Sermon Tone Analysis

*1 Corinthians 16:5-9… *But I shall come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; 6 and perhaps I shall stay with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way wherever I may go.

7 For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits.

8 But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

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*Commentary*

            There are at least four principles to be drawn from vv. 5-9.

First, every ministry needs a /vision/ – a well thought out plan bathed in prayer ready to be implemented.

Paul was sold out to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He also spent time visiting his converts so as to assess their progress.

This is why he wanted to come back to Corinth after he traveled through Macedonia.

In v. 6 a second principle to observe is that of /flexibility/.

Some get a vision for ministry but fail to plan for the inevitable problems and for the stark possibility that God might later lead in another direction.

Paul says, “and perhaps I will stay with you…” This shows that though it was in his plan to stay in Corinth he was flexible and was allowing the possibility that God would lead him elsewhere.

This had occurred before in his ministry when God had forbid him to go to Asia to preach the gospel (Acts 16:6).

Being sensitive to God’s leading he went elsewhere.

A third principle is in vv.

7-8: /commitment to excellence/.

Paul didn’t want to travel to Corinth and to just see his kindred “in passing.”

He wanted some quality time there.

After writing the letter he had written to them he didn’t want to just show up, say hello, and then depart.

He likely recognized the fact that this church, one that he loved with his soul, would need him for a much longer period of time.

After all, some of them had fallen into apostasy while others had been led astray into terrible sin.

He didn’t want to leave this group with any unanswered questions or any confusion by just passing through.

He wanted to be thorough in his time there.

But before he could do that he had some loose ends to tie up in Ephesus – another place that was near and dear to his heart.

Steeped in pagan idol worship the people of Ephesus had come a long way in their journey to the truth of Jesus Christ, and Paul needed to stay there until the time of Pentecost (observed 50 days after the Passover).

A fourth principle we can observe about ministry in general is found in v. 9: /acceptance of adversity/.

Paul had discovered a new ministry opportunity that he wanted to deal with.

He knew there would be adversity, but that didn’t stop him.

He was always willing to die for sharing his faith through the teaching of God’s Word.

The only thing that did stop him was death.

*Food for Thought*

            In my own ministry as a pastor I started out with a plan to start a Bible-teaching church.

That plan involved going to seminary for four years and recruiting a team of people to help me.

Second, I had to allow for the possibility that God would lead me elsewhere – I had to remain flexible.

God had originally (I thought) led me to be a counselor, but once I entered that profession He turned me elsewhere.

Third, I resolved that if I were going to start a church that centered around the worship of God I would need to do everything thoroughly – to be committed to excellence.

God is perfect, so ministries done in His name ought to be excellent – especially a church committed to teaching His inerrant Word.

Finally, like Paul, I expected adversity.

Starting a church is no small task, and there are many pitfalls.

But I learned that going through the difficulties of ministry is what molds and makes enduring ministers.

All four principles, if understood and implemented, will result in bringing glory to God – the very purpose of life itself.

*1 Corinthians 16:10-12… *Now if Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.

11 Let no one therefore despise him.

But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.

12 But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.

*Commentary*

            The phrase in v. 10 seems to imply at least some doubt in Paul’s mind that his companion Timothy would come to Corinth.

Travel in the ancient world, as in today’s, carried no guarantee of safe arrival, but the likely meaning Paul intends here is “whenever Timothy comes.”

In Acts 19:22 Paul sent Timothy, one of his fellow evangelists, into Macedonia.

He was to enter into Corinth right after that (1 Cor.

4:17) to remind the Corinthians of “my ways which are in Christ” and to possibly deliver Paul’s letter as well.

Paul was concerned not only “if” Timothy got there safely but also of his safety once he got there.

Hence, he tells the Corinthians to “make sure he has nothing to fear while he is with you.”

No doubt Paul expected Timothy to receive some of the backlash meant for him, for the church there had strongly resisted Paul’s authority, and they might just mistreat Timothy on behalf of Paul.

Add to that the fact that Timothy was somewhat of a timid character (1 Tim.

4:12; 2 Tim.

1:7), and one can see why Paul would write such.

The reason Paul wanted Timothy’s safety to be assured was that “he is carrying on the work of the Lord.”

Paul was team player with many others who worked alongside of him in the ministry.

Such people were to be welcomed and treated well because of their work for the Lord.

No one was to “despise” him (“to ignore, hate, reject, make fun of”).

As a minister of Jesus Christ Timothy was to be fully accepted and treated with dignity.

Paul demanded it.

He was to be sent on his way in peace so as to return to Paul along with the others Timothy was traveling with.

There is no indication in Scripture as to how Timothy’s visit turned out.

What is known is that Paul abruptly changed his plans shortly after this and contrary to the plans he laid out, he paid a sudden and unexpected visit to the church in Corinth.

Why he did so is unknown, but it’s likely that this occurred because Timothy’s return report caused him great alarm.

Paul later sent Titus to Corinth instead of himself or Timothy.

Titus must have been a man of unusual grace.

Now in v. 12 Paul shifts his attention from Timothy to Apollos, the capable Alexandrian pastor who followed in Paul’s footsteps as the second pastor in Corinth.

Though Paul had “greatly encouraged” him to make a trip to Corinth Apollos had declined for unknown reasons.

Even though Paul felt strongly about the need for Apollos to travel there he didn’t foist his will upon Apollos.

He allowed Apollos to be led in his own way, thus showing that Paul wasn’t reigning over him.

For whatever reason it was “not at all his desire to come now.”

But he did have every intention of making his way there in his own time “when he has opportunity.”

It’s important for God’s leaders to steer clear of micromanaging the ministries of other people.

Just because the Lord lays it on the heart of one person doesn’t mean that He’s laid it on another’s.

*Food for Thought*

            The Apostle Paul was a part of a team.

He was always working with other men and women in his ministry.

He was also quite sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of his team members as is evident in his treatment of Apollos.

Let this be a lesson to us today while we engage in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Working together with others is as essential as it is frustrating at times.

Allow yourself to listen to God and to listen to those who do the same.

*1 Corinthians 16:13-14… *Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

14 Let all that you do be done in love.

*Commentary*

            Verses 13-14 seem abrupt and out of place.

But as Paul concludes his letter, and as in many of his epistles, his concluding exhortations reveal the heart of a man who just can’t bring himself to sign off without one more strong and urgent plea to remain upright and obedient.

First, he says, “Be on the alert.”

Though “alert” can refer to being physically awake in the NT, here it’s about spiritual vigilance.

Jesus used it in reference to watchful anticipation of his second coming (Matt.

24:42-43; 25:13).

Peter used it in reference to knowing that the devil himself is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet.

5:8).

And Paul uses the word in reference to a watchful conscious spirit that is privy to the spiritual warfare that surrounds believers (Eph.

6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes.

5:6).

So in 1 Cor.

16:13 when Paul commands alertness he is reflecting back on all the pitfalls that the church had fallen into, and he strongly urges them to wake up spiritually and smell the coffee.

Knowing the dangers that surrounded them by staying spiritually alert would prepare them for Christ’s second coming.

Second, the apostle says to “stand firm in the faith.”

The tense of the verb “stand” is a present tense with a continuous action.