Sungai Ara Gospel HallSeries on The Doctrine of the Church.

(I). THE “UNIVERSAL” CHURCH – ITS PICTURES.

(II) THE LOCAL CHURCH – ITS PEOPLE.

I. THE LOCAL CHURCH IN CORINTH

(10.3. 13) – ITS PROBLEMS: I COR. CHAPS. 1-5

II. THE LOCAL CHURCH IN CORINTH

(17.3.13) - ITS PROBLEMS: I COR. CHAPS. 6-10

III. THE LOCAL CHURCH IN CORINTH

(07.7.13) ITS PROBLEMS: I COR. CHAPS. 11-14

One Head and One BodyTwo aspects where the Local Church

should reflect the Universal Church:

He is the HEAD of the Church

that in ALL things He might

have the Pre-eminence.

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

1. The Problem of Disunity – Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Church.

I Cor. 1:10-30 2.The Problem of Immaturity – Paul could not Advance with them. They were Childish and Carnal: they still needed Milk and not Meat. 3:1-3, 43. The Problem of Immorality –

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

4. The Problem of Litigation (Legality)They Accused one Another in Court

I Cor. Ch. 65. Paul’s Answers (7:1) Re: Relationships.

I Cor. Chs. 7-10

a. Relationship between Male and Female. Ch. 7

b. Relationship between those who eat Meat offered to idols and those who do not.Ch. 8

c. Relationship between the Missionary and the Church Members. Ch. 9

d. Relationships between Israel and God,and the Church and God. Ch. 10

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. I Cor. Chs.

11-14• The phrase “come together” occurs 7 times in this section, viz. 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34; 14:23, 26

• “Church” or “churches” occurs 13 times Chapters 11 and 14 – The Attestation to The

Principles and Practices for a Public Gathering for Obedience and Observance.

Chapter 12 – The Administration of Gifts to members, their Roles and the Rules that Govern their use.

Chapter 13 – The Affection (Love) that marks All Attitudes and Activities related to one Another.

THE PROBLEMS IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

• THE PROBLEM OF HEADDRESS IN RECOGNITION OF

HEADSHIP - I COR. 11:3-16

• Every man…having his head covered, dishonoureth his head…every woman…with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head…

I Cor. 11:13

• But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

I Cor. 11:16

THE PROBLEM OF HOLINESS

AT THE REMEMBRANCE FEAST – I COR. 11:17-34

• When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper…

• My brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another…that ye come not together unto condemnation…

• let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

• for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation (judgment, NIV) to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. I Cor. 11:20, 28f, 33f

I Cor. 11:3

A. The Principle and Practice of Headships in a Church Gathering.

I. Its Observance of Headship. 11:3-16The Reality of Equality – Jn. 5:18; 10:30, 33

No Reference to Superiority or Inferiority!The Roles of Headship Order – Phil. 2:6-8

The Reality of “Equality” Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:17; Heb. 2:11

The Roles of Headship: Jn. 13:13

1. The Head

of Christ is God.2. the head

of every

man is Christ;

When all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 15:28

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his Head. 11:4For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God… 11:7a

A. The Principle and Practice of Headships in a Church Gathering. I Cor. Chap. 11

3. the head of the

woman is the man

The Reality of Equality: I Cor. 11:11The Roles of Headship: Eph. 5:22f

For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: 11:5

but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 11:6

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. the husband is the head of the wife… as Christ is the head of the church.

Let her be covered…

3. the head of the

woman is the man

[Gk. katakalupto = cover wholly, Veiled] 11:6 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, …as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man 11:7b if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering [Gk. peribolaion = something thrown around, Vesture, Heb. 1:12] (11:15)Whatsoever ye do, do all

to the glory of God. (10:31 ct. 1:29)For this reason, and because of the angels,

the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. (11:10, NIV) Cp. Eph. 3:9-11

• No flesh should glory in His presence… he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I Cor. 1:29, 31

B. THE REASONS AND RATIONALE BEHIND THE INSTRUCTIONS

[Based on the Principle of Divine Headship and Hierarchy. I Cor. 11:3]

1.For the Man: He ought not to Cover: he is the image and glory of God (11:7a); the man is not of the woman (11:8); neither was the man created for the woman;

(11:9a)Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

(11:14, 15)

1. For the Man: He ought not to Cover.2. For the Woman: She ought to Cover: the woman is the glory of the man 11:7b the woman of [from] the man 11:8b and [created] for the man 11:9b and because of the angels 11:10 if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her for her hair is given her for a covering. 11:15

3. For the Man and Woman:

Both are not without the other,

and one is of and by the other. 11:11, 12

C. THE REFUSAL AND THE REPERCUSSION OF NON-COMPLIANCE• For the Man: He dishonours his Head.

• Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his Head. (11:4)

• For the Woman: She dishonours her head. (11:5, 6)And it is Shameful (11:6b)

• But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven… but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn (lit. = shear i.e. with scissors) or shaven (with razor), let her be covered.

• Also it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (14:35 cp. I Tim. 2:12-14)

A SHAME FOR A MAN! I COR. 11:14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man

have long hair, it is a shame unto him?For A Man: Having long hair is a Shame.•It Covers his headship Role.•It Covers his leadership Responsibilities.•It Can be Compared to a Nazarite bearing Reproach outside the camp. Num. 6:2, 3, 5, 6; Heb. 13:13 Was Jesus a Nazarite?

Ct. Mt. 2:23; Mk. 1:9 cf. 2:16•It Contradicts Nature. I Cor. 11:14

It Contradicts Nature. I Cor. 11:14• The head of Jesus was created by a production

team which took into consideration medical, archaeological, geographical and artistic evidence from the time of Jesus.

• Roman: Tiberius

A SHAME FOR A WOMAN! I COR. 11:6

if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven,

let her be covered.She is Usurping the Role…Of Christ – she dishonours her Head;Of Man – she is shaved or shorn;She is not Using her gifts Rightly – I Cor. 14:35 for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. Cp. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

I Tim. 2:12Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? I Cor. 11:13

NEXT LORD’S DAY:

• THE PROBLEM OF HEADDRESS IN RECOGNITION OF HEADSHIP

- I COR. 11:3-16

(14.7.13) CURRENT CHALLENGES• THE PROBLEM OF HOLINESS

AT THE REMEMBRANCE FEAST – I COR. 11:17-34

III. THE LOCAL CHURCH IN CORINTH (07.7.13) ITS PROBLEMS: I COR. CHAPS. 11-14