Christians Behaving Badly

Learning to Get Along In the Family of God – Part 2

From congregational readings in 1 Cor 5-10, July 6, 08 – bk@kluth.org

1 – Immorality: Face it and flee from it

1 Cor 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

1 Cor 5:9-10 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.

1 Cor 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Cor 6:13, 18-20 The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body…Flee from sexual immorality…Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

2 - Disagreements: Get help to resolve it

1 Cor 6:1-8 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers!

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

3 – Marital issues: Work on it

1 Cor 7:8 To the unmarried and the widows…1 Cor 7:10 To the married…

1 Cor 7:25 Now about virgins…1 Cor 7:12 If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him…1 Cor 7:13 If a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her…

1 Cor 7:15 If the unbeliever leaves…

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.

1 Cor 7:19-21 Keeping God's commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

1 Cor 7:28 Those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

4 - Self-focused living: Move away from it

1 Cor 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Cor 10:31-11:1 Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many…

Eph 4:15-16 Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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DAILY BIBLE READINGS: This week read 1 Cor 11-15, Ps 51-52