Sermon Tone Analysis

When I was a little kid I loved going to Disney World because I would get to drive a car.

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.

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.

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 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, but he is ever mindful that 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.

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…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 asking 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 is referring to instructing children how to write, teaching them to imitate how their teachers write alphabetical letter, 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.

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!

I’m going to shift 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.

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!