Crossway Christian Church

Appetizers are designed to simply whet the appetite for the real entrée. Often, though, we make full meals out of them. Last week we looked at the nature of the parables as something of an appetizer for them. While it was a full meal, it is hoped that meal simply made us hungrier for the rest! Today, we start by looking at the parable of parables, the parable of the sower.

The Gospels, as pictures of the life of Christ, run in a general chronological pattern. From his birth to the beginning of his ministry, to the triumphal entry and the eventual and fateful crucifixion and resurrection, the main timeline is kept intact. But the individual events are often compiled for the author’s own reason, as Matthew has done in his 13th chapter. But why teach in parables, when Jesus was so capable of teaching in other methods which were clearer and more straight-forward? The disciples ask the same question of him, and we look at his answer today.

Paul has finished the main body of the letter, the vast majority of his exhortations, and did it with quite a flourish. The resurrection is important to us, theologically as well as personally. We who await a better place than this, who know of bitterness and sadness here, are justifiably excited about a new and better home. Yet, it does us little good to just look up at the sky. Paul reminds the Corinthians that there is yet work to do here on earth, and much of it imperfect and filled with hardship.

Of all the days that Christians celebrate, today is the grandest of them all. Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, overwhelming death and justifying all who believe in him. Praise be to God! And, better still, this is a prelude of our own fate, of our own resurrection. So, let us consider the triumph of our resurrection and what it means for us!

Good Friday is a blessed day if, for no other reason, that it shows off the oddity and irony of the cross of Christ. It is a wondrous exchange: Christ knowingly gives us his life and righteousness and takes our death and sin. We talk often about this, central as it is; yet that very comfortability can, if we are not careful, lead to a flattening of the gospel. Today, with the help of one short verse, let us think about its depth and beauty.

Paul has argued for the basic necessity of the resurrection in the gospel, and its purpose in sealing our redemption and securing his reign. But we still have questions. What, precisely will our resurrection bodies be like? Will we be 20? Have perfect figures and muscles? The Corinthians ask these questions out of spite, but Paul has answers anyway.

We can understand why the Corinthians might have downplayed the resurrection. They were quite immature, and their culture looked down on the physical aspects of the world. They didn’t see the good in it, and they hadn’t thought through the theological implications of it. Paul will remedy that for them, and us, today. Why should we care about Jesus’ and even our, resurrection? What hangs on it? In a word, everything.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the proclamation that saves sinners from hell, delivers them from the power of Satan, and gives them an inheritance free from corruption. Such proclamation, if done in the nature of the world, would likely come with many footnotes and small print, needless complications, and debate. But, in truth, the gospel is straightforward to confess, understandable, and relatable. Today, let us consider the nature of the gospel that we confess!

From the very first words of the Bible, we are introduced to a God of order and carefulness. God is not a God of chaos, but of peace. When we gather to worship God, our worship ought to tell of that God; not just in the words we speak and sing, but in the very form and order of that worship. Here, Paul instructs the Corinthians to better picture the nature of God in their worship.

Today, we come to a chapter in 1 Corinthians that can easily be misunderstood if we do not observe the context. It is a very beautiful passage, very famous passage about love. It contains wonderfully crafted prose that resonates with us, and we will see that when it is applied to the local church, it is even more meaningful. The main point of the text is this: the Christian life is marked by love.

Many people today take personality tests, helping them to understand themselves, and even the people around them, better. These same types of tests have been used, certainly erroneously, to assess what gifts God may have given to people. What special advantage has God given to you in the Spirit? How are you to use this for the church? Paul is trying to clarify for us the nature of gifts of the Spirit in Corinth, certainly something that we can gain from! Let us consider Paul’s thoughts this morning.

Everyone likes to be complimented, to know that the job they are doing is being appreciated and seen. Last week, Paul started his comments by commending the Corinthians for their willingness to stick to the traditions. This gives the issues raised there a minor feel, as though they were a blip. This week however, no such commendation was given; Paul explicitly denies that he is doing anything of the such. The Corinthians’ disunity, demonstrated in the Lord’s Supper, is a problem near to their understanding of the gospel and shows just how deep their factions went.

Tetris is one of the best-selling games of all time, and was ubiquitous for the people of my generation worldwide. The point was to arrange blocks as they fell into complete rows, making them disappear. This is not unlike biblical theology, where we take texts and problems and try to arrange them rightly. Sometimes, however, the blocks fall so fast and their arrangement so complicated, that we can feel quite overwhelmed. This is especially true for the most difficult passage in 1 Corinthians, where Paul deals with head coverings. Let us see if we can make some sense of this somewhat strange and enigmatic passage.

Some things in this world are complicated because they need to be. MRI machines, the internal combustion engine, and the space shuttle are all tremendously complicated because they must be to do their job. There are, however, some things that are more difficult than they should be. Windshield wipers, IKEA furniture, and online recipes all seem needlessly complicated. So it is with Paul’s argument about meat in these last three chapters of 1 Corinthians. Why not just say “yes” or “no”? Primarily because Paul knew a good opportunity to teach when it presented itself. How should we handle ourselves in these situations?

Our nation has sprung up from a declaration of rights. We are a people who love to claim their rights, to fight for their rights, even to say that we would gladly die for our rights. What if, for the good of others, God might be calling you to lay down your rights? Would you? Paul pleads with the Corinthians to see the good in setting aside their rights that others might flourish in the Lord.

Doctrine has gotten a bad reputation in some segments of the church. For many, seeing the fights that have split the church over every jot and tittle in the Bible, doctrine is just a divisive force; one that divides but can never unify. We think differently. Yet, we must know the limits of our theology and our doctrine. Even when we get them right, we can be very wrong.

Christians uphold marriage as a foundational part of the culture in which we live. We rightly understand how important marriage is financially for individuals, not to mention for the quality of life of children. 1 Corinthians 7 is the longest straightforward treatment of marriage in Scripture. What Paul has to say is both helpful and surprising.

Each year, we prepare for the Christmas season through Advent. But what do the individual candles mean, and how are we to think of them as a collective whole? Today, let us consider the Advent season in full, and grow in our appreciation of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, come in the flesh.

Christianity, in its most basic form, is quite an easy thing to understand. God, out of love for us and pleasure in his justice, became a man so that he might die in our place, taking our sin and death and defeating them forever. We proclaim this, so that anyone who trusts and believes in that might have eternal life in him. See, easy! But how are we to live here and now? Do we follow the law? Well, sort of, but not really. How are we to determine what is right and wrong? Here, as in many places, Paul gives us a helpful answer.

There are many things in this life that we simply do not associate with one another. Pickles and ice cream; power and modesty; Christmas sweaters and class. These things simply belong in separate categories in our heads. Yet, there are many things that people generally feel do not mix well that are necessarily related. Discipline and love would rank high on that list. Discipline, even formal discipline, is a necessity within the church of Jesus, and is in fact a helpful and needed demonstration of our love.