DON’T FOLLOW PEOPLE. FOLLOW JESUS.

INTRODUCTION

• Who did you admire as a child? Many people immediately think of firemen, famous athletes, or social media celebrities.

• You can learn a lot about a culture from who the public admires, can’t you?

• If you look up to musicians, you learn how to play the guitar.

• If you look up to firemen, you protect the public.

• If you look up to YouTube stars, you purchase a camera to carry around your school.

• When you think about it, to know a culture’s celebrities is to get a glimpse of their priorities.

TRANSITION TO 1 CORINTHIANS CONTEXT

• So, as we dive into a study of the book of First Corinthians, we are learning about a culture that admires academics, philosophers, and educators.

• The city of Corinth was at the center of the Roman Empire.

• Despite being part of Rome’s ever-expanding empire, Corinth’s culture was as Greek as baklava.

• This was particularly evident in the people they thrust into the spotlight.

• I am sure you are familiar with names like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

• These men were the celebrities of Corinth.

• The Apostle Paul helped plant the Corinthian church early in his missionary career, so he deeply cared for the believers in Corinth.

• When he wrote them the letter we now know as First Corinthians, he cleverly mirrored the ancient philosophical style in his writing.

• Greek philosophers were known to speak in the contrast of “vice versus virtue,” as in, is this behavior helpful or hurtful to me?

• Paul, wanting his friends to live out their calling, adopted this style when writing his letters.

• What was the vice he wanted them to confront? Selfishness.

• The Christians in Corinth were fighting, so the Apostle Paul stepped in. Since he cared, he gave them what they needed: tough love in the form of guidance.

• Through his letters to the Corinthians, Paul introduced them to a format designed for spiritual growth—identifying the problem, offering a solution, and promising a blessing.

The Problem - You Are Following Human Philosophy

• Since the Corinthians loved human teachers so much, a daunting problem bubbled to the surface. A celebrity-preacher fascination led to an unhealthy obsession with human teachers rather than the Great Teacher—Jesus.

• This preoccupation with people over Christ caused division in the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, Paul writes, “So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”

• Paul’s words were meant to be a wake-up call for the Corinthians. He wanted to remind them that their divisions and quarrels over human leaders were childish and dangerous. In the grand scheme of things, all these leaders were just servants, not celebrities.

• After pointing out the painful problem of division, Paul offered a helpful solution.

• If they wanted to break free from division, they needed to reset their vision.

• They needed to remember their place in the hierarchy of the Kingdom of God.

The Solution - Remember God Is the Owner, and We Are the Laborers

• It seems as though many Corinthian teachers were trying to make names for themselves, and the people were making the problem worse by taking the bait.

• Paul needed to remind them of their common ground as disagreement sought to destroy.

• First Corinthians 3 reminds us that we are “fellow workers,” employed by God to carry out His perfect plan on the planet.

• When we forget that God owns every atom of the universe, we can start to make decisions on our own—without considering the spiritual consequences of our actions.

• Imagine starting a new job and immediately thinking of all the things you’d do differently if you ran the place.

• You may think the budget should be revised, certain people should be fired, and the logo could use an update.

• However, if you started implementing those changes, what would happen? You’d get fired, right?

• You were hired to do the labor, not be the manager.

• We can cringe at that example, but we do this to God all the time. God has called us to do the work.

• He is the one who calls the shots. We must live with that perspective in mind.

• God is the owner, and we are the laborers.

• So, how do we approach God as a laborer? We do what God says.

• We love people.

• We serve him.

• We walk in humility.

• When we build a foundation on God’s Word, we walk in God’s favor.

• There is a blessing attached to Paul’s solution. Take a look at how he addresses that in chapter three.

The Blessing - All Things Will Be Yours

• The Corinthians loved ornate, extravagant building projects. Think of the Greek Parthenon with its towering columns and intricate details. It was a symbol of their prosperity, and the Greek people took great pride in it.

• Paul, being great at metaphors, compared the church to a grand structure like the Parthenon. Paul explained, “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it” (1 Corinthians 3:10).

• Wanting to shift their focus, Paul concludes that he had laid a “foundation” like a master builder. What was their foundation?

• It was far better than the marble base of the Parthenon. Their church was built on the foundation of Jesus.

LANDING

• Build your life like the Greeks built the Parthenon. Ensure that everything is grounded in Jesus, and you will be able to stand strong.

• Don’t be like the Corinthians and spend your life following flawed people.

• Follow the flawless leader.

• Follow Jesus.

• Your life isn’t about success, reputation, or even good deeds.

• It’s all built on Jesus.

• You get to select who you follow every day.

• Make the right choice.

• Follow Jesus.

• By doing so, God’s favor will follow you.

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week, and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What’s one thing that stood out to you from today’s message?

Q2: What are some ways we can promote Christian unity instead of division?

Q3: Why was Paul frustrated with the way the Corinthians were dealing with teachers in the church? Does anything like this happen in churches today?

Q5: What does it mean to make Jesus the foundation of your life? How can you begin to strengthen that foundation?

Application: Do you think you are typically following God, relying on yourself, or following human influencers? Take the time to reflect on your decisions and relationships this week to recognize when you are following someone other than Jesus.

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

John 8:28-38

Psalm 21

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.