Sermon Tone Analysis

Offerings:

LM: Lottie Moon - $6,785.00

3,341.81 that were designated to the Growth Solutions fund, bringing that account total to $23,310.32!!

Pray - no reading before - gratefulness for giving.

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Declaration of our independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Constitution: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Constitution - Bill of Right: Bear arms- free speech - etc…

We are hard wired to live as freedom and rights as our guiding principles

But read these first as a Christian and not merely as American

Which right is preeminent; my rights as an American or my rights as a Christian

What freedoms are the most precious, my freedom as an American or my freedom in Christ

Freedom and Rights

“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

If Freedom is our highest good love is not.

If love was our highest good would we have slaughtered the Indians and enslaved the Africans?

We are in need of a lesson from Paul today

Main idea: With the gospel of Christ as our priority, we place no obstacle in the way of others.

1 cor 8 recap - Two people: The “mature” and the “weak” - trying to live life together

The mature - knowledgable about Theology and paganism and most likely wealth = elitist attitude

The weak - new believers coming from a pagan background = sensitive attitude/conscience

Ex: There’s a party at temple

!

1 Cor 8: 9-13

Knowledge is good but is incomplete without love

In the preceding chapter the apostle had urged the strong that it was their duty to sacrifice their rights for the sake of their weaker brothers.

Now he shows he had acted practiced what he preached

v. 10 -Will my actions cause my brother and sister to fall back into an old sinful habit or lifestyle?

Paul’s example of his right - Paul’s sacrifice of those right - Paul’s priority of the gospel

In America, our freedoms include the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

You have heard the songs lyrics: “the land of the free” and “let freedom ring.”

Freedom is our highest good.

Paul is showing that true freedom in the lord will produce surprising results

Paul’s Example -vv.1-12

Paul’s Status: Apostle - v. 1-3

Rhetorical questions w/ obvious answers - Paul is not primarily defending his apostleship he is presuming it with the Corinthians

Paul therefore establishes first that he is no less free, ἐλεύθερος, than “the strong” or other believers.

As free as they are - Paul therefore establishes first that he is no less free, ἐλεύθερος, than “the strong” or other believers.

An Authentic Apostle - my proof -You!

A seal was important in an age when many could not read.

The impress of a seal in clay, wax, or the like, was a mark of ownership.

The church at Corinth directly resulted from Paul’s ministry ()

V.3 - “Defense” and “Evaluate” - Both the terms used here, sit in judgment and defense, are forensic terms.

V.3 - “Defense” and “Evaluate” - Paul is discussing personal legal rights Paul had already pointed out their inability to make good judgements - 2:14-15; 4:3-5

Paul had already pointed out their inability to make good judgements - 2:14-15; 4:3-5

An illustration

- The church is:

Paul’s Right:support - v. 4-12a

Continues with rhetorical questions

Paul’s principle right: Rewarded for his labor

The right (exousia) was used of the (where see note).

It is the right to abstain from vocational working, to be supported by the church.

Having proved his apostleship, he proves his right to be supported, and then shows that he had not availed himself of that right.

It affirms rather the right to take a believing wife along on apostolic journeys, that is to say, a married apostle is entitled to take his wife with him at the church’s expense.

It affirms rather the right to take a believing wife along on apostolic journeys, that is to say, a married apostle is entitled to take his wife with him at the church’s expense.

That Peter was married is clear from and .

Paul’s illustration -

Before Paul reached his point, however, he builds his case even more strongly.

1.

Does any soldier serve at his own expense?

No.

2. Do farmers eat from their produce?

Yes.

3. Do shepherds drink milk from their flocks?

Yes.

All were fed from their occupation.

His first argument is from the universally recognized principle that labor is entitled to reward.

logical and scriptural

Paul’s argument 1 :

OT teaches this principle -

 The passage quoted is found in

- For our sake?

- And if the benefits that we bring you are spiritual—such as knowledge, faith, hope—the fruits of the Spirit, and are therefore of infinite value, is it too much that we should derive material things from you—things necessary for the support of the body?

Ex: we like to keep our pastor humble or honest.

Scripture says you are treating them the way you do not want to be treated.

The obvious conclusion: Men who labor in the word have the right to be supported by the local church.

(Tensions and abuse: Not the point!

This is an example that’s conclusion is assumed in the argument and backed up in Scripture.)

Paul’s sacrifice - vv.12b-18

Paul willingly sacrifice his right for the gospel sake

- v.12b-18

V.12b - We endure - to put with something that is unpleasant or difficult

Paul’s word for “immaterial obstacle” or hindrance is unusual (here only in the New Testament).

Ex: Cutting a large tree across the road.

It hinders you from forward progress it must be gone around or removed in order to continue.

Paul’s argument 2 - next step - We did not use our rights

Paul’s illustration: Temple service & the Priest.

Get their food from the temple.

That is, they derive their support from the temple.

- Pauls argument 2 proof: Jesus’ commands (1st OT now Jesus himself)

As God had ordained under the Old Testament, so also the Lord (that is, Christ) had ordained under the New.

Christ has made the same ordinance respecting the ministers of the Gospel that God made concerning the priests of the law.

May relate to order given by Christ to the 12 or 72 when he sent them out on mission &

The laborer deserve his food -

The command is for the benefit of the missionary

V. 15 - Paul’s climax

The sentence is made more emphatic as it return to them first person singular

perfect tense - this is his continuing action

This is a high emotional climax he fails to complete his sentence

the phrase I would rather die than is an incomplete exclamation that is interrupted by the statement “No one will deprive me of this boast.”

On occasion Paul could not complete sentences because his emotions overcame him

In a church where bad theology and power plays were all to common Paul believe to take money would impeded the gospel

The good boast - ;