Time to Grow Up

Week 1
Main Point and Overview:   

As a parent, you tend to repeat yourself when your kids are not listening to you. The Apostle Paul had a lot to say to the Corinthian church that he had to keep saying over and over again. In all reality, the Corinthians were a lot like the modern-day American church. Filled with potential, power, prosperity, and promise, she had the greatest opportunity for Gospel influence. Sadly, she was not realizing her full potential being bogged down in immature sins that should have been already resolved. The truth is that God has equipped each and every person within his church with spiritual gifts that are meant to be “lived out” for his honor and glory. Here at Emmanuel, we are a lot like the Corinthians in that we have been enriched with knowledge, talent, and most importantly, the necessary spiritual gifts to do great things for God. The question: are we fully taking advantage of what God has given to us? For the Corinthians, we soon find out that the answer is a “resounding no!” They had become consumed with independence, and it was crushing their unity and drive toward one goal – Gospel impact! It becomes very evident in that they were enamored with personalities instead of purpose. Instead of making the mission their sole drive, they became “me-centric” following their favorite spiritual “personalities!” In modern-day America, we have celebrity pastors, podcasters, speakers, and everyone “drools” over these people’s next greatest catchy saying, book, or funny story. We’ve become immature. We no longer thirst for Gospel truth; we thirst for entertainment. We follow men instead of God. When this happens, it is only a matter of time before your faith will be shipwrecked. Why? Because people come and go. Generations come and go. Styles come and go. Jesus is forever. He is the Savior, not a single pastor, speaker, or leader in the modern-day Evangelical movement. So, maybe it’s time to grow up! Maybe it’s time to become a productor and not a consumer. Maybe it’s time to be mature enough to learn truth even from a “boring” speaker. The Corinthians had allowed their opinions and preferences to divide their church, weakening their influence. We can never be guilty of such a sad reality. Instead, we must replace superficial with selflessness!