God’s Plan for Ministry

Our passage this morning flows from the ADMONITION in (15:58)

It answers the question of “HOW?” as well as answering one of the questions written to Paul (7:1), marked by the phrase, “Now concerning…”(7:25; 8:1; 11:17; 12:1; 16:1).

There are TWO parts to God’s Plan: I. God’s Plan for SUPPORTING the Work of Ministry, and II. God’s Plan for DOING the Work of Ministry!

1 Corinthians 16:1–24 CSB

Now about the collection for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me. I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. I don’t want to see you now just in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me—yet many oppose me. If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while with you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity. Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love. Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore recognize such people. The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home. All the brothers and sisters send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

I. God’s Plan for Supporting the Work of the Lord – (16:1-4)

1. God’s Purpose in Giving – (v.1) – “…for the saints”

2. God’s Principles of Giving – (v.2)

The timing – “On the first day of the week…”

The Participants – “…each of you”

The Plan – “…is to set something aside and save (storing up)”

The PROPORTION – “…in keeping with how he is prospering”

3. God’s Protection of the Offing – (vv.3-4)

II. God’s Plan for DOING the Work of the Lord – (16:5-20)

1. InvolvesPLANNING – (v.5)

2. IncludesFLEXIBILITY – (v.6)

3. Maintains Thoroughness in PRESENT SERVICE – (vv.7-8)

4. Accepts OPPOSITION as a CHALLENGE – (v.9)

G. Campbell Morgan: “If you have no opposition in the place you serve, you’re serving in the wrong place.”

5. Builds a TEAM SPIRIT – (vv.10-11)

6. Is Sensitive to the SPIRIT’S LEADING IN OTHERS – (v.12)

7. Requires COURAGE – (v.13)

The picture is one of a SOLDIER who is admonished to do four things: “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”

“…be courageous” is from ἀνδρίζεσθε, Lit., ‘show yourselves to be a man.’

8. Is done in LOVE – (vv.14, 17-20)

Love provides us with two essentials in ministry:

1) A PROPER MOTIVE

God is as equally concerned about WHY you do something as He is concerned with WHAT YOU DO!

(Matthew 6:1, 5, 16) – You can minister with the wrong motive and lose your reward!

(Romans 12:9-10) – “Let love be without hypocrisy…”

(1 Peter 4:8) – Love seems to be the only thing that cuts through our self-centeredness and allows us to minister with a proper motive!

2) A PLEASING MANNER

Have you ever met someone doing the right things, but in the WRONG spirit & attitude?

Have you ever met someone ministering to people he or she did not even like, let alone love?

DON’T be alarmed. This problem is as old as the Bible! Remember the story of JONAH?

Love is our highest GOAL; it’s our most important RESPONSIBILITY – (Matthew 22:37-39)

Love is also what MARKS US as believers in Jesus Christ! – (John 13:35) (1 John 3:10-15; 4:20)

NOTICE some of the characteristics of LOVE from our passage:

· It’s AFFECTIONATE – (vv.17, 19)

· It’s GIVING– (v.18)

· It’s DEMONSTRATIVE – (v.20)

9. Is Marked by HUMILITY – (vv.15-16)

It is IMPOSSIBLE to minister God’s way without SUBMISSION!

Philippians 2:3–11 CSB

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Conclusion: (16:21-24)