him. If you don’t love him, this bread you take from Christ’s hand, will only confirm what you really are.
1. Grow Up in Love (13-14)
A. Grow up
B. Be strengthened
C. Be alert
D. Stand firm
E. Love
2. By Submitting to Christ’s Rule (10-12, 15-18)
A. Receive the Word
B. Submit to officers
3. By Being Gracious to One Another (5-9, 19-21)
A. Hope in each other
B. Love each other
4. By Loving God’s Kingdom (1-4, 22-23)
A. Liberality towards others
B. Loyalty towards Christ
- All Christians should know their besetting sins that Satan can exploit. Do you know yours? In what ways have you watched and grown in moral courage to overcome them?
- Which of the five exhortations in 16:13-14 do you struggle with most? Why do you find it so difficult? Which of the five have you grown the most last year?
- What will a church be like if worshipers are not pressing on towards maturity? What aspects of the Corinthian church do you see in your church?
Prayer:
Adoration - Christ as head of the church - not leaving us. Hope where Christ is in a church.
Confession - Not loved enough; matured in moral courage, etc.
Thanksgiving - Family conversation, Gospel service, CNY - gospel opportunity, officers.
Supplication - OSS, Building Renewal, CI, Missions (to URCM, Philippines, Sister Churches (pastor for CGC, elder; FRCA - vacant pulpits), Jing Heng, those struggling with besetting sins, preparation for new officers.
Reading of the Forms (2nd) for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper:
Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ:
The holy supper is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen to the words of this institution in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29: “For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me. And after the same manner also, he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me; for as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup; for he
that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
Purposes
As we draw near to celebrate the holy supper in remembrance of Christ, let us consider its purposes:
First, it is to remind us true believers of Christ’s sacrificial death for us. From his incarnation to the end of his life on earth, he bore for us the wrath of God, under which we should have perished eternally. By his perfect obedience, he fulfilled all the righteousness of God's law for us. On the cross he endured the deepest shame and anguish of hell as he cried, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” Finally, by his death and shed blood, he confirmed the new and eternal covenant when he said, “It is finished.”
Second, it is to assure us true believers of all the benefits of this covenant of grace. Christ declared that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we are assured of his hearty love and faithfulness towards us. It is a sure pledge that he has given his body and shed his blood for us. By his death, he removed the cause of our eternal death and misery – which is sin. As those who belong to his covenant, we are accepted by God and nevermore forsaken by Him.
Third, the Lord’s Supper provides us spiritual nourishment as we partake of the elements by faith. Christ has promised to refresh our hungry and thirsty souls with his crucified body and shed blood as certainly as the bread is broken before our eyes and the cup is given to us.
Fourth, it is to signify and strengthen the communion that we as true believers enjoy with Christ and with one another. By the Holy Spirit who dwells in Christ as the Head and in us as his body, we have true communion with him and share in all his riches, life eternal, righteousness, and glory. The Spirit also unites us in true brotherly love as members of one body. For the sake of Christ, who so exceedingly loved us first, we shall now love one another, and shall show this to one another not just in words but also in deeds.
Finally, it is to provide us with a foretaste of the abundant joy which Christ has promised as we look forward to the marriage feast of the Lamb, when he will drink the wine anew with us in the kingdom of his Father. Let us then rejoice and give God the glory for the marriage feast of the Lamb is coming!
Admonition
Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul warns that “whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” and “he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
Invitation
But this is not meant to discourage broken and contrite hearts, as if only those who are without sin may come to the Lord’s Table. By God’s grace, if we are heartily sorry for our many sins and we desire to grow in obedience to His commandments, we may be fully assured of being received by God in Christ and of being made worthy partakers of this heavenly food and drink.
(FENCING)
We welcome members of our sister churches to our table - Sis Jolin Xiao of the Free Reformed Church of Southern River; and Bro Lester and Sister Keziah Diek of the Free Reformed Church of Byford.
Profession of the Catholic Faith
Before we partake of the elements, let us affirm our faith in the gospel, but professing together our catholic, undoubted Christian faith by reciting together:
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried, he descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; I believe an holy catholic church; The communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen”
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank you for these emblems of your love toward us. They show and remind us of what you have done. Thank you for having us at your banqueting table, and proclaiming to all that you love us. That you gave yourself for us. That you ransomed us to be your people - we who are undeserving. Bless this food to our bodies. As they nourish us, remind us of how we need you to nourish our souls every step of the way until heaven. In your name we pray. Amen.
Exhortation
Brothers and sisters, in order that we may now be nourished with Christ, the true heavenly bread, we must not cling with our hearts to the outward symbols of bread and wine, but lift our hearts on high in heaven, where Christ, our advocate, is at the right hand of his heavenly Father. Let us not doubt that we shall be nourished and refreshed in our souls with his body and blood, through the working of the Holy Spirit, as truly as we receive the holy bread and drink in remembrance of him.
Communion
(When he breaks the bread, the minister shall say:)
The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.
The bread will now be distributed from the hands of Christ through his officers.
Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was broken for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Let us take together.
The cup of blessing, for which we give thanks, is the communion of the blood of Christ.
The cup will now be distributed from the hands of Christ through his officers.
(And when he gives the cup:)
Take, drink from it, all of you, remember, and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was poured out for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Let us drink together.
Thanksgiving
(After the communion, the Minister shall say:)
Beloved, since the Lord has now nourished our souls at his table, let us now give to his kingdom for the sake of the gospel.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2025, Rev. Mark Chen
Please direct any comments to the Webmaster
