The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 3:1-9, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

4 For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Do you have a favorite preacher? So do I; and so do a lot of Christian people. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with having a favorite, but we must be careful not to allow jealousy and strife over pulpit personalities to come between us, lest we be labeled as “spoiled, spiritual babies.”

In the multiple secular fields, it’s not uncommon to find two carpenters or two electricians who differ in the application of their particular skills. What is most desired is the ultimate competency of their labors. We all vary in multiple styles of hair, clothing, and even subjects of casual discussion. Why should we be dogmatic about almost anything except things of a spiritual nature?

Preachers quite naturally differ in personality and styles of delivery. It’s doubtful if even identical twins would be lock-step in their thinking and delivery. or a specific preaching style. This is the problem that our text brings to light. Just think how it would be if every pastor or evangelist preached in the very same way, even using the same type of illustration. What is vital is the exultation of the LORD Jesus Christ! “We’re God’s fellow workers, His field, His building!”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America