Untitled Sermon

1 Corinthians 16 ESV

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Intro with vacation - Honeymoon with Nikki. Then we came back we are back to reality.

Chapter 15 was a heavy and glorious chapter filled with mysteries. It talked about the resurrection of the saints, the glorfied bodies, the transformed bodies. It shows us how God raises us from the dead into the glory of heaven.

Then it ends that whole spiel with:

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

It says, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Since we understand what awaits us! Let us do the work, that the work we do for Christ is not in vain but has eternal impact.

Paul is telling us to not be lazy Christians, that knowing what awaits us should not drive us to laziness but should drive us to win souls.

Then all of a sudden we have the closing statements of Paul… telling us practical things in his closing reminders. Back to reality.

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 (ESV)

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 ESV

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

- Collection for the saints =

Why what was happening?

The Myth of Self-sufficiency. We all have burdens, and God does not intend for us to carry them by ourselves in isolation from our brothers and sisters.

Timothy George

I would the precious time redeem, / And longer live for this alone, / To spend, and to be spent, for them / Who have not yet my Savior known; / Fully on these my mission prove, / And only breathe, to breathe Thy love.

Charles Wesley

It is difficult for me to understand how an intelligent person can spend all of his time building for this world and have no time for the future world.

Billy Graham