4: Disciplined By the Father (1 Cor 4)

When I was a little kid I loved going to Disney World because I would get to drive a car at the Tomorrowland Speedway. The car, of course, was attached to a frame between the tires that would allow little drivers like me to steer a little, but would not allow us to run into each other or run off the track.

I guess one of the reasons it was so fun was because I had no fear of messing things up…and my Dad had no fear of me hurting him or someone else.

But as I got older I didn’t want to go on that ride, because I didn’t want to be so limited by that steel rail that kept the cars on the track.

So too, God’s commands keep His children from running off the tracks.

But some of us - rather than enjoying His freedom and protection - want to do away with the limits that God has put on our lives.

And so, we sin against our Creator and defy the boundaries He has set up.

And when that happens - when we get off track - that’s when we expect to get...

Disciplined by the Father.

A good father - a father who really loves his children, cannot and will not sit back and allow his children to live in disobedience.

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

And a good earthly father teaches his children that they will be disciplined by our good Heavenly Father. And that’s exactly what King Solomon taught his son.

Proverbs 3:11–12 (NIV)

My son, do not despise the Lord’s [YaHWeH’s] discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord [YaHWeH] disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Today we hear from the heart of a hurting father, the apostle Paul - the spiritual father of the Corinthian Church, as he confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

And maybe, just maybe, God will use this 2000 year old text to this ancient audience to confront and correct us as well.

PRAY

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (NIV)

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

As you’ll remember from last week’s teaching, Paul refers to himself and Apollos as fellow farmers and master builders who work together by the power of God’s Spirit to grow and build this beautiful Church, that has become a Beautiful Mess.

These men are servants of Jesus who are to take care the Landowner’s house until He comes back. They would be held accountable for the house, fields, finances, and taking care of the other servants. And Paul and Apollos are serious about accomplishing what He has entrusted them to do.

In their case, God had entrusted them as managers (CSB)/stewards (NET, ESV) to be faithful to distribute God’s truth - the mysteries God has revealed - to the rest of God’s servants.

These men have been given a trust and must prove faithful as their work WILL be judged by the Master upon His return.

Since this is the case, Paul & Apollos are a lot more concerned about what the Master thinks about how they are doing their job than what the other servants under their authority are saying.

That’s what he addresses next.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NIV)

I care very little if I am judged [anakrinō investigated/evaluated] by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge [krinō - decide/give verdict] nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Paul is not saying that he and other leaders aren’t accountable. In fact, he recognizes that he is MORE accountable than others.

James writes and warns that “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1 NIV)

But the judgment Paul is concerned about is NOT the judgment of the immature believers in Corinth. Instead, he is ever mindful that - as he writes - it is the Lord who judges me. And even though he thinks his conscience is clear, he knows that Jesus will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. One day, all of his true intentions will be known to God.

So too, your motives and my motives will be exposed as well. Maybe we are way too concerned about what people think about us and not nearly as concerned as we should be about facing the Righteous Judge and Creator of all.

What if we started living like we were actually going to face our Creator as He uncovers not only WHAT we do, but WHY do do WHAT we do?

While the word “judgment” most often causes us to think of something negative, this will be a time when each will receive their…[question] WHAT from God? PRAISE from God.

This same term meaning praise, commend, or approve, is sometimes mentioned in the New Testament in regards to

people praising other people (Rm 13:3, 2 Cor 8:18, 1 Pet 2:14)

and often used in referring to people praising God (Mt 9:8, 15:31, Lk 1:64, 7:16, Eph 1:6, 12, 14; Phil 1:11, 1 Pet 1:7),

but in this case it is used of God who will praise, commend or approve people! What is THAT going to be like - to hear our Creator and King say “Well done! I’m proud of you!”!!! (Lk 19:17). That’s what Paul is looking forward to and that’s what WE can be looking forward to as well…IF…“we make it our goal to please Him”. (2 Cor 5:9).

Paul is not commanding the Corinthian Church do something he and Apollos aren’t doing - that’s HYPOCRISY.

Instead, Paul is asking them to follow their example - that’s LEADERSHIP.

1 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.

Some say that the phrase, “Do not go beyond what is written” is referring to:

The Old Testament Scriptures

Words that Paul has previously written to the Church in this letter or the previous letter (1 Cor 5:9).

Others offer in intriguing idea that many of our elementary school teachers will appreciate. Paul could be referring to instructing children how to write, teaching them to imitate how their teachers write alphabetical letters, not making the letters too big or too small.1 In this context, Paul would be telling his readers to not go beyond what he and the other apostles had modeled for their students. They are to learn from Paul and Apollos and follow their example rather than doing their own thing.

1 Charles H. Talbert, Reading Corinthians: A Literary and Theological Commentary on 1 & 2 Corinthians, Rev. ed., Reading the New Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2002), 20–21.

Paul and Apollos were not prideful leaders and they certainly don’t want the Corinthian Church to be puffed up, prideful followers who make it look like Paul and Apollos are competitors rather than brothers.

But sadly, there were some puffed up people who were attempting to grab the reigns of this struggling church.

So Paul launches a sarcastic barrage to contrast the differences between Godly leaders and these counterfeit counterparts.

1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Some children are born into wealthy families even though they haven’t worked a day in their lives.

Some people are just more athletically gifted than others, and you can see it from a young age.

Some folks were born with brains, even though their IQ might be much higher than their common sense.

Some people are born in prosperous nations while others are born in poverty-stricken nations.

While you can use and improve what you’ve got, most of what you’ve got is stuff you can’t boast about.

What do you have that you did not receive? Not much.

Some of these Corinthians have been so puffed up, so arrogant, that they needed a spiritual spanking. And it’s about to happen. Because...

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false - but he doesn’t spank them and walk away - A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

1 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

This reminds me of the Church of Laodicea to which Jesus says,

Revelation 3:17 (NIV)

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

They are prideful, but God sees that they are pitiful.

I’m shifting to a different translation in this next verse, to bring more clarity.

1 Corinthians 4:9 (NLT)

Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.

Paul uses imagery that people in the Roman Empire understood.

When the victorious army returned home, the people came out to meet the General and his troops, while the prisoners of war would be chained and forced to march at the end of the victor’s parade, where they would be mocked and spit on.

Further, many of these conquered foes would be condemned to die in the arena, where they would be made a public spectacle, torn apart by wild animals or gutted by gladiators.

The Corinthians are like the victorious army while the apostles are like the prisoners of war being spit upon.

Then Paul compares these persecuted apostles to the comfortable Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 4:10 (NIV)

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!

We are weak, but you are strong!

You are honored, we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:11–13 (NIV)

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

That’s what it means to follow Jesus. To be scum of the earth and garbage of the world. Who wants to sign up for all that?

[sarcastic] That’s all of the teaching for today. Let’s pray. Just kidding.

Following Jesus isn’t always easy. Following Jesus isn’t alway comfortable. Following Jesus means we bless when cursed, we endure when persecuted, and we answer kindly when slandered,

God’s approval - as seen in the lives of the apostles - is not always evidenced by prosperity, but by persecution. Since Jesus was treated unkindly, His followers can expect the same thing. In fact, this is exactly what Jesus said:

John 15:20 (NIV)

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

But many of these Corinthians weren’t facing persecution because they were living for COMFORT rather than for CHRIST, so Paul has do what what a good father does, and...

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

Tonya and I just spent a couple of days with my folks in Sarasota. I sat and ate, talked, and watched lots of Sweet 16 basketball with the same man who used to SPANK me when I disobeyed. When my father disciplined me, he didn’t just spank me.

First, he would make sure to communicate why I was going to be disciplined. Sometimes he would even tell me to go to my room and think about what I had done.

Next he would let me know that this hurt him worse than it hurt me. I told him I didn’t want him to hurt, so we could switch roles and I could spank him instead.

Finally, after letting me sit by myself for a while, Dad would return and let me know how much he loved me. He would hug me. And I knew…I knew that he loved me and I knew that he expected me to respond to his discipline.

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

After this spiritual spanking, Paul wanted to make sure these folks knew that he loved them, and that…he expected them to respond to his discipline.

1 Corinthians 4:14–16 (NIV)

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

In our day, Paul might have said, “You’ve had lots of baby sitters, but only one father.” Paul is their spiritual father who loves these people and longs to see them grow in Jesus.

But Paul is NOT a hypocritical parent of saying “Do as I say, not as I do.” He is spiritual father modeling how he expects his spiritual children to act.

Christians - WHO are YOU imitating and…WHO is imitating YOU?

Thankfully, Paul wasn’t the only one that was living a faith that could be imitated.

1 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Timothy is another brother who is faithful in the Lord. The Corinthian Church would have a living example walking among them that could show them Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus.

Paul had modeled this lifestyle for Timothy.

Timothy was modeling the lifestyle for others

who would then need to grab the baton and pass it to the next runner.

Who has been faithful in the Lord to show you how to live for Jesus…and…who are YOU showing what it means to be faithful in the Lord?

Timothy’s life and lips would remind the Corinthians of Paul’s teaching & practices which were consistent from church to church. These are standards that every believer, everywhere is to abide by.

But those who refused to listen to the discipline of the Father needed to be warned one last time about what would come next.

1 Corinthians 4:18–21 (NIV)

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Which would YOU choose? I’ll take love with a side of gentle spirit, please.

Of course, Paul isn’t coming to Fellowship to model godly living, nor to discipline those who disobey, but God does expect and empower spiritual leaders HERE to model godly living and hold others to the same standard.

All of us whom the Father loves WILL be disciplined, because...

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

When Caleb was 17 his mom and I had to discipline pretty significantly. He didn’t like it and didn’t think he needed it. Our close relationship seemed strained.

About that time he started taking his dog to a lake to let him swim. One afternoon Caleb told me how Zeke started running away, chasing something, and refusing to listen to his call. So Caleb said, “I spanked his tail.”

I countered, “Don’t you love him?”

He responded, “Yes, that’s why I spanked him.”

“Huh,” I said…”It’s tough being a Dad, isn’t it?"

Because...

[BIG TRUTH] A good father confronts what is false and corrects with the truth.

How has rejecting or responding to God’s discipline impacted you?

hope, purpose, & forgiveness?

or doubt, discouragement, & shame?

We opened with this Proverb and will close with it as well.

Proverbs 3:11–12 (NIV)

My son, do not despise the Lord’s [YaHWeH’s] discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord [YaHWeH] disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.

We are about to PRAY. I’m going to ask you to ask God, “What to you want me to do with what I heard today?”.

Then, if you need to talk with someone about anything…please call us,

STAFF

or

DEACONS/wives

discussionquestions Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? Explain your answer.

Read Proverbs 3:11-12. Although no one enjoys being confronted or corrected, why is God’s discipline a good thing in our lives? Why should a person be concerned if God does not discipline them?

Read 1 Cor 4:3-5. As you consider the day that Jesus will judge the motives of your heart, what concerns, questions, or encouraging thoughts come to your mind?

Read 1 Cor 4:6-7. Why should believers be humble instead of boastful? Take a moment and point out some of the gifts God has given to the other people involved in this discussion.

Read 1 Cor 4:14-17. Who are your fathers or mothers in the faith, people who are “faithful in the Lord” - good examples to follow? What have you learned from their “way of life in Christ Jesus”? Why is it that so many Christians would say, “Don’t follow my example.”? What will happen if no one purposefully models what it means to love and follow Jesus?

How has rejecting or responding to God’s discipline impacted you - hope, purpose, & forgiveness or doubt, discouragement, & shame?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another. Continue to pray for our Supreme Court decision on Roe v Wade. Pray for Christians in Ukraine and Russia to carry the message of Jesus with them wherever they go.