ARE WE NOT CARNAL?
Intro:
1. The root of the problems that Paul addressed in the church at Corinth was their carnal-mindedness.
2. Instead of thinking and acting in spiritual terms they were guided and motivated by carnal minds.
3. This carnal-mindedness manifested itself in various ways.
a. It caused them to attempt to settle differences between themselves by appealing to the courts of the world. (chapter 6)
b. It caused them to engage in immorality. (chapter 6)
c. It caused problems in their marriages. (chapter 7)
d. It caused them to disregard the consciences of their weaker brethren. (chapters 8-10)
e. It caused them to make a sham out of public worship and the Lord's Supper in particular. (chapter 11)
f. It caused them to have an improper attitude toward the spiritual gifts that they possessed. (chapters 12-14)
g. It caused them not to have proper love. (chapter 13)
h. It caused them to reject the resurrection of the dead and therefore the resurrection of Christ. (chapter 15)
4. But we also see the effect of their carnal thinking in chapters 1-3, in that it affected their attitude toward the
preaching of the gospel.
5. We also need to be careful lest we allow our attitudes toward the preaching of the gospel be corrupted by carnal thinking.
I. If Not Careful We Might Exhibit A Carnal Attitude When It Comes To The Personality Of Preaching.
A. We might develop an improper preference of one preacher over another. (1:12-17; 3:4)
1. Paul
a. He had his pluses.
b. But if your attitude wasn't right, he had his minuses. (2 Cor. 10:10; 2 Pet. 3:15-16)
2. Apollos
a. He had his pluses. (Acts 18:24)
b. But if your attitude wasn't right, he had his minuses. (Acts 18:25; 19:1-7)
3. Peter
a. He had his pluses.
b. But if your attitude wasn't right, he had his minuses. (Denied Jesus; Gal. 2:11-13)
B. We might develop an improper preference to a style of preaching.
1. We may desire flowery speech and persuasive words of man's wisdom. (2:1-5)
2. We may desire the fireside chatter who spins a good story, but never preaches anything of substance.
c. Are we not carnal and behaving as mere men?
II. If Not Careful We Might Exhibit A Carnal Attitude When It Comes To The Content Of Preaching.
A. We may develop a desire for preaching that is after man's wisdom. (1:18-31; 2:4-16)
B. We may develop a desire for preaching with only milk and no meat. (3:1-3)
C. We may develop a desire for preaching in which Bible content is optional.
D. Are we not carnal and behaving as mere men?
III. If Not Careful We Might Exhibit A Carnal Attitude When It Comes To The Promotion of Preaching.
A. We are quick to condemn the denominational world and our "liberal" brethren for their use of social programs to promote
the gospel. These we say are "carnal means."
B. But I have observed a disturbing trend in the last few years among those who claim to be "conservative" churches in their
promotion of the gospel.
1. When we begin to advertise a series of Bible classes as a "seminar," what is our motive?
2. When we begin to advertise our speakers by their earthly credentials (M.D., Ph.D., Engineer, Chemist, Biologist,
etc.) what is our motive?
3. When we as preachers of the gospel begin to use our earthly credentials as we go about preaching the gospel,
what is our motive?
4. When we begin to make appeals to the young people through special programs, whether we call them
"Weekend Specials" or something else where is our motive. (We dare not call them "Youth rallies" because
then people will know what they really are and accuse us of being "liberal".)
C. Let us allow the gospel to promote itself.
D. Are we not carnal and behaving as mere men?
IV. If Not Careful We Might Exhibit A Carnal Attitude When It Comes To The Results of Preaching.
A. We may be more concerned with the result it has on the tote board than the result it has on the hearts of men.
B. We may be more concerned with how many we "baptize," than by how many we truly turn to the Lord ?
how many we truly convert. (1:14-17)
C. We may be more concerned with filling pews and keeping them filled than with filling peoples hearts with
sound doctrine. (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
D. We tend to automatically judge preaching that results in large attendance as better than preaching that results in
not so large attendance and that is not necessarily so.
1. Preaching may result in dwindling attendance because the preacher is a reprobate or such and
that ought not to be.
2. Preaching, however, may result in dwindling attendance because some listeners are not willing
to put up with sound doctrine.
3. Preaching may result in large attendance because the preacher soothes everyone's conscience with
fair words and never calls for them to correct their lives.
E. What does the Bible say that the result of sound preaching will be.
1. People will be converted. (Rom. 10:14-17)
2. Christians will be edified. (cf. Eph. 4:11ff)
3. Some, however, will reject it. (Luke 8:12-14)
F. Are we not carnal and behaving as mere men?
Concl:
1. We must stop and ask ourselves from time to time, "Are we still carnal, and acting like mere men?"
2. Let us not think carnally, but soberly as God would have us to. (Rom. 8:5-6)