Sermon Tone Analysis

*March 26, 2006—Ridgeview Revival*

* *

*The “Kingdom Workers” Series – Part 1*

*What Is a Kingdom Worker?*

*Beautifully Detailed Truths Concerning True Godly Saints*

*1 Corinthians 3:1-9*

* *

*Intro:*  As I began to meditate on the direction in which God would lead me for the messages for this series of revival meetings, I couldn’t help but remember what your pastor said the last time our churches held joint services.

He said, “Too often, churches are in competition w~/one another when they should be working together to accomplish the same goal.”

As I thought about that statement, I asked myself, “Why are churches in competition?”

& I believe the answer is that they want to build their own church.

Now there’s nothing wrong w~/wanting your church to grow.

In fact, there would be something wrong if you didn’t want your church to grow.

But the problem w~/most of the people in churches today is that they are more concerned w~/church growth than w~/kingdom growth.

They are more concerned w~/church work that w~/kingdom work!

Jesus told His disciples that He would take care of church growth.

He told Peter in *Matthew 16 /18/*/ & I also say to you that you are Peter, & on this rock *I will build My church*, & the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it./*

*IOW, Jesus said that He’s in the church building business!

That’s His responsibility not yours!

Now you may ask, “Pastor Dennis, are you saying that we shouldn’t do anything to make the church grow?”

I’m saying that Jesus may indeed use you to grow His church, but if He does, it won’t be by using some gimmick you read out of a church growth book.

But it will be something you read from THE book, the word of God going forth from your mouth that God promises will never return void but will always accomplish what He sends it forth to do!

So then, what are we to do?

We are to be instruments in God’s hands.

We are to work for the kingdom!

We are to be kingdom workers!

But what is a kingdom worker?

Well I hope to answer that question tonight as we see beautifully detailed truths concerning true godly saints.

So I invite you to turn in your Bibles & we’ll read all about it from our text in…

*1 Corinthians 3* */1/*/ & I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

*2* I fed you w~/milk & not w~/solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, & even now you are still not able; *3* for you are still carnal.

For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men? *4* For when one says, "I am of Paul," & another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

*5* Who then is Paul, & who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

*6* I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

*7* So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

*8* Now he who plants & he who waters are one, & each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

*9* For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building./

- The 1st truth about kingdom workers in this text is found in the 1st 5 vv.

& it is…

*1.

The Description of Kingdom Workers.

*(vv.

1-5)

- Who are kingdom workers?

Who are they that strive to do the will of God for the glory of God?

- Notice Paul would describe them by saying…

*    A.

They are Spiritual people.*

(v. 1) */1 & I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ./*

- Now there were many problems in the Corinthian church & there were many people who were mere babes in Christ.

- Some people just never seem to gain any ground spiritually.

They’re right where you saw them last time.

They’re just satisfied to be saved.

- They don’t want to grow in the grace & knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ b~/c that would mean that things would have to change & they like things just the way they are now!

- But Paul implies that kingdom workers are spiritual people.

They know they aren’t where God would have them to be.

They know they are not what God desires them to be.

They know they need to grow.

- But the difference is they are willing; they are working; they are longing to be all that God would have them to be & so they are yielded to Him!

- They are constantly seeking His face!

They want to know Him more & more & more!

- Kingdom workers are spiritual people who just never seemed to be satisfied w~/their spiritual position.

They always want more!

- These people are willing to put in extra time; they are willing to listen extra hard; they desire to hear from God so they can know what He thinks!

- It’s refreshing to me to hear people say, “What does God say about this?”

- They don’t seem to care what the latest Bible scholar has to say; they don’t seem to care what the latest church growth guru has to say; they don’t seem to care what some old dead guy said years ago – they just want to know what God says!

- & so they study His word – in context – & they pray & seek His face to know His mind!

- I don’t know about you, but I want to be associated w~/people like that!

God blesses that!

God can use that!

God encourages people like that!

 

- We’re calling them kingdom workers & Paul would describe them as spiritual people.

- He would also say…

*    B.

They eat Solid food.*

(v. 2) */2 I fed you w~/milk & not w~/solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, & even now you are still not able;/*

- When you’re a baby you eat baby food.

You ever taken a close look at baby food?

- It’s some-kind-of mashed up, mixed up, blended, pureed, liquefied paste!

- Now I know they didn’t have baby food like we have in Paul’s day, but he said he had to feed the Corinthians milk!

They hadn’t even graduated to the liquefied paste stuff yet!

They were still on the milk!

- & I understand that you have to start out slow, but there has to be progress!

- A baby will grow & so will a baby Christian if they are fed something of substance.

- I’ve asked many people who Jesus is & most of them will say He is the Son of God.

- & I’ve asked them what did Jesus do & most of them will say He died on the cross.

- But that’s a Sunday School answer!

It’s true, but it’s superficial!

- It is true that Jesus is God’s Son, but He’s so much more!

- He’s the Alpha & the Omega; the beginning & the end; He’s the 1st & the last; He’s the Omniscient; Omnipotent; Omnipresent; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace; Almighty God!!!

- & He did die on the Cross of Calvary a horrible death by human standards, but His death was so much more!

- His death was substitionary for all who would believe; His death was sacrificial, the just for the unjust.

- His death was temporary b~/c He rose from the dead!

His death was once for all!

His death was the beginning of life for all who would believe!

- His death paid my sin debt & set me free from the bondage of the curse of sin!

- If you’re a Sunday School teacher go as deep in the word as you can & teach the great deep truths of God to your class & help them grow in Christ!

- If you have any position of leadership in the church help those who follow you to be well informed; well fed & growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

 

- Paul implies that kingdom workers are spiritual people who eat solid food who are growing in grace & he would also describe them by saying…

*    C.

They are Servants of God.* (vv.

3-5a) */3 for you are still carnal.

For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," & another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

5a Who then is Paul, & who is Apollos…?/*