- 1. LITIGATION
1 Corinthians 6
Pastor Tony Silveira
2. 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law
before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the
world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest
matters?
1 Corinthians 6
3. 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,
things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this
life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to
judge?
1 Corinthians 6
4. 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise
man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his
brethren?
6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before
unbelievers!
1 Corinthians 6
5. 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you
go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong?
Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to
your brethren!
1 Corinthians 6
6. 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6
7. A. The Situation in Corinth
The contenders
8. A. The Situation in Corinth
Choosing the right court and the right Judge
9. B. In what Kingdom do you live in?
10. 54 He also said to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in
the west, you immediately say, It is going to rain; and so it
happens.
55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be
scorching heat; and it happens.
Matthew 12
11. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of
earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present
time?
Settling with Your Opponent
Matthew 12
12. 57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the
way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before
the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the
officer throw you in prison.
59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very
last penny.
Matthew 12
13. C. How should we solve litigation?
Instead of litigation, Paul suggests two alternatives: (1) submit
the dispute to other brethren (vss. 2-5), or (2) accept wrong (vs.
7).
14. 15 If another member of the church sins against you, go and
point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member
listens to you, you have regained that one.
16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along
with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of
two or three witnesses.
Matthew 18
15. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church,
let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven.
Matthew 18
16. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about
anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in
heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among
them.
Matthew 18
17. First you initiate the process = just you and the other
person
18. After this make sure you dont talk to that person alone but get
witnesses
19. If there is a refusal from the person then you go to the Church
(Pastor or other known Leader)
20. If the litigation is against a leader or even the pastor
21. when the person refuses to listen
22. D. Lack of Respect for authorities
Conclusion
23. Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work
is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give
them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would
certainly not be for your benefit.
Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)
24. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that
exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority
resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring
judgment on themselves
Romans 13:1-2
25. Without accountability to authority, a believer will often
develop itching ears
2 Timothy 4:3
26. 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the
authority of the elders (pastors).And all of you must clothe
yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God
opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
