Christmas Stewardship: Managing the Message
1 Cor 9:8-23
I.
There should be an Expectation of Harvest
from the Message (9:8-13)
EXP.
The Right of the Gospel Messenger to Reap
from the Harvest= Participation
The Law explained the
principle (vv 8-9) 8 I am not speaking these things according to [f]human
judgment, am I? Or does not the Law
also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.”
God is not concerned about oxen, is He?
The Temple exhibited
the precept (v 13) 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred
services eat the food of the temple,
and those who attend regularly to the altar
have their share [g]from the altar?
The Christian
experiences the participation (see 9:23 “koinonia”)(vv 10-12) 10 Or is He
speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the
plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed
spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12
If others share the right over you,
do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all
things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
II.
There will be a Communication of the
Message Regardless of Support (9:14-18)
EXP. The Right of the Gospel Messenger to Receive or Refuse Payment= Stewardship
Jesus Initiated
Full-time Christian Service = (v 14) So also the Lord directed those who
proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Jesus’ Ministry Support (Jesus’ example
with women “deaconing” Him= supporting financially – Luke 8:3).
Disciples’ Ministry Support (12 & 72) (Luke 9:3- “take nothing
with you for the journey”, Luke 10:4 “carry no money”, 10:7 “eat & drink
what they give you”; Matt 10:9-10 “do not take gold, silver, or money… the
worker is worthy of his support”; Matt 10:40 “whoever receives you…reward”;
Mark 6).
Peter Instituted FT
Christian Servants (Acts 6) Acts 6: Word Deacons (set apart &
ordained), Waiter Deacons (set apart & ordained), Work Deacons (all saints
unordained). Refer to vs. 14 The Lord’s direction – get their living from the
gospel. God’s call upon some into full-time equipping ministry (Eph 4:11-12) “some”
vs. “saints” “equipping” vs. “work” (deaconship).
Paul Individualized
Full-Time Christian Support 2 Cor 12- Paul said “I tricked you” by not
taking any salary from the Corinthians, knowing that you would use it against
me…”not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality”. (v 15 But I have
used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be
done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make
my boast an empty one. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to
boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the
gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my
will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
III.
There is always a Context for Delivery for
the Message (9:19-23)
EXP. The Right of the Gospel Messenger to Restrict his
Experience= Goal “so that”
“Contextualization” I
became, so that I might win… Jews, under law, without law, weak, all men
“Incarnational” Ministry = incarnate… Jesus’ birth, God
contextualized His love in the form of flesh. John 1:14 “the word became
flesh”; 1 Tim 3:16 “God made to appear (manifested) Himself in human flesh”
Becoming all things to all men (following Jesus to take on
limitations in order to share the gospel). (V 23) I do all things for the sake of the
gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
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