1 Corinthians Week 5: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

¹ 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.

—1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Sermon Outline

1. You Are God’s (MULTILINE)

Weekly Study Guide

In this third chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses one of the most fundamental issues within the church: spiritual immaturity and how it promotes division. The Corinthian believers had been taught the gospel—that they were called to be set apart and distinct—yet they continued to behave like the world. They were attaching themselves to human leaders and fostering factions rather than living as a unified body in Christ. This passage emphasizes the need for believers to grow spiritually, to recognize their dependence on God rather than human wisdom, and to build their faith upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, Paul uses vivid metaphors to illustrate these points, comparing the church to a field, a building, and the temple of God.

Paul begins the chapter by addressing the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians, stating that he could not speak to them as mature believers but as infants in Christ. Paul likens them to babies, still needing spiritual milk instead of solid food (vv. 2-3). The Corinthians were not growing in their faith; instead, they were stagnating. They were being influenced by worldly thinking and behavior, as demonstrated by their divisions and allegiances to different church leaders. Much like the surrounding Greek culture, the Corinthians valued eloquence and wisdom. This led them to often exalt leaders based on their rhetorical skills rather than their faithfulness to the gospel. Paul admonishes this mindset and reminds them that he and Apollos are merely servants, planting and watering, and it is God who gives the increase. Knowing this was an agrarian society, Paul strategically uses the imagery of planting and watering—something they knew very well.

Paul then directs our eyes away from human leadership and onto God’s sovereignty. He states that he and Apollos are merely servants through whom the Corinthians believed (v. 5). Continuing the metaphor of agriculture, Paul explains that while one may plant (Paul) and another may water (Apollos), “God gave the growth” (v. 6). The message is clear: human leaders are instruments, but the power to transform lives comes from God alone.

Paul’s argument in this chapter is central to the larger message of 1 Corinthians. Throughout the letter, he confronts various issues related to division, immorality, and misunderstandings about spiritual gifts. Chapter three serves as a foundation for his later discussions on leadership, the nature of the church, and Christian maturity. It challenges believers to recognize that their identity is not rooted in human leaders but in Christ alone. Paul calls upon his readers to build wisely upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. This sets the stage for his further teachings on church unity, accountability, and the use of spiritual gifts.

Paul’s words have so much practical use for us today. He calls us to examine our own spiritual maturity: are we growing in our faith, or are we still clinging to worldly attitudes and divisions? Many churches today struggle with factionalism, whether through denominational loyalty, personal preferences, or allegiance to specific pastors. He reminds us that our faith should be grounded in Christ, not in human leadership. Ultimately, 1 Corinthians chapter three is a call to spiritual growth, humility, and faithfulness. It reminds us that God is the one who brings growth, that our foundation must be Christ, and that our works will one day be tested.

As we allow these truths to sink into our hearts, let’s commit ourselves to moving past the milk of the Word and strive to daily grow deeper in our faith. We must reject the idea that the wisdom of the world compares to the wisdom of God. Paul’s heart here is that we remember that true wisdom and security are found in Christ alone.

(MULTILINE)

Discussion Questions

1. Describe a time in your life when you experienced significant spiritual growth. (MULTILINE)
2. What does Paul mean in his distinction between “men of the flesh” and “spiritual men”? How does this relate to his imagery of infants and milk/meat in describing their spiritual condition? Why do you think Paul still had to give them milk to drink? What are some of the characteristics of spiritual immaturity mentioned here? How would you describe the difference between milk and meat (Heb 5:12-6:2)? (MULTILINE)
3. What does this passage teach us about the role of God’s sovereignty in spiritual growth? What do we learn about dependence upon God in our desire to grow spiritually? Why do you think we naturally tend to take that responsibility solely upon ourselves? What are some examples of how God uses human instruments to accomplish His purposes? What else do we learn about God from this passage? (MULTILINE)
4. In your observation, what issues are most likely to cause division in the church? Why do you think people who are committed to humbly pursuing God still fall prey to these kinds of divisions? What is the difference between respecting a spiritual leader and what was happening in Corinth? Where do you see this danger cropping up in churches today? Why is it difficult for people to trust God’s timing in spiritual growth, both in themselves and in others? (MULTILINE)
5. Who are the people in your life that God has used to plant and to water your spiritual journey? Who has been a Paul or Apollos for you? In whose lives have you planted and watered? What have you learned through these experiences? How would you assess your own spiritual maturity in light of this passage? In what areas have you seen the most spiritual growth? What are some practical steps we can take to grow beyond spiritual infancy? (MULTILINE)

Going Deeper

1. What does it mean that Paul “planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth”? How can the images Paul uses of the church being “God’s field” and “God’s building” help us understand more fully what the church should be about? What is our role, and what is God’s role in ministry? Why would this gardening picture be an apt illustration for the Corinthian church? What other metaphors does Paul use elsewhere in scripture to describe the church? (MULTILINE)
2. What are some ways we can support our pastors and leaders without placing them on a pedestal? What does it look like to be a “fellow worker” with God in our daily lives? How should this passage influence the way we approach evangelism and discipleship? How can we ensure that our church remains unified despite differences in opinion and leadership styles? (MULTILINE)

Transformational Activity

Prayer

Growing in our faith involves learning dependence upon God rather than relying on our own strength. That shift from self-reliance to a trusting relationship with God leads to true contentment and freedom as well. But that cannot happen outside of the enterprise of prayer. It is only through prayer that we foster that trust and dependence. Take some time this week to pray through the issues this passage highlights. Where are you in your spiritual walk? Ask God to help you rightly analyze where He would have you take your next steps in growing and dependence.

Family Focus

Read this passage together as a family! 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Worth a Note: “Worldly” life is the opposite of living “by the Spirit.” Worldliness means carrying out the fallen world’s sinful patterns (lying, greed, bickering, pride, hatefulness, spiritual ignorance, rebellion against God, etc.). When we come to know God, He gives us a new life instead of our old one—He makes us citizens of heaven even while we’re still citizens of earth. Slowly, we grow to look more and more like true people of heaven. We start to live by heaven’s laws even though we’re physically on earth. We aren’t so captive to sin (worldliness) anymore. The Corinthians, though, were acting as if the Spirit had never made them new

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is Paul so critical of the Corinthian church here? What does he mean when he says he could not speak to them as “spiritual people” but rather only as people of the flesh (worldly)? How does 1 Corinthians 3:1-3a relate to Hebrews 5:11-14? (MULTILINE)
2. Jesus frequently used agricultural imagery in his parables. How does the image of planting a seed and watering it show the limitations of human activity in building the church? How does it relate to the parable in Mark 4:26-29? How is it true that only God can make the seed grow (v. 7)? (MULTILINE)
3. What does Paul call the church in verse 9? How is the church like a field? How is it like a building? Discuss together how you as a family and as individuals can grow closer to Christ. (MULTILINE)

Memorize this verse together as a family this week:

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor 3:9).

Focused Family Prayer: Pray for each other to continue to grow up toward maturity in Christ.