Still Drinking Milk or Already Eating Solid Food – Co-workers in Christ
Pastor Tan Thai · Feb 1, 2025
This sermon develops the theme of spiritual maturity through understanding each believer's role and responsibility in the Church. A mature Christian is one who obeys God's calling even when the specific work is unclear, accepts diversity in different functions, and works with humility and harmony without envy or competition. The sermon emphasizes that each assigned task will receive appropriate reward, and what we build on the foundation of Christ must be of precious materials, not things that will perish.
The sermon begins by analyzing the condition of young believers in faith who are affected by jealousy, rivalry, and envy – 'poisons' that harm not only the person consumed by them but also families, friendships, and the Church. The pastor reminds the congregation of two main dangers of these sins: they lead to other transgressions and will destroy personal lives as well as the Church. From there, he transitions to examining the characteristics of those who have eaten solid food, mature believers in Christ, through Scripture passages from 1 Corinthians 3:5-11.
The first characteristic of a mature Christian is that they trust and obey God even though they may not be completely clear about the specific work and the way God wants to assign it. The pastor uses examples of Paul planting, Apollos watering, apostles, and biblical figures like Abraham and Moses to illustrate that genuine faith is stepping forward even without knowing the complete destination. He encourages the women in the congregation that even when unsure what God wants them to do, they can begin with what they are capable of, and the Holy Spirit will guide the next steps like ever-brightening light. The second characteristic is the acceptance of differences and diversity within the Church. The pastor uses vivid comparisons with various items in the meeting room, different foods, and car brands to demonstrate that diversity is natural, necessary, and beneficial. He explains that the Church is the body of Christ, with each member having a different function, and no one can say to another that they are not needed. Differences among generations, age groups, life experiences, and even styles of worship must be accepted with joy.
The third characteristic of a mature believer is humility, joy, harmony, and freedom from rivalry. The pastor emphasizes that growth comes not from the work of the planter or the waterer but from God. Therefore, a mature person does not undervalue or overvalue their own work but thanks God when there is fruit. He uses practical examples of specific church tasks such as cooking, preparing chairs, cleaning up, visiting, singing, teaching, and caring for children to prove that each work is important and necessary. An important lesson is that when others see believers working with joy, sincerity, unity, genuine love, and forbearance, these very things will attract those who don't yet know Christ. He compares mature believers to parents caring for young children – they accept responsibility, share difficulties, encourage one another, even though they sometimes must comfort spiritual infants.
The second part of the sermon focuses on reward proportional to assigned work. The pastor explains that each person will receive a reward according to their work, and this distribution is just. He uses the parable of the talents to illustrate that God gives resources (material goods, spiritual gifts, abilities, time, opportunities) for each person to invest and produce returns, whether many or few. Those who invest will be given more and receive appropriate reward, but the one who hides and doesn't use what is given will have it taken away. The pastor then analyzes 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 in detail regarding building on the foundation of Christ. He explains that there are two types of materials for building: gold, silver, precious stones (valuable things, imperishable, refined further by fire) and wood, hay, straw (things that will be consumed). Precious materials represent correct understanding and application of Scripture according to the Spirit's wisdom; perishable materials represent misunderstanding, worldly wisdom, or working for Christ for fame, money, or human praise. The pastor advises all to build life and Church with heavenly principles – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness – rather than worldly values like wealth, reputation, and position. The sermon concludes with encouragement that God gives each person a choice between two paths, two foundations, two decisions, and the pastor hopes all will choose the narrow way that leads to eternal life.