Untitled Sermon (2)

Faithful Stewardship: The Mark of a True Servant

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Summary: In this passage, Paul emphasizes the importance of being faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, highlighting that each servant of Christ will ultimately be judged by God and not humans.

Application: This message encourages Christians to reflect on their roles as stewards of God's grace and truth. In a world where validation often comes from others, it reassures believers that their faithfulness will be recognized by God, urging them to prioritize divine approval over human judgment.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that true servants of Christ focus on faithfulness rather than popularity. They understand that their value lies in how they manage what God has entrusted to them, encouraging a life of integrity and obedience in all their endeavors.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of the entire Bible, Christ is the ultimate faithful servant. His example of obedience to the Father serves as the model for all believers, reminding us that our stewardship is to reflect His character and mission in the world.

Big Idea: Faithfulness in stewardship is the core requirement for all servants of Christ, who ultimately seek the approval of God rather than the applause of man.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon using Logos, consider examining the historical context of Paul’s ministry to the Corinthians and the specific challenges they faced regarding false judgments. Look into the Greek terms used for 'steward' and 'faithful' to understand the depth of their implications. Additionally, explore commentaries on 1 Corinthians that address the implications of stewardship in the early church and how it relates to contemporary Christian life. This might uncover nuances that could enrich your message.

1. Stewards of Sacred Mysteries

1 Corinthians 4:1

Perhaps you could explain Paul's perspective on identity as servants of Christ and stewards, underscoring the need for humility and dedication in this role. Paul's view encourages believers to focus on their responsibility to God, above and beyond human judgment, as stewards entrusted with the precious mysteries of God. Reflect on Christ's own servanthood and His ultimate faithfulness to God's mission, setting an example for believers to follow.

Verse one opens with “let a man so consider us” what does Paul mean here?

How ought we see Paul, the other Apostles?

How should we see Paul, and other ministers?

We ought to see them as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

They are simply the messengers that God has ordained them to be.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 as we may recall he call them: “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

Later in 1 Corinthians 3:22 he said: “Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours”

What is a servant of Christ as Paul describes?

Here Paul uses very poignant language here he uses the word “hyperetas,” he’s speaking of under-rowers, the lowest, most menial, and despised galley slaves.

He’s giving a image of a third level galley slave.

The Athenians Navy would build massive ships that were used to fight many great battles on the Mediterranean. They would three levels of oars as they went up, becoming longer to stretch out beyond the ones that were below.

They would pulls these oars in total obscurity, They were at the lowest level of the ship being propelled by hundreds of men.

We ought to be regarded as under-rowers, galley slaves of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, responsible for the stewardship of truth.

We are galley-slaves, we don’t do any but pull the oar.

We don’t steer.

G. Campbell Morgan describes these under-rowers” as “one who acts under direction, and asks no questions, one who does the thing he is appointed to do without hesitation, and one who reports only to the One Who is over him.”

Remember again what Paul said back in chapter 3?

What is Paul, what then is Apollos?

Servants through whom you believed as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

Paul planted, Apollos watered, God gave the growth.

Likewise Paul is saying we pull the oar, God does the work.

Later in 1 Corinthians 9:16, Paul will say: For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

As a third-level galley slave, you were not a volunteer and you didn’t pull your oar when you felt like it. You pulled it when everybody else pulled it. You were under divine compulsion. Woe if you didn’t do it.

He had no other choice.

It wasn’t voluntary, he had no other choice God had sovereignly set him apart for service.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Galatians 1:15 tells us: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,”

Paul tells us from birth he was set apart to God to service. God’s election of Paul without regard to personal merit or effort. He was called by God’s effectual grace. On Damascus road God brought Paul, whom, He had already chosen to salvation.

Colossians 1:25: “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;”

All believers are responsible for managing the abilities and resources God gives to them. As 1 Peter 4:10 tells us: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

God’s severest chastening is for those servants who are unfaithful.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

We are all stewards of the gifts God gives to us.

God has entrusted every believer with something and expects faithfulness.

Parable of the Talent found in Matthew 25:14–30 tells us: “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He…”

The term steward originally referred to as person who was entrusted responsibility with his masters household and was in-charge of things such as: buildings, fields, finances, food, other servants, and sometimes even children.

Thus Paul and other ministers are stewards to manage the house hold of God. One of the things they have been entrusted with is the mysteries of God. They managed (preserved and protected) and they dispensed the truth of God.

It’s the ministers duty to teach the truth, to preach a full counsel of God, to reveal the truth. To oversee and dispense the truth as God’s loyal servant.

When criticism of style or manner of delivery is risen, we should ask first was the truth given?

For stewards faithfulness is required.

The steward never owns the property or resources they deal with, the manage it for their master and had to do so faithfully.

2. Focus on Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 4:2

You might highlight the call to faithfulness that Paul stresses, which could serve as a primary criterion for evaluating any servant of God. Discuss the significance of faithfulness in daily life and ministry, as seen through the example of Christ. This faithfulness is about consistently upholding God's truth, regardless of external pressures or desires for human approval.

For stewards, the important thing was faithfulness. They had to be efficient managers of the master’s resources. A steward never owned the property or resource he dealt with; he simply managed it for his master and had to manage it faithfully.

The most essential quality of a servant or steward is obedient loyalty to his master.

1 Corinthians 4:17 “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”

Matthew 24:45–51 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

3. Set Aside Self-Judgment

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Maybe consider discussing Paul's attitude towards human judgment and vindication by the Lord. Paul’s writing suggests that even one's own self-evaluation is secondary compared to God's ultimate assessment. This could reassure believers that God's evaluation based on His knowledge of the heart is what truly counts. Reference Christ’s reliance on God's discernment rather than human validation during His ministry.

4. Await God's Assessment

1 Corinthians 4:5

Explore how Paul concludes with a reassurance of God's future judgment and the revelation of all things hidden. You might suggest that this final judgment is not something to fear but an ultimate alignment with truth and justice, where true intentions and faithfulness are brought forth. Emphasize Christ's role as the Righteous Judge, whose return will bring illumination and just recognition to all believers who have faithfully stewarded their lives for God’s glory.