A Letter Of Concern- Responsibilities Series

Series: Action [#84]

A LETTER OF CONCERN- RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Corinthians 9:1-14

Introduction:

Today’s Sermon comes at a very interesting time- The completion of 33 years as Pastor of Bel Aire. I was called as Pastor of Bel Aire Baptist Church, beginning on February 1, 1999. I was ordained on January 26th, (my birthday and the Super Bowl). I was leaving my high paying job at McDonald’s, (I still don’t make this amount); and took a 50% pay cut to be the Full-Time Pastor. I received a pay raise almost every year up until 2010.

In 2010, I realized that my marriage was in bad shape, and I needed to prepare for what would happen as Pastor at Bel Aire if I got divorced. I applied for the position of Energy Manager with the Hobbs Schools and got hired for the position. The day that I was leaving to Chicago for training, I was kicked out of the house never to return to that home. It was not long after that the divorce proceedings began. I went to the Bel Aire members and had a vote whether I was to stay or leave. I gave everyone a ballot and told the Church that if 1 person said I should resign that I would. Obviously, no one did.

Because I had a full-time job with the Schools, it allowed me to not receive a salary from Bel Aire. Karen and I were married in 2011 and have been serving here together since. I have Pastored these last 12 years without pay from the Church; but have been blessed beyond measure. While I don’t get questioned by people here, there have been many who have questioned my ministry. Am I qualified to Pastor? Why should people listen to me preach? Why should people follow someone like me? This Sermon answers some of these questions.

In last weeks Sermon, we studied that we as Christians are to put other’s liberty’s ahead of our own. The example was not eating meat offered to idols. The bottom line is that in matters that are not covered by the Bible, we are to think about others before ourselves. Paul’s #1 goal was to not do anything that would hurt the Gospel of Jesus. In today’s text, Paul explains his ministry and what God expects from congregations.

1 Corinthians 9:1-2

How to deal with…

1. A demand for authenticity.

Some questioned the authenticity of Paul’s Apostleship. He gives his credentials that verify his call- He had seen the Lord, and the Corinthian believers themselves were proof of his work. An Apostle had to be an eyewitness of Christ and His resurrection. Paul always testified that he saw the risen Christ. The Corinthian Church was the “seal of his apostleship.” A seal was used on containers, letters, and other things to indicate the authenticity of what was sealed. Under the seal was guaranteed to be genuine.

1 Corinthians 9:3

How to deal with…

2. Accusations.

Christians, how do you defend yourself against those who judge your Christian walk? It is through the fruit that you produce. The world is tired of religious games. People want to see in the lives of those who profess Christ the characteristics of Jesus. Unless those marks of authenticity are present, they will not want to know Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:4-6

How to deal with…

3. The defense of assistance.

Paul gives his right to 2 basic things- Financial support and assistance from the Church, and the right to be married. Apparently, some concluded that Paul and Barnabas worked to support themselves because they were less worthy of support from the Church. Paul points out that they did it voluntarily, not because they were obligated to do so.

Paul gave 5 reasons why such assistance was appropriate.

1 Corinthians 9:7

* It is customary.

He gives 3 illustrations to show that paying workers is customary.

^ Soldiers do not fight during the day and work at night to provide their living.

^ Farmers do not plant and cultivate a crop for someone without being paid for it either in money or with a share of the crop.

^ Shepherds do not work for free.

All 3 types of workers are paid for their work. This is customary, right, and expected. Why should it not be true for God’s workers as well?

1 Corinthians 9:8-11

* It is God’s Law.

God’s servants deserve to be supported. We should pay them as generously as is feasible and leave the stewardship of that money to them; just as we expect the stewardship of our own money to be left to us.

1 Corinthians 9:12

* It is done for others.

The Corinthians had apparently always supported their Pastors. As the Church’s founding Pastor and as an Apostle, he had more claim on their support than the others, but he did not use this right.