Talk 1: God-centred Leadership Life is a series of problems & solutions

Talk 1: God-centred Leadership The bigger the problem, the better the solution has to be

Exploring the Corinthian Problem How do we give up on what is really important to us?

Much of what is precious to us is shaped by culture

Cultural Values Deeply entrenched. Tightly held onto.

Cultural Values Control Us Become Us

The most dangerous job: To confront & change cultural values

2 biggies of Corinthian culture: Wisdom & Power

1 Corinthians 1:23-25 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

We are not just shaped by cultural values but desensitised to God A Greater Danger We are not just shaped by cultural values but desensitised to God 

Wise in our own eyes, Powerful in own strength = we don’t think it’s a problem!

Our values are not just cultural but anti-God and anti-God’s people

Chap 1-4: Problems of Leadership Chap 5-6: Problems about Sex Desensitised to God Chap 1-4: Problems of Leadership Chap 5-6: Problems about Sex Chap 7:1-40: Problems of Status Chap 8-11: Problems of Liberty Chap 11-14: Problems of Fellowship Chap 15: Problems with Resurrection

Praise God: He had planted a church in Corinth! Problem: How do we get Corinth out of the church?

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly – mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?

Spiritual immaturity: We are stunted by deep cultural values

1 Corinthians 3:21 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

1 Corinthians 4:6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 

The Corinthian “Client-Patron” system Patron provide clients with networking Clients publicise patron

Ben Witherington “Self-promotion had become an art form in Corinth Ben Witherington “Self-promotion had become an art form in Corinth. People lived within an honor-shame system. Corinth was a magnet for the socially ambitious … status hungry people.”

Are there any self-promoters in your church Are there any self-promoters in your church? If you do not belong to this in-group, you are part of the “honor-shame” culture

Corinthian Values “Pastors as Patrons” Ungodly Comparison Unnecessary Discontentment Unhealthy Divisions = Judging leaders “by the cover”

Know the Difference: “Looking the Part” vs “Living the Part”

= Move from true confidence in Christ to false assurance in man! Modern-day Patronage? Catholics: Patronage of the Cloth Charos: Patronage of the Worship Leader Evangelicals: Patronage of Bible Teacher = Move from true confidence in Christ to false assurance in man!

It’s so “Corinthian” to: 1. Judge leaders by the cover 2 It’s so “Corinthian” to: 1. Judge leaders by the cover 2. Be divided over human leaders 3. Travel from “confidence in Christ” to “arrogance in man”

You are wise in your own eyes & powerful in your own strength You are wise in your own eyes & powerful in your own strength. You judging life, self & others “by the cover”?

It’s so “Christian” to: 1. Judge leaders by the Cross 2 It’s so “Christian” to: 1. Judge leaders by the Cross 2. Be united by Christ 3. Travel from “arrogance in man” to “confidence in Christ”.

Why are there problems in your heart & your church Why are there problems in your heart & your church? Perhaps you more a “child of the world” than a “child of God”