All things are yours, (1 Corinthians 3:21)
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future —all are yours, (1 Corinthians 3:22)
and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. (1 Corinthians 3:23)
Big Idea
Backstory – this one start with Paul telling his friends at corinth that they’re being idiots.
‘Mere Infants’ – Like to give meat, but give milk b/c they’re too immature.
Why? – Arguing – favorites
Back up – been traveling to cities like Corinth – telling about Jesus. People at those cities – began to have favorites. Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter). So intense – arguing about who they like the best. Fighting.
Apple v Android.
Paul – mad :
“For when one says “I follow Paul” and another “I follow Apollos” are you not mere human beings?”
“Uhhhhh….. yes, we’re human beings.”
Calling them to live above the things that separate them.
Back in the day: tended to make celebrities out of leaders they liked best. Waaaayyyyy different than today (Wink)
They’ve taken something good – teachers coming to help them – turned into source of division and jealousy.
“What, after all is Apollos? And what is Paul?”
Please tell me – find that funny. 3rd person.
Answer? Only servants.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
Review: Lot going on, but basically fighting over favorites
“God uses lots of different people to do lots of different things to help us all grow and mature.”
Then paul goes into this long part about these things.
Grace God has given me – The foundation that is in Christ
How they are God’s temple – Then: foolish & wise of the world
Drop hammer:
So then, no more boasting about human leaders!
Been taking us on this journey that started w/fighting over favorite teacher. Building up to this idea, centered around “All things are yours”
Wether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter)
Lots of different people to teach us.
Instead of choosing favorite, take ownership of all of it.
Enjoy goodness and truth in all forms.
All a gift from God to help you grow.
Paul: Why would you cut yourself off from more truth? – Huge. Great point he’s making.
Continues:
All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos Or Cephas or the world…
The world is yours?
Start w/jealousy, turns to ‘you’re missing it’.
All these teachers – gift – Can teach you
Then expands it to include world.
The world is yours. – Even the world can be your teacher.
If you open your eyes, you find Jesus in so much.
Life or death
Ours? Yeah
Or the present or the future
He starts with teachers, then expands to the world, then he expands it to include being alive or being dead, and then he expands it to include everything that is and everything that will be.
All are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. That ends chapter.
To me, this way of looking at the world is life changing.
Paul:
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. Halloween (Titus 1:15)
“God’s truth”
We should throw it out. Because what other kind of truth is there?
If it’s true, then it’s from God.
Science, art, politics, history, psychology, biology.
All that’s true is from God. To say something is God’s truth implies that some truth belongs to God and then there is another kind of truth, that apparently doesn’t belong to God. Not helpful. If true – God. If it’s true, it has only one source, God.
When you stumble upon the truth, you don’t have to fear truth colliding with God.
Faith vs. Science
Misses the point.
True: then of God.
This freedom goes both ways
Free to affirm truth wherever we find it
Free to deny that which needs to be denied.
Includes religious things – Our own shortcomings
Ostrich Move. Nothing sacred about the ostrich move.
Some things that are labeled Christian aren’t true, and some things that aren’t labeled Christian are true. Some atheists say lots of true things, and some Christians are full of crap.
Grounds the whole thing in Christ.
Christ is bigger than any one teacher, any one idea, the world, life, death, anything. Christ is bigger.
Why is this helpful in 2014?
B/C religion – categories & labels – aren’t helpful.
Your experiences following God are going to break the boxes that you’ve kept Him in.
Paul: we can walk with our eyes open, ready to embrace the truth, deny the lies, and remain rooted in Christ.
Sign guy dancing
Sometimes can’t explain stuff, and beauty has to be experienced.
Take us to the bible.
Questions – fine.
There’s a time and place for all questions, but writers wrote about their experience. Wanted others to experience it too.
Example: Paul:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8)
Shipwrecked – Tried to murder him – Betrayed – Kicked in the face
Nothing could convince him that love is not the deepest reality in life.
He experienced – worst humanity.
Insists that there’s love that is greater and bigger than all.
Not what people talk about.
Argue: – Fish – Who’s sinning – What preacher is the best – Who’s church is the coolest
We miss the point.
Example: Paul
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3)
Great
Ephesians 1: Paul to friends – Ephesus:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” (Ephesians 1)
“Enlightened”
Don’t want to memorize it, or develop doctrine bullets, I want it to change me.
Interplay with the bible and the world
Boat – anchor Analogy where you put the anchor down in a boat, then you can relax and enjoy the waves, and the scenery, and you know you’re not going anywhere, because you have the anchor down.
Application:
Repeat “All things are yours” throughout the day. Write it down. When you come across something beautiful, and moving. Remember this: all things are yours.
Alexandra
Paul writes b/c his experience – Jesus
Opened him up, bigger, wider, filled w/ joy, wonder.
You can see the world this way.
“Rooted and established in love.”
When you interact with people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
Celebrate – good – true – beautiful.
All religion, all spirituality, all doctrine, all dogma, all beliefs, all statements of faith, it all began there, with a life changing experience.
Your invitation is to live with the assumption that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ, that new life really is possible, that the divine is as close as your breath, that God is on your side and all things are yours.
