Governance of the Corinthian Church
- Like the American Church, much reform was needed before the Church/Ekklesia could be what it was supposed to be
- 1 Corinthians 12– the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- But Paul recognized that there were some areas of weakness
First about authority in the Church
- Authority and order – 1 Corinthians 11:4-5– A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying.5 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.
- Greek word kata – preposition denoting motion/diffusion/direction from higher to lower – to cover/veil
- If not covered, no real recognized authority – Matthew 8:9– I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
- Authority in the Godhead relationship – 1 Corinthians 11:3b– …the head of Christ is God.
- When covered, we reflect God’s image, not our own. Are you covered?
The sacraments or ordinances of the Church – sacred-ments rituals
- Baptism and communion – demonstrated by Jesus
- One represents our relationship with God, the other with the Body of Christ
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 & 25 – Do this in remembrance of me
- Outward visible signs, the practice of a spiritual truth – the practices don’t save in themselves
Communion (koinonia) –1 Corinthians 10:16
- Communion – idea of the table of fellowship – this ordinance is very important to Jesus
- Jesus’ blood is the covenant that ties us together – the Body Of Christ is us. Passover ties us to the Jews
- 1 Corinthians 11:29 – For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
- Referring to the Body Of Christ as a whole with communion and relationship with God and others
- 1 Corinthians 11:30-31 – For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
- Why some are sick? – Bad attitudes towards others – yes some sickness is caused by us.
- What’s the remedy? – Judge ourselves.
The Gold standard for human relationships
- Human relationships are, by far, the toughest part of being a leader in the Church.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
- Philippians 4 – We are to concentrate on the positive and not the negative.
- We are called to look at the curve, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in others.
- How do we handle justice? – Humbly but with power – meek does not mean weak in the Greek.
Attitudinal adjustment
- Called to have the same attitude that Jesus had – Philippians 2:1-5