ethos

Background – Corinth much like America today

• Center of trade and commerce
• Culturally Significant in its time
• Many differing beliefs (12 Temples)
• Struggled with immorality

God is looking for transformation and transformation is found in following Christ

1. We need to make Christ a priority
2. We need to have Paul’s perspective – It’s about Jesus – the Gospel not us

 

God does things different

-          God is beyond human and cannot be judged by human standards

-          God is working out a huge plan that goes beyond human understanding

• Completely includes each of us
• But is also completely beyond us

-          The world says hit them back – God says turn the other check

-          The world says be number one – God says be everyone’s servant

-          The world says you are good and can do it all by yourself – God says you’re sinful and cannot make it alone

 

It only makes sense then that God’s way – the message of the cross – makes no sense to those who don’t believe in God’s way (who are truly being transformed) . 1 Corinthians 1:18

 

There are religious people everywhere in this country

Wife Swap – The ultra Religious family, the Modern feminized family –

-          both believe they’re life is the correct way to live.

-          Religious misses the point of the things they say they follow

-          The other is operating completely out of selfish gain

-          Neither made sense to the other and both missed the mark and were causing damage

 

1 Corinthians 1:20 – 25

Paul asks, “where is the wise man?” – People cannot know God through their own wisdom.

-          The Jews practiced all of the rules and did everything right – Just hurt people

-          The Greeks were looking to enlighten themselves through wisdom and serve their own ends

 

1 Corinthians 1:26

God doesn’t choose by human standards – We will never measure up – someone always has more

God works out of His great love and mercy and chooses people like me and you

-          Not wise, influential, not royalty

-          He chooses the unlikely, the foolish, the poor,  and the weak

-          SO THAT NO ONE WILL BOAST IN THEMSELVES – GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE AND TRANSFORM

 

We are to be different

Healthy, work out people.  Takes a level of commitment and desire that is beyond me.

-          5 am at the Gym

-          Shakes made out of bananas, wheat, spinach, apples, and peanut butter

-          Running miles at a time when they aren’t being chased by a rabid animal

They are different, but they understand something that results in a lifestyle

 

We are told to be holy, we are strangers in a strange land, it even says we are a peculiar people

 

If we understand that doing things God’s way will produce transformation in us and in those around us, then it makes sense to begin to live the life He’s called us to.

We cannot have it His way and ours.  They aren’t compatible.

You can’t be selflessly selfish. You can’t be the servant of all and the attention hog at the same time.

 

You can’t be the work out person and still be the junk food eating, unhealthy living person and be a true representation of what you say you are.

 

Your life has to be built on Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:11 – Your foundation in life starts with Christ.  That will shape whatever your build on top of it.

 

We are to be different.  We have to stop trying to have it both ways.  We cannot build our lives was the rest of the world builds and expect our lives to stand.

 

1. Stop looking at Christianity from the way the world looks at life
2. Understand that it’s not because of how great or wise or religious we are that we can be followers of Christ
3. That the only way to build a life that will stand the test of eternity is to build it on Christ not our own merits