CLASS IN SESSION
Notes
Transcript
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
INTRODUCTION: CAN’T YOU HEAR THE MASTER TEACHER THE APOSTLE PAUL, I AM SO GLAD THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE COME TODAY FOR CLASS. IT IS TIME TO GET READY FOR CLASS. I
CLASS IN SESSION!
CLASS IN SESSION!
OPEN YOUR TEXT TO 1 CORINTHIANS 4:6
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
I. LEARN THE CORRECT PERCEPTION
I. LEARN THE CORRECT PERCEPTION
LEARN NOT TO THINK BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN
The Corinthians needed their PERCEPTION OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS corrected.
A. WE ARE ONLY SERVANTS
A. WE ARE ONLY SERVANTS
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
"WHO THEN IS PAUL, AND WHO IS APOLLOS?"
Paul wanted them to stop thinking of ministers as celebrities, masters, or owners of the church.
LESSON: DON'T THINK MORE HIGHLY OF THE SERVANT THAN SCRIPTURE ALLOWS.
B. WE HAVE DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS
B. WE HAVE DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS
"I PLANTED, APOLLOS WATERED"
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
Paul planted.
Apollos watered.
Neither assignment made one servant inherently greater than the other.
DON'T CONFUSE DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS WITH DIFFERENT WORTH.
C. GOD IS THE SOURCE OF GROWTH.
C. GOD IS THE SOURCE OF GROWTH.
"BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE"
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Paul could plant.
Apollos could water.
Neither could make anything grow.
DON'T ATTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
D. CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION
D. CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
"I... AS A WISE MASTER BUILDER, I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION"
Paul founded the Corinthian congregation, but he refused to make himself its foundation.
DON'T BUILD YOUR FAITH AROUND THE PERSON WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO CHRIST; BUILD YOUR FAITH UPON CHRIST.
II. LEARN THE CORRECT POSITION
II. LEARN THE CORRECT POSITION
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
Paul moves from wrong perception to wrong attitude.
"...THAT NONE OF YOU MAY BE PUFFED UP ON BEHALF OF ONE AGAINST THE OTHER."
A. WE ARE COMPANIONS, NOT COMPETITORS
A. WE ARE COMPANIONS, NOT COMPETITORS
"HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE"
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Paul refused to compete with Apollos.
They had different assignments but shared the same purpose.
DON'T USE YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH ONE SERVANT TO ELEVATE YOURSELF ABOVE SOMEONE ELSE.
B. WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM
B. WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM
"WE ARE GOD'S FELLOW WORKERS"
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
The ministry belonged neither to Paul nor Apollos.
It belonged to God.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SUPERIORITY WHEN EVERYONE WORKS FOR THE SAME LORD.
C. OUR POSITION IS SERVANTHOOD
C. OUR POSITION IS SERVANTHOOD
"LET A MAN SO CONSIDER US, AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST"
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Paul could have emphasized:
"I AM AN APOSTLE."
Instead:
"CONSIDER US... SERVANTS."
LESSON: YOUR TITLE SHOULD NEVER MAKE YOU TOO BIG TO BE A SERVANT.
D. WE ARE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS.
D. WE ARE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS.
"STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD"
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
A steward manages something belonging to another.
YOU CANNOT BECOME PUFFED UP OVER SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU.
The church is God's.
The ministry is God's.
The gifts are God's.
The gospel is God's.
III. LEARN THE CORRECT PRAISE
III. LEARN THE CORRECT PRAISE
LEARN NOT TO BOAST
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Verse 7 attacks the Corinthians' self-congratulation.
A. HUMAN PRAISE IS NOT THE FINAL MEASURE.
A. HUMAN PRAISE IS NOT THE FINAL MEASURE.
"IT IS A VERY SMALL THING THAT I SHOULD BE JUDGED BY YOU"
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
Paul did not build his identity upon what people thought about him.
IF PEOPLE'S OPINIONS DON'T DETERMINE YOUR WORTH, THEIR APPLAUSE SHOULDN'T BECOME YOUR BOAST.
B. MY OWN OPINION OF MYSELF IS NOT FINAL
B. MY OWN OPINION OF MYSELF IS NOT FINAL
"I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF"
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
Paul would not allow either other people's evaluation or his own evaluation to become ultimate.
LESSON: DON'T MAKE YOURSELF THE STANDARD BY WHICH YOU MEASURE YOURSELF.
C. GOD'S APPROVAL MATTERS MOST.
C. GOD'S APPROVAL MATTERS MOST.
"HE WHO JUDGES ME IS THE LORD"
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
This destroys boasting.
If Christ is the Judge, I cannot award myself the trophy.
LESSON: STOP CELEBRATING YOURSELF AND WAIT FOR CHRIST'S EVALUATION.
D. LET GOD GIVE THE PRAISE
D. LET GOD GIVE THE PRAISE
"THEN EACH ONE'S PRAISE WILL COME FROM GOD"
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Paul was willing to wait for God's commendation.
LESSON: YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRAISE YOURSELF WHEN YOU KNOW GOD WILL REWARD FAITHFULNESS.
THEN PAUL BRINGS EVERYTHING TOGETHER
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Paul asks three questions.
"WHO MAKES YOU DIFFER FROM ANOTHER?"
YOU ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF YOUR DISTINCTION.
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE?"
YOU ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF YOUR GIFTS.
"IF YOU DID INDEED RECEIVE IT, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS IF YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED IT?"
YOU CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR A GIFT.
That is Paul's knockout blow against boasting.
IF YOU RECEIVED IT, YOU CAN'T BRAG LIKE YOU CREATED IT.
