As Paul corrects the Corinthian church’s abuses concerning spiritual gifts, we learn several valuable insights concerning the order of worship.

Sermon preached on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 06/07/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: Worship and the Order of Service

 Worship and the Order of Service [37:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (119)

The Reformed tradition typically identifies three marks of a true church: one, the preaching of God’s Word, two, the administration of the sacraments, and three, the exercise of church discipline.  And so church discipline is an important aspect of a church.  It means that each of us as Christians are not out there on our own as Christians, just you and God, but that we are part of a community of fellow believers.  And this community includes accountability, especially as Christ has entrusted this job of shepherding the flock to the elders of the church.

And so as we look at this passage in 1 Corinthians 5, we find this subject of church discipline being addressed.  Paul is rebuking the Corinthian church for not administering church discipline for a wayward Christian.  Paul then steps in on their behalf and tells them how they ought to handle this issue.  Paul uses his special apostolic authority to render a judgment in this church discipline case.  And so let’s take a look at this passage for today and see what it tells us about the nature and importance of church discipline.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 07/13/2008 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

 That His Spirit May Be Saved [40:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (142)

In the words of verse 1 from 1 Corinthians 15, I “declare to you the gospel;” this very gospel which has been preached from the apostles, recorded in the Scriptures, and handed down through the centuries.  The gospel that was foretold in the Old Testament; the very gospel which declares that Christ died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and then raised from the dead on the third day!  And yet as we look at this passage in 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that the fact of the resurrection has not always been well received, even in the church.  Paul in this letter is confronting an issue in the Corinthian church.  Evidently some in the church had been teaching that there is no resurrection of the dead.  In other words, people who claimed to be Christians, were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead!  And so Paul instantly responds by showing that such a view is not consistent with the Christian faith.  Paul hypothetically considers what it would mean for Christians, if Christ had not been raised.  His ultimate conclusion comes in verse 19.  He concludes by saying that if Christ had not been raised, then we of all people, as Christians, would be most to be pitied.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/23/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: Psalm 16; Matthew 28:1-15; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Click here for the manuscript.

 If Christ Is Not Risen – A Defense of the Resurrection [41:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (169)

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/27/2008 in Novato, CA.

The last several weeks we have been talking about Christ’s vision for his church. We’ve talked a lot about the ministry of the church. We’ve said that this ministry needs to be an ordinary means of grace ministry. And one thing that has been a bit assumed as we’ve talked about the church is that the church is made up of members. A biblical vision of the church sees that the church is made up of believers who are united together in Christ.  Paul in this passage gives us a picture of biblical church membership, using the illustration of the human body.

Click here for the manuscript.

 United as One Body in Christ [41:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (108)