I. THE “UNIVERSAL” CHURCH

II. THE LOCAL CHURCH

One Head and One BodyTwo aspects where the Local Church should reflect the Universal Church:

1) HE IS THE HEAD of the body, the church… that in all things He might have the pre-eminence. Col. 1:18

…and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. Eph. 1:22f

2) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: SO ALSO IS CHRIST. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles…and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. I Cor. 12:12-14

He is the HEAD of the Church

that in ALL things He might

have the Pre-eminence.

The Lord’s Prayer for the Local Church, Jn. 17

To give Christ the Pre-eminence. Col. 1:18

The Local Church – its Purpose. Jn. 17

Not to be taken OUT of the World. 17:15a

To be kept FROM the evil one. 17:15b

To be IN the World. 17:11

Not to be OF the World. 17:14, 16

To Go INTO the World. 17:18

To be One as God and Christ are ONE.17:21-23

• Now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Jn. 17:5

• Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: Jn. 17:24

• And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: Jn. 17:22

III. The Problems of the Local Church in Corinth (cf. Acts 18:1, 8, 11)

1.Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Church.I Cor. 1:10-30

• Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (purpose, NRSV)

a. There were Petty Contentions (quarrels, NIV) among them. 1:11

Toilets in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

We were waiting in a long line to enter what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre Church. Since we all were quite early our RC Palestinian guide enquired if any needed to use the toilet to do so.Then he told us different denominations (Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Syrian and Armenian churches) disputed over the control of the premises. Then there was a "status quo" agreement, meaning whoever occupied a particular area at that point in time, that would be the church's area. For other areas, it would be deemed as "no man's land" -- no individual church can do anything in that area.  One of the areas was the toilet area."It's all about power, control. Each denomination built their number of toilets. Anyone can use them." Jack added, "But if noticed carefully, you will also see three toilets which are sealed. No one can use them. It's all about power - who controls! They can't agree; so these three toilets are sealed! It's really stupid!"The toilets (except the three mentioned above) could only be used after about 50 years of negotiation, We were privileged to use them today. :) If not, we would need to bring portable toilets, and we'll be seeing booths everywhere!

a. There were Petty Contentions (quarrels, NIV) among them. 1:11 ct. 11:16

b. There were Personal Cults among them. 1:12ff

c. There was no interest in the Preaching of the Cross –

it was foolishness. 1:17-25BUT WE PREACH CHRIST

CRUCIFIEDI Cor. 1:23a

1. Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Church. I Cor. 1:10-30

d. They Professed to be Wise and opted out of God’s Calling for them. 1:24-29

i.They were Childish and Carnal: they still needed Milk and not Meat.

3:1-3, 4

ii.They Chose their Ministers; they should know these were Complementary. 3:5-9a

2. Paul was Appalled by their Tolerance of Incest in their midst. I Cor. Ch. 5

a. The Public knowledge. 5:1 cf. Lev. 18:6-8ff

b.They were Puffed up with their Inaction. 5:1, 2, 6

c. They did not use their collective Power to Incise the leaven. 5:3-5

d.They needed to Purge out the Leaven Inside the Lump. 5:7, 8

e. They needed to Part company with those who are Immoral, Idolaters, etc. 5:9-13