Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 30 November 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 4

Subject: “That none may be puffed up”

Lesson #21

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

1 Corinthians 4:6-8

PAUL AND APOLLOS

1. They served in Corinth

a) Paul was the founder (sower)

b) Apollos watered

2. Two factions arose

a) One was for Paul

b) The other was for Apollos

3. An objective view was offered

a) To help the brethren not to exalt one above the other

b) The danger was being “puffed up” with undue pride

THE PROBLEM EXAMINED

1. The Corinthians became fractious

2. Some despised others

3. The factions that had arisen had strong negative impact on believers

4. Hard and sobering questions were raised

a) For who makes you differ from another?

i) Certainly not God

ii) Nor Paul or Apollos

b) And what do you have that you did not receive?

i) Some boasted about what they had

ii) But what they had was given to them!

c) Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

i) There were boasters

ii) What was there to boast about because they were mere recipients?

THE STATUS OF THE CORINTHIANS

1. Some were rich and worldly wise

2. Three things were highlighted

a) They were full

b) They were rich

c) They were compared to “kings”

3. But Paul and Team

a) They were excluded

b) They had no regard for Paul despite his major role in founding the Church

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To guard against factions

2. To work at keeping the unity of the Church

3. To pray for oneness as the Lord Jesus did (John 17)