Apollos

Paul says something else interesting.

Because when you look into the context, you realize that some were saying they were baptized from Apollos, some from others.

And Paul says, Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

Wow, isn't that poignant? Think about that for a second.

He ends, therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

And so ultimately this humility to recognize that whether it was Apollos or me or Cephas, whomever you heard the gospel from, we're preaching the Lord's word and the Lord is active in us.

That's the only reason we're able to do good is through him.

It's because he's working in us.

Number four, faithful grout comes from God.

The Bible makes us understand in 1 Corinthians 3 verse 6, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

Hear me, child of God, our duty is faithfulness.

God's duty is increase.

He ends, therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

And so ultimately this humility to recognize that whether it was Apollos or me or Cephas, whomever you heard the gospel from, we're preaching the Lord's word and the Lord is active in us.

That's the only reason we're able to do good is through him.

It's because he's working in us.

What about? Well, first of all, about men.

I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas.

Which is the best preacher? Which is the most eloquent? Which is the one I like? Worshipping, following men, putting men before Christ.

That's the old.

Having people come in, being invited, what made them stay and begin to bring other people so that the church begins to grow? I want to start by reading 1 Corinthians 3, verse 6.

The Apostle Paul writes, I planted, Apollos watered, but God was giving the growth.

Hallelujah.

This is essentially a partnership between God and man.

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Now this I say, every one of you saith, I'm of Paul and I am of Apollos and I am of Cephas and I of Christ.

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius, lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas, and besides this, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

I'm a Paul Christian.

I'm a Paul follower.

likely from based on the context, Paul's the one that baptized me, right? Or I'm of Apollos or I'm of Cephas, that's Peter, right? Or I'm of Christ.

So you have some people saying, well, Apollos taught me or Peter taught me or Paul taught me and Paul baptized me or Apollos or Peter baptized me.

In chapter 47, he says this, quote, "'Take up the epistle of the blessed apostle Paul.

What did he write to you at the beginning of the gospel? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos.'" That's a direct reference to 1 Corinthians 1, where Paul deals with the factions around Paul, Cephas, and Apollos.

Now, hang on a second, because there's language in here that we're going to come back to.

Notice how he says what Paul wrote to you under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.