Co-workers in the Lord
Pastor Tan Thai · Sep 29, 2016
This sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 examines the marks of believers who are still 'drinking milk' — living according to the flesh through jealousy and quarreling. The pastor calls the congregation to abandon a spirit of factionalism and to recognize that all who serve in the church are co-workers together with God.
This sermon was delivered on Sunday, October 2, 2016, as part of an ongoing series through 1 Corinthians. The pastor introduces the background of the letter: Paul established the church in Corinth around AD 49–50, and around AD 55 he wrote from Ephesus to address serious problems in the church — particularly factionalism among its leaders — as well as to answer questions the church had sent to him.
First Corinthians 3:1–9 is expounded through the contrast between 'milk' and 'solid food.' Milk represents foundational knowledge of salvation, while solid food represents spiritual maturity expressed through a sanctified life, humility, and fruitful service. The pastor draws on Hebrews 5:12–6:3 and Ephesians 4:14 to clarify this distinction, and uses the image of a child's growth from birth to age five to illustrate the natural development God expects from every believer.
The clearest mark of someone still 'drinking milk' is jealousy and quarreling, which leads to factionalism — some following Paul, others Apollos, others Peter. The pastor applies this to modern church life, warning that a partisan spirit can appear in church leadership boards, in ministry teams, and between different denominations. He calls for an end to criticism and rivalry between churches and denominations, emphasizing that the only name Scripture records for believers is 'Christian' (Acts 11:26).
The pastor clarifies that all believers can sin according to the flesh, including apostles like Paul and Peter. The difference between an immature believer and a mature one is not perfection, but the direction of growth — an immature believer is one who shows no change after five, seven, or ten years. He also stresses that having extensive theological knowledge does not automatically produce maturity if one's life does not bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The sermon concludes by focusing on 1 Corinthians 3:9: 'we are co-workers with God.' Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Everyone who serves in the church is a co-worker with one another and with God, and will receive a fair reward from Him. Jealousy and quarreling arise because people want others to see their work rather than leaving it for God alone to see — a principle Jesus warned about in Matthew 6:16–18.