This Is How We Roll

Because of Jesus, we must have one goal from which all other goals flow.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.

As you look it up, let me get us all up to speed.

Paul’s been dealing with essentially the insensitivity of some church members against other church members.

And in addressing this with them, some of the insensitive group have challenged his authority.

Remember, I said it was like they said, “You aren’t the boss of me.”

So Paul had to make a case for why what he was the boss.

And in a few verses he said, “This is who I am.”

Then in these verses he said, “This is how I roll.”

Hear the word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

1 Corinthians 9:19–27 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 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. 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. 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. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

This is the word of the Lord.

We are most grateful for it.

Let us pray:

Lord, one of the most comforting songs out now is “He Will Hold Me Fast.”

“Because my Savior loves me so - He will hold me fast.”

Thank you for that assurance and Lord - we want to hold on to you tightly too.

We never want to let you down.

Please Jesus - show us how to roll with you.

Thank you that I am forgiven yet I know my flesh is real.

Please Lord, let nothing of mine stand between You and your people.

In Jesus’ name - Amen

Today we’ll start a little differently.

I was working over illustrations in my mind - and the Lord led me to one.

Abby, will you join me?

Brothers and sisters, this is Abigail Varnadoe.

The picture you are seeing is her signing ceremony for college.

Happened last week I believe - Abby will be going to Florida State.

She’ll be a Seminole but we’ll forgive her that she’s not a Bulldawg - FSU is a great school for a clarinetist.

Abby’s mom and dad are Erik and Lori Varnadoe - they are very active with our student group.

Abby has 3 brothers, Aaron, Asa and Asher.

I had the privilege of baptizing Asher just last November.

So will you join me in welcoming a Jones County High School Senior - Miss Abigail Varnadoe.

Abby, thank you for helping us out this morning.

Tell us a little bit about yourself (briefly give testimony, what is your passion, how you got to FSU?)

Back in February, you played Carnegie Hall, right? How was that? (briefly tell us how it was)

So now I’m going to ask you a bunch of questions that might seem a little odd, but I think everyone will catch on pretty quick - you ready?

You are a clarinetist right? (yes)

So when you sit at dinner with your family, you are a clarinetist while you eat with them, right? (yes)

As a rule, do you sit down to dinner with your horn poised ready to play? (no)

Yeah, that’d be weird right?

What’s your favorite academic subject? (Answer anything but band or music)

Are you a clarinetist in that class? (yes)

Do you attend that class horns up ready to play? (no)

When you are in band class, you are a clarinetist, right? (yes)

And when you played Carnegie, you were a clarinetist, right? (yes)

Did you act differently at Carnegie Hall than you do in the band room? (yes)

Why was that? (your answer will be something like - different environment, different calibre of musicians, different expectations from the conductor)

Are you a clarinetist when you sleep? (yes)

Do you sleep cuddled up to your Buffet? (I hope this answer is no)

We’re almost done - what brand of horn did you start on (Anna started on an Artley and moved to the Buffet - what was your starter horn?)

Let’s suppose that you were called on to teach at a very, very poor school and everyone there had a (your starter horn)

What do you think would help them most?

Using your Buffet in class or playing the same instrument as they play? (use their instrument)

Why do you think that would be true? (use your words to say something like because if you can make their instrument sing, they will believe they can too).

So Abby, is there ever a time you aren’t a clarinetist? (No)

If anyone ever opens the door to talk about music or clarinets, are you always ready to talk to them about it? (yes)

Do you think your music will ever give you a chance to talk about Jesus? (if it already has, briefly share that)

So essentially what we are saying is this, that where ever you are, you adapt yourself to that environment.

You don’t take your horn with you to the movies in case you feel the need to enthrall everyone with Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto because they need to know great music?

Nor do you pull out your horn in the middle of dinner with the folks to help them understand the intricacies of Polenc’s Sonata for Clarinet so they can be smarter.

Nor if Austin mentions music during Wednesday Worship do you pull out your horn to prove to him that Weber’s Concerto number 2 is so much more superior to the musicality of the Getty’s “He Will Hold Me Fast.”

All of that would be craziness, wouldn’t it?

You adapt to your environment so that if you are given a chance, you can to give a defense of your craft and a defense of your faith.

As Peter says, 1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:22

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

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.

Abby is a clarinetist - and this is how she rolls.

Ya’ll, join me in praying over Abby. (pray)

Thank you, Abby.

To the Pharisee in Paul’s day - and modern day Pharisee’s, Paul was a hypocrite.

He acted one way in one place, another way in another.

I had a guy talk to me years back about getting fired.

He wore it as a badge of honor.

They told him to quit talking about Jesus and he refused.

He has a right to talk about Jesus.

But unlike Abby who doesn’t bust out her horn in the middle of every conversation she has

This guy could never give it a rest.

Everyone in every conversation was going to get witnessed to every time.

Even in his job where he worked for someone else - everyone in every conversation got Jesus.

So they fired him - and he was proud.

But you know, Peter said to give your defense with gentleness and respect.

And this guy didn’t do that - He was a Jesus bully.

And it cost him - not just his job - it cost him the chance to make any kind of difference in anyone’s life.

I wonder what kind of opportunities he could have had to share Jesus in the next 20 years at that company.

But that’s all gone.

But by golly, he feels good - he was persecuted for Jesus.

But was he?

Really? I’m not so sure.

What I get from chapter nine is this:

Our primary goal is to follow Jesus and lead everyone we can to follow Him too.

That means we’ll live for Jesus like the Bible shows us how.

That means we have to read the Bible for comprehension.

We have to let it challenge us so we know that shouting Jesus in everyone’s face is not gentle or respectful.

But letting them go when Jesus was the thing to say to them is not gentle or respectful either.

As we grow, we learn to let the Holy Spirit that lives in us guide us.

As Solomon said, there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

Who better to know than the Spirit living in us when we should be silent and when we should speak.

I hear Paul say this too:

Because of Jesus, I am not bound by man-made rules.

I preached supply at a church that was KJV only once - except they didn’t tell me before I got there.

I preached from the NASB then - and they were gracious.

It was only after the service that someone told me they were KJV only and they considered that the Bible Jesus used.

You notice I use the ESV now - I’m not bound by their rules.

But, if I ever was called to preach a service there - I’d use the KJV.

I’m not bound by man-made rules but I’m not going to intentionally break their rules just to prove a point.

If I am respectful, I can gain a hearing for the gospel and that’s the goal.

The guy that got fired, he intentionally broke his company’s rules and you see how that worked out.

Our goal is not to provoke hate - it’s to provide hope.

Guys, if we are Jesus followers, that’s always got to be the goal.

What else do we hear Paul say?

Because of Jesus, I am consistent.

Abby is a clarinetist and a Christian where ever she is.

Just like her, we tailor our responses to our audience - but we are always who we are.

And we don’t compromise who we are.

If the situation around us turns into something that demands compromise

We either leave or we stand up for what is true.

Paul is NOT encouraging hypocrisy.

He’s not telling you to be one thing to one person and another thing to another.

Like Peter, he’s telling us to be gentle and respectful, yet always consistently a follower of Jesus.

Our consistent goal is to give hope in Jesus.

Paul also says:

Because of Jesus, we will all share in the blessings of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:23 “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

He’s not doing what he’s doing for the blessings

But because he is doing what he’s doing, he will receive the blessings

And so will everyone who follows Jesus.

We follow Jesus because we are compelled by His grace.

If we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit just how sinful we are in the Father’s eyes.

Listen, it is hard to see ourselves that way - we are all really good people.

We don’t need this Jesus stuff or church stuff to prove we are good.

We are respectable - pillars of the community.

There are plenty of people in this county who fit that bill who are not Christian.

And they don’t believe for a second that there is anything dark in their souls.

But because the Lord chose to show me some of His goodness

I see some of how much of a chump I am.

I hurt when others hurt - just like Jesus.

But I’ve caused people to hurt - and that’s just the opposite of Jesus.

And yet, He still calls me friend.

And knowing how selfish I can be, He carried that selfishness to the cross.

So my selfishness wouldn’t end up being my destruction.

It is not false humility that says I don’t deserve Christ’s mercy.

It is reality - I don’t - we don’t .

And yet, Christ is merciful to us.

Why wouldn’t we want everyone to share in that same mercy?

Instead of hating people like Dylan Mulvaney - that the trans person whose face is on the Bud Light cans.

Instead of hating people like him by shouting Jesus in their face

Why can’t we hurt for them?

What pain they must feel that has driven them to where they are.

Jesus can remove their pain and if Jesus shows us how to share His love with them

And they are changed - then they will share in the same blessings you and I have.

And that’s the goal - share hope and not hate so that we all are blessed.

The last thing I hear Paul say in chapter 9 is this:

Because of Jesus, I can keep my appetites in check.

I don’t have to drink - it would cause more harm than good.

I don’t have to shout Jesus in everyone’s face - it would cause more harm than good.

I can overcome my fear and say Jesus to someone when the Spirit prompts - to not would cause more harm than good.

I can refrain from exercising my rights if I so choose

All for the cause of Christ.

The last verse in chapter 9 is mostly misunderstood. 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Disqualified doesn’t mean that if I don’t do this I won’t go to heaven.

Paul is saying, if I don’t do this, I will disappoint Jesus.

Now, can I really disappoint Jesus?

Doesn’t He know every sin I’ve ever committed and didn’t He know them before the foundation of the world?

Yep - so he can’t really be disappointed, right?

Think about this with me.

When Jesus was on trial, and Peter denied Him three times and the rooster crowed

And Peter’s eyes met Jesus

Did Jesus’ eyes say to Peter, “I told you so?”

Or Did Jesus’ eyes say, “I created you for so much more than this?”

I want to live my life so I can see Jesus say, “That’s my boy.”

I know that’s what you want to do too - so let’s do this thing together.

Because of Jesus, we must have one goal from which all other goals flow.

Please, brothers and sisters, let’s make our goal following Jesus.

Completely.

Fully.

Without restraint.

Let’s follow Jesus.