SERMON NOTES: “WHO’S THE BOSS?”
Objections to judgment:
1. What about the Woman at the Well?
2. Who gave me the right?
3. ἀνακρίνω (discernment) vs. κρίνω (final legal)
Criteria for right judgment:
1. Right T_ime________:
a. Do I have all the information?
b. Wheat and the Tares (Matt 13:24 – 44)
2. Right P_erson_______:
a. Is it under my authority?
b. The Centurion’s Faith (Matt 8: 8 – 10)
3. Right C_riteria_______:
a. How does the Lord judge?
b. Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14 – 30)
Title: Who’s the Boss?
Text: 1 Cor 4:1-5
FCF: We do have the authority to render judgment when we are in line with Jesus’ heart.
Outline:
1. TV Judges & Why we love them
2. Objections to judgment
a. Didn’t Jesus say don’t judge? He said don’t render final, legal & binding (krino) judgment
b. What about the Woman at the Well? That was a set up by the Pharisees
c. Who gave me the right? 1 Cor 6 – You are going to judge the angels
3. Why is this important? In 1 Cor 5 we’re going to see Paul get down & dirty. If we are going to judge, we need to do it well.
4. Good judgment
a. Right Time – [Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes]
i. Wheat & the Tares (Tolerance, Discernment, Patience)
ii. Courts are rarely accused of going too fast. That’s Ok. [Many major cases took more than one term to decide]
b. Right Person – [It is the Lord who judges me]
i. Admittedly a little hard to understand, until you ask this question: Who are you working for?
ii. Doesn’t matter who you please if you don’t please your boss
iii. Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales, Michael Brown – all controversial people – but they understood that as long as you had the President behind you, you still had a job.
iv. We are joint heirs with Christ, Again, we can judge
v. Centurion’s faith – we are delegated authority
c. Right Criteria – [It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy]
i. Stewards are delegated authority – they are only required to be faithful
ii. Well done, thou good and faithful servant
iii. We are worthy of trust when we see things the way the Master does
5. Conclusion: Brown v. Board of Education
Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, even Judge Albert Wapner – from the granddaddy of them all, The People’s Court.
There’s something fascinating about watching a good court proceeding. The cases always begin with lots of emotion, lots of passion, suits, counter-suits, and accusations all over. Everyone in the courtroom has an opinion. But in the end, the judge is the only one who has the authority to render an opinion – a binding judgment that ensures fairness.
There’s a lot of reason why judges can do what they do. They know how to make good judgments – they are trained to focus on key details, separating impressions from facts, motivations from legal ruling. They are not quick to enter into judgment, but neither do they shy away when a decisive ruling is called for.
In our lives, wouldn’t it sometimes be nice to be that judge? So often, we must make snap decisions on people. Is that car salesman going to sell me a car that I really need or just play to my wants? Is the guy at Seven Loaves really in need or just playing the system? Is the preacher actually bringing the Word of the Lord, or just his own pet peeves and hobby horses?
It isn’t enough to say to ourselves, “Judge not lest you yourselves be judged!” It’s the one verse that non-Christians always seem able to quote the minute you ever use words like “Right” or “Wrong.” Well, remember, that same Jesus was not afraid to separate people into sheep and goats. He was quick to divide right from wrong. The same Jesus said that we are to be as wise as serpents, even as we become gentle as lambs. If his message was just the one-trick pony of ‘Don’t judge’, then there’s a lot of explaining to do about the rest of the Gospels!
Developing the ability to judge the heart – to discern the truth of what’s really going on is vital to who and what we are as followers of Jesus. For the next two weeks, we need to tackle this issue of judgment head on, and I’m going to do my best to ensure that I’m following all of what Scripture says on this.
As we continue in 1 Corinthians this morning, we are up to chapter 4, and I have to tell you that I think chapters 4 & 5 are the most difficult parts of the book to understand – but they are understandable. The background is sort of hinted at in the first three chapters – there seems to be some division in the church that Paul started. Some people like this preacher named Apollos, others like Paul, and its tearing the church apart.
Well, in Chapter 4, it seems like those who don’t like Paul are getting a bit uppity about it, too. They are questioning Paul’s right to even be an apostle. They’re spreading all sorts of stories about how he used to persecute Christians and all, I suspect. They’re asking, “Who does this Paul guy think he is anyway?” They’re calling his work into judgment.
Well, Paul says, ‘You want to judge me? Ok, you judge. But better make sure you do it right.’ That’s going to be our takeaway this morning – right judgment. I’m going to suggest to you a simple model of what right judgment means – Right Timing, Right Person, Right Criteria.
Objections
But before I address how to judge, I really need to answer the question, Can I judge? Do I really have the right? Again, it seems to be the first thing people whip out in any fight where anyone dares to make a judgment.
People seem to know the story of the woman at the well pretty well. I have it printed on the back of your insert. If you read it carefully, you’ll see that Jesus was really being set up. You see, there’s a bunch of Pharisees who want Jesus to come down all harsh and heavy. They’re so quick to get Jesus that they forget little details like, oh, say, the guy. Now, Jesus never once says, “Oh, you’re adultery is fine. Live and let live.” No, he’s is unambiguous with this woman: Go and sin no more.
Jesus is very clear about the law. He’s actually going to make sure the law is satisfied. The law says, two witnesses. And, by the time he finishes doodling in the sand – writing “things” – probably just letting these snap-judgment Pharisees knowing what he knows about their hearts – there’s nobody left to condemn her. He is just saying, don’t be so quick about this. We are all guilty, I wouldn’t be happy about pronouncing judgment on someone, when I know what’s headed my way. That’s why he can say, “Neither do I condemn you.”
By the way, that’s a distinction worth mentioning, and I have it in your notes. Judgment can mean a couple different things. The Greek root is easy to remember – krino – like ‘criminal.’ And when Jesus says, I don’t condemn – I don’t criminalize you – He’s saying, I’m not passing a legal ruling on you.
There is a difference between condemnation and discernment. Both are types of judgment – but Jesus is saying don’t condemn. Don’t pass final judgment. In Chapter 5, we’re going to see some pretty heavy church discipline – but even there the subtext is going to be “this is not final judgment, only good discernment for your sake.”
As to discernment, well, if you want to know who gives you the right – read 1 Corinthians 6. In the responsive reading, we heard Paul say, didn’t you know that we’re going to pass judgment on the angels! Indeed, you do have the right, under the authority that God has given you as his child to eventually pass judgment, so long as it is in keeping with his delegated authority.
Good Judgment – Right Time
So, now that we know we have the delegated authority, let’s start asking, how do we make good judgments? Let’s look to our text.
Paul tells his critics – Do not pronounce judgment (that krino) before the time, before the Lord comes.
Don’t try to jump the gun. Wait til you have all the facts. Courts are rarely accused of acting too quickly – and that’s a good thing. When the Lord comes back, we’re going to see a lot more. We’re going to see how he sees. And when we do, we’ll have to answer for the judgments we’ve made.
Now again, the temptation is back from all judgment – to say, ‘well, who am I?’ But remember, in refusing to exercise discernment: that too is a judgment. Oh, that guy that I think is abusing his children? Well, who am I to judge? You are a person who knows right from wrong. Take that Warren Jeffs! And its not just the seriousness of the offense either. When you know right from wrong, as a child of God, you are compelled to act. Just act in accordance with God’s heart.
God does not get any joy out of condemnation. He gets joy out of seeing all things new. Sin is bad because it hurts the children he loves. God has no desire to see abound. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.
Just be slow about it. You have the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares on your insert too. Great little parable that preaches tolerance, but also says, there will come a point when tolerance has reached its limit. Don’t let your brain fall out, because things will get ugly. Just be patient and wait for God to render judgment, while you render discernment.
Right Person
Paul writes that he isn’t really concerned with other people’s thoughts, and he’s right not to be. He says, it doesn’t matter if you think I’m guilty – heck, it doesn’t even matter if I think I’m guilty, or even innocent. The only judgment that really matters is the judgment of the Lord!
Now let’s clear up one thing right away. Paul is not saying he’s above judgment. Quite the contrary – he’s saying he’s under judgment, but only the judgment of the right person.
Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales, John Ashcroft – these guys have all been very controversial to say the least. But in one sense, it didn’t really matter what other people thought of them. It only mattered what their boss thought, and their boss stood by them. As long the one in charge thinks you’re okay, you’re okay.
When we are quibbling over things that really don’t matter to the Lord, we are asserting an authority that isn’t ours. If you don’t like what the preacher is saying, you have an authority – the Bible – to make a judgment. If the preacher is saying that God declared our next carpet should be red, I think you’re safe in saying, that’s not from the Lord. If the preacher is saying, this book is telling you X, and it’s really in this book, you have a much better case.
It boils down to a simple question – who’s the boss? If the Lord is the boss, then he gets to decide in the end. The decision rests with him.
Right Criteria
And, if the decision rests with him, then the right question to be asking is this: How does the Lord judge?
I don’t have time to tell you every in and out, but I can give you this – The Lord looks on the heart.
Paul wrote that the only thing that was important for a steward – by that I mean a servant charged with and delegated authority – the only thing important for a steward was to be trustworthy. Trustworthy means, get this, worthy of the Lord’s trust.
Worthy of the Lord’s trust means that the steward thinks like his Master. His heart is moved by the same things. He makes decisions in the authority of his Master, because he makes decisions that his Master would make.
It’s like the parable of the Talents. The good servants invest the Master’s money because they know the Master would have invested his money. That’s why he can say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” And do you know the reward of the good servants? They were given authority to rule – to make judgments – over whole cities.
If we’re using the right criteria, the heart of the Lord.
Conclusion
In 1896, the Supreme Court made what most scholars now think is the worst decision ever handed down. In Plessy v. Furgesson, they said schools could be segregated as long as they were “equal.” Separate if equal. Well, we all know they weren’t equal – but the criteria they were using was State’s rights. I like state’s rights, and I’d be happy to tell you why outside of the pulpit – but even I have to tell you they missed out on what the Master values. The Master values people. All people who have worth and dignity.
That’s why the reversal in 1954 was so good. The Court figured out that even the Constitution valued people over governments, and so, after a long hard battle, they switched.
I think too often, we think that our judgments should be done on the basis of separate but equal – I live my life and you live yours. But Jesus didn’t think that way. He condemned sin because he loved people. He didn’t want them to live under its slavery. He said, as long as you and I are separate, we can never be equal.
And so, Jesus – God himself – became one of us – so that he could live for us. He would integrate his authority, his love into the core of our being. We can live without him, or we can make the judgment that his sacrifice for us was right.
The choice is yours. Judge wisely. Would you pray with me?
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 143: 1 – 6
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #410
“Standing on the Promises”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer [See Insert]
*Hymn “Great is the Lord” #140
*Hymn “Freely, Freely” #436
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #3
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 5
Sermon
“Who’s the Boss?”
Invitation Hymn #804
“Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge,
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;
But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters?
“Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the Lord’s behalf; he is with you in giving judgment.
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;
As the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Is 2:4;1 Pe 2:23;Jn 12:47-48;Lk 6:37;1 Co 11:31-32;1 Co 6:2-3;2 Ch 19:6;Jn 7:24;Is 11:3;1 Sa 16:7
PRAYER LIST
Cindy & Lee Thompson, Martha Puryear, Susan Schulz, Warren Lee, Irene Griffith, Cory Keely, Debbie Grigsby,
Jeff Coleman, Zane, Bruce, Steve
1 CORINTHIANS 4: 1 – 5
4 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rich Goff will be preaching a trial soon – probably Columbus Day weekend. Please make sure you attend.
Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
John 8:5 – 11; Matt 13:36 – 43; Matt 25:21; Matt 8:8-10
