Temple Baptist Church - 8-26-2026
1 Corinthians 16:5-20
Introduction:
A. We have seen in Corinth a church with a multiplicity of problems and all of them found in local churches in our day. Why?
1. Their outlook was temporal. They had no interest in eternal things. Professing believers give little or no attention to the Lord on a daily basis. Pray without ceasing is a command that most know nothing about.
2. Their appetites were fleshly. Godliness and holiness are about 100 down on their most interesting things to do. Churches try to feed the flesh instead of feeding the people
B. In 1 Corinthians chapters 1-15, Paul dealt with their problems that led to their failure. Fifteen chapters of rebuke with little or no commendation. They were a spiritual mess!
Ch 1 - Division
Ch 2 – Failure to receive the Word of God
Ch 3 - Carnality
Ch 4 - Pride (puffed)
Ch 5 - Immorality
Ch 6 - Law Suits
Ch 7 - Family Problems
Ch 8 - Judging by Sinning in Liberty
Ch 9 - Questioning of Authority
Ch 10 - Worldliness
Ch 11 - Sinning at the Lord's Table
Ch 12 - Misuse of gifts
Ch 13 - Lack of Christian Charity
Ch 14 - Misuse of Tongues
Ch 15 - False Doctrine (Resurrection)
C. Thank God churches can repent and begin to grow in the Lord!
1. Paul’s reproving and rebuking, with all long suffering and doctrine, was received in the right manner, and the result was spiritual maturity. Paul followed his own advice to you Timothy by following these two things with doctrinal exhortation.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2. The Corinthian church experienced both growth and revival. You may ask how do I know? Because the second Corinthian Epistle did not reiterate the reproof and rebuke of the First!
3. Chapter 16 was different in both context and content. In verses 13-20, we find an 8-fold admonition to the church. The great apostle has finished his reproving and rebuking and turns to exhortation. In discipline of any nature, there needs to be explanation, chastening, and then exhortation to do better.
D. Apollos was not able to come and Timothy would come later. Paul would also come months later and, if the Lord willed, abide and winter with them. Therefore, Paul ends this epistle with instructions to a self-governing, now matured church.
E. The following exhortations given were intended to keep the church spiritual and not to return to carnality! Elements of a great church.
1. Verse 13. An Exhortation To Be Watchful – “watch ye” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (Keep looking up in expectancy! Even so come, Lord Jesus!)
2. Verse 13. An Exhortation To Be Steadfast – “steadfast in the faith” – 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (Don’t allow your circumstances remove you!)
Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: (23) Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
3. Verse 13. An Exhortation To Be Mature – “quit ye like men” – 2 Timothy 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (Grow up! I am thankful for the ladies of the church, but the church needs men.)
4. Verse 13. An Exhortation To Be Strong – “be strong” – Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Never give up! Stand strong.)
5. Verse 14. An Exhortation To Be Loving – “let all your things be done in charity” - Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
6. Verse 15. An Exhortation To Be Serving – “addicted themselves to the ministry” (follow their examples) - Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Serve instead of having to be served. Never quit serving!)
7. Verse 16. An Exhortation To Be Submissive – “That ye submit yourselves” – Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Obedience to spiritual authority!)
8. Verse 20. An Exhortation To Be Unified – “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” – Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Stay put where God led you!)
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