Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

So, this morning, we are back to 1 Corinthians 9. I didn’t quite finish the message last week, so by way of introduction, I will give it now.

First, let’s read our text.

For those who were here last week, you might recall that titled the message “In It to Win It.”

I want to continue with that theme.

You may also recall that our text is a transition point.

Look at verse 23.

For the majority of this chapter, the Holy Spirit highlighted the pastor’s call and purpose in ministry.

At the end of this verse, we noted that a part of the pastor’s process is to partner (the word “partaker) with fellow believers.

Unity is a focal point of a local church.

As believers, we are united by Holy Spirit indwelling us.

We are also united in our purpose to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

Thus, a local church is a called assembly with the purpose of glorifying Christ by accomplishing the great commission of preaching the gospel both at home and abroad.

It is the passion of every true preacher as well as every true local body of Christ.

From verse 23 to the remaining verses of this chapter, the Holy Spirit urges us to “run” the spiritual race set before us.

His encouragement was the topic of last week’s message and continues today.

He encourages both pastors and fellow believers to run.

We learned last week that:

We Run DRIVEN to Win!

We are in this race to win it.

Look again at verse 24.

You will note that we are to run, so that we may “obtain.”

In other words, we are to run so that we might win.

Here is where I want to pick up from last week’s message.

We are in it to win it.

However, winning the race requires a great amount of discipline.

We run DETERMINED to Win.

We Run with DISCIPLINE!

Look again at our text.

Note verse 25.

Here the Holy Spirit uses the word “temperate.”

This word literally means to restrain one’s self.

Note the reason for temperance or, as we would say today, “self-control.”

We do so that we might “obtain…an incorruptible (crown).”

I will come back to the crown in just a moment.

For now, I want to emphasize that we must be temperate in all things.

As you know, professional athletes do an incredible amount of training.

They watch what they eat, how much they eat, and then the workout their bodies turning what they eat into the necessary muscles for their sport.

Every single day they discipline their bodies so they may perform at a high level.

A cyclist or swimmer may need 6,000 to 8,000 calories per day (due to the high volume of training), while team sport athletes like basketball and soccer will land between 3,500 and 5,000 calories (which will vary depending on the demands of the day).

Jake Archibald.

(2022) What Pro Athletes Eat For Breakfast vs.

What YOU Should Eat.

Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://news.yahoo.com/pro-athletes-eat-breakfast-vs-104500325.html

Many of these same athletes work out and train every day throughout the day.

They have learned self-discipline.

They “striveth for the mastery.”

The word “strive” literally means agony.

These professional athletes force themselves through pain so they may master their sport.

Note also the words “all things.”

Thus, they discipline themselves in all things.

They discipline their body and their mind so they might compete.

What does that mean?

Here is the point for us this morning!

Just professional athletes (even more so since the stakes are much higher), we, as believers, must be “temperate in all things.”

In other words, we must learn to discipline ourselves as well.

However, here is the thing!

We cannot do it on our own.

The spiritual grace of the gospel is a race that we cannot run without God’s help.

It is the reason that God gave us the Holy Spirit.

We must humble ourselves before Him and seek His help.

The words “be filled with the Spirit” mean to be controlled by the Spirit.

We must learn to yield to Him allowing Him to bring discipline into our lives.

As we do, we run to win others for Christ as our marathon takes us closer to the finish line of Heaven.

What then should we yield to the Holy Spirit?

We should yield our bodies to His control.

We should yield our minds (our thoughts) to His control.

We should yield our spirit to His control.

We should yield our service to others to His control.

As believes we are to run to win and we are to run with discipline.

Here is the last point for today.

We Run for a DEFINITIVE Prize!

Look again at verse 25.

The prize already is determined for us.

It is an incorruptible crown.

NFL teams play to win the Lombardi Trophy.

MLB teams play to win the World Series Crown.

Olympians play to win gold medals.

Therein lies the great tragedy.

None of the athletes who win these awards will take them with them when they die.

You see, they are corruptible crowns and trophies.

On Paul’s day, athletes won crowns or wreaths of olive or pine leaves.

Many won.

And, perhaps, many were famous for their athletic feats.

Who knows about them today?

Can you name one Roman or Greek athlete right now?

Where are their crowns of olive leaves?

They are gone.

All the fame and all the accolades cease with death.

However, that is not true for believers.

If we run our race governed by the Holy Spirit’s control over our lives, we will obtain an incorruptible crown one day.

Scripture speaks of several crowns that each believer may receive when standing before the Great Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is the Crown of Righteousness.

There is the Crown of Life.

There is the Crown of Glory.

Each of these crowns is obtainable for the believer.

However, we do not obtain these crowns for our own pride and self-glory.

No, we receive them so that we might not be empty-handed for a special event in Heaven.

We, as believers, should also desire to have crowns that we might cast at His feet.

However, to obtain these crowns, we must run the spiritual race before us right now.