DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
I Corinthians 9:15-27
S: Ministry
C: Methods in Ministry
Th: Live the Difference
Pr: WE MUST DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE HEARD.
?: How? How do we do it?
KW: Methods
TS: We will find in our study of I Corinthians 9:15-27 three methods that enable us to be heard.
The _____ method…
I. BE PROCLAIMING (15-18)
II. BE PERSONAL (19-23)
III. BE PASSIONATE (24-27)
PA: How is the change to be observed?
Version: ESV
RMBC 04 July 04 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Well, let’s review some lessons from Green Eggs and Ham:
First…
1. We need people that are persistent, like “Sam-I-Am.”
We can tell that “Sam-I-Am” really believed in his message.
He thought green eggs and ham were worth trying.
So, he does not give up.
He comes up with every alternative he can think of to persuade his friend.
Simply, he did not give up.
He lived the conviction that his friend was missing something that was worth having.
I hope the application is obvious enough to you.
Do you have something that is so worth knowing that you will not give up in telling about it?
This certainly was the apostle Paul’s attitude when it came to the gospel.
Let me switch gears for a moment and let me bring out a corresponding theme from the book that you may not have noticed from the time with the children.
It is…
2. We need people that are willing to change.
You know, sometimes I think those of us in the church have become like Sam’s friend who won’t eat green eggs and ham.
We are so afraid to try something new that we end up missing on something that is great.
We are afraid to explore outside of our comfort zones that we miss exciting things God has in store for us.
Well, having made mention of these two principles from Dr. Suess, let us consider our text today.
TRANSITION:
We have been studying Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.
And throughout this year, we have been challenged to “live the difference.”
1. We are to “live the difference” that Jesus makes in us.
When we recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and He comes into our lives, there are dramatic changes.
We live in ways that are decidedly different than before.
Our priorities are different.
We are no longer living for self.
In fact, we have been freed from that, and we are now to live lives that are Christlike and holy.
When we begin to live this way…
2. We have special opportunity to do ministry.
When we begin to live this life of faith, it is so real and so special, we can’t keep it to ourselves.
We want others to know.
We want others to experience the wonderful blessing of God’s grace, just as we have.
Because we have loved and embraced the change that God has made in us, we want others to also know God’s love.
But you know what we find out in the process?
We find out that people don’t want to embrace the same change we did.
It strikes us as odd at first.
And for many of us, as soon as the opposition comes, we close up shop.
We feel it is not worth the effort.
After all, who wants to be rejected?
There’s no doubt that the culture of our day is increasingly becoming more difficult to penetrate.
It is hard to get the message heard, and rejection is the norm.
But let us not forget this…
Today’s culture is the culture that you and I have been placed in.
This is our mission field.
When you leave out those doors today, you will once again read the sign, “You are now entering the mission field.”
But the question is, though you are entering it, will you engage it?
Will you really tell the truth?
Will you tell the truth about Jesus?
You see, it is my belief that…
3. WE MUST DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE HEARD.
Before we figure out how we are to do this, let’s recognize our situation.
Because there is a problem!
People are staying away from church in record numbers.
Several years ago, in a Southern city with a Bible-belt reputation sent out a survey asking “Why don’t you attend church?”
Of those that responded, 74% felt there was no value to attending church.
Along with that, 34% felt the church had no relevance to the way they lived.
You see, in our culture today, the church appears narcissistic and self-serving.
Unfortunately, too often they are right.
We are so enamored with the god of success, that we look for formulas for our Christian life and for the church.
And because we are so enamored with looking like the successful Christian and the successful church, we spend our time answering questions that no one is asking us.
I think we answer such questions because we are not listening.
We don’t know what our neighbors and friends are really asking.
I firmly believe that…
4. There are no secret formulas when it comes to ministry.
And if there is any formula, it is this…
Learn to change.
Have you noticed how different things are done now?
When Paul was writing this letter, it was a matter of having papyrus, quills and ink.
As I worked on this message, it was a matter of a HP laptop computer, Microsoft XP operating system and Word 2000 word processing.
When Paul was writing this letter, he was wearing a toga.
Aren’t you glad that I am not wearing one?
I know that those are changes that are just a matter of common sense, but I do remember not too long ago (and not here at Randall) having to argue about the importance of the church having computers.
Yes, a few years ago we considered computers a frivolous extra.
Now we consider them an absolute necessity.
You know…
Some churches reflect one deacon’s attitude when he said, “Change is sin and we sin as little as possible around here.”
But let me say, if we are not being heard, it is time to change.
So…
5. We will find in our study of I Corinthians 9:15-27 three methods that enable us to be heard.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first method is BE PROCLAIMING (15-18).
(15) But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. (16) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (17) For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (18) What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
1. Our number one priority is always to be the gospel (cf. Romans 1:16).
Paul is all about the gospel.
When we use the word gospel, we mean the good news about Jesus.
This is what drives Paul.
He knows that it is the gospel that has radically changed is life for the good.
This is why he writes this to the Romans:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Paul understands that it is the good news about Jesus that makes a difference in a person’s life.
For example…
ILL Gospel 1/94.19
There are two strangely connected events that occurred in 1865 impact American lives today.
In that year, General William Booth founded the Salvation Army, and now legions of people who were living opposed to God now rise up and praise Him.
During that same year, a distant cousin, John Wilkes Booth, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln that same year and became one of the most despised men in American history.
One cousin blessed the nation, the other cursed it.
And it is the gospel that made the difference.
So let us recognize that…
2. We are stewards of God’s words.
While not all of us are gifted to be “preachers” so to speak, we are all given the responsibility to proclaim the Word of God.
No one gets away with not doing this.
We are all stewards.
We have been given God’s words, not to keep to ourselves, but to share with others, both in how we live and what we say.
Paul notes how important it is for him.
He understands that he has a much higher call than to give good advice.
He is to communicate the good news.
In fact, this was much more than just a good idea to him.
It was an irresistible call.
He felt both constrained and compelled, so much so, that if he did not do so, it would be a matter of anguish.
It would pain him to be quiet.
He keeps communicating because he knows that…
3. We are to work for the profit of the many.
He is not in this for himself.
He would rather be dead than anyone think that he preached and taught for money.
And as we noted last week, he did not look for financial support from churches.
He never asked for it.
He never expected it, even though he makes a case for it.
He only has one profit in mind, that is, seeing people saved from their sin.
This brings us to…
II. The second method is BE PERSONAL (19-23).
(19) For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (20) To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. (21) To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (22) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (23) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
This portion of Scripture is one of the most intriguing when it comes to the mission of the church.
In fact, if you have been listening closely to me over the last seven years, you know that I often come to this passage when it comes to speaking about methods regarding reaching people that do not yet love God.
I come here because…
1. We are called to be winners.
Now, I am not talking about winning and losing in a competitive sense here, although that will be the context during our next point.
Paul makes it known here that it is his aim to win people to Jesus.
Five times, he states, that it is his aim is to win people.
He wants to persuade people to follow Jesus and thus save them from the wrath to come.
It is here, then, that Paul tells us how to do it.
Simply…
2. We need to adapt to every circumstance.
Paul views himself as a slave to all in order to win them.
He will modify his habits.
He will give up on his preferences.
He will change his entire lifestyle, if need be, in order to keep people from dying in their sin.
Now Paul is not viewing this as some situational ethics.
He will not become a thief to minister to a thief.
He will not become an adulterer to win an adulterer.
He will not sin in this process.
That would be a contradiction.
But he will do what he needs to do to gain a hearing.
First, he speaks about those that are under the law.
These would be ethnic Jews, as well as Gentile God-fearers as well as proselytes.
While Paul felt he was free from Jewish ceremonial law and was no longer bound to it, he would gladly accommodate if it would open the door for his witness.
He would do the same for those that were outside the law.
He would participate in the practices of unbelievers if it would gain him a hearing.
Paul also speaks about the “weak.”
Commentators do not know exactly what Paul meant by the weak in this context.
It is my conclusion from my study, that it is a reference to those that are slaves to sin, embattled to such a point that they are weak in their wills and minds.
I believe Paul is saying that he is willing to stoop to the level of their weakness and comprehension in order to gain a hearing.
Throughout this process, Paul will not break God’s moral law.
They are His timeless principles.
Paul also is determined to not compromise the truth about Jesus.
It is a gospel of grace.
He will not change the truth in order to satisfy anyone.
So, if one is offended by God’s Word, too bad.
But if one is offended by behavior or practices, their problem becomes our problem, and we must be willing to change.
ILL Notebook: Partner (I’ll go with you)
Mary announced that she was going to start a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently.
"Great," Sue exclaimed. "I’m ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies (partners) and help each other out. And when I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I’ll call you first."
"Wonderful," Mary replied. "I’ll go with you."
Well, in a much healthier way…
3. We are partners in the salvation experience.
I don’t always understand why, but God chooses to use us when it comes to communicating the gospel.
This is not just one of his plans.
It is His only plan.
So you are called to play your part in order to “save some.”
Don’t discount your part!
You are called to personally communicate the good news so that people will experience Jesus like you have.
III. The third method is BE PASSIONATE (24-27).
(24) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (25) Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (26) So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. (27) But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
It is at this point that Paul turns to an analogy of sports and athletic training.
And it is here we learn that…
1. We are to be determined to succeed.
When it comes to communicating the good news, we do not run for short-lived fame.
We are working for that which is eternal.
We are not earning that which is fading and temporal.
Our prize is immortal souls.
So we had better run, and run hard.
This is much at stake.
In so doing…
2. We are to be dedicated to doing our best.
I believe Paul is rebuking those of us that are half-hearted, out of shape Christians who do nothing to prepare themselves to witness to the lost.
We are fighting a real fight.
We are running a real race.
And it had better be our aim to win.
When it comes to gaining a hearing, we have got to do this right.
We must be disciplined.
We have got to do this in a way that succeeds, and not be satisfied with anything less.
APPLICATION:
Well…
We must do what we have to do in order to be heard.
So here are Paul’s evangelistic principles for life.
First…
1. We are not to keep silent.
You see…evangelism is not pew sitting.
We are not to show up on Sunday morning, and think we have done all we need to do.
There is much more to the Christian faith than coming to church.
We are a people on the move.
We are a people that lives the gospel.
We are a people that do not keep silent.
Because if we are not saying anything, we are not doing this right.
ILL Preaching Commanded 12/92.8
Because of the intense competition in the automobile industry, carmakers like to keep their design breakthroughs secret. A company that can offer a new desirable feature in its cars gains a coveted selling edge in a tough market.
This is why it was a surprise in the early 90s when Mercedes Benz aired a certain commercial. It showed one of their cars being crashed into a brick wall during a safety test. The way it withstood the impact revealed why its energy-absorbing construction has saved lives. Even though Mercedes Benz held the patent on the safety design, competitors were free to use it because the company did not enforce its claim. When asked why, the Mercedes Benz spokesman replied, “Because some things in life are too important not to share.”
Doesn’t that hit it right on the head when it comes to the Christian and the good news?
Folks, the gospel is too important not to share.
This beings so, we need to recognize that…
2. We must change when it is appropriate (cf. II Corinthians 5:17).
Paul will write later to the Corinthians…
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
As Christians, we are to be experts when it comes to change.
After all, we are new creations.
We know all about what is new…
…a new song, a new heaven, a new wine, a new life, a new covenant, a new man, and a new command.
You see, if we have a real focus when it comes to communicating the good news, we are not primarily interested in doing things the way we like them.
We are interested in doing things that accomplish our goals and purposes to win the lost.
But the problem is, is that through the years, Christians have gotten especially good at alienating themselves from the people they are trying to reach.
This is the very thing that Paul is encouraging us to avoid.
Paul wants us to know that it is possible to be culturally relevant and biblically sound.
The concepts are not mutually exclusive.
You see…
3. We are to be uncompromising in our purpose.
When it comes to the gospel, we have got to have an attitude.
We are to be people that is absolutely intent on introducing people to Jesus.
We must be uncompromisingly disciplined.
We are not here just to get by…
We are here to win people to Christ.
We are partners in order to save some.
So let’s not be caught being lazy…caught up in the hedonism of the day…worshipping the gods of recreation, entertainment and leisure.
Instead, let us be good stewards of God’s words, using them to answer the questions people are asking.
COMMUNION:
Paul will write later on in this letter to the Corinthians these corresponding verses to today’s text…
(27) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. (28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. (30) That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (31) But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. (32) But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
If you know you have sin in your life, don’t rush to this table.
This is a time, right now, to get right with the Lord.
This is a time, to pray the prayer on the front cover of the bulletin…
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
Let’s take a moment…
We practice “communion” because we are to remember the
death of the Lord Jesus.
We take the bread to remind us that it was by the body of our
Savior that our salvation came.
He died in our place.
He became our substitute.
We take the cup to remind us that it was by the blood of our
Savior that our salvation came.
He died for our sins.
He became our sacrifice.
Being led in prayer by..., let us take a moment and thank Him for taking our place on the cross, taking upon Himself that which we deserved.
The apostle Paul writes, "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
Let’s partake together.
...will now come and lead us in prayer.
Again, the apostle Paul writes, "In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Let’s partake together.
Deacon Offering…
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Be proclaiming…yes, let’s be telling the world about Jesus…for we have a story to tell…and it is my hope that you love to tell it.
Be personal…there is no substitute for getting in people’s lives…knowing who they are, what their interests are, and loving them…it is them you will know their questions.
Be passionate…run all out…don’t compromise on your effort; instead be disciplined to do what needs to be done so the good news will be heard.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
RESOURCES:
Blomberg, Craig, The NIV Application Commentary
Fee, Gordon, The New International Commentary on the New Testament
MacArthur, John, I Corinthians
Sermoncentral.com
Gospel Attitudes, Ken Trivett
Rights or Wrongs, Ray Stedman
Personal Priorities in Leadership, Doug Goins
Courageous Fishing, A. Todd Coget
I Am God Almighty, Be Fruitful and Multiply, John Piper
Being Culturally Relevant, Ronald Ferrell
Green Eggs, Ham, and the Gospel, Denn Guptill
