Centrality of the Gospel

OPEN - ILLUST

Main Point: The Gospel, to the Church, is the be at the center of life

READ - Opening Rhetorical remarks

How Important is the Gospel when it comes to...

1) Your rights?

Paul, the apostles, could have demanded money or other rewards

Justification? Not muzzling the ox. Want the oxen to work, don’t muzzle them; if take advantage of the ox, and weaken it, you are selfish

v. 7 - the worker expects a reward, payment, profit in return for work

Some apostles may have accepted it

Paul asserts his rights, but takes it out of the Corinthians’ hands, and does not ask for or demand it - he made tents wherever he went - chose not to take money from churches

To Corinth - he wanted no reason for them to accuse him of motives other than the Gospel ministry

His choice not to assert all his rights

His choice not to assert all his rights, his rights, either - His expected reward? for you to follow Him

And YOU get the blessing, the eternal payment when you do

2) Your personal feelings?

What do you “feel” like doing? Do you “feel” like sharing the Gospel?

Paul is compelled to share, to preach

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NASB95

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

- love of Christ, compels, controls, obliges us

Samaritan woman at the well, , - look at her, her surroundings, her audience, her testimony

She found the truth, and didn’t care what people thought of her; her new testimony led to people believing - based on her

Paul says “It’s not about me. It’s about Christ!”

Paul is totally changed from his old self. It’s not like he has a choice, that was determined when he trusted Christ, became a slave to righteousness

- to live is Christ

No boasting, it’s not about Paul

So why do it? Why share Christ? Understanding the love of Christ, His love for you!

3) The people you are around?

Paul’s goal: win the ________

What is YOUR goal?

What is your goal, when you interact with people around you?

Paul became

as the Jew (even though he was one before)

as under the law (like Gentile proselytes)

weak (not “as” the weak, but weak) - put aside his knowledge in order to connect

ALL were important to Paul, just as they were/are to God

To win some, save some - some will reject’

GOAL - win the lost, all the lost - hate to lose even one

God’s goal, too

, not wanting ANY to perish (but some do, some will)

Samaritan woman at the well, , - look at her, her surroundings, her audience, her testimony

She found the truth, and didn’t care what people thought of her; her new testimony led to people believing - based on her

What about you and me? “So that I might win the _______”

Who are you to those around you?

Don’t have to be just like them, or be them, but how do you try to understand them, relate to them, connect to them?

(Examples?)

4) Choices about life?

The Gospel guides (demands) a disciplined life for Christ

Not a perfect life, but disciplined

Hypocrisy is a big charge against us - I get it

People don’t quit jobs, school, family, sports, because of it - but church? Forget it. We seemingly can’t mess up once.

Bible speaks lots of forgiveness - for a reason

Sincerity, integrity - people know when you are sincere, open, REAL - they know the real you

And if the real you is not a Gospel -loving follower of Jesus, then people that know you best will not follow

ASIDE: To anyone who does not like our “hypocrisy” - if the person you have in mind is a hypocrite, and you don’t really see the Gospel oozing out of them - find someone else to judge the Christian life by, and please, give it a shot.

Still - we can’t control others’ thoughts, some just openly do not want Jesus, they see no point

We may have to make choices, so that people will not misunderstand our motives (or at least we do our best to not give them reason to think poorly of God due to us)

QUESTIONS:

Do your choices show your live for Christ?

Do your choice show your desire for others to know Christ?

What is your plan? Do you know your purpose?

RUN TO WIN, BOX WITH A PURPOSE

Reference to Isthmian Games, perhaps

Training, planning, purposeful - GOAL: WIN

CLOSE - verse 24ff

Live as though Christ is important

Takes discipline, desire, determination

Live as though your desire is to win the lost

You may be only Bible someone reads

You may be the only way someone can see Christ

Gospel living is not a hobby or fun pastime - not just a participant - you are to run as though you want to WIN

Some live lives for “perishable” wreaths (reference here)

Stuff of the world, material prizes (REM back, hay, straw rewards)

People are literally killing themselves with their lifestyle, just to get the absolute MOST out of this lost world.

Because it’s about THEM

Few, the narrow gate travelers - live for the IMPERISHABLE crown

Heavenly rewards, storing up treasures there, pleasing God (REM back, jewels, precious stones…)

FOCUS

If your focus is here, this world and its stuff - your actions and goals, and attitude toward the lost, reflect that

if you focus is on your heavenly citizenship - your actions and goals, and attitude toward the lost, reflect that

WE NEED A BURDEN FOR THE LOST, AND FOR BELIEVERS TO GROW

People still need Jesus - need to hear from YOU

People are filling the void in life with everything but Jesus

Who can YOU relate to? Yes, YOU.

Pick one or two

How will you try to reach them?