Practicing What He Preached (Landing The Punch)

†CALL TO WORSHIP Isaiah 64:1; Psalm 145:18

Austin Prince, Pastor

Minister: Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence –

Congregation: We gather because you have called us and you alone are worthy of our worship. Now, we call upon you, for the Lord is near to all who call upon him in truth.

†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You are the Lord; Creator, Sustainer, and the Ruler of all things. You are our Lord, the God who gave His own Son for our salvation; who has called us out f darkness and into your marvelous light. Come, O God, in habit the praises of your people. Send the Spirit that we may worship you in spirit and in truth. Receive our worship, as you receive our prayer.

†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #230

“Holy! Holy! Holy!”

“let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7, ESV)

†CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN

Minister: O King and Father, your son died and was raised up in power. Now enable us to die to our sin in repentance so we may rise to new life in him. We confess to you:

Congregation: Lord, though you should guide us, we inform ourselves;

Though you should rule us, we control ourselves;

Though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves.

We think your truth too high, your will too hard,

Your power too remote, your love too free.

But they are not, and without them, we are of all people most miserable.

Heal our confused minds with your word, heal our divided wills with your law.

Heal our troubled consciences with your love and our anxious hearts with your presence.

All for the sake of your son, who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2, ESV)

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Exodus 7:14-25

Craig Hoffer, Elder

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†PSALM OF PREPARATION #85

“You Were Pleased to Show Your Favor”

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Almighty, eternal and merciful God, whose Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path — open and illuminate our minds, that we may purely and perfectly understand your Word and that our lives may be conformed to what we have rightly understood, that in nothing we may be displeasing to your Majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — Huldrych Zwingli

SERMON 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 — “Landing The Punch”, Pastor Austin Prince

TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-27

1 Corinthians 9:19–27 ESV

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

AFTER SCRIPTURE

As we now give attention to your word, open our eyes, that we might behold wonderful things from your law through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Intro

What do we think of someone who is “all things to all people”?

We don’t typically associate that level of flexibility positively.

Most of us probably think of something like a politician, someone whose loyalties and convictions can change in an instant, if it means that they can manipulate you or get something from you.

So what does Paul mean here in this section of scripture when he uses this phrase in a positive way?

As a Christian who is under The Great Commission to go make disciples, what flexibility is required to be a leader, and yet, what are those boundaries?

The gospel is global and we must be aware of the obstacles that stand in the way of those who need to hear its message.

Which brings up an important debate from the past few years, that of sympathy vs. empathy. What are the limits of flexibility in serving others?

Sympathy (acknowledge suffering) vs. Empathy (suffer with)

Servant leader: Empathy is much more servant than leader.

“The more that a gap opens up between the culture of the church and the culture of the surrounding society, the more important it is to know how to bridge that gap.” — Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry, 134.

So how do we do this faithfully?

Paul’s Ambition

1 Corinthians 9:23–27 (ESV) — 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Runner’s run to win the prize…So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Do not run aimlessly

“If you meander aimlessly when you should be running for the prize, you will be disqualified.” - Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry, 137

We need to be aware of God’s call on our lives — what it means to be made in His image, the temple of the Holy Spirit, ministers of reconciliation, stewards of the gospel, salt and light.

I want to win the race. I want to land my punches, not beat the air.

This isn’t theater for show and it isn’t private. We are commissioned to join in Christ’s sufferings and in His work.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control

What is the discipline here? Physical fitness? No, Paul is corralling his appetites and selfishness and his rights, and he is laying them down in order to win the prize.

What obstacle stands in his way? The flesh. We don’t want to humble ourselves, lay down our freedoms and serve others, that’s hard. But this is exactly the task that Paul says he must do if the gospel punches that he is preaching are going to land.

In this particular race, it’s those who come in last who win.

He must embody the message. He must serve.

How does Paul accomplish this mission?

All Things To All People

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV)

“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.” (1 Corinthians 9:20–21, ESV)

Paul would eat kosher when in the synagogue, but would be free to eat pork with the pagans.

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF EACH CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY DESCRIBED IN THE SPECTRUM

C1 Missionaries establish a church that is basically identical to wherever they are from. Services are conducted in the language of the missionaries. They call themselves “Christians” and have very little cultural connection to the region where they plant the church.

C2 The same as C1, except the services are conducted in the language of the region.

C3 They have incorporated many non-religious cultural forms of the region into their community, such as dress, art, etc. They still reject any purely Islamic religious elements. They may meet in a traditional church building or in a more religiously neutral location. They call themselves “Christians” but try to have a more contextualized presence in the region.

C4 They are similar to C3, but they incorporate some Islamic religious elements into their community – like avoiding pork, praying in a more Islamic style, using Islamic dress and employing Islamic terminology. They call themselves “Followers of Isa” or something similar. Their meetings are usually not held in traditional church buildings. They are not considered to be Muslims by the Muslim community.

C5 They retain their legal and social identity within their Muslim community. They reject or reinterpret any part of Islamic practices and doctrine that contradict the Bible. They may or may not attend the mosque regularly, and they actively are involved in sharing their faith in Jesus with other Muslims. They may call themselves Muslims who follow Isa al-Masih, or just Muslims. They may be viewed by their community as Muslims that are a little unorthodox.

C6 They keep their faith secret because of an extreme threat of persecution, suffering or legal retaliation. They may worship secretly in small groups. They do not normally share their faith openly and have a 100% Muslim identity.

But…not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ

What is the principle? The messenger can change, but the message cannot.

We can acknowledge the needs of others, and we can be greatly flexible in serving those needs, laying down our rights, but there must be the anchor - the Truth - that is unmoved. This is the position.

More flexible that we are often comfortable with, but more rigid than what people want. The gospel comforts and confronts.

Applications:

This principle works both small and large — at home and in evangelism

We want to run to win, and that means disciplining the body, laying down rights.

“The man who can never see anything but his own point of view, who is completely intolerant, who totally lacks the gift of sympathy, who never makes any attempt to understand the mind and heart of others, will never make a pastor or an evangelist or even a friend.” Barclay, 93.

Example from this week being invited by MF (neighbor) to an event. On principle, I would love to invest in a neighbor and build a relationship there, but he is difficult to interact with since we don’t share a lot of common interests. I want the relationship on my terms.

Closing

Jesus embodied (literally) an association with man in order to serve man and glorify the Father.

“Not only did he imitate the Lord, he imitated the Lord in the freedom he had to not do it. If God owed us our salvation, it wouldn’t be by grace.” — Wilson, Douglas. Partakers of Grace: A Commentary on 1 Corinthians . Canon Press. Kindle Edition.

Loop back to Paul’s athletic metaphors. We must see the goal and run as to win. What does that mean for our rights?

†HYMN OF RESPONSE #239

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”

†THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Minister: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

Congregation is seated. Tell them to turn to creed (851/852) in Trinity Hymnal.

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

// ad hoc invitation – use below if needed //

At some point during the service of worship every Sunday, each of us is hopefully reminded about the redemption we have in Christ and how we are washed clean by his blood. Perhaps it’s in the sermon, or maybe a hymn, or the prayers, and certainly the confession. We know that Jesus has died and that his death and resurrection have made us clean and able to live for him in righteousness.

Yet as we examine our own lives, or even just hear the law read aloud, we are very aware of the continuing presence of sin. Just as it can be easy to take God’s forgiveness for granted, we can also easily get discouraged with the progress we’re making in holiness.

It is a blessing of the Christian life that God is so patient with us and uses many means to call us to repentance and to remind us of his call to holiness.

Likewise, God uses different means to remind us of the forgiveness he offers to the repentant and the righteousness he provides for us in Christ. No matter how sanctified we become or how serious about obedience we are, no one can come to this table as a worthy recipient of God’s gifts. We strive to be like our savior and to live after his holy way, but those who come to this table recognize that in themselves they are entirely unworthy to receive it. Yet we come. We come because as we repent from that unworthiness, we trust by God’s grace that we are welcomed here on account of Christ’s righteousness and not by our own merit.

This meal provides a witness to the power of God’s love for sinners in the death and resurrection of his son. It provides the promise of grace to all who believe. It provides a means whereby his children, in public reception of these elements, and in response to the great gifts of God conveyed by them, can show forth their faith in God by offering themselves to Him in love and praise.

// ad hoc invitation – use above if needed. Always use below. //

This table welcomes all who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and who have the hope of salvation brought forth by his life, death, and resurrection. It is for all who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his Church.

This meal cannot make you righteous; no human action can. But this meal can covey the grace of God to you and unite you, by faith, in the one who is righteous. By the power of the Spirit, who meets with God’s people here; we, though still sinners, can endeavor by that same Spirit to live holy lives before God. Come, you who desire to be followers of God – taste and see that the Lord is good.

Let’s confess our faith together. Christians, what do you believe?

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The Nicene Creed p. 852 or The Apostles Creed p. 851

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The body of the Lord, broken for you, take and eat.

The blood of the Lord, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Take and drink.

PRAYER

†OUR RESPONSE #234

Tune: The God of Abraham Praise

The whole triumphant host gives thanks to God on high;

“Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” they ever cry.

Hail, Abraham’s God and mine! I join the heav’nly lays;

all might and majesty are thine, and endless praise.

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

May the grace of Christ, which daily renews us, and the love of God, which enables us to love all, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, which unites us in one body, make us eager to obey the will of God until we meet again through Jesus Christ our Lord.