Sermon Tone Analysis

In the first part of chapter 9, Paul argues that as an apostle of Jesus Christ, he has the right to not only earn wages for working for the Lord, but he also has the right to refuse those wages.

Someone in the Corinthian church made his wages the issue.

Paul said, “Look, whether I charge or don’t charge for preaching the gospel doesn’t matter.

I have rights, but I don’t always enforce those rights - I am a free person, but I never use my freedom for personal gain.

What really is important here is not my wages or my rights, but that the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.”

That’s the setting.

Verse 19

What Paul was saying here was revolutionary.

In the Roman world, people were either free or a slave.

For the most part, slavery was a horrible and inhumane existence.

Most slaves could only dream of being free - of going where they wanted, doing what they wanted, owning their own property - living day by day without someone telling them what to do.

No free person would ever want to become a slave.

But here, Paul says, “I have made myself a servant to all.”

That is how Paul often addressed himself, as a servant.

Get this, at the heart (motive) of serving is not serving.

Some of us like to serve others naturally - we just like to help.

But that is not what Paul is referring to.

His motive for what he did was always Christ centered in two ways: 1) he served others because he knew Christ.

2) He served others so that they would know Christ.

So, just a simple question: Why do we do what we do?

Why did Paul intentionally make himself a servant?

To win more of them?

Who are “Them?”

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.

To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

Jews and those under the law - you can read that as “religious people.”

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Let’s just say, non-religious people.

22 To the weak I became weak (most believe he is now referring to Christians - weak ones that is), that I might win the weak.

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

With that last statement, just keep in mind that Paul never thought of himself as the savior, but always the servant.

His goal was ever to be a tool in the Savior’s hands.

What is Paul saying here?

I became like someone who believes differently than me so I could help them see Jesus - and of course, ultimately help them know Jesus.

What does it mean to become like …? Let’s start with what it is not.

It’s not compromise.

We are to never compromise Biblical values and truths in order to “evangelize.”

You don’t become drunk to reach drunk people!

You don’t sin, so you can reach sinners.

It’s not syncretism - the joining or blending of beliefs.

We don’t blend essential Biblical doctrine with other doctrines.

To do so is to dilute the truth and render the message of the cross powerless.

When Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some,” he meant is that he connected with people on common ground.

He didn’t allow titles or labels to interfere with the love of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel.

If we as Christians are talking to someone and we find out they’re a liberal or a conservative and the wall goes up (no pun intended), and we no longer see a person made in the image God, but we see a label, we see a political ideology - we have the problem.

Hudson Taylor is a great example of becoming all things.

When the British were trying to evangelize China, they found it nearly impossible.

They were restricted to a small area along the coast.

Why? Stayed in their stuffy suits, “imposed” British ways of Christianity.

Hudson had a different approach.

He shaved his head, pony tail, learned the language, dressed like them … but never compromised the gospel or Biblical values.

That is, what one book calls “considerate evangelism.”

How did Paul and others accomplish this? Henry Chadwick said that ...

Paul “… had an astonishing elasticity of mind, and a flexibility in dealing with situations requiring delicate and ingenious treatment.”

(Henry Chadwick, NTS)

Why did Paul and others go to such measures?

The gospel - good news.

God’s love.

God’s salvation.

God’s plan.

God’s purpose.

Just a simple question: what do you do for the sake of the Gospel?

Think of it like this - what do I do with the intent that someone will come to faith in Christ?

Humans are good at doing habit, routine, convenience, comfortable ….

Not everyone ….

Living life for the gospel will often cause us to make changes, break old habits and form new ones, go places that are uncomfortable, inconvenient …

Paul wraps it up with this …

Run so that you may obtain the prize!

Just a simple question: what is your prize?

Retirement?

Peace?

Have you ever defined your prize?

What are you and I really working toward?

Paul gives us a metaphor about what a lot of people work toward.

He says that

Athletes eat right, train hard, forsake many pleasures … all for the prize … all for something that will perish.

Why does Paul mention this?

As one commentary stated, “The strenuous self-denial of the athlete as he sought a fleeting reward is a rebuke to half-hearted, flabby Christian service.

The athlete denies himself many lawful pleasures and the Christian must similarly avoid not only definite sin, but anything that hinders spiritual progress.”

The Christian should do the same for an eternal prize.

We too should eat right, train hard and practice self-control and self-discipline … why?

Because in the End there will be winners and losers.

But the losers lose for eternity.

Because there is a heaven and hell, because souls are at stake …

Just a simple question: where are you heading in life?

If we proclaim that God has a purpose and plan for each person, what is yours?

Mine?

I know we won’t always know all the specifics, but we, more than all people should have a sense of meaning, purpose and direction.

We should not live being blown by the wind - just going with the flow ….

But,

I discipline my body.

Just a simple question: who’s in charge of your life?

Who is telling you what to do and when to do it?

Who or what is your primary influence?

Fleshly desires?

Algorithms?

Holy Spirit?

Paul disciplined his body, his mind, his actions, his motives … to be under the control and influence of the Spirit (Gal.

5:16-17), so as not to be disqualified.

That means to make the proclamation of the gospel ineffective.