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Pastor Rob Carlson: 
"Ordering Your Private World" 
series: Sage Advice for a Godly Life
Sunday, July 18, 2004 
1 Corinthians 1:1-17 
[page 1128 in pew Bible]

How to Maximize Your Fulfillment and Effectiveness in Life: 

1. Pursue God's call above all.

I Cor. 1:1-9--Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 
2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: 
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
4I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 
5For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- 
6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 
8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 

1. We are called to represent Jesus Christ (1). 
   Apostle literally, "one who is sent"-a messenger, proxy, ambassador. In Jewish law, the apostolos was a person acting with the full authority for another in a business or legal transaction. 
2. We are called to be holy (2). 
   Hagios-"thing or person devoted to God for his service"
3. We are called into communion, oneness with Christ (9). 

• Heartbeat 
• Mindbeat 
• Lifebeat

4. What does this mean practically? 

• Practice His presence 
• Acknowledge your desire 
• Commit to Him daily 
• Trust Him entirely 

"Regular Believer Involvements"- (RBI's) 

• Attend worship weekly 
• Participate in a small group regularly 
• Be involved in ministry consistently 
• Build relational bridges to unbelievers continuously 
• Focus on your family constantly 
• Talk to God 1st 
• Give to God 1st 

5. Carry the Call 

2. Drive your attitude & gratitude quotients high. 

Philippians 3:12-14--"But one thing I do... Forgetting was is behind I press on... 

I Cor. 1:4-9--I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 
5For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- 
6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 
8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 

Key words: 

• Magnitude-influence, bigger than life 
• Altitude-on top of the world 
• Aptitude-"gifted", a natural tendency, ability or talent (Paul/wisdom) 
• Fortitude-courage (early church persecution) 
• Gratitude--thanksgiving 
• Attitude-the same as in Jesus 

The Big Three: 

Gratitude: Thankful for: (Paul in verses 4-9) 

• God's Church 
• God's mercy 
• God's grace 
• God's peace 
• God's gifts 
• God's eternal plan 
• God's help 
• God's faithfulness 

Fortitude: Courage

Attitude: 

It's not the magnitude of your aptitude that determines your altitude, its your attitude, fortitude, and gratitude. 

3. Aim to get really good at all kinds of relationships. 

I Cor. 1: 10-17--I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 
11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 
12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[1] "; still another, "I follow Christ." 
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into[2] the name of Paul? 
14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 
15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 
16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

Kinds of people: 

• Don't Care--I'm not good at relationships so deal with it 
• Deep Tear-bitterness, resentment, dysfunction
• Won't Share-it's their fault 
• Not Fair-it's always my fault and I'm a loser 
• Quite Rare-God grow me...I want rewarding relationships 

Kinds of relationships: 

• People easy to love. 
• People hard to love. 
• People impossible to love. 
• People easy to work with 
• People hard to work with 
• People impossible to work with 
• People easy to live with 
• People hard to live with 
• People impossible to live with 

One Jesus, One message-be ONE! 

Ephesians: 

• Make every effort--4:3 
• Speak the truth in love-4:15 
• Resolve quickly-4:26 
• Nothing unwholesome-4:29 
• Detoxify-4:31
• Be kind, compassionate, forgiving-4:32

Small Group Discussion Questions: 

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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