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In Conclusion (1 Corinthians 16:13-24) | Imperfect Series

Paul’s final exhortation to the Corinthians in vs. 13 and 14 act as a summary and bookended to all that Paul has had to say to the Corinthians: “Be Watchful, Stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done in love.” Paul reminds them again of the importance of discernment, he encourages them to hold fast to the faith, to be brave and strong, but undergirding all of this most be a Spirit of love and unity.

Sermon Notes:

• “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)
• Keep your eyes open for anything trying to take your attention and affection away from God. (vs. 13)
• Stand firm in the faith. (vs. 13)
• It will take courage and strength if you are going to stand firm. (vs. 13)
• “A culture that allows the concept of ‘safety’ to creep so far that it equates emotional discomfort with physical danger is a culture that encourages people to systematically protect one another from the very experiences embedded in daily life that they need in order to become strong and healthy.” Greg Lukianoff – “The Coddling of the American Mind”
• Every moment and attitude in life is to be done in love. (vs. 14)
• Lean into the truth that you are not alone.

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In Conclusion (1 Corinthians 16:13-24) | Imperfect Series (K)

Paul’s final exhortation to the Corinthians in vs. 13 and 14 act as a summary and bookended to all that Paul has had to say to the Corinthians: “Be Watchful, Stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done in love.” Paul reminds them again of the importance of discernment, he encourages them to hold fast to the faith, to be brave and strong, but undergirding all of this most be a Spirit of love and unity.

Sermon Notes:

• Being a Follower of Christ must be a way of life.
• Four Summary Practices for Every Believer (vs. 13-14):
  • Discernment
  • Faith
  • Grit
  • Love
• Because we are imperfect, we need a perfect Saviour. (vs. 21-24)

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Learning To Put Our Plans In Gods Hands (1 Corinthians 16:5-12) | Imperfect Series

This small section points out that it’s good and valuable to plan. Ministry often requires us to think ahead, to plan, to strategize. But, we must always recognize that our plans are secondary to God’s plans. Make your plans, but then place your plans in God’s hands.

Sermon Notes:

• Every person wants their life to count for something, and lives that count for something don’t happen by accident.
• Have your life rooted in the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)
• “I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
• Make plans that move you toward your goal. (vs. 5-7)
• Hold your plans loosely because God may have other ideas. (vs. 7)
• Be fully present in what God has already placed in front of you for today. (vs. 8-9)
• Wherever God places you – a life that counts is a life investing in helping other people thrive. (vs. 10-11)

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Learning To Put Our Plans In Gods Hands (1 Corinthians 16:5-12) | Imperfect Series (K)

This small section points out that it’s good and valuable to plan. Ministry often requires us to think ahead, to plan, to strategize. But, we must always recognize that our plans are secondary to God’s plans. Make your plans, but then place your plans in God’s hands.

Sermon Notes:

• We can hold too tightly or too loosely to our plans.
• We should create plans that bring glory to God.
• We must place our plans in God’s hands and trust Him in the process.
• Three examples of trusting God with our future:
  • Trust God when our plans change (vs. 5-9)
  • Trust God when things are tough (vs. 10-11)
  • Trust God when His will conflicts with our will (vs. 12)
• Trusting God with our future is an essential act of faith.
• What do we do when we don’t know what to do?
  • Listen to wise counsel.
  • Listen to the Holy Spirit. 

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Generous Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-4) | Imperfect Series

Paul’s instruction for giving in this section provide some principles for our giving today. First ,giving should be a priority (on the first day of the week). Second, giving is for everyone, everyone should bring something. Third ought to be proportional. Although everyone can give something, depending on what God has blessed us with we may have much more to give than another. Finally, giving should be purposeful, we need to plan to give. Like all spiritual disciplines giving is very unlikely to happen by accident.

Sermon Notes:

• For a disciple of Jesus – financial giving is normal. (v. 1)
• “… lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus
• For a disciple of Jesus – giving is a priority. (v. 2)
• Giving is for everyone. (v. 2)
• The amount you give should be proportional to your income. (v. 2)
• “God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.” Randy Alcorn
• Generosity is our standard for giving. (2 Corinthians 8:1-3 & 8-9)
• Giving should come with accountability. (v. 3 & 4)

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Generous Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-4) | Imperfect Series (K)

Paul’s instruction for giving in this section provide some principles for our giving today. First ,giving should be a priority (on the first day of the week). Second, giving is for everyone, everyone should bring something. Third ought to be proportional. Although everyone can give something, depending on what God has blessed us with we may have much more to give than another. Finally, giving should be purposeful, we need to plan to give. Like all spiritual disciplines giving is very unlikely to happen by accident.

Sermon Notes:

1. Generous giving is a spiritual discipline and is part of our worship. (1 Cor. 16:2-3)
2. Generosity is our response to God’s grace in our lives. (2 Cor. 8:9)
3. A yielded heart asks, “How can I be generous with what I’ve been given?” rather than, “How much am I supposed to give?” (2 Cor. 8:1-5)
4. A generous Christian exchanges temporary pleasure for an eternal investment. (Luke 12:33; 2 Cor. 9:6)
5. Generosity builds up the church and glorifies God. (2 Cor. 9:11-13)

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The Death of Death (Darryl Siemens) | Imperfect Series

These are 9 of the most encouraging verses in scripture. Jesus has defeated sin and death. If we are in Christ death no longer needs to hold any fear for us. Because Jesus has defeated death, no matter what this mortal life may bring, we can be “steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work because we know that our labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

Sermon Notes:

• The fear that plagues us all: death.
• Receive victory and inheritance – not fear and death (v. 57, 50)
• Three problems of fearing death

1. 1. Deny the power of Christ (v. 57)
   2. Deny the security of Christ (v. 51-52)
   3. Lose the motivation to work for Christ (v. 58) 

• And yet… loss still hurts (v. 54-55)
• When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. (John 11:33-35)
• There is hope in the mystery of the gospel (v. 51) 
• In this life – live for Christ (v. 58)
• For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21) 

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The Death of Death (Keith Sparrow) | Imperfect Series (K)

These are 9 of the most encouraging verses in scripture. Jesus has defeated sin and death. If we are in Christ death no longer needs to hold any fear for us. Because Jesus has defeated death, no matter what this mortal life may bring, we can be “steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work because we know that our labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

Sermon Notes:

1. The Mystery of Resurrection (1 Corinthians 5:50-53)
2. The Triumph of Christ’s Victory (1 Corinthians 5:54-57)
3. Living in Light of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 5:58)

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New Bodies For a New Heaven and New Earth (1 Corinthians 15:35-49) | Imperfect Series

If we have received the forgiveness that has come through Christ death on the cross one day, we will also receive a new and imperishable body like Jesus did at his resurrection. The hope of the Christian is not a disembodied existence in the clouds, instead is a new, imperishable, physical body enjoying eternity with God in a new heaven and new earth.

Sermon Notes:

1. Believing the gospel means believing the resurrection.
2. Believing the resurrection means we trust in God’s creative power.Question: Is there a way don’t you believe God can work?
3. Believing the resurrection means our body matters.Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. – Genesis 2:7 ESV

   Question: What do you believe about your body?

4. Believing the Resurrection means we are being transformed to be more like Jesus.Question: Where are you sowing?

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New Bodies For a New Heaven and New Earth (1 Corinthians 15:35-49) | Imperfect Series (K)

If we have received the forgiveness that has come through Christ death on the cross one day, we will also receive a new and imperishable body like Jesus did at his resurrection. The hope of the Christian is not a disembodied existence in the clouds, instead is a new, imperishable, physical body enjoying eternity with God in a new heaven and new earth.

Sermon Notes:

• We are called to believe the tangible reality of Jesus and the resurrection. (vs. 35-36)
• Resurrection means we don’t hate our bodies. (vs. 37-41)
• Resurrection means we don’t worship our bodies. (vs. 42-48)
• When we get worship wrong, it leads to hate. But when we get worship right, it leads to love.
• The true power of the resurrection is renewal. (vs. 49)     
• Practicing the way of renewal starts now.
• Five ways to use our bodies to engage our hearts for worship: 

1. 1. Kneeling in Prayer
   2. Raising Hands in Worship
   3. Fasting
   4. The Lord’s Supper
   5. Baptism