1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 

4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? 5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 New Living Translation.

A nursery can be a place for looking after children, or a place for growing plants. Both are seen in today's reading and the important question to ask is “which of the two am I in?” How did Paul say he had to speak to some of the Christians at Corinth? (vs 1)

What do verses 3-4 tell us are symptoms of childish or immature behaviour?

Verse 4 is quite sad because it says that sometimes our behaviour as believers is not all that different from how those who aren’t Christians behave! If we have cliques and look down on others who aren't part of our group we are just like the world.

But Paul says there’s another 'nursery' which is a place of growth. (vs 6). Those who preach and teach God's truth are just the gardeners working in God's nursery! They themselves can't make people grow, only God can do that (vs 6-7) and He does!

Questions that come to mind. What do these verses imply about evangelism and discipleship (i.e. helping new Christians to grow in Christ)? Are we all good at both?

What important truth does verse 8 teach us?

Lastly, how should this affect the way we respond to preachers 'we don't enjoy', and those we do? What will help us in listening to those whose preaching style might not be our cup of tea? (That's spiritual tea!)

An important truth in becoming a Christian is that we are meant to grow up in the new life God has given us. We must grow in our understanding, our attitudes, our relationships, and in our love for Christ and for one another.

So which 'nursery' describes best where we are today? Let’s ask God's forgiveness for when we've not responded to others as we should've – and thank Him for those who do help us to grow.