Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Conscientiousness
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Tone of specific sentences
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I. Servants of God
When we come to chapter 4, Paul is once again trying to pull the church in Corinth back to unity.
He closed chapter 3 by saying,
“So then, no more boasting about men!”
Now Paul says that each of the apostles is a servant of God!
1 Corinthians 4:1-
In the NIV there is a word translated “entrusted with” In the NASB that same word is translated, “steward.”
Now Paul is going to explain that each of the apostles should be considered to be “stewards” of God’s secret things.
In verse 2, we read that those who are “entrusted” have to be proven “faithful.”
They have to be proven faithful by the one who has entrusted them with the message!
1 Corinthians 4:
A. Clear conscience
1 Corinthians 4:
One of the interesting things in this passage is that Paul says just because his conscience is clear does not mean he’s innocent.
1 Corinthians 4:4
Man can lie to one’s self.
B. Clear conscience does not mean innocent!
C. It’s the Lord who judges!
Paul cautions all of us to not judge others because God is the ultimate judge!
D. When God judges He judges their heart!
E. When God judges, His servants will receive praise from their God!
F. Paul applied this idea to his situation with Apollos.
1 Corinthians 4:6-
II.
Fools for Christ
1 Corinthians 4:8-
When we begin this section, it seems a bit strange and difficult to understand.
Paul begins with a sarcastic statement.
A. “You already have what you want!
Already you have become rich”
Paul goes on to sarcastically say:
B. “You have already become kings—and without us!”
Paul sarcastically says they had already become “kings.”
And they did this without needing Paul or Apollos.
When you come to verse 9 Paul uses the imagery that those living in the time would have understood.
C. Roman Procession
When Paul called himself and other apostles “a spectacle unto the world” (), he was using an image familiar to people in the Roman Empire.
The government kept the people pacified by presenting entertainments in the different cities.
The amphitheaters would be filled with citizens, eager to see men compete in the games and prisoners fight with the beasts.
(In fact, the Greek word translated spectacle gives us our English word “theater.”)
The Colosseum at Rome became the center for these “entertainments.”
When the “main events” were ended, then the poorest and weakest prisoners were brought in to fight with the beasts.
Nobody expected too much from their performance.
When the “main events” were ended, then the poorest and weakest prisoners were brought in to fight with the beasts.
Nobody expected too much from their performance.
What a picture of the Apostles of Jesus Christ!
But it forms the background for a series of contrasts that Paul presents for the purpose of trying to humble the Corinthians.
What a picture of the Apostles of Jesus Christ!
But it forms the background for a series of contrasts that Paul presents for the purpose of trying to humble the Corinthians.
III.
Foolishness or Wisdom?
A. Fools for Christ
Paul says he (and the other apostles) are fools according to man’s understanding.
Yet, the Corinthians considered themselves to be so wise!
B. Weak for Christ
Likewise, Paul says he and the apostles are weak for Christ, while the Corinthians considered themselves to be strong!
C. Dishonored for Christ
The apostles were dishonored while the Corinthians were honoring themselves.
1. Hungry and thirsty
2. Living in rags
3. Brutally treated
4. Homeless
5. Hard working
D. Yet they endure
IV.
Follow Paul’s Example
1 Corinthians 4:14-21
A.
Not shaming—warning!
Paul says he is warning them because they are not living the way God wanted them to live.
They were living in their own strength!
QUESTION: Whose strength are you living in?
B. Imitate those who poor into your life!
Imitate those who are “godly!”
Paul wanted the Corinthian believers keep from being led astray.
Thus, he says “imitate me.”
In fact, Paul wants to help them remain true to Jesus.
So he says he’s going to send Timothy to them.
Paul was sending Timothy because, “He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”
()
V. Warning Against Arrogance
1 Corinthians 4:18-21
A. Arrogance
1.
Because Paul wasn’t around.
2. False security!
B. The kingdom of God is power!
1. God’s kingdom is not about talk!
2. God’s kingdom is about your walk
3. Our walk should show God’s power in us!
SO WHAT?
Think about how you life!
How do you live for the Lord Jesus?
God calls us to live in His power!
God calls us to live as His Servants!
God calls us to live as fools for Jesus!
God calls us to be an imitator of Jesus!
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