1 CORINTHIANS 4

LAST WEEK

We looked at Chapter 3

We saw Paul expose a few behaviors that were making there way into the Corinthian Church

He was quick to not just expose the behaviors but to clarify what church is supposed to be about

Whether we are sowing or watering, we are not in charge of the results

It is God who gives the increase.

It is God who is in charge of bringing people to Christ

THIS WEEK

We are going to continue in 1st Corinthians

Paul is going to continue teaching us about the relationship that exists between leaders and followers.

One question that I want to ask is this:

“What should you require of me as the Lead Pastor of this Church?”

“What is required from the Pastors, and Leaders of this Church?”

TURN TO

1 Corinthians 4:1–5 NKJV

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. 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. 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.

1 Corinthians 4 NKJV

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. 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. 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. 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? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

PRAY

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NKJV

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.

Church Family

:1-

Both present and absent

This is the one non negotiable, uncompromisable qualification that you are to hold me to.

Paul, considering the leaders of the church says this:

TO YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING CHRIST

ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND

THAT WE ARE MERE SERVANTS AND STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD

AS WE FULFILL THIS CALLING TO SERVE AND STEWARD OUR GIFTS

We servants of Christ

We Stewards of the mystery of God

MUST BE FOUND FAITHFUL

In all areas of life

Marriage

With the Lord

With our Finances

At our places of employment

WE MUST BE FOUND FAITHFUL

As leaders, Paul, Apollos, and Peter needed to keep “faithfulness” as their primary goal.

Why Faithfulness?

I believe that this characteristic best represents Jesus to the world today

it is faithfulness that sets us apart

it is faithfulness that creates trust

it is faithfulness that this world is lacking

So many employers are looking for consistency

Companies looking for steadfastness

People struggling with trusting others

Why?

Because Faithfulness is lacking

Because Faithfulness is uncommon

As Church Leaders, Faithfulness, sets us apart from the Secular

As Church Leaders, Faithfulness, creates a Faithful Culture

It starts with us.

You might say: “That’s great for the pastor, but what about the general public?”

What about those who aren’t in leadership

This Command isn’t just for the Leader, but for the follower also.

2 THINGS:

You should learn from the faithfulness of your leadership

The Faithfulness of the leadership should keep you accountable

It should teach you something

It’s a cosign to what Jesus desires of you.

WHAT DO I MEAN?

2. The follower of Christ must understand that Church Leaders

Are not the hero of your story

But we put your hand in the hands of the Hero

Are not the protagonist of the journey

But we know Him well, and He is Good.

It’s like the Beavers said to Susan in Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

See, she had never met a Lion

So she asked, “Is he quite-safe?”

“Safe, Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But He is good. He’s the King I tell you”

“Aslan is not safe, but He is Good”

We are mere servants and stewards of the glorious news of the King, Jesus Christ

Messengers that are faithfully pointing people to Jesus.

Not just in the preaching

But in the every day of life

Both in the Mountain tops and the Valleys

The Oasis and the Desert

We are here as examples of what following Jesus looks like

There will be mistakes

There will be failures

There will be poor decisions

But how we react to these will speak to the Biblical Worldview we preach about.

In a culture that was so focused on status and title

If we are not being good stewards of God’s Word

You come alongside one another and encourage them to take more steps of faith

You must be found faithful in calling us out and bringing us back to Centralizing Jesus

Paul begins to redefine how people see status

You

Paul begins to level the playing field of the kingdom

1 Corinthians 4:3–5 NKJV

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. 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.

In reading this, we may be a bit challenged in our understanding of this text.

So let’s break it down a bit:

Paul then throws a bit of a curve ball

He says:

He says:

Look I know you might not like what I have to say

I know you like to elevate people in ranking

I know your culture tells you that this is ok to do

But I am not the culturally relevant pastor

I am not your su

In fact, it doesn’t matter what you have to say about me

I am not your p

I am not your

I don’t care what your councils have to say about me

I am justified by Christ alone

To Him alone I answer

Only He can judge me for only He knows everything about me.

Though this is truth

It doesn’t make me better than you

Although my conscience is clear

I am not justified by what I believe is right

I am justified by Christ alone

Now, many have taken this text to justify their actions

We can go two ways with this:

As a Senior Pastor

I can either do as I wish, because I am the Senior Pastor, and I will be justified by Christ alone.

Or I can seek council from others, for in the multitude of council there is wisdom

Or I can le

One thing that I am actively trying to fight against is the notion that because I am the Senior Pastor, what I say goes.

As men, it is easy to take this leadership model into our home.

I am the Male, I am the Leader of the Home, what I say goes.

Though I am tempted to say this

I counter this intuition with a timeout to seek the Lord

God said, “call unto me, and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know”

Proving to me I don’t know everything.

Confirming to me that I need wisdom from above

Not the wisdom that this world has to offer

For God has something better.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, not one thing has entered into the heart of men the things that God has prepared for those that love him”

In 16 years of following Jesus, I have come to know one thing

His plan is way better than mine.

The Best thing that happened to me this week is entering a state of uncertainty

Placing that call to our landlord and letting her know we are moving December 1st.

The Fear of the unknown was balanced by the truth that God had already been preparing her to hear this from me.

The fear of not knowing where we will live, was countered by how God had been leading us in this way for the last few months.

FOR EVERY FEAR, THERE IS A TRUTH THAT POINTS TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

FOR EVERY UNKNOWN, THERE IS A TRUTH THAT GOD IS STILL PRESENT

FOR EVERY STORM, THERE IS A TRUTH BIDDING US TO TAKE A STEP OF FAITH.

CHURCH, WE HAVE TO LEARN TO BALANCE OUR FEARS OF THE UNKNOWN AND THE STORMS WITH THE TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE.

I AM NOT A PASTOR BECAUSE OF MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES

I AM A PASTOR BECAUSE OF HOW I IMPLEMENT MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES

I AM A PASTOR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN FOUND FAITHFUL

BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY VIEWPOINT OF ESCATOLOGY.

I HAVE LEARNED THAT KNOWING JESUS, IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY VIEW ON PREDESTINATION

I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE FAITHFULNESS THAT I LIVE OUT BEFORE YOUR EYES, PRECEDES THE PREACHING ON SUNDAY.

This is why I

This is why I wish to include y’all in church decisions.

Imagine if every decision made on behalf of the church was directly related to my comfort.

I want as much feedback from you as possible

To help me make the best decision possible

However, there are some things that God is speaking to me that I must be faithful to.

One rule that I hold myself accountable

One truth that I can count on in making decisions for the church is this:

One truth that we can count on when people make decisions that we don’t agree with is this:

Jesus said it in Luke 7

Wisdom is justified by her children

Imagine if the snacks that Hannah and Kalani brought today were strictly Ketogenic

Imagine if our Christmas Dinner was built around a specific diet.

When we decided to invest in the Kingdom

My salary was put on the line.

I knew this risk.

But I had to balance that with what God was calling me to lead you in.

Investing in the Application was the same way

It is a way for us to preach the Gospel to the world

If we can’t go on missions trips

If our work doesn’t permit us

If our families create obstacles

Why are we going to let excuses get in the way of digitally sharing the Gospel?

Who knows who will download the app

Who knows who will hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Maybe you are faced with some challenges right now

Decisions that you need to make

Hard conversations you need to have