CHRIST'S SERVANTS, GOD'S STEWARDS

Paul describes the true nature of Christian leadership as servants and stewards of the mysteries of God (4:1). Judgment of leaders for their service is God’s prerogative (4:3–4). The Corinthian believers have no right to judge Paul or any other Christian leader, whether to praise or criticize (4:5).

SERVANT

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary Commentary

4:1 Servants had no unique position, but stewards did. A steward was a slave who administered all the affairs of his master’s household, though he himself owned nothing (compare the testimony of the early church in Acts 4:32). Joseph held such a position in the house of Potiphar (Gen. 39:2–19). As stewards, believers manage the message and ministry God has entrusted to them.

STEWARD

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary Commentary

4:2–5 each one’s praise will come from God: A steward was not to worry about the evaluations of those around him or even his own self-assessment; he needed only to please his master. Similarly, while believers can benefit from the constructive evaluations of fellow believers, their ultimate Judge is the Lord Himself. Since God is the Judge, we should be careful not to make any premature evaluations of others.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 1.12: Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians Homily X

Hear what saith Peter, “Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12) Unto Cornelius also he saith, “We also are men of like passions with you:” and unto Christ Himself, “Lo, we have left all, and followed Thee.” (St. Matt. 19:27) And Paul, no less, when he had said, “I labored more abundantly than they all,” (1 Cor. 15:10) added, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

300 Illustrations for Preachers Changing Fonts Could Save Government $370 Million

Changing Fonts Could Save Government $370 Million

Proverbs 27:23–24; Luke 14:28; 1 Corinthians 4:2

Preaching Themes: Government, Money, Stewardship, Wealth

Making a small change to the standard fonts used in documents produced by federal and state governments could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Those are the conclusions reached by a resourceful 14-year-old student who noticed that he was getting a lot more printed handouts in school than before. Suvir Mirchandani wondered if printing all of the handouts was wasting money because printer ink can cost as much as $75 an ounce. Using a computer program to calculate how much ink was used by four different fonts, Mirchandani discovered that the Garamond font was least expensive, even when compared to the commonly used Times New Roman. Mirchandani estimated that his school district could save $21,000 a year if they switched fonts. When applied to the federal Government Printing Office, he found the savings would be nearly $370 million. When contacted by CNN, Gary Somerset, the media manager at the Government Printing Office, would not say whether the government would switch fonts, but he called the teenager’s work “remarkable.”

—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

MYSTERIES

==not just the gospel but all of the truths revealed by God

gk=mysterion==something that people , in their human weakness cannot understand unless God reveals it.

JUDGEMENT

Bengel - to decide on judgements

to pronounce or exercise judgement in a way that only God has the right to exercise

BURNING THE CARGO

There’s a story of two paddleboats that left Memphis about the same time, travelling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they travelled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other.

Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fuelled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted us with a precious cargo in life called salvation ..... I wonder how many times we sacrifice it just so we can 'win' in life?

(From a sermon by John Perry, Putting First Things Last, 8/18/2010)

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

1 Timothy 5:17–22 LEB

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching. For the scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Reprove those who sin in the presence of all, in order that the rest also may experience fear. I testify solemnly before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing according to partiality. Lay hands on no one hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.