1 Corinthians 4

Introduction

Image

My mom worked at a grocery store in our town. None of her coworkers could say her name, so they called her Rosie. One of her coworkers was talking to her one day and said she had a puppy that would be perfect for her. And one day, my mom brought home Chihuas, a Chihuahua.

Like all Chihuahuas, Chihuas had no perception of reality. In his mind, ever noise outside was a murderer coming to take out the family. He thought he was about a bigger and badder than any German Shepherd, Doberman, or Pitbull that ever lived. In reality, his most dangerous weapon was his tail. It would leave your legs bruised when he got excited.

Saints, thankfully Chihuas never met an real dog that was trying to hurt him or us. Because he would have died immediately. Thankfully, his false self perception was okay when we lived on a mountain by ourselves.

Need

Brothers and sisters, you know that we don’t live an isolated life away from real problems. We live in the real world. And a faulty self perception can have serious consequences.

Referent

1 Corinthians 4

Organization

Clear Judgement (vs. 1-6)

Clear Example (vs. 7-21)

Sermon in a sentence:

I want to judge with clarity.

Clear Judgement (vs. 1-6)

Paul does agree that each person should have the right view of themselves.

Paul and Apollos are not idols. They are servants (ὑπηρέτης) and stewards (literally house servants).

These men cannot just be great leaders! They must be faithful! (vs. 2)

I see this all the time with megachurch pastors. They are leaders and visionaries. But they are not called to the same level of faithfulness as others. Michael Brown lead a ministry named FIRE. Many of the students in this unaccredited ministry school have talk about the culture of holiness. They were expected to not hold hands or kiss their boyfriends and girlfriends. They had to publically repent to the entire school if they sinned or broke the rules. But, Dr. Michael Brown had an inappropriate relationship with two different women. I don’t believe their was any sexual intercourse, but kissing, hugging, and smacking the butt of a female student. After some events, one of the females was sat down with Dr. Brown and his wife in their home. Dr. Brown confessed his sin to this female student and told her that he should not have done those things. This female student was representing the entire student body and Dr. Brown could confess to her privately because she was representing the whole campus.

Paul says, he does not know any sins or shortcomings that he has. He truly is living in a way that is holy! However, there is still things that we don’t know. We may not see the sin in our lives that others see. Or we may not see the sin in our lives that only the LORD himself sees.

Paul recognizes that true judgement will have to wait until the Lord Jesus returns.

(v. 5) Paul warns about judging too harshly before the time comes.

There is no one in ministry who knows how to do ministry more than an unbeliever. Unbelievers know exactly every decisions and choice that a pastor or Christian should make. They know how churches should spend their money. We had some people come to the food pantry last year. One of the ladies was telling me how she only needed $400 for her rent but a church did not give her the money. She did not go back to a church since then. I listened and apologized for her experience. But then I began to share with her a point of view she probably did not want to her. I told her what it is like to pastor a church with less than 50 members in it.

Another example. It was just a couple of months ago that someone said something to me at Walgreens. I was talking to our delivery driver that brings us our drugs each day. He was surprised because he noticed I was not just working Thursdays and Fridays. So he asked me what I was doing there on whatever day it was. I told him that we had to make budget cuts. I told him I was going back to full-time work at Walgreens. He then asked me if we were getting less money from the government.

But Paul is specifically talking about the members inside the church here. The members of the church were telling Paul how he should minister. They knew how he should have done things.

Please let me reiterate this is a common experience. It wasn’t too long ago that I was in a meeting. We were looking at a report. The conversation turned to a discussion about elders. Two or three people gave me a lot of opinions and ideas of how we should pick the next elder. Now, these two or three people had for a long time been against the idea of elders. No matter how many times I had preached or taught the topic, they would not accept it. A few weeks after being against elders, they were telling me what the process should be to get another elder. I told them that I was thankful for them being invested. But they were talking to me as if I had not thought about the process. They were making assumptions about things that I never said or had explicitly denied.

Saints, I talked to a couple of members about a “covenant renewal service” before I was finished preaching Titus. I even talked about printing a huge canvas picture of the church. And we could all come up and sign it. We could hang it in the vestibule as a way to unify our members!

Saints, please ask me if you have a question. Do not make judgements because you have not asked me. Talk to me and present me with your opinion before making a judgment. I might even agree that your idea is a lot better. But you can’t keep your opinions to yourself and expect me to read your mind.

Clear Example (vs. 6-21)

(v. 6) Paul has first applied a clear judgement upon himself and Apollos as an example of how the Corinthians are supposed to judge.

First, examine ourselves. Make sure we aren’t judging harshly because of some bias.

They are not supposed to go “beyond what is written.” They don’t get to judge Paul or Apollos beyond what God has said.

There are so many churches that require a MDiv. That kills me. There are more requirements of man than God.

(v. 7) Paul reminds them that God used the apostle to bring them the gospel. Now they are arguing about who is the best apostle, preacher, or teacher.

(vs. 8-14) The apostles have been crushed and mistreated for the sake of the gospel. Now, the Corinthians are also pilling on their criticism.

Paul says he is not trying to shame them. He is doing it so he corrects their behaviour.

(vs. 15-21) I have many flaws. But I have desired to pastor Colgate through them and show them how great our God is.

I don’t want to bully. I don’t want to beat up. I don’t want to scream, yell, or put down. I want to pastor. I want to come in a spirit of gentleness and love.

Even if you disagree with me, please remember that I love you. I want to show you love and gentleness.

I want to be a spiritual father, not just a friend! I love you. I care about your soul. I care about your spiritual maturity on the day you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Bruce Gordon

“John Calvin was the greatest Protestant reformer of the sixteenth century, brilliant, visionary and iconic. The superior force of his mind was evident in all that he did. He was also ruthless, and an outstanding hater. Among those things he hated were the Roman church, Anabaptists, and those people who, he believed, only faint-heartedly embraced the Gospel and tainted themselves with idolatry. He saw himself as an instrument of God, and as a prophet of the Church he brooked no rivals. He never felt he had encountered an intellectual equal, and he was probably correct. To achieve what he believed to be right, he would do virtually anything. Although not physically imposing, he dominated others and knew how to manipulate relationships. He intimidated, bullied and humiliated, saving some of his worst conduct for his friends. Yet as he lay dying they gathered around the bed distraught with grief. There would be no other like him.”

Theodore Beza

“Having been a spectator of his conduct for sixteen years, I have given a faithful account both of his life and of his death, and I can now declare, that in him all men may see a most beautiful example of the Christian character, an example which it is easy to slander as it is difficult to imitate.”

Application

Repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Think before you judge!

I earnestly seek to be able to be an example to you, Colgate. I want my life to be an example to others that I am living my life, Corem Deo. I am living in the face of God. I am a broken man, held together by the mighty hand of God! If I have not been that example for you, I ask you publically for my forgiveness. I am sorry that I have not imitated Christ as much as I should have. I also ask, that if I am not the example for Christlikeness for you to look into the long line of godly men that have carried the gospel.

Find one man or women in church history that you can learn about this week. As you do, praise God for his faithfulness by using broken and messed up people to build his church. Then, remind yourself, think before you judge.