Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
As we begin I want us to listen to the words of a song.
It’s called “Give Me Your Eyes.”
4:02
This song is the plea of a mans heart to see people how God does.
As we work our way through this passage I believe we see the heart of the Apostle Paul for the lost.
He wanted people to be saved.
Two pictures.
What Paul will speak about is varying methods.
Our methods must vary because people vary.
Times change.
Generational differences.
The message doesn’t change.
The methods must change.
That is what Paul speaks to here.
Principle:
The believe in Jesus Christ must live for the sake of the gospel.
Guidance:
If we are going to do all things for the sake of the gospel two truths must describe us.
Outcome:
As we live for the gospel we become effective witness for Jesus Christ.
2 truths.
Truth #1.
To do all things for the sake of the gospel we must…
1. Live With Gospel Priority vv.
15-18
There are members of my family that are very much into sports.
They are so into certain sports that they will attempt to listen to games on the radio, even when the reception is bad.
We will be driving in the car listening to mostly static with an occasionally discernable name or statistic making its garbled way through the noise.
Why would they put up with the annoyance of barely hearing the announcers?
Because listening to that game is a priority for them.
When something is a top level priority, we endure much personal inconvenience to participate in that priority.
To Paul, the gospel was a priority.
Because the gospel was his priority, he endured personal inconvenience, personal discomfort, so that he could tell others about Jesus.
How do you make the gospel your priority?
You take two actions.
Action #1.
To make the gospel your priority…
a. Voluntarily limit your freedom vv.
15-16
Paul has just been talking about how the church has a responsibility to pay the one who ministers to them spiritually.
So, Paul has a right to be paid.
But.
He has voluntarily set aside that right.
He has exercised his freedom in Christ to abstain from payment.
He is clear, he’s not writing to get them pay him.
He is laying out a principle, the payment of pastors, so that he can illustrate how freedom in Christ works.
The Corinthians have a responsibility to pay Paul.
He has the freedom to not be paid if he believes that will enable him to better minister in that context.
When we sacrifice for the sake of others there is justifiable pride in that.
Paul has not taken advantage of his rights.
He has chosen to not be paid.
This is ample cause for boasting.
What is Paul doing?
He is setting aside his rights to minister to others.
He is arranging his life to minister.
For us this can manifest in a lot of ways.
Do we prioritize church?
Then we arrange our day around church.
Do we prioritize family?
We arrange our day around family.
Bible reading, prayer, reaching out to others.
These are priorities that require us to adjust our schedules to make them happen.
Following Christ was never intended to be convenient.
Following Christ requires sacrifice.
At the very beginning of Paul’s ministry this is what he was told.
Acts 9:16
Paul is sacrificing so that he can minister to people.
Look at v. 16.
Paul’s point here is that he doesn’t boast in preaching the gospel, that is a matter of obedience.
He boasts in limiting his freedom so that he can better preach the gospel.
This word “preach” is not the idea of what I am doing right now.
A better translation would be “proclaim.”
Preach the gospel – εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō) proclaim good news.
to convey the Gospel v. — to bring the good news concerning the now present instantiation of Jesus’ divine dominion and way of salvation by His death and resurrection.
Finite verb, present, middle, subjunctive, first person, singular.
Preach the gospel – εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō)
All of us have been commanded by God to proclaim the gospel.
It is not optional.
We don’t boast in doing our responsibilities.
In the same way, we don’t boast because we read our bible or went to church or spent time in prayer.
We are commanded to do those things!
When we do them we are simply doing what God requires.
Paul says that “necessity is laid upon” him.
Necessity – ἀνάγκη (anankē) necessity; pressure; distress.
necessity n. — the state of being absolutely required.
Noun (subject), nominative, singular, feminine.
Necessity – ἀνάγκη (anankē)
Sharing the gospel is absolutely required.
Paul says “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
Failure to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ leaves us worthy of judgment!
Failure to preach the gospel is not an option.
Woe is all that awaits us.
What we learn here is very important.
Personal freedom is not primary.
The Christian life is not about comfort or personal happiness.
We have a job to do!
We live for the sake of the gospel, that is our priority.
Paul voluntarily sets aside his right to be paid.
He limits his freedom so that he can reach people with the gospel.
Are we willing to do this?
How important is the gospel?
Gospel proclamation requires sacrifice.
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