Craig A. Brittingham, Pastor
Hillside Baptist Church
June 29, 2025
“Puffed Up People” -1 Corinthians 4:6-13
1A. The Corinthians were puffed up on behalf of one against the other (vs. 6).
1b. Some were puffed up on behalf of Paul and some were puffed up on behalf of Apollos.
2b. Each took pride in choosing and following the minister they had judged to be the most prominent.
1c. They became partisans who supported one minister, and were against the other.
2c. In the church there was the party of Paul, the party of Apollos, the party of Peter, the party of Christ (see 1:11-12).
3c. This partisan spirit divided the church.
2A. Paul urged them to follow the humble example that he and Apollos had set (vv. 7-8). Humility is the remedy of disunity.
1b. They were workers in a field and laborers on the construction of a building.
2b. They recognized they had received their gifts and abilities from God (vs. 7).
3b. The Corinthians boasted as if they had not received what they possessed (vs. 8).
3A. The Corinthians should have been prepared to suffer like the men they claimed to follow (vv. 9-13).
Questions…
1. What things did Paul “figuratively transfer” to himself and Apollos?
2. It what sense did he do this for the Corinthians’ sake? Or what did he hope to accomplish by doing this?
3. What does it mean “to think beyond what is written”?
4. What does it mean to be puffed up?
5. Why were the Corinthians puffed up?
6. What was the remedy Paul gave for this kind of arrogance?
7. Why do you suppose Paul included his current situation as an apostle?