Entrusted: Living as Faithful Stewards of God's Mysteries

Interview with Josh and Rebecca

How has the transition to your new location been for your family?

What are some of the biggest adjustments you've faced in your new community?

Have you found a new church community to be part of? How is that going?

What aspects of your ministry here do you find yourself missing the most?

Tell us about your new job. What new opportunities or challenges are you encountering in your new role?

Are there any specific areas where you feel you need prayer support right now?

How has your faith been strengthened or challenged during this time of transition?

What are you most looking forward to in this new chapter of your lives?

Are there any unexpected blessings you've encountered since moving?

How can our church community continue to support and encourage you from afar?

What's one valuable lesson you've learned during this transition that you'd like to share with us?

Call elders up… pray.

Introduction

It’s been a popular question, “If you had one day left to live, what would you do with that day?”

It’s an interesting question. Over the years my answers have gone from travel to my favorite place, to eat my favorite food, to just a quiet place to be and take in my surroundings (hopefully somewhere beautiful and majestic), to being with my favorite people, to with my family…

When Jesus was on his last day before he was captured, interrogated, and killed… he spent the day with his chosen family and he prayed. He prayed a lot. In John 17 we find Jesus having just had dinner with his disciples, he then prays, and John captures this prayer in his gospel (in the 17th chapter).

The prayer is beautiful, and if you have yet to read it or spend considerable time in it, please bless yourself by doing so. Jesus prays for the disciples and He prays for you and me. Do you want to know what God thinks about you… listen to Jesus’ prayer for you and for me.

One of the fundamental requests that Jesus prays for is that His church would be unified. Unified in Him. Unity. It’s a hallmark of the church (or it should be). Unity in who we worship, unity in our message, and unity in our mission. Jesus is the head of the church so it makes sense that its about Him.

Unity in worship (presently and historically): The Triune God

Unity in message: The Gospel

Unity in mission: Love God and love others by making disciples of all peoples and nations.

Unity is not uniformity: We’re aligned in purpose and mission but we’re not doing the same thing. When thinking about this, I reflected on this past years Good Friday service that we had with five other churches. Each of the pastors who gave a message spoke on different things but were unified in our message of the gospel.

We didn’t say the same thing and at the same time we were communicating a piece of the larger whole.

Much of what the Apostle Paul is doing in his writings is helping us conform ourselves into the image of Christ (unity). We as the body of Christ should seek unity with one another (not conformity… we’re not a club) and at the same time we can celebrate our beautiful diversity.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are entrusted with the mysteries of God. I will reveal that in a moment of what the mystery of God is. How do we find our purpose? How do we do that well? How do we keep from getting distracted? How do we keep ourselves from being distracted by others opinions?

It’s my hope I can encourage you a little in that direction by the end of our time together this morning.

If you have your Bibles or on your devices, you can turn to 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. This is where we will be this morning. If you are willing and able would you stand with me as I read God’s word this morning… this is the word of the Lord… let us pray… amen… you may be seated.

In context of where we find the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth… there’s division, there’s picking of what teacher/leader they like better… some are of Apollos, some are Paul, they think Paul is not sophisticated enough like those in the public square, though they are taking judgmental positions of those teaching them in the faith, but their lifestyle is incongruent with the Gospel and the implications of the Gospel… ever have those people that are try to take a moral high ground but yet their life is a complete contradiction of their words? The church seems kind of a mess. There is a lot we could say to this, but suffice it to say, Paul is trying to level set with the church.

Outline:

“you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ” (v1)

I. Servant of God: have a duty

a. Servants have responsibility. They are to serve. They are to work and aim to please their superior, direct report, the one over them. Serve a single purpose, accountable to God

b. like a foreman or project manager

There are a lot of things we are juggling. A project manager oversees different aspect of a project and works to see the whole or part of the project done in a timely and hopefully efficient manner.

In rennovating the sanctuary, there were many things that needed to be coordinated from deconstruction, to paint, to removal/disassembling/ staining/reassembling/ moving the pews, speakers, paneling, carpet, stage… all of this was timed and carefully planned out.

Peter Bertella was our project manager. He had authority to make decisions, to delegate authority, and to oversee it all get done. Peter was also under authority to the church leadership to get it done as it was discussed in meetings. The church leadership is also accountable to the body.

one who has authority but is also under authority

c. Implications of servanthood: humility and dependence on God. God is giving the direction, mission, and pathways… often times we need to have an idea of the end to know or at least move in a direction of how to get there. A servant… one who is entrusted with something. Entrusted with what?

II. Entrusted with the Mysteries of God

a. Gospel: Secret wisdom of God

The King preexisted as God the Son: Jesus' divine nature and eternal existence The King was sent by the Father: God's intentional plan for salvation The King took on human flesh in fulfillment to God’s promises to David: Jesus as the promised Messiah, fully God and fully human The King died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures: Atonement for humanity's sins through Christ's sacrifice The King was buried: Confirmation of Jesus' real death and humanity… tasting death for us The King was raised on the third day in accordance to the Scriptures: Victory over death and validation of Jesus' claims The King appeared to many witnesses: Historical evidence for the resurrection The King is enthroned on the right hand of God as the ruling Christ: Jesus' ongoing authority and intercession The King has sent the Holy Spirit to His people to effect His rule: Empowerment of believers and ongoing divine presence The King will come again as final judge to rule: Future judgment and establishment of God's kingdom

b. This commission calls all other criticisms to be trivial

i. Monday morning qb criticisms: shoulda, woulda, coulda are just not helpful.

ii. comparing to others: This is also not helpful… growth comes from stumbling, not perfection. Progress, not perfection is the path to success. Wisdom is built on the foundation of errors and often times failure is the tuition we pay for success. Much of what the apostle Peter did wrong in his time with Jesus we see shape and mold him later in life… even then he didn’t always get it right. The key is that he was humble and teachable.

iii. people who are not in the arena

Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

c. God’s criticism vs. Man’s criticism

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in his poem “Ladder of St. Augustine”, wrote partly: We have not wings, we cannot soar; But we have feet to scale and climb By slow degrees, by more and more, The cloudy summits of our time.

The mighty pyramids of stone That wedge-like cleave the desert airs, When nearer seen, and better known, Are but gigantic flights of stairs.

The distant mountains, that uprear Their solid bastions to the skies, Are crossed by pathways, that appear As we to higher levels rise.

The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night.

Standing on what too long we bore With shoulders bent and downcast eyes, We may discern--unseen before-- A path to higher destinies.

Nor deem the irrevocable Past, As wholly wasted, wholly vain, If, rising on its wrecks, at last To something nobler we attain.

Gradual Progress vs. Instant Perfection

Man's criticism often expects immediate perfection. God's criticism, like the poem's "slow degrees," acknowledges gradual growth.

Perspective on Failure

Man's criticism may see failures as insurmountable. God's criticism, like the "gigantic flights of stairs," views obstacles as opportunities for ascent.

Unseen Paths

Man's criticism might focus on visible, immediate results. God's criticism, like the "pathways that appear as we to higher levels rise," recognizes potential in seemingly impossible situations.

Persistence and Effort

Man's criticism often overlooks behind-the-scenes effort. God's criticism, like those "toiling upward in the night," values persistent effort, even when unseen.

Transformation of Past Struggles

Man's criticism may dwell on past failures. God's criticism, like "rising on its wrecks," sees how past struggles can lead to "something nobler."

Long-term Vision

Man's criticism tends to be short-sighted. God's criticism, like the poem's "path to higher destinies," takes a longer, more holistic view of growth.

d. Stewardship in ministry: we’re to manage it well

What do we do with it… we are to be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” )…

III. The Requirement of Faithfulness

a. What does faithfulness look like in practice?

Sticking to it as Paul is demonstrating in his letters to this church. It’s not easy but he’s not giving up.

In the extreme, he’s not giving up… 2 Corinthians 11:24–31 “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.”

b. Faithfulness to God vs. pleasing people

i.Paul's driving force is not the approval of his audience—be it the Corinthian church or any other—but rather the profound love God has for him. This divine love transforms Paul, igniting within him a genuine, selfless love for the church. It's this love that propels his ministry.

In his unwavering commitment to God's calling, Paul navigates past the temptation to merely please his audience, recognizing this as a potential pitfall in his mission. However, this doesn't render him callous or indifferent. On the contrary, his God-given love for the church ensures that while he may challenge or correct when necessary, he does so from a place of authentic care and concern for their spiritual wellbeing.

This delicate balance allows Paul to remain true to his God-given mission without compromising his compassion. He exemplifies how one can be both uncompromising in truth and abundantly loving in approach—a model of faithful Christian leadership.

IV. Judgment and Accountability

a. Human judgment vs. God's judgment

We’ll give an account… Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

c. Ultimate accountability to God

V. Application

a. For as we serve one another in the church

Allow our love for God to compel us to serve one another well. What a gift we have in examples of Godly leadership, care, and concern as shown by Josh as he loved and pastored here. He has exemplified much of this.

As we live in community, we love each other, encourage one another, and continue to press on to the upward goal in Christ Jesus.

b. For all believers

Illus: Just this last week I watched in an interview with Golden State Warrior basketball player phenom Steph Curry. The host asked Curry, “Your Insta bio has the verse Philippians 4:13 on it. What is that verse and why is that important to you?” Curry explained that it was a source of inspiration for him. The interviewer then, kind of tongue and cheek, asked if Jesus really cares about who wins basketball games as many devoted Christian athletes give glory to their “Savior the Lord Jesus Christ” after big wins… they had a little laugh, then Curry commented about how one of his teammates on the Olympic Gold winning national team commented… you’ve got to be God’s favorite basketball player… he remarked, “I don’t know what to do with that, but if it can help me lead you to him, then that’s what it’s all about.”

It’s these touchstones where if we do what we do well… maybe it’s being a student, a mom, a dad, a brother, an investment banker, a business owner, a neighbor… if we do these things well, God gives us moments and glimpses into the lives of others where we might bring hope, encouragement, and love out of what we have experienced with God Himself.

Conclusion

As we conclude, let us remember that we are all servants of Christ, entrusted with the profound mystery of the Gospel. Our calling is not to seek human approval or compare ourselves to others, but to remain faithful to God's mission. Like Paul, may we be driven by God's love to serve others selflessly, even when faced with challenges or criticism. Whether we're in the church, at work, or in our communities and in our neighborhoods, let's strive to be faithful stewards of the gifts and opportunities God has given us. As we go forth, may we keep our eyes fixed on Christ, supporting one another in love, and working towards the unity that Jesus prayed for. Remember, our ultimate accountability is to God alone. So let us live and serve in a way that, when that day comes, we may hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."