“Peace With Each Other” Sermon. Sunday, 5/31/2026.

Handling Disagreements

Going the Extra mile

Having the attitude of Christ

When Jesus Returns

Free Passes

Scripture Title: Peace With Each Other

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭ “If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Sermon Summary:

In our Scripture passage today, Paul chastises these Christians for not settling their differences within the church. The problem with the Corinthians was not that they had disagreements with one another but how they handled these issues when they came up in the life of the church. The Corinthians response was to sue each other in court. And Paul was saying, can you not handle these differences within the church. Paul points out that when Christ returns, Christians will have enormous responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we need to start handling things responsibly in this life, especially disputes between believers.

Whenever you bring Christians from different backgrounds, generations and life experiences into a church, we are bound to have disagreements and differences of opinion. Paul encourages us to avoid disputes altogether. Instead, he tells us to have the attitude of Christ. Christians need to forgive, to not be easily offended, and to not carry grudges. Paul asks the question, Instead of going to battle against a fellow Christian who has hurt you, why not rather be wronged? Why go after a brother or sister in Christ for the purpose of getting even or making them pay for their mistake? As Christians, we don’t keep a record of wrongs and we forgive those who have hurt us. As a church, we’ve got to love each other deeply from the heart and quickly forgive. Paul makes the point that many who are Christians’s today were desperately in need of forgiveness and transformation before they came to Christ. And I think the message is that if Christ is willing to forgive you and be patient with you, you should treat others with the same patience and love.

Lewes Presbyterian Church Website

Lewes Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel