“In ________ We Trust”

For the past 60 years, American currency has had the motto, “In God We Trust” inscribed on it. The motto was added to the currency to negate the impact of the godlessness of communism during the years when McCarthyism was in full bloom. But the 1950s were not the first time the motto was included. In the 1860s, the US Treasury beginning printing the phrase on both one-cent and two-cent coins because several people appealed to have the national motto include God due to the Civil War. In 1864, the two-cent coin became the first coin to contain the motto, just months before the end of the Civil War and President Lincoln’s assassination.

Over time, more coins, and eventually paper currency, adopted the motto as well becoming official on all currency in the 1950s, although it did not appear on all paper currency until the 1960s. Of course, many have claimed the dollar bill has a great deal of religious imagery on it. Such has been the case on various world currencies for centuries as world powers throughout history have added images of deities to their money. But, for people throughout history, as well as for us, the issue is not the images themselves, but whether or not we worship the images, the money, or even what the money represents (purchasing power, wealth, prestige, etc.).

The reality is that we need money to function. But as the old adage goes, “It is not a matter of whether we have money, it is whether our money has us.” And it is not a matter of whether the motto is “In God We Trust” but whether we believe the words of that motto. For all of us do trust something. More specifically, we do trust in something or someone. Whether we trust in God or ourselves or money or family or material goods or whatever it might be, we all place our trust in something or someone.

For the disciple, that trust should be in Jesus. For the disciple-maker, that trust should be in Jesus. For the disciple-making church, that trust should be in Jesus. Last week, I gave three overarching reasons why people and churches do not make disciples. Without elaborating again, let me remind us of those reasons.

1. We don’t understand Jesus.
2. We don’t believe God.
3. We don’t love Jesus.

I then mentioned seven reasons why churches do not make disciples. We will explore each of those reasons over the next several weeks beginning with the issue of trust this week. Our passage will be from 1 Corinthians 1.10-17. Before we get to that, let me provide a brief overview of the letter. I will do so by showing how the Corinthians placed their trust in many different areas besides God – a challenge we still face some 2000 years later.

Ch 1: In people we trust – Who to follow
Ch 2 & 3: In wisdom we trust – Was Paul not wise enough
Ch 4, 5:  In arrogance we trust – Sexual immorality was ok in the church
Ch 6: In the world we trust – Suing one another in court
Ch 8, 10: In knowledge we trust – Idolatry
Ch 11: In favoritism we trust – Abusing the Lord’s Supper
Ch 12-14: In abilities we trust – Misunderstanding of Spiritual Gifts
Ch 15: In God we trust – The Truth! – It is about CHRIST and the GOSPEL

That is a brief overview of this letter to the church at Corinth – a church that obviously had many issues and therefore was not likely focused on making disciples. Rather, the people and groups within the church were protecting their territory rather than realizing that all territory is God’s territory. These words should remind us that what we do is for God’s glory not our own. With that in mind, before we move on, let us take a minute to be reminded of our Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Steps as a reminder of where our focus needs to be as a Kingdom-focused church – a church which follows Jesus and, therefore, is making disciples.

VISION
To be A large church in a small town. (Matthew 5.13-16)

MISSION
Exalt the Savior (John 12.32).
Equip the Saint (Ephesians 4.11-13).
Evangelize the Sinner (Acts 1.8).

STRATEGY
Jesus (Matthew 16.18-19) – The One worth following.
Observe (Colossians 1.28-29) – Following the commands of Jesus.
Unite (1 Corinthians 1.10) – Being one in fellowship with other believers.
Revere (John 12.32) – Worshipping God in all aspects of our lives.
Nurture (Eph 4.12-13) – Building up others for the work of ministry.
Engage (Acts 1.8) – Stirring the hearts of all people with the Gospel.
You (Matt. 15.15-16) – The one who decides to follow.

STEPS
Learn With Each Other (Acts 17.10-12)
Live For Each Other (Rom 15.1-2)
Love God and All Others (Matt 22.37-39)
Lead One Another (to Follow Jesus) (2 Tim 2.2)
(Leave) When Called by the One True Other (Acts 13.1-3)

Click here to read Roger’s look at Unite in the other blog entry for the week. That idea is the fundamental understanding of our passage for today. We had an overview of 1 Corinthians a few moments ago, now, let us look more specifically at chapter 1, beginning in verse 10.

A Disciple-Making Church is United in Christ

Let us note that as we start with verse 10, Paul has already used the title of “Christ” nine times in the first nine verses. Why? Because Paul is writing not only to unite the people in Christ, but to remind them of why they are together in the first place – the work of Christ (notice v. 2).

Verse 10 begins with an appeal. Paul is not just requesting the people of Corinth respond, he is urging them to do so – not just as people but as brothers and sisters brought together by Christ. The church in Corinth had many different groups – wise and foolish, wealthy and poor, immoral and upright, etc. – but Paul has grouped them all together as common in Christ. In chapter 12 alone, He says they are “one body” (1 Cor.12:12) who serve the “same Spirit” (12:4), the “same Lord” (12:5), and the “same God” (12:6).

The challenge for the church at Corinth was a lack of unity. Verse 10 says the church lacked unity of mind and judgment. First, that means they did not think about the same things. Secondly, on whatever they did think about as a church, they disagreed. Like many churches, the church at Corinth was known as one who fought and quarreled rather than loving and serving.

Fairfax Baptist Church: are we united in Christ? How do we see ourselves? Are we a church that is filled with fighting and quarrelling? I don’t think so. But how do others see us? More importantly, how does God see us? It is impractical to think that we all agree on everything. But how do we handle our disagreements? Do we complain and gossip in the community or do we come together and work out the matters before us? I know what Jesus said to do and I hope when issues arise we respond as we are commanded. Thankfully, right now, I believe God has blessed us with good unity.

A Disciple-Making Church Trusts One Another

Notice in verse 12, Paul reveals the true division in the church. People are focusing on a person (probably because of qualifications) rather than keeping a focus on Christ.

Paul founded the church so it is obvious why some would be loyal to him.

Peter spent time in the presence of Jesus.

Apollos is known to be eloquent and competent in Scripture (Acts 18.24-19.1). He also was likely well educated as he was from Alexandria in Egypt which was known for producing many scholars.

Jesus, of course, is who should be followed, but the divisions in the church seem to make Jesus almost an afterthought.

Fairfax Baptist Church: do we follow humans rather than Christ? Within the church, it might be like saying, “I follow Roger” or “I follow Leon.” But it can also be stated as following the past, “Things were better when Clyde was here.” I will admit that things are different than when anyone else was here – if only because all of us are older. Again, as pastor, I will admit I do not see much of this sentiment right now. Certainly, all of us look to leaders for guidance on making decisions, but this church does not have the types of alliances that trouble so many churches. This past Thursday, I counseled a pastor in another state related to this very issue. Church, if we are going to make disciples, we may not all agree on the how, but we must be focused on the who and the what! As Aristotle once said, “In essentials unity, in action freedom, and in all things trust.” That’s what Paul wanted for the church at Corinth, and it is what God wants for us. And that leads us to...

A Disciple-Making Church Emphasizes the Gospel.

Paul concludes this section by speaking of those who were baptized – in Jesus’ name, not his own. But then notice verse 17. His focus was not on baptism, but on proclaiming the gospel. That is, He wanted people to come to Christ, but also to know Christ. Specifically, that is a part of making disciples. First, a person must know about Christ, but then we must desire to know Him better.

Paul says this was done in a way that may not have been appreciated. Corinth was a Greek city and thus considered itself sophisticated. Paul says I may have been an outsider and did things more simply than what you usually expect, but it is not about me, it is about Jesus and His death. In fact, much later in this letter, in what we call Chapter 15, Paul gives the most basic, yet complete, version of the gospel. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 15.3-4.)

Fairfax Baptist Church: I do things differently sometimes. And I know that my education challenges some of you. But I believe you would say that my intention every time I stand here is to make Jesus better known, to emphasize what He has done and why, and to get us to respond to that. I may use unconventional methods at times, and I may encourage us with our Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Steps, but those are not the gospel. They are a means to help us focus on our responsibility as a church. Additionally, they are based upon the Bible and therefore provide aim toward the gospel.

So, a disciple-making church must be united in Christ, trust one another, and emphasize the gospel. The church at Corinth struggled in each of those areas. In fact, some have said that the real tragedy for the church in Corinth was not that too much of church was in Corinth, but that too much of Corinth was in the church.1 Thus, Paul had to write this letter (in addition to answering some of their questions).

Because of their problems, the church in Corinth was more of a small church in a large town. Ladies and gentleman, how can we avoid the same being said of us? By keeping our focus on Christ. By trusting Him for our purpose and direction. And by trusting each other as we share His message with others. Trust leads to unity and unity fosters love. But a lack of trust and unity can derail the best of plans. As someone once said, “Suspicion enters by the door through which love and trust exit.”

CONCLUSION

In what or whom do you place your trust? Is it yourself? Your job? Your money? Your family? Your house? Your skills? Your retirement savings? Etc. All of these items are important, but they also all have one things in common. They are yours because of God. So, let our trust in God be more than words printed on our currency. Let our trust in God be more than a supposed national motto. Let our trust in God be a way of life that leads us to also trust one another, to be united in Christ, and thus to make disciples by proclaiming the truth of His gospel wherever He may lead.

JOURNEY:  U – Unite

NEXT STEP(S):  Learn:  Seek to understand any issues which prevent you from trusting others within this (or any) church. Ask God to guide you and reveal any issues in order that you might be united to others because you are united with Him.