The Simplicity of the Ministry

Lessons On Ministry (from Corinthian Epistles)   •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction

Text - ;
2 Corinthians 11:1–3 NKJV
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
Title - The Simplicity Of The Ministry
One of the most
Argument
Today’s churches and ministries consist of a complex structure of organization and operation.
Roman Catholic Church - boast of the most highly organized heirachy of offices and functions - the same is true with Episcopalians, Prevyterians, Lutherans and Methodists
Even Pentecostal churches such as the Assembly of God and the UPC have complex organizations and systems of operation
This was on of the many reasons why many churches - especially the small ones - chose to become independent (non-denominational)
Even within the circle of Message beleivers, the Word of God has become comlex pattern of systems of interpretations
Paul’s ministry, and those of the apostles’, by contrast, is described as “simple”
Simple (dictionary) - means plain, natural, without imbellishment
Simple (Bible)
grk. haplotes - sincerity, integrity, singleness, liberality
sincerity - means the absence of pretense (pagkukunwari)
grk. haplous - simple, open, with no ulterior motive
- if the eye is “good” (haplos), it sees what it sees
- God gives to all liberally (haplos); straightforward, without pretense
2 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV
12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
2 Corinthians 1.12
Paul says they behaved
in simplicity and godly sincerity
not with fleshly wisdom
- he wrote only the things that the people read and understand
he wrote only the things that the people read and understand
-
The Main Point
Biblical ministry is simple, without pretense and without imbellishment. Such is the ministry of the apostles, which accounts for being powerful and effective, not in gaining number, but in demonstrating the resurrected Christ!
Without pretense - they tell it as it is; there is no hidden agenda; there is no deceptive approach to gain converts
Without imbellishment - they did not hide behind outward beauty or religiosity, exclusive rituals or sacraments, or any such thing.

Sermon Points

How can we do ministry in simplicity?
Paul gives us 3 important elements of simplicity in ministry:
a message that is simple - the “message” is what we are trying to bring to the people.
a people that is simple - the people are the ones who bring the simple message to the people - us
a preaching that is simple - the preaching is the ministering of the simple message to the people

A Simple Message

The Message of the Cross is the idea, concept, thought, that we are presenting to the world
Paul had a simple message: the crucified Christ is the Savior of the world
1 Corinthians 1:23 NKJV
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
without pretense
1 Corinthians 1.1
He suffered under the hand of the Romans
He was rejected by His own people
He died and was buried - but He rose again!
without imbellishment
He came as a simple man, in th elikeness of a servant
He
The simple message was God’s idea!
1 Corinthians 1:19–21 NKJV
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
it was so simple the Jews missed the signs
it was simple the Greeks missed the wisdom
Why “simple message”?
The simple message did not save every Jew or Greek, but it saved the
1 Corinthians 19-21
imbellishing the gospel might project a “different Christ” to the people
imbellishing the message of the cross makes us “men pleasers”
THE POINT IS -
WE DON’T HAVE TO MAKE CHRIST ATTRACTIVE TO THE MIND OF THE SINNER
THE SIMPLE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS ENOUGH!
it was considered by Greeks as a ridiculous idea

A Simple People

The simple message was intended for simple people!
Paul people of God are a simple people
1 Corinthians 1:26 NKJV
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
1 Corinthians 1.26
It was God’s idea to save people of simple background
1 Corinthians 1:27–29 NKJV
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthains 1.27-29
God had a purpose:
He chose the foolish things - to put to shame the wise
He chose the weak things - to put to shame the mighty
He chose the base things and the despised - to bring to nothing the high and noble ones
that no flesh should glory before Him
Why “simple people”?
1 Corinthians 1:29–31 NKJV
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:29 NKJV
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1.29
By God we in Christ “His elect”
By God Christ is to God’s wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption!
THE POINT IS -
WE DON’T NEED TO ASPIRE TO BECOME “GREAT” MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS WORLD
GOD CHOSE US AS WE ARE - SIMPLE
GOD LOVES US AS WE ARE!

A Simple Proclamation

Paul preached in a simple way
1 Corinthians 2:1–5 NKJV
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians2.1-5
he did not use “excellence” of speech
simple preaching is uses plain language that is understandable to the people
he did not come boasting of any wisdom - except the crucified Christ
simple preaching is exalting Christ and nothing else.
he did not make a showmanship of strength and courage and confidence
simple preaching is without showmanship to amze the people
he did not speak with persuasive words
simple preaching is proclaiming the gospel without using attractive offers to convince people
BUT HE PREACHED IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF SPIRIT AND POWER
Simple preaching is reliant on the work of the Holy Spirit
Simple preaching is telling the truth - in love - even if it hurts, offends, and shows the people their errors
simple preaching is preaching with true conviction of the heart
simple preaching is preaching with love for the people
Why “simple preaching”
1 Corinthians 2:5 NKJV
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2.5
THE POINT IS -
WHEN WE IMBELLISH PREACHING WITH HUMAN WISDOM AND SHOWMANSHIP, PEOPLE WILL TAKE PRIDE IN HUMAN ABILITY!
SIMPLE PREACHING WILL NOT CONVINCE EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD - BUT IT WILL DRAW THE ELECT OF GOD TO CHRIST!

Conclusion

Is our ministry a reflection of Simplicity? I HOPE SO.
Paul expressed his “fear” that the church is being corrupted...
2 Corinthians 11:1–3 NKJV
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
“corruption from the simplicity”…
departure from unimbellished ministry
adoption of worldly ways and means to attract a crowd
How do we preserve the Simplicity in this ministry?
Focus on the Message of the Cross
Rejoice in simple things - do not aspire for thing beyond what God has given us
Preach Christ and nothing else - make Him the center of your sermon, Bible study, exhortation
SONG - A Pure Heart
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