SERMON BODY:
(A). Principles to Apply:
Principle #1: Edification is more important than our personal gratification (vs 23):
Principle #2: Freedom expresses itself in serving other people. (vs 24):
Principle #3: Liberty will triumph over legalism (vs 25-27):
Principle #4: Self-sacrifice wins over condemnation (vs 28-30):
(B). A Motto to Live By:
Motivation #1: To glorify God (vs 31).
Motivation #2: To encourage and not stumble other Christians (vs 32-33a)
Motivation #3: To win the lost! (vs 33b)
SERMON OUTLINE:
Ill:
• The story is told of a famous golfer;
• Who was invited by the king of Saudi Arabia to play in a golf tournament.
• He accepted the invitation,
• And the king flew his private jet over to the United States to pick up the pro.
• They played golf for several days, and enjoyed a good time.
• As the golfer was getting on the plane to return to the U.S.,
• The king stopped him and said,
• “I want to give you a gift for coming all this way and making this time so special.
• Anything you want. What could I get you?
• Ever the gentleman, the golfer replied,
• “Oh, please; don’t get me anything. You’ve been a gracious host.
• I’ve had a wonderful time. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
• But the king was adamant. He said,
• “No, I insist on giving you something;
• So you will always remember your visit to our country. “
• When the golfer realized that the king was resolute,
• He said, “Okay, fine. I collect golf clubs. Why don’t you give me a golf club?”
• He boarded the plane, and on his flight back home,
• He couldn’t help wondering what kind of golf club the king might give him.
• He imagined that it might be a solid gold putter with his name engraved on it.
• Or maybe it would be a sand wedge studded with diamonds and jewels.
• After all, this would be a gift from the oil-rich king of Saudi Arabia.
• When the golfer got home,
• He forgot all about the present until several weeks later,
• When he received a certified letter from the king of Saudi Arabia.
• The U.S. Professional thought that rather strange.
• Where’s my golf club? He wondered.
• He opened the envelope, and to his surprise,
• Inside he discovered a deed to a five hundred acre golf course in America.
• TRANSITION: Sometimes kings think differently to you and me!
• When the king and the golfer thought about the gift,
• The golfer could not grasp the kind of gift the king had in mind.
• Their minds were both on different levels.
When it comes to ‘freedom’ people think differently!
• Freedom is the most sought after commodity.
• Yet it has an elusive quality about it.
• When you don't have it you want it!
• When you do have it, you can very easily not value it.
Note:
• Remember that freedom is not free!
• There is always a price to be paid.
Ill:
• Remembrance Day is on 11 November.
• Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November,
• Which is usually the Sunday nearest to 11 November
• It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women;
• Who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts.
• At one time the day was known as Armistice Day;
• And was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War.
• TRANSITION: The freedom we enjoy in this country;
• Was not free, but costs the lives of millions of people!
• Christian freedom is not free;
• It cost the life of Jesus Christ.
• In the section of this letter you looked at last week (vs 14-22);
• These verses on freedom follow on from the apostle talking about the ‘Lord’s Supper’.
• Our freedom is directly related tour relationship with Christ!
Quote: Definition of freedom:
• What freedom is?
• The power of choice to make responsible decisions for oneself and ones future.
• What freedom is not!
• To do what I want regardless of others or consequences? no!
Quote: Jo Diefenbaker
"Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong."
(A). Principles To Apply (vs 23-30)
“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’– but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?”
• In these verses the apostle Paul talks about the opportunity to use our freedom;
• For God's glory and for the good of other people.
• Whenever we are in doubt regarding our freedom;
• That should always be a good guideline for us.
Ill:
• In science classes, we learn certain scientific principles;
• e.g. One of those principles concerns what happens;
• If you put a piece of iron in the presence of an electrified body.
• The iron, will become electrified;
• And it is changed into a temporary magnet.
• And as long as the two stay together, the iron shares the characteristics of the magnet.
• TRANSITION:
• If we allow ourselves to remain in the company of Jesus Christ,
• Our lives will radiate his power.
• And with his magnetic power working through us and in us,
• We should be able to make right choices regarding the suggested principles below.
Note:
• The apostle Paul refuses to lay down rules in these verses;
• Not everything in life is black and white,
• In living the Christian life we will experience lots of grey areas.
• So what applies in one cultural setting,
• May not apply in another.
• i.e. A lady in Church smartly dressed but revealing bare shoulders;
• In some countries and cultures would be considered scandalous;
• But in our setting it is hardly noteworthy.
• Instead he summarizes spiritual principles;
• That we must work out in our own setting where God has placed us.
• In life there are many grey areas;
• Paul gives us some insights into making decisions about and certain issues.
• The apostle Paul gives us four principles;
• Not four fixed rules!
• So we have four principles;
• As a kind of guide for using our freedom in Christ for God's glory.
• Therefore this evening I will give you the principles;
• And if the apostle Paul does not give you fixed guidelines,
• Then don’t expect to get any from me!
• I will show you the four principles in these verses – that’s my job as a preacher!
• Your job is to go home and think about it, pray about it;
• And then make your own application!
PRINCIPLE NUMBER 1 (VS 23):
• Edification is more important than our personal gratification.
• “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.
• “I have the right to do anything” - but not everything is constructive”.
Ill:
• As Christians we cannot use the excuse Cain did in Genesis chapter 4 verse 9;
• “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
• TRANSITION: Actually we are ‘our brother’s keeper’;
• We are to look out for and to encourage and to edify one another.
• That does not mean I come next to you with a rule book of does and don’ts;
• But it does mean that I may need to alter some of my behaviour;
• If I believe it may cause you to sin.
Ill:
• I enjoy a glass of beer or a glass of wine;
• But I would not have an alcoholic drink with anyone who had a drink problem.
• For me it would be right, but it would not be beneficial;
• So with that individual I would have a soft drink;
• Because that would be more constructive.
• Principle number 1 (vs 23):
• Edification is more important than our personal gratification.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER 2 (VS 22):
• Freedom expresses itself in serving other people.
• “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others”.
There’s only one way you and I can serve God:
• That is by serving other people.
• Whenever we use our talents, time, energy, and resources to help other people,
• The Bible calls that ministry.
Ill:
• Years ago, the Salvation Army was holding an international convention;
• Their founder, General William Booth, could not attend because of physical weakness.
• He cabled his convention message to them.
• It was one word: "OTHERS."
• TRANSITION: Thinking of others;
• Will always protect us when it comes to apply these principles to our lives.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER 3 (VS 25-27):
• Liberty will triumph over legalism.
• Our freedom in Christ will triumph over man made restrictions.
“Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.”
Note:
• The apostle Paul assumes here that you have non-Christians friends!
• That you are not isolated and quarantined from the world in which you live.
• If you don’t have any non-Christian friends, go and make some!
• It is so easy in the Christian life to be surrounded by believers;
• But we must break out and make friends with non-Christians.
• Jesus called us, “The light for the world”;
• Not “The light for the Church”.
The apostle Paul gives us a scenario:
• An unbeliever invites you to their house for a meal;
• He says go and enjoy it!
• Food and friendship are to be enjoyed.
• Jesus ate with and befriended Gentiles and unbelievers;
• And we also can eat and be friends with unbelievers.
PRINCIPLE NUMBER 4 (VS 28-30):
• Self-sacrifice wins over condemnation,
• Either self-condemnation or judgment by others.
“But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?”
• Once again the apostle gives us a scenario;
• Here the difference is the boasting or bragging of the host;
• By saying that the food was offered to their gods.
• In that situation the apostle says; “Don’t eat it!”
• Bridle your freedom for the sake of others.
Ill:
• The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon.
• Was the Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London at aged twenty-two years old.
• Over the next thirty years the church grew to more than five thousand people.
• Spurgeon was a giant in nineteenth-century expository preaching and evangelism.
• He was a prodigious writer.
• He developed a seminary and Bible college.
• He was an amazing man of God.
• But one thing Spurgeon loved was cigars,
• And that unsettled some Christians.
• (Remember that this was 120 years ago, before we knew the dangers of smoking).
There is a story about how one of his students came into his study,
• And there was Spurgeon with his Bible preparing his next sermon,
• To the students surprise Spurgeon was puffing on a great big cigar.
• Spurgeon looked at the student and could tell he was troubled;
• So Spurgeon him and said,
• "My young friend, can you smoke a cigar to the glory of God?"
• The young man couldn't say anything, and Spurgeon said,
• "Well, if you can't do it to the glory of God, then leave them alone."
A few years later:
• But when the British tobacco industry;
• Took Spurgeon's picture and used it to advertise tobacco,
• When he saw what they had done;
• He stopped smoking and never smoked another cigar again!
• Spurgeon did not want his freedom to affect other people.
• And to me, that's a wonderful example of these verses.
• We may be doing what is right;
• But our freedom that is controlled by love for other Christians,
• And we should always seek the good of the other.
(B). A Motto to Live By (10:31-11:1)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”.
• This is a great few verses if you want a life moto:
• Paul’s motivation in life, his daily purpose was threefold:
• Verse 31: To glorify God.
• Verse 32: To encourage and not stumble other Christians.
• Verse 32: To win the lost!
MOTIVATION #1: To glorify God (vs 31).
"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Ill:
• The great composer Johann Sebastian Bach said, always headed his compositions “J.J.”
• The letters stood for “Jesus Juva” which means “Jesus Help Me.”
• He ended them “S.D.G.” the letters stood for “Soli Dei Gratia”
• Which means “to God alone be the praise.”
• That would suggest to me that Bach was a man;
• Who wanted to glorify God - that was his priority.
• And of course it is (or it should be) the priority of EVERY Christian!
Question: Can we write those initials over the activities and hobbies of our lives?
Answer:
• The answer to that question will reveal to us;
• Whether or not we have the freedom in Christ to take part in them.
MOTIVATION #2: To encourage and not stumble other Christians (vs 32-33Aa)
“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everyone in every way.”
Ill:
• You really shouldn’t watch that movie.
• You really shouldn’t listen to that music.
• You really shouldn’t read that book.
• You really shouldn’t drive a car that expensive.
• You really shouldn’t wear a coat like that.
• You really shouldn’t go to that restaurant.
Stick around in Church and someone sooner or later will offer you that kind of advice;
• Because another person think it’s wrong.
• You need to stop.
• After all you might be a stumbling block to someone.
• What you need is the prayers of that person not their criticism;
• Say to them; “you pray about it and so will I”
• And allow the Holy Spirit to bring conviction or ease to your conscience.
• And then act accordingly.
• The point of these verses is dealing with ‘grey’ areas and not ‘black and white’ ones;
• These ‘grey’ areas can only be sorted out as we pray about these issues;
• And allow the Holy Spirit to bring conviction or ease to our consciences.
MOTIVATION #3: To win the lost! (vs 33b)
“For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Quote: Stephen Covey
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
The apostle Paul always had the ability to keep the main thing, the main thing!
• At times he was willing to give up his freedom;
• If it helped others become free in Jesus Christ.
• He did not have to, he could have claimed his freedom rights;
• And still evangelised,
• But he would have made a smaller impact on his mission trips;
• And also in Church history.
ill:
• Gladys Aylward was born in London in 1902.
• Hollywood made a film based loosely on her life called 'the Inn of Eight Happiness'.
• She served God as a missionary in China,
• One of her ministries was to look after orphans.
After a life-time of missionary service she said:
"I have not done what I wanted to;
I have not eaten what I wanted or worn what I would have chosen;
I have lived in a houses that I would not have looked at twice;
I longed for a husband and babies, and security and love, but God never gave them;
Instead he left me alone for 17 years with one book - a Chinese Bible.
I don't know anything about the latest novels, pictures and theatres.
I live in a rather out-dated world & I suppose you would say it is awful miserable isn't it?
Friend, I have been one of the happiest women who stepped this earth.
I have known the heaven opening and the blessing tumbling out".
• Gladys Aylward gave herself, her freedom, her ambitions first to Christ;
• Then to the Chinese people.
• And that is why God so greatly used her to win thousands for the Lord;
• And to encourage thousands to the mission field.
In conclusion:
• If you take nothing else away from my message this evening;
• Don’t miss this!
• When you get out of bed in the morning;
• You will not find anything better than this to motivate you!
• Verse 31: To glorify God.
• At work, home or Church – that’s your goal!
• Verse 32: To encourage and not stumble other Christians.
• That’s you example.
• Verse 33: To win the lost!
• That’s your mission, that’s your objective!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=jPyF6lNvBqazMBAX8H5gZCImm0gaUIi8
