The Increase

Introduction: Last week’s recognition (maybe read the letter).

MH – From the bottom of our hearts, we want thank you for this overwhelming kindness and recognition. To stand here and receive your appreciation and love for what we

have accomplished together fills me with crazy gratitude.

I hope all of know and understand that: congratulations for these years of service are not mine alone. They are ours, a testament to the collective faith, hard work, the dedication, the patience and the grace that we’ve extended to each other over the years as a church family; those of you present today, and those who have been a part and contributed to this milestone.

To all of our family and friends who have supported and cheered us on from a distance (thank you so much for those of you who are here today, being here today), your friendship and care for us is greater recognized and appreciated.

More importantly, our tenure here at CLC, is a testament to the grace of God, who is the true source of all success and blessings. As the scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

For the past (starting our 20th year0 We have indeed seen both highs and lows. Weve celebrated with you graduations, baby dedications, weddings and the such and have also mourned with you during the most difficult of our times. We have forged deeper connections and lived together in community as a church should.

Today is a celebration and a moment of thanksgiving  for the countless hours of volunteering, generous giving, fervent prayer, and hearts open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Every single one of you has played a vital role.

My prayer is that all of us continue to be faithful stewards of the gifts we have been given. Let us use this moment not only to celebrate the past but use as a spring board for the work that still lies ahead. There are still souls to reach, hands to hold, and lives to touch with the love of Christ.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry and for allowing Sars and I the privilege of serving alongside you.

May we always give glory where glory is due—to our Heavenly Father.

We look forward to spending time with you at the reception as we create new memories together.

Thank You!

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Question/Problem: What was going on in Corinth that caused Paul to include this portion of scripture into the book?

Early Pastors of church in Corinth.

As an apostle called to the city of Corinth, Paul was responsible for starting the church in that city. However, he also served as their first pastor until God raised up another pastor to take his place. This replacement was a well-respected, highly educated man from Alexandria in Egypt named Apollos — and soon after Paul’s departure, he became the senior pastor of the Corinthian church. History tells us that Apollos was a gifted orator who was renowned for his eloquence.

2 Corinthians 10:10, ‘“For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” NKJ

NLT – uses the word ‘worthless’ , ‘of no account.’

Problem! In Paul’s absence, the Corinthian believers naturally began to compare the different speaking styles of Paul and Apollos.

Some who had been in the church from the beginning and were extremely affectionate toward Paul apparently didn’t like the style of the new pastor. There were others in the church who loved Apollos and asserted that his preaching was superior to Paul’s. Yet the message Paul and Apollos preached was the same — they just had different styles.

When Paul heard of divisions forming in the church of Corinth over the issue of his and Apollos’ different styles of ministry he wrote to them and said, “I have planted, Apollos watered…” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Let’s take a closer look at the Greek in this statement to see exactly what Paul meant.

The word “planted” in this verse is translated from the Greek word phuteuo, which is a form of phuton, the Greek word for a plant, and it simply refers to the act of planting a plant.

By using this word, Paul was metaphorically describing his role in Corinth. He was a planter. His task was to penetrate the darkness of the city and plant a church there. There is no doubt that this city had some of the toughest spiritual ground he had ever encountered. It was surely one of the most difficult places to minister in the ancient world.

Like a neglected garden overrun with pests and weeds, Corinth was infested with demonic powers.

In order to plant the Gospel in people’s hearts and firmly establish the Church in that tough environment, he had to press forward and till the ground with the power of God; then he had to get on his hands and knees and pull the weeds. This was hard work! Yet for one and a half years, Paul poured his life into this pioneering job. When he finally left Corinth to pursue his apostolic call in another city, the Corinthian church had not only been planted — it was deeply rooted and producing good fruit!

Paul described his role in Corinth as a planter; however, he was fully aware where his responsibility ended and another equally important responsibility began. That is why he continued in First Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered.…” The word “watered” here is from the Greek word potidzo, which most often means to water or to irrigate. It is the very word that would have been used to depict a farmer watering his garden to provide nourishment to his plants so they could grow. It can also be translated to imbibe, which in this context would convey the act of a field becoming soaked or saturated in water.

It means that while humans can “plant” and “water” through their work and efforts, it is God who ultimately provides the growth, expansion, and blessing. The passage emphasizes that human actions are not the ultimate source of success or growth, but that God’s power and blessing are essential for any true development to occur.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ‘When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters,* I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.* 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God’.

Question: What should we glean from this particular passage.

1. Individuals are instruments / vessels that God uses to get out HIS message of love and redemption.

1. Human instruments are flawed and not to be venerated as ‘all in all’ to God work.
   1. All of us as believers have the role of either planting or watering or both.

• God and God alone brings / gives increase.
  • Sometimes, even preachers / teachers, can get this twisted.

Application: Acts 3:12f

Peter and John go to the Temple.

Blind beggar asking for alms.

Silver and Gold we have not…

3:12, ‘Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?’

Acts 12:21-23, Context

21-25 ‘On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

      24But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

      25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. ‘

Conclusion: God and God alone brings the increase, it is not of man’s abilities, talents or gifting.