Rights & Freedoms
The Foolishness of the Cross • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
· A sermon I’ve never felt the need to preach)
· But deeper: In church & relationship, What do gospel-shaped relationships look like?
WE NEED TO KNOW OUR RIGHTS; WE NEED TO EVALUATE OUR MOTIVES, WE NEED TO THINK MISSIONALLY.
I) Know your Rights (vv. 1-4)
I) Know your Rights (vv. 1-4)
A. The Specific Issue: Motives in Ministry
A. The Specific Issue: Motives in Ministry
i. A church problem: Should Pastors be Paid?
1. Corinth: not a poor church, but: “You shouldn’t be in ministry for $$$!”
2. An honest question for pastor & congregation: Motives in Ministry
ii. A Spiritual Harvest Should Produce Material Provision
1. Paul has invested spiritually in the lives of the Corinthians (vv. 1b-2)
2. Spiritual & Material relate: spiritual Labor à materially (vv. 11-12)
B. Support From Everyday life & From Scripture
B. Support From Everyday life & From Scripture
i. Three Examples from everyday life (vv. 7-8)
1. Soldiers serve to protect US à they shouldn’t have to pay for our benefit
2. Two agricultural examples: Those who sow expect to share the harvest
ii. Two examples from Scripture (vv. 9-10, 13-14)
1. God cares for the welfare of animals…even more for people
2. Serving at the temple included sharing in the food brought as offerings
3. The principle: Ministry isn’t money-making, but a right to be paid
JUST AS THE DEACONS IN CORINTH WERE ABOUT TO WRITE PAUL A CHECK, PAUL CONTINUES. PAUL IS MOTIVATED BY SOMETHING MORE.
II) Check your Motives (vv. 15-18)
II) Check your Motives (vv. 15-18)
A. The Greatest Motive is Enacting the Gospel
A. The Greatest Motive is Enacting the Gospel
i. We must be motivated by a desire for faithfulness to God (vv. 16-17)
1. Obedience to God doesn’t come with a price tag
2. Let us urgently seek to obey God ‘s will & calling no matter the cost
3. EXAMPLE: What if God calls you to a career with little $$$?
ii. We must be motivated by a desire for gospel witness (vs. 18)
1. Paul’s ministry models grace; does our life give off that aroma of grace?
2. EXAMPLE: Showing kindness to people who can’t return the favor
B. The Greatest Motive is Love Rather than Rights
B. The Greatest Motive is Love Rather than Rights
i. From “What are my rights?” to “How can I serve with Love? (vs. 19)
1. Though Paul is free, he willingly becomes a slave of others
2. Therefore, his greatest ambition is love others by serving them
ii. Are we motivated by a desire to love rather than to claim our rights?
1. EXAMPLE: A conflict (What am I owed? I’m in the right!) to JVT
2. EXAMPLE: What would it look like: In marriage? At Work?
iii. A Gospel Motive:
1. Won’t we be taken advantage of? Treated unfairly? Walked on?
2. Yes – as Christ did, to be our servant!
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THIS, IT ACTUALLY HELPS US TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MINISTER FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM.
III) Plan Your Strategy (vv. 19-27)
III) Plan Your Strategy (vv. 19-27)
A. We must learn to contextualize the Gospel
A. We must learn to contextualize the Gospel
i. Contextualization means Firm & Flexible
1. Contextualization: holding the truth while being flexible in how we present it
2. With Gentiles, Paul quotes poets & prophets; With the Jews Paul circumcises
ii. Contextualization is essential for the Church
1. Individuals: Who are you praying for? Do you know their world?
2. Church: Do we expect the world to come, adapt to us then hear the gospel
3. EXAMPLE: Churches that have withered because they couldn’t change
B. Contextualizing the Gospel :
B. Contextualizing the Gospel :
i. Some of us object:
1. Some feel like this is compromising the gospel or being gimmicky
2.
ii. Christ Contextualizes the Gospel for us
1. Jesus left the perfection of heaven to enter our world
2. Jesus veiled his glory to accommodate us
Transition:
Conclusion
The story of Don Richardson