Bible Study 1 Corinthians 9

Rights, Responsibilities, and the Reward of the Gospel

Bible Passage:

1 Corinthians 9:1–18

You remember our last time together in 1 Cor. 8 that Paul addressed the subject of Christian Liberty but he gave balance to that subject by realizing there are many things we can do under Christian liberty, but they may not be profitable, they may not be helpful in building the kingdom.

You may remember that we spoke specifically about the food that had been sacrificed to idols.

Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, teaching that while believers might have the "knowledge" to know that idols are nothing, their actions must not cause others with weaker consciences to stumble.

Under Christian liberty, knowing especially that if the Jewish convert Christians felt no guilt buying the meat discounted that had been offered to idols-they saw no problem with it. But, quite the contrary for the Corinthian converts. The action reminded them of their past actions and it was both offensive and found it as a possible temptation or an enticing into their past.

Paul went on to say that yes, there are those things that by rights we can do or participate in, but by the bigger kingdom assignment of building up the kingdom, discipling and helping strengthen others, exercising that liberty may not be the best action.

Paul's teaching reminds the church to prioritize discipleship, not just knowledge. Believers are to use their liberties with the awareness that their choices affect others.

In our time together tonight, we will discover that Paul defends his apostleship and outlines the rights of an apostle. His aim or his mission in these words is to convey the idea that we should consider certain sacrifices (giving up Christian liberties) for the sake of the gospel, while illustrating by his own personal example his willingness to forego his rights to enhance the growth of the church.

The take home application from this text is to learn the balance between exercising personal rights and the call to self-sacrifice for the sake of advancing the gospel. Tonight, the aim is to reflect how our actions serve others and the gospel. Let’s look inside our being and determine what we might need to give up to build deeper relationships and to share Christ more effectively.

In the context of the Bible as a whole, Jesus embodies the ultimate example of relinquishing rights, as He laid aside His divine privileges to serve humanity and offer salvation. Paul's approach in this passage mirrors Christ's selfless example, inviting believers to participate in that same model of servant leadership.

Big Idea:

We are called to joyfully sacrifice our rights for the advancement of the gospel, following in the footsteps of Christ, who exemplified perfect selflessness for our benefit.

1. Paul's Apostolic Authority

1 Corinthians 9:1–6 NKJV

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

Paul asked a series of open-ended questions that put the church body to thinking.

“Am I not free?” In other words, like you, I as well am now free in Christ. If anyone understood of a former life of living with a noose around his neck, it was Paul. Regardless of how “good” Paul was as a Pharisee, taught by Gamiliel and exercised the law to its letter, even though he was “perfect” in the eyes of the public, He knew his heart. He never felt he measured up. That he kept the mark. Until that day on the Road to Damascus that He was blinded and gloriously saved by Christ and was given his marching orders. Yes, Paul was free in Christ.

We studied Sunday, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Paul, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, wrote those words. He understood his Christian freedoms and he knew what he was released from in his former life.

“Am I not an apostle?”

Even though at this point he is not defending his apostleship even though some questioned his apostleship, He was defending how experientially that knew good well He was an apostle.

He even mentions one of the requirements of being an apostle.

“Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?”

Acts 9:3–9 NKJV

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Later you know that Ananias was asked to meet Paul.

Paul’s assignment

We read in Acts 9:15 “15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

In verse 2, Paul states and I’m editing. The very reason you are a part of the church and know Christ as your Lord and Savior is because of the evangelizing I have performed on this body of believers.

You are the proof. You are the guarantee of my apostleship due to the transformation that has happened with this body of believers.

In verses 3-5, Paul shares every day examples of rights he enjoys both as a believer, an apostle, and one called to exhort the word among the church.

In verse 6 read it with me:

1 Corinthians 9:6 “6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?”

As far as rights are concerned, it was right to pay Paul as a minister of the gospel. But by Christian liberty or right, Paul had the right to refuse the compensation. Paul sensed that the church at Corinth may not look at him receiving the compensation in the right light.

Philippians 4:14–19 NKJV

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Note that the churches in Macedonia gave as well:

2 Corinthians 11:9 “9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.”

Thessalonian church did not, Antioch did.

For whatever reason, Paul did not want the church at Corinth to feel the burden of his ministry.

With any religious influence, regardless of their past backgrounds, they found it strange that Paul would not take compensation for his ministry efforts at the church in Corinth.

2. Choices Amidst Entitlement

1 Corinthians 9:7–12 NKJV

7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

Paul is making an example of himself. By every measure known, the church at Corinth should be compensating Paul for his ministry and uses metaphorical language to state that. Doesn’t a farmer enjoy the fruits of the crops he grows? Does on defend his country and the country of patronage supply his needs as he battles?

In verse 9, in the Deuteronomic Law

Deuteronomy 25:4 “4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.”

Meaning you want to feed well the oxen that is plowing and doing the work.

Please understand what Paul is attempting to help the church to understand. He was not jockeying for them to pay him, nor was he attempting to make them feel guity because they were not paying him. The point is that it was a teaching moment where Paul had deliberately not taken compensation from the church at Corinth for the sole purpose of furthering the gospel and not creating any doubts in the people that he was greedy or simply they did not have the maturity to understand his need for compensation. Paul was giving up his right for compensation for the greater good of the church. Paul was saying in no uncertain terms that the gospel and winning souls was of higher importance than personal entitlements.

When we place the gospel and a soul’s growth over our Christian liberties we reflect the heart of Christ in others.

Ill. This one we’ve talked about.

A Christian may avoid drinking alcohol at a social gathering if they know it could cause confusion or lead someone struggling with addiction or a weaker conscience to stumble.

Have you considered this factor? We adapt our worship styles or cultural expressions to be more inviting or acceptable for the younger generations we are not reaching? Even if these changes are not personally preferred by our older long-standing members.

3. Joy in Gospel Sacrifice

1 Corinthians 9:13–18 NKJV

13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

What was Paul's motive? To be able to preaching freely without charge, aiming to remove obstacles for the gospel. Paul’s joy in making sacrifices mirrors Christ's joy in serving humanity.

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Oh dear church, this section challenges us to have enthusiastic participation in gospel work. Oh may you and I find joyful expressions in our sacrificial service rather than our work be begrudgingly dutiful.

If you do not, recapture the vision of serving with joy at the forefront, just as Christ endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

AS I think of rights, we have people in areas of ministry that rightfully could ask the church to pay for supplies in Life Groups, or pay for food they offer to their class mates to enhance their class or ministry in general here at the church. Now understand one thing, we have families that do not have the financial wherewithal to provide that and that is just fine and we get it.

But we have others that want to pay for certain things in their area of ministry because they can, but that is an area they receive a blessing by being a blessing to the people touched by their actions.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 NKJV

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

The question I have for you is this. How can we make cultural, or generational contextualization (meaning to be more inviting) to reach a people group or an age group to offer something that the younger generation, or someone of a different race would find more inviting in 2025?

In the mission field where our 3,800 missionaries serve each day, they consider these types of actions:

Missionaries might adopt local customs (e.g., dress, language, or traditions) to better communicate the gospel without compromising biblical truth.

We have several of our churches that offer multilingual services or programs that reflect the cultural backgrounds of their attendees. Or, offer their facilities to these churches so that they can hold church in a fashion that meets their needs.

Key Principles for Application

Love Over Knowledge: As in 1 Corinthians 8, love should always guide the exercise of freedom. Knowledge can puff up, but love builds up (8:1).

Focus on the Gospel: Every decision should prioritize advancing the gospel and removing potential barriers to faith, as Paul modeled.

Humility and Service: Christians are called to humility, willingly giving up rights for the good of others and the glory of God.

Let’s pray.