The Hurdle of Conflict
Sermon Title: The Hurdle of Conflict
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to understand when there is conflict in the church, that conflict is to be resolved by the church.
Sermon Proposition: There are 6 concepts related to resolving conflict in the church.
I. The standard of the Saints’ authority in conflict. V.1 (Acts 15)
A. Believers who settle conflicts before the world damage the name of Christ.
B. Believers who settle conflicts before the world damage the testimony of the church.
C. Believers who settle conflicts before the world fail in obedience to the Lord.
D. Believers have both the Holy Spirit and Christ-centered leaders to helping conflict.
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. . . 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
II. The scope of the Saints’ authority in conflict. V.2-4
A. Believers will judge and govern the world.
C. Believers rule and reign is an absolute fact.
Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -- 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from My Father;
Daniel 7:22 "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
III. The shame of the Saints’ authority in conflict. V.5-6
A. There is no excuse for conflict among believers not being solved.
B. There is no excuse for believers going to court against one another.
C. There is no excuse for believers going to unbelievers to resolve conflict.
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
1 Corinthians 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
Philippians 4:2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
IV. The selflessness of the Saints’ authority in conflict. V.7-8
A. The parities in the conflict suffer because of selfishness.
B. The church suffers because of the selfishness.
C. The unbelievers suffer because of the selfishness.
D. The Son of God suffers because of the selfishness.
Luke 6:29 "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
V. The sin of the Saints’ authority in conflict. V.9-10 (2 Cor. 5:21)
“People must know the facts! If God is righteous, then people must live righteous lives in order to be accepted by Him. However, people ignore the fact of God’s righteousness and His demand for righteousness. People tend to divorce their behavior from faith in Christ.”
VI. The significance of the Saints’ authority in Conflict. V.11 (Rom. 5:1)
A. The believer does not respond in sin because he is washed. V.11a
B. The believer does not respond in sin because he is sanctified. V.11b
C. The believer does not respond in sin because he is justified. V.11c
John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
John 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.