Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. Welcome to another beautiful day that the Lord has made, a day where we gather together to delve into the rich, nourishing depths of His word. Today, we are going to be focusing on a passage from the apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, specifically, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

Before I share the scripture, I want to share with you a quote from the esteemed Christian author, J.I. Packer. He once said, "The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration." Isn't that a magnificent perspective? Our pursuit of holiness, our desire to live in a manner that pleases God, is not merely an obligation or a duty. No, it springs from a place of deep reverence, a sense of awe at the majesty and grace of our God.

With that in mind, let us turn to the scripture for today.

"For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

Compulsion of the Call

When we look at the life of Paul, we see a man who was driven by an irresistible urge to share the good news of Jesus Christ. This wasn't something he did out of obligation or because he thought it would earn him favor with God. No, Paul preached the gospel because he was compelled to do so. He felt a deep, inner compulsion that wouldn't let him do anything else. This compulsion was so strong that he said, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

Divine calling: This compulsion wasn't something that Paul conjured up on his own. It was a divine calling placed on his life by God. When Paul encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his life was forever changed. He was transformed from a persecutor of Christians to a proclaimer of Christ. This radical transformation was the result of a divine encounter, an encounter that left Paul with an unshakeable compulsion to preach the gospel.

Now, let's consider what this compulsion looked like in Paul's life.

First: It led him to surrender his rights. Paul was an apostle, a position that came with certain rights and privileges. He had the right to be supported by the churches he served. He had the right to be respected and honored for his work. But Paul was willing to give up these rights for the sake of the gospel. He chose to preach the gospel free of charge, refusing to make full use of his rights as a preacher. This was a radical act of self-denial, a clear demonstration of the compelling power of the gospel in Paul's life.

Second: This compulsion led Paul to become a servant to all. Despite being free and belonging to no one, Paul made himself a slave to everyone. He was willing to meet people where they were, to enter into their world and their culture, in order to share the gospel with them. This meant becoming like a Jew to win the Jews, becoming like one under the law to win those under the law, and becoming like one not having the law to win those not having the law. Paul was willing to adapt his approach, to change his methods, in order to reach people with the gospel. This was not a compromise of the gospel message, but a commitment to communicate it in a way that people could understand and receive.

Third: This compulsion led Paul to endure hardship and suffering. Paul's commitment to the gospel brought him into conflict with both Jewish and Roman authorities. He was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually executed for his faith. Yet, despite these hardships, Paul never wavered in his commitment to preach the gospel. His compulsion to share the good news of Jesus Christ was stronger than his desire for comfort or safety. This is a powerful testament to the transforming power of the gospel.

Fourth: This compulsion was motivated by a desire to share in the blessings of the gospel. Paul wasn't driven by a desire for personal gain or recognition. He was driven by a desire to see others come to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ. He wanted others to experience the same life-changing power of the gospel that he had experienced. This is why he was willing to become all things to all people, so that by all possible means he might save some. Paul's compulsion to preach the gospel was fueled by a love for others and a desire to see them come to know Christ.

Contextualizing the Gospel

In the heart of Paul's message, we find a powerful strategy for sharing the good news of Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO