1. Corinthians - Chapter 9:19-25 A servant of all – to win some.

1. Corinthians - Chapter 9:19-25 A servant of all – to win some.

19 Paul’s is free (not a slave as many were) but made himself a servant to all, that he might win more. (What Jesus said about being great).

20 Understanding who and what culture Paul was in, he spoke and acted so they would understand, and he could share the good news about Jesus with them, addressing the misunderstandings they might have or if they were being hypocrites our misunderstanding what they claimed to have faith in. The Jews, people under the law, - again Paul dose it to win people to Christ.

21 To people outside the law – as one outside the law, - (but being under Gods law and under Christs law love God and his neighbor) – again for the same reason – to win those outside the law.

22 Paul writes that he has become weak to win the weak, - in other words: “all things to all people that I might save some. (An understating of the culture and peoplehe shared the gospel with, to go to length to share the gospel – not changing the gospel but changing the approach to how it was shared so the people hearing it would have the best possibility to understand the gospel massage and what the messenger Paul said.)

Why Paul do you share the gospel?

23 that people might share the blessings of the good news about Jesus Christ. (Good news of grace, salvation, redemption, eternal life in Jesus Christ).  

24 Sports metaphor – Runing a race. Takes: discipline/ practice years before the event run could take seconds or minutes, the discipline/self-control years before it what makes it possible. (What if life is this race? What does it take for the Corinthians, Paul, for us to finish the race well?)

If athletes then and not spend years to win something that does not last – and when it is won, gives a short joy, and then emptiness (Golf Scotty quite PPT), then a good question would be why live for something that perishes? Paul writing about the self-control must live out, - and the use so much time, hard work and discipline and that to win, a wreath, that perishes.

 – Paul will say, we don’t we have an imperishable reward. – So as Paul will write, - There is a goal, not just running around with no goal, or boxing but not hitting anything. A focus on the way of life of following Jesus that takes, discipline and self-control – of the body and mind/will, and keep it under control – to not run in vain, and get disqualified, after preaching what people should do, and then not living it out. Failing to live the life Paul was asked to live. – This does not mean no sin at all, but it dose liken the walk with Jesus as a race where there are rules, that should be kept or the athletes could be disqualified. For Paul, not failing in a way of not being able to do what Jesus had called him to because of sin, /moral failure, not finishing well. (To many examples – well known authors and theologians – our hope is in Jesus alone – for us all this is a warning to finish our life and walk with Jesus better that we stated, using self-control discipline, that God might save some of the people we reach out to.

Do we see our life as a long foot race, not a spirit an ultra – where our life and preaching living out the gospel, by the holy spirt is a daily joy and task from God, that we do obeying Jesus, and walking in the path and good works that God has prepared for us to walk in.)

Self-control - discipline his body - under control so not to be disqualified but win the eternal prize. Living a life that shows the teaching of Jesus and the what Paul also taught. (He shows the Corinthians what it looks like to serve, what it looks like to be humble, what it looks like to give up our rights, to serve the weaker brother, that our love for Jesus Christ and the people he died for goes before our rights, - Paul wrote to encourage them to live that way also).

Where is our focus? Where is our discipline, how is our self-control? (Body and mind)

Win some? What is our goal in life? What is the encouragement from Paul?

Don’t just believe it live it out, in your fellowship, don’t make fractions, follow Jesus not human teachers. Paul writes that they and You are loved by Jesus who will keep you till he comes, - Paul saw how God worked his grace saved you in to his family. You are my beloved children, - don’t use the body for sexual immorality, but do enjoy and serve your spouse with the gift of Sex God gave to man and woman in marriage. Protect and serve one another and don’t make others in the fellowship sin because of your freedom in Christ. Self-denial and discipline instead of holding on to one’s rights. Look at the way I and Barnabas have served you, we took nothing from you, but you should provide for; the ones teaching you Gods word. I did all I could that some might be saved, - you are welcome to join. What is God leading you to do?

Living for what is temporal or eternal?

What has Jesus done that Paul will give up his rights? What as Jesus done that you might do the same?

Gospel – God – Jesus – salvation – cleansing – washing – sins forgiven – eternal life with God.