Culture Shift (2)
Notes
Transcript
Culture shifting Christians …
I. Serve With, Bear With, and Live With Those Who Labor in Ministry (1 Corinthians 16:15-18)
I. Serve With, Bear With, and Live With Those Who Labor in Ministry (1 Corinthians 16:15-18)
The Household of Stephanas
The Household of Stephanas
Stephanas is first mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1
Paul recalls baptizing Crispus, Gaias, and the household of Stephanas
Stephanas and his family were the first fruits of Achaia (southern Greece)
Remember that phrase first fruits?
Christ was the first fruits of those who would be raised from the dead.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a promise of the harvest that will one day come.
In a similar manner, the conversion of Stephanas and his household was a promise that the Church (capital C) would grow in Corinth.
Why?
Because whenever the gospel is received, and wherever the gospel is lived out, it has the power to transform individuals, families, and cultures.
How did the church in Corinth begin?
By God’s transforming work on an individual
The reason Paul went to Corinth was because of God’s transforming work.
The reason Stephanas believed the gospel was because of God’s transforming work.
The reason the household of Stephanas believed the gospel was because of God’s transforming work.
The reason the local church in Corinth grew was because of God’s transforming work.
Paul remembers Stephanas because the transforming power of the gospel is the true testimony
2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Because of what the gospel accomplished in his life, Stephanas devoted himself to ministry.
Characteristics of Godly Leaders
Characteristics of Godly Leaders
The primary characteristic Christians are to look for in ministry leaders is devotion.
Notice there is no other superficial quality.
Devotion — ardent [passionate], selfless dedication
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
When you find a ministry leader who is devoted …
Devoted to Jesus Christ
Devoted to ministry
Devoted to service
A secondary characteristic of ministry leaders is
Subjection
Subjection
Submit to them [Godly, devoted leaders]
Military Use — to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader.
Non-Military Use — a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.
You voluntarily give into
You voluntarily cooperate with
You voluntarily assume responsibility
You voluntarily carry the burden
The difference between the two forms is that one is forced while the other is voluntary.
Submit to everyone who helps and labors in the work of ministry.
Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement
Recognize and thank
Become thoroughly acquainted with, to know well
The same word is used in 1 Corinthians 13 meaning to know intimately
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
In other words, recognize, thank, and become thoroughly acquainted with ministry leaders.
When you find Godly leaders who are devoted and refresh your spirit, submit to them and acknowledge them.
Culture shifting Christians …
II. Rejoice Greatly With Those Who Have Been Called Out (1 Corinthians 16:19-21)
II. Rejoice Greatly With Those Who Have Been Called Out (1 Corinthians 16:19-21)
The Church
The Church
Gk. ekklesia — the church, the body of Christ, the called out ones; from the root ek meaning “out of” and the root kaleo meaning “to call”
Notice who greets the believers in Corinth:
The one thing that binds them all together,
Even though they live in different regions of the world (the churches of Asia)
Even though they have different leaders (Aquila and Prisca)
Even though they have different needs and problems (the other epistles)
Even though they likely had different preferences and styles of worship
The one thing that binds them all together is Jesus Christ and their common response to being called out of darkness and into the kingdom of light.
Family
Family
All the believers (brothers and sisters in Christ) greet those in Corinth.
Why?
Because the Church is a family, and the local church is a just a small portion of a global family bound together by Jesus Christ.
Relationally Driven
Relationally Driven
This greeting was more than just saying, “Hello,” and offering a handshake.
It was excited.
It was intentional.
It often included a physical demonstration of the love the believers had for one another.
In their culture, this took the form of a kiss.
In our culture, this might be embracing each other in a hug.
It was demonstrating a genuine interest in the other person.
It was personal.
Verse 21 means until this point Paul had dictated the letter and it had been inscribed by someone else.
Yet, Paul takes the time to personally address the church in his own handwriting, signing off on everything that had been said and demonstrating a personal care for those whom he was ministering to.
Every time someone visits this church, if they leave their information, I write them a personal handwritten card.
One time we visited a family who had come to Faith Bible, and there on the refrigerator was the letter I had written to them.
Culture shifting Christians …
III. Refuse to Keep Company With Those Who Are Christians in Name Only (1 Corinthians 16:22)
III. Refuse to Keep Company With Those Who Are Christians in Name Only (1 Corinthians 16:22)
What it Means to Love God
What it Means to Love God
Jesus explicitly described what it looks like to love Him:
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
It is interesting that following John 14:15 Jesus says the Father will send a Helper to be with you forever, indicating that we cannot keep His commandments by our own strength.
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
There will always be evidence of genuine love.
For Christians, our love for Jesus is seen by the way our lives are lived according to His will.
This does not mean we are perfect, but there is a genuine desire to follow Jesus, to repent when we sin, and eagerly seek Him.
Accursed
Accursed
What does the “curse” in verse 22 mean?
“If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed.”
In other words, if anyone in the church is a Christian in name only and refuses to follow God’s commandments and will:
Let them experience the full weight of their decisions and lifestyle
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Refuse to associate with them
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
Regard and warn them as brothers (or sisters), not enemies
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Culture shifting Christians …
IV. Eagerly Await With Those Who Long for Christ’s Appearing (1 Corinthians 16:22)
IV. Eagerly Await With Those Who Long for Christ’s Appearing (1 Corinthians 16:22)
The Cry of the Church
The Cry of the Church
Maranatha — “Come, Lord” or “Come, Lord Jesus”
The cry of the Church is “Come, Lord Jesus!”
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Culture shifting Christians …
V. Abound With Grace and Love (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)
V. Abound With Grace and Love (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)
Bound in Grace
Bound in Grace
1 Corinthians ends as it began: with grace
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Grace is (4 things):
The Essence of the Gospel
24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
A Gift — God’s Favor Toward the Unworthy
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What Grows Us
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Our Eternal Comfort and Hope
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Grace is what enables you to live as a culture shifting Christian.
