1 Corinthians 16

Faithful Christians give sacrificially , and regularly.

Paul is calling the church of Corinth to give, just as he called others churches to give. He is asking them to set aside income on the first day of each week. The first day of the week is Sunday the Lords day. In doing so he wants them to not just set it aside but give it directly to the church. Which would result in people getting help from the church, through the members of the body.

Did you know giving is act of worship? If you want to be a faithful Christian you are called to give.

As far as the money goes for the people of Corinth gifts would be delivered by men who were approved by the congregation. These men would go with Paul to see how the gifts were being used and be introduced to the people of the city as well.

How does this relate to us. Well my first point was faithful Christians give sacrificially and regularly. Personally I think this looks different for every single person. BUT the principle applies to all believers. Lets look at 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 then 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

What principles do you get from those texts?

What happens to out money when we give at church?

Pays pastors and staff

Supports missions and outreach

helps others in need inside and outside of the church

What happens to our giving outside of our local church?

For the SBC Messengers at the local and state level help decide where monies go. Such as NAMB, IMB, Seminaries, ERLC, and other entities.

Faithful Christians go where God calls them.

Paul was a well traveled man. The projected journey through Macedonia fits the record of Paul’s travel in Acts 19:21 and 20:1, 2, which shows how in following that route he ended by spending three months in Greece—a period evidently involving his stay at Corinth. This intention of spending the winter with them (v. 6) apparently relates to the “three months” mentioned in Acts 20:3. “To help him on his journey” must mean endorsing Paul’s intended trip and encouraging him perhaps with fresh supplies and equipment. Paul did not seem to want to burden them by asking directly for money

While Paul had a heart for the people of Corinth he also had a burden for her current situation.

“We who live in a time and place where the church is comfortably established should not underestimate the uncertainty and risk that attended Paul’s missionary work. His description of his plans here shows that Christians may sometimes be called upon to stand and testify in dangerous circumstances, and that the place of greatest risk may also be the place of greatest opportunity for proclaiming the gospel.”

I think about how much I love this church, and the people, but God may call me to minister to a place thats difficult or out of my comfort zone. Paul had desires to serve the people of Corinth, but he was called somewhere else. Are you ready to go somewhere else if the Lord calls you or stay if he want you to? Paul was faithful, and flexible, and we should be to.

Faithful Christians support ministry workers.

Timothy was one of Pauls closest ministry workers. Scripture teaches us that Timothy was like a son to Paul. Paul probably had some sort of concern with how they were going to treat Timothy. If you were here with us when we started this book we talked alot about the lack of unity they had in the church following Paul, Peter, Apollos or Christ, and Paul wanted them to rid themselves of this idea. So Timothy would would most likely preach the same message that Paul did, but because he wasnt Paul he might receive a different outcome. Some might not be nice to him because he is not Paul or even Apollos who was also dear to the church at Corinth.

One commentator notes…

“”Paul’s anxieties about Timothy’s reception may have owed something to hopes and preferences in some quarters for a visit from Apollos instead”” we see this in church today when people that are not Jeremy or Nathan preach or teach. This can happen in smaller settings such sunday school classes ect.. IF the word of God is taught faithfully/Biblically in the proper context we should listen to them, and support them.

The Lord used Paul to do mighty things in his life, but he also uses other workers as well.

I mentioned earlier the love the people of Corinth had for Apollos, but whats important to note is its not him that is going to Corinth, which is why Paul just made the case to honor Timothy. I cant 100 percent say why he didnt want to return, but I think one commentator provides a great reason for it.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The First Letter to the Corinthians D. Update regarding Apollos, 16:12

It may well be the case, as some have suggested, that Apollos’s very reluctance to visit Corinth … arose from his disgust that some at Corinth had manipulated his name as a slogan to promote the claims of a so-called Apollos group.”38 If Apollos is unhappy with the church, Paul certainly does not come out and say so. Rather, he gives them hope that he will come to them eventually. Even if he is unwilling to go now, he will go when he has the opportunity. The language is sufficiently vague39 to provide Apollos with the wiggle room to hold off on going until he thinks the right time had come.

In these few verses Paul provides us with a really good truth, and thats we must support ministry workers.

Faithful Christians stand firm in the faith.

The text shows us how to do this.. Be watchful or your translation may say be on guard..

Romans 16:17-19 says I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. Be awake with your faith… Know the word of God watch out for false doctrine in your life. Be aware of the truth so you can know what is not the truth…

Stand firm in the faith.... I love this terminology. we must be christians that stand firm in the faith. Be rooted in the faith..

John Piper wrote a letter several years ago called Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints Revelation 14:12: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

When we think of endurance, we have in mind the biblical emphasis captured in the phrases like:

“rooted and grounded” (Ephesians 3:17) “having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13) “stand firm thus in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1)“not carried away with the error of lawless people” (2 Peter 3:17) “we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9)“love . . . bears all things, . . . endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7)“suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3)“stay awake” (Matthew 24:42)“the one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11)“keep alert with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)“the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13)

In this letter he is writing about 4 different people who have stood firm throughout time . John MacArthur is the pastor who has stayed in one place a long time and weathered many battles in defending, confirming, and proclaiming the same truth.Jerry Bridges has taught us how to keep on Trusting God in the Pursuit of Holiness through decades of faithful ministry by the Discipline of Grace, through cancer and loss.Randy Alcorn has stood firm with an eternal perspective in the battle for the sanctity of human life no matter what the cost.Helen Roseveare endured through upheaval and war in the Congo and stayed on the path of obedience both in her time there and in the years of global missions inspiration ever since.

You can see the plan. Four spheres of faithfulness: the pastorate, faithfulness and holiness through suffering and loss, radical obedience in the culture wars, and world missions.

Christian are you prepared to stand firm no matter what the cost? He tells you again to act like men and be strong. Or could also be translated be courageous. Be men and women of courage. It takes courage to stand firm in the faith, but because of the grace Christ has given us we can do it.

lastly it shows us how to do it by love. One man said it better than I could.

It is significant that Do everything in love follows the exhortations to manliness and strength. In manliness Paul is not looking for aggressiveness or self-assertion, but the strength that shows itself in love. As in ch. 13, he is concerned with the all-pervading nature of Christian love. Nothing we do is outside its scope. We should not overlook the significance of in. Love is more than an accompaniment of Christian actions. It is the very atmosphere in which the Christian lives and moves and has his being. Remember the greatest man to ever live was Christ and while he could have lorded it over us because he was God, he served us willingly and died for us. Thats why we ultimately stand firm in the faith, because of who Christ is.

Faithful Christians are to show honor and be gracious to others.

Christians are really good this? not really its a weakness. Many commentators believe The people of Corinth did not respect the household of Stephanas, yet provides them reason to respect them, and honor there teaching. Because they refreshed his spirit and theirs as well. Like we mentioned earlier Christians must support ministry workers which included honoring them.

The chapter ends with greetings. Who here knows what a holy kiss is?

The holy kiss, mentioned also in Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; and 1 Thessalonians 5:26, was apparently a public practice among early believers to show their Christian affection and unity in the faith. The kiss of respect and friendship was customary in the ancient East. When the Corinthians receive this letter and read it in church, Paul encourages them to give one another this kiss of affection as a pledge of their spirit of unity and forgiveness. Such a greeting may have been practiced in the synagogue by first-century A.D. Jews—a practice in which men would have kissed men and women would have kissed women.

Faithful Christians always remember the work of Christ.

Paul closes this letter with a beautiful reminder of the gospel. That only by Christ can you be saved, obedience to instruction is evidence of salvation. Grace is needed in the church. Love all who are in Christ just as Paul has loved them.