Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Theme: Certainly we have privileges as Christians, but we must never use our privileges in such a way that we hinder the Gospel.

Date: 10/24/2021 Title: 1_Corinthinas_16 ID: NT07-09

ILLUS.

If we were to pen a new "roll call of faith" William Borden would be one of the names on that list.

William Borden was the heir to an enormous fortune, and a multi millionaire at the age of sixteen.

His father had made a fortune in Colorado silver mining.

After William Borden finished high school in 1904 his parents sent him a tour of the world.

Shortly before he left on his trip he surrendered his life to Christ under the preaching of R.A. Torrey, and dedicated himself to do whatever God wanted with his life.

As he visited Asia, the Middle East, and Europe he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people.

Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to become a missionary."

In response, Bill wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No Reserves."

During his college years at Yale he made an entry in his personal Journal: "Say ‘No' to self and ‘Yes' to Jesus every time.”

Borden had a charismatic personality, was sociable, athletic, and fun loving but also was an intense and hardworking natural leader.

During his first semester at Yale he and another student began having a prayer time before breakfast.

Soon another student joined them, and then another.

By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer.

By the time Bill Borden was a senior in 1909, 1,000 of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.

Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down several high paying job offers.

In his Bible he wrote two more words: "No Retreats."

He went on to Princeton Seminary, and graduated in 1912.

His plan was to sail for China to work with Uyghur Muslims in northwestern China.

He stopped in Egypt in order to study Arabic and the Muslim faith.

Unfortunately, while in Egypt he contracted spinal meningitis.

He died on April 9, 1913 at the age of 25.

Borden is buried in the American Cemetery in Cairo.

On his grave were inscribed words"Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation of such a life."

Was Borden's untimely death a waste?

Not in God's plan.

Shortly before his death, Borden had written two more words in his bible.

Underneath the words: "No Reserves" and "No Retreats" he had written: "No Regrets".

Borden lived out Jesus' words, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matt.1:39).

William Borden was certainly born to privilege.

In Christ he had the liberty to live the “good life” and to use his wealth for tremendous good.

He could have become one of the greatest Christian philanthropists of his era.

His own personal wealth could have funded dozens of missionaries.

He denied himself, that he might serve others.

In the previous chapter, the Apostle pointed to the importance of Christian liberty, and laid down the principle that we should do nothing that would knowingly offend another Christian — especially weaker Christians.

In this chapter, he points to himself as an example of one who had privileges, but, for the Gospel’s sake, did not use them.

Paul is still dealing with Christian liberty.

In this chapter Paul will remind the Corinthians “Certainly we have privileges as Christians, but we must never use our privileges in such a way that we hinder the Gospel.”

I. LIBERTY IN PERSONAL MATTERS

1 Corinthians 9:1-6

1. every time the apostle Paul went to a new community to plant a church the very first thing he did was to find a job

2. while in Corinth, Paul worked with his own hands as a tentmaker and took no support from the church

a. even after a church had been planted in the congregation was large enough to support him Paul declined to take any support

b. in vs. 3, however, the Apostle says that he had every right to expect financial support from the church and gave some arguments why

A. PAUL’S DEFENSE OF HIS LIBERTY

1. Paul is going to spend a few moments arguing why he should be supported by the congregation he ministers to

2. 1st The Argument of His Calling

“Am I not free?

Am I not an apostle?

Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?

Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1, ESV)

a. in no uncertain terms Paul asserts his apostleship, but not only his but also the apostleship of his companion Barnabas

1) in Acts 14:14 Barnabas is referred to as an Apostle along with Paul, and like Paul was an Apostle — a messenger of the gospel — to the gentiles

2) one of the disparagements Paul had to endure during his ministry was his detractors regular assertion that Paul was not a “true apostle” because he had not followed Jesus like Matthew, John, James and the others

b.

Paul’s counter argument is I’ve seen the Lord Jesus ... He’s the one who called me to this apostolic ministry ... I’ve certainly given my life to him and followed him ... my success is my bonafide ... I’m an apostle as certainly as any of the Twelve

1) Paul says “This is my defense to those who would examine me.” (1 Corinthians 9:3, ESV)

c. as an Apostle Paul claims certain Christian liberties — liberties like ...

1) earning his keep through his ministry — “Do we not have the right to eat and drink?” (1 Corinthians 9:4, ESV)

2) have a wife and family — “Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” (1 Corinthians 9:5, ESV)

3. 2nd, The Argument of a Laborer’s Worthiness

a. Paul uses three illustrations here

1) no soldier supports himself, but receives wages and supplies from the governing authorities for his services

ILLUS.

Can you imagine joining one of the branches of the American military, going through 10 weeks of boot camp, and at the end receiving a bill for all of your training and equipment?

Not a whole lot of people would be enlisting if that were the case.

Those who served their nation in the military should not be expected to pay their own way.

2) the vintner toils in the vineyard, pruning the vines, watering the plants, and harvesting the grapes, and as such has the right to eat some of the fruit

3) the herdsman who tends the sheep and goats, guarding them, leading them to water and pasture, shearing their wool, and as such has the right to some of the milk

4. 3rd, The Argument of Old Testament Principle

“Do I say these things on human authority?

Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.”

Is it for oxen that God is concerned?”

(1 Corinthians 9:8–9, ESV)

a. Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 25:4 where Moses expresses his concern about the oxen getting enough to eat — getting their fair share when working hard

b. this command, which appears only once in the Old Testament, would garner little attention except for the fact that the apostle Paul cites it not once but twice (1 Cor.

9:9; 1 Tim.

5:18), making apostolic application to his right to be supported financially as a minister of the gospel

c.

Paul, on the other hand, seems to say that God isn’t primarily concerned about oxen

1) he asks rhetorically in vs. 10 Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

a) the right answer, in context, is Yes, God is concerned about his creatures, but you’ve got to see the bigger picture.

God is equally concerned that those who devote their life to feeding God’s sheep are compensated for their work

5. 4th, The Argument of Godly Ministry

“If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?”

(1 Corinthians 9:12–13, ESV)

a. the Law of Moses allowed the priests to share generously in the sacrifices from the altar

1) in the Old Testament offerings God would get a share of the sacrifice — the very best part

2) the worshiper would sometimes get a share of the sacrifice to take home with them

3) the priest would get a share of the sacrifice, and depending on the offering the priest might receive the animal’s hide, or a large portions of meat, or he might also receive fine flour, grain and fruit

a. this was god’s way of taking care of the priests who, if you remember, received no land inheritance when the Jews came into the promised land

6. 5th, The Argument of Christ’s Command

“In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

(1 Corinthians 9:12–13, ESV)

B. PAUL’S DENIAL OF HIS LIBERTY