1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:01,680 Good morning. Good to see. 2 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:04,800 You all here really. Glad you're here. 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,960 We're we're looking at First Corinthians Chapter 9. 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:13,000 It's on page 899 in the black. Church Bible really urge you to 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,200 follow. Along You're not too cool. 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,800 To read the Bible so if. You find one, take it out and 7 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:26,280 page 899, Chapter 9, First Corinthians, and we're reading 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:28,440 slowly. Through the. 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,400 Bulk of First Corinthians this summer. 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,560 Today's. Lesson is about remaining 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:39,480 faithful to our mission as Christ ambassadors, even if it 12 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:43,160 means having to. Sacrifice our rights. 13 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:46,120 Even if it means having to lay down our rights. 14 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,840 And this is a complicated. Passage So let's ask God for his 15 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,840 help. Let's, as we just heard, ask. 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,640 Seek and knock asking for his help and understanding. 17 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,000 His word to us today. Let's pray. 18 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:02,280 Almighty God, we thank you that you speak. 19 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,519 To us through your. Word and we want to understand. 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,960 So give us. Ears to hear and minds to 21 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:11,000 understand. And then give us the. 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,040 Courage by your Holy Spirit to obey. 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,720 To trust and obey, to go out from this place, and to live 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,080 according to what you teach us. And this we ask in Jesus name, 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,680 Amen. So right in the middle of this 26 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,160 long, long letter that Paul has written to the church in Corinth 27 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:31,960 and on to all. Of the other. 28 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:37,720 Churches, including us. He devotes 3 chapters. 3 29 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,280 chapters. Including today's lesson to a 30 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,040 question that the Corinthians sent to. 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:46,200 Paul, which was whether they should eat food that was 32 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,600 sacrificed to. Idols. 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,360 It seems that in those. Days. 34 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,840 Throughout the Roman Empire, wherever there was a temple to a 35 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,440 Pagan God, there would. Usually be a butcher's shop 36 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,880 associated with it. And when animals were brought in 37 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,880 to be sacrificed in these temples, the animal would be 38 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,639 slaughtered and then given over to the butcher, and the butcher 39 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,840 would prepare the meat, and that meat could be sold then in the 40 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,240 butcher's shop, and people could take it home and cook it for 41 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,160 dinner, or sometimes they could eat in. 42 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,960 At the cafe. At the temple, and so in 1st 43 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,840 century Corinth. Where Paul is. 44 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,440 Writing to them, this is the church that. 45 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,320 He had started there. There were. 46 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,320 Two prominent temples in Corinth. 47 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,080 One was to Aphrodite and the other one was to. 48 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,400 Apollo. And presumably one could 49 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,560 purchase meat if you were looking for meat this. 50 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,960 Is where you would go. You could purchase meat at the. 51 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,160 Butcher's shops. In those places, or you could 52 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,400 eat in in those temples. And this presented the 53 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,520 Corinthian Christians with a moral dilemma. 54 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,040 Should. They now that they don't believe 55 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,320 in those gods anymore, they don't follow those gods anymore. 56 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:56,640 Now that they are, Christians should. 57 00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,600 They. Eat this meat that had been 58 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,880 dedicated to Pagan gods. So they wrote to Paul. 59 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,320 They asked for his. Reading on the issue and that's 60 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:05,760 what. We have. 61 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,120 In First Corinthians 8 through 10, and the gist of Paul's 62 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:10,640 answer is that. We as. 63 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,600 Baptized Christians have. Died to the. 64 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,040 Elementary principles. Of the world we have died to, 65 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,200 that world that is ruled by these false gods. 66 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,760 Under Satan and we have been raised to new life in Christ, 67 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,680 and we're freed from Satan's tyranny through these. 68 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,000 False gods. So we're free. 69 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,360 We are free. Even to eat. 70 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:35,840 Food. That has been. 71 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,360 Dedicated, sacrificed to these gods. 72 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:44,120 One might even say. That we have the right to eat. 73 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:50,440 This meat. Paul says, though, that. 74 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:56,240 Exercising our rights isn't always in the best interests of 75 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,760 our mission as. Ambassadors for Jesus Christ 76 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,360 today we are. Blessed to live in a nation. 77 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:10,680 Where rights rule. You know where our nation. 78 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,720 Protects the exercise. Of individual human rights, it's 79 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,200 one of our country's greatest strengths. 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,839 But there is a. Flip side. 81 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,360 And that is whenever we selfishly insist on our. 82 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,160 Rights, regardless of how our choices hurt others. 83 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,120 Just because we may do something doesn't mean that we should. 84 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,280 Always do it. We have the. 85 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:35,680 Right as Americans to. Say whatever we please to, to 86 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,720 eat, whatever we please to watch whatever we like to. 87 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,440 Smoke almost anything that we like and. 88 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,040 Yet it. Doesn't mean that. 89 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,680 We should always. Do it because sometimes it 90 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,600 doesn't serve the common good. Sometimes it's not best. 91 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,680 For us as well. With rights come 92 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,720 responsibilities, including the responsibility to sometimes 93 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,400 voluntarily lay down our rights. For the good of others. 94 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,560 So Paul is making this point here in Chapter 9 of First 95 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,360 Corinthians. In what seems to be a 96 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,440 digression. It seems like he's taking up a 97 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,040 different. Topic he was. 98 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,320 Talking about food. Sacrifice to idols. 99 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,160 In the last chapter. Now, has he lost the thread? 100 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,280 No, he hasn't. He knows. 101 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:24,640 That the bigger issue here. Is about following Jesus 102 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,520 faithfully, representing Jesus to a watching world, living as 103 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,400 ambassadors. Of Jesus our. 104 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,240 King, and that requires often. That we stop. 105 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,800 Being so selfish and that we lay down our rights in order to 106 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,960 better serve him so in this. Chapter Paul uses. 107 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:48,040 His own story, his own testimony of how he became an apostle in 108 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,640 order to emphasize this point and teach us. 109 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,320 So that's why he begins at the beginning of this. 110 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,720 Chapter if. You look at verses 1 and 2 by 111 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,960 reminding the Corinthians of how he came to be an apostle and how 112 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:01,440 he came to. Start the church. 113 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,960 In Corinth, let's look at those. Verses together verses. 114 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,840 One and two on page 899 Chapter 9 Am I not free? 115 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,680 Am I not an? Apostle Paul says. 116 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,840 Have I not seen Jesus? Our Lord are. 117 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,800 Not you, my workmanship in the Lord. 118 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,040 If to others. I am not an apostle, at least I 119 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,920 am to. You for you are the seal. 120 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,280 Of my apostleship in the Lord. So if Paul. 121 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:29,160 Had not met Jesus on the road to Damascus and been knocked. 122 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,560 Off his high. Horse and blinded and then come 123 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,760 to faith in Jesus if he had not been commissioned as an apostle 124 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:40,320 to the Gentiles and eventually gone to Corinth and started. 125 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:46,720 A church. There then he would not be the 126 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,000 then this church would never have been born, and he would 127 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,480 not. Have the authority. 128 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,960 Over them now. But this church with the others 129 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:57,640 that he has. Started have now become the 130 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,200 seal. Or the proof of his apostleship. 131 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,360 That's what he's saying, the proof of his. 132 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,000 Authority and his. High office. 133 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,440 As an apostle of King Jesus and as King Jesus's. 134 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,720 Apostle as the Secretary of State. 135 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,680 To the Gentiles, Paul has. Certain rights. 136 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,520 And he lists. Out just a few of those here. 137 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,720 In verses 4:00 and 5:00. Paul says he has the right. 138 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:30,120 To eat and drink food. Dedicated to idols just like 139 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,040 they do verse 5. He has the right. 140 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,040 To be married if you remember we talked about. 141 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,960 This a couple of chapters ago, Paul has the. 142 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,960 Right to be married if. He so chooses. 143 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,640 And he goes on to say in verse. Five that if. 144 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,640 He brings his entire family along. 145 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,680 If you had a family, if you brought all of them along to 146 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,800 Corinth, then he. Would have the right to be. 147 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:55,480 Compensated by the Corinthians, be paid by them. 148 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,000 To support his. Family just like. 149 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,800 Peter. And just like James and. 150 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:07,560 Other apostles. Had experienced, had benefited 151 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,320 in other places. The point Paul is making, 152 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:14,440 though, is he did not. Exercise his right to be paid by 153 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,240 the. Church in Corinth look at verse. 154 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:20,560 Six, he says. That he and Barnabas voluntarily 155 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,640 paid their own way in their ministry at Corinth. 156 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,760 They didn't ask for or depend on the Corinthians for financial. 157 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,120 Support. Even though they had a right. 158 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,840 To do so. And if you read in Acts chapter 159 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,000 18. You will see Luke's. 160 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,400 Reporting of this very same thing, Luke tells. 161 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,720 About how the. Church in Corinth was started 162 00:08:44,039 --> 00:08:46,760 and he. Says that after Paul left. 163 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,560 Athens. He went to Corinth. 164 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:54,160 He found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come 165 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,200 from Italy with his. Wife Priscilla because emperor. 166 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,960 Claudius had commanded. All the Jews. 167 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,240 To leave Rome and Paul went to see them, and because he was of 168 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,640 the same. Trade, he stayed. 169 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,320 With them and worked with them for. 170 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:09,840 They were all. Tent. 171 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:14,600 Makers by trade. So both Luke and in the book of 172 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:19,400 Acts and now Paul in First Corinthians confirm and report. 173 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:23,360 That Paul was. A bi vocational pastor that's. 174 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:24,800 What we would call it today, he was a bi. 175 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,440 Vocational pastor, at least during his time in Corinth, even 176 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,760 though. It was Paul's right. 177 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:36,440 As an apostle. To be paid by the church he 178 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,600 chose. To lay down this. 179 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,920 Right. And earn his own living as a 180 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:44,840 tent maker, he. Chose to work. 181 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,080 Much more and earn his living as a tent maker. 182 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,200 Why do you suppose Paul chose to do this? 183 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,760 He doesn't. Tell us yet Instead he wants to 184 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:03,320 belabor the point, and he gives a number of analogies from 185 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,360 everyday life and then from Scripture. 186 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,360 Verse 7 from Everyday Life Roman. 187 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,360 Soldiers, he says. Of course they don't pay their 188 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,160 own way. They don't have to buy their own 189 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,280 equipment, they don't have to buy their own meals. 190 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,120 They're getting paid, they're getting compensated. 191 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,960 To be soldiers, likewise farmers were 7. 192 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,880 Farmers are entitled. To the fruits to at least. 193 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,800 At least eating some of the fruits of their own laborers. 194 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:34,920 Another example from everyday life. 195 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,280 Likewise, shepherds. Shepherds. 196 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:42,120 Are also entitled to enjoy some of the benefits from the flocks. 197 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:46,320 That they care for. And then verse 9, he moves on to 198 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,240 an even greater reason, which is he's arguing from the Old 199 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,240 Testament scriptures, from Deuteronomy chapter 25, where. 200 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,840 It says. You shall not muzzle an ox. 201 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,800 While it is. Treading out the grain. 202 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:01,080 So verse. 10, he says. If a. 203 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:06,800 Plowman plows in hope of benefiting from the crop and if 204 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,080 the. Thresher thresh threshes. 205 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,920 In hope of sharing in the crop, then arguing from the lesser. 206 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:18,960 To the greater, the Apostle Paul had every right look at verse. 207 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:23,360 11 to reap material benefits from the church in Corinth. 208 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,360 He had. Every right, In other words, to. 209 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:31,800 Collect a salary for his work. With the church in Corinth, why 210 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,760 didn't he do it? Why didn't he collect? 211 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:40,040 He wanted them to love and follow. 212 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:44,280 Jesus. He cared more for them. 213 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,000 Strangers. Gentiles. 214 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,840 Greeks, people. Of an entirely different 215 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,800 ethnicity and place than where he was from from his. 216 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,320 People he. Cared more for them than for his 217 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,200 own ease and comfort. Do you see the point? 218 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,480 Look at the second-half. Of verse 12. 219 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,480 Nevertheless, we have not made. Use of this right? 220 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:16,680 But we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way 221 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:20,080 of. The Gospel of Christ Why choose 222 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,880 to work? An extra job when you. 223 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:29,040 Could get paid. Just for one, why make tents 224 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,200 when you could have the? Church support you. 225 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:37,440 Paul says we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in 226 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,120 the way. Of the gospel of Christ. 227 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,080 Itinerant teachers and philosophers in those. 228 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,640 Days had. Different ways of making a 229 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,840 living as they went around to speak in different. 230 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,200 Places they could pass the plate. 231 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,040 Collect an offering. Or they could charge tickets. 232 00:12:57,680 --> 00:13:02,240 But if they did that. They might have to change what 233 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:03,200 they. Talked about. 234 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,560 In order to please the. Crowd a lot. 235 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:09,360 More, it might shift. How they spoke about hard 236 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,880 topics. Shifting to receive more likes. 237 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,800 They could also. Raise support from. 238 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:22,040 Wealthy benefactors, but. Again, that might impair their 239 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,960 freedom to speak. Truth to power or? 240 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,760 1/3 alternative was to support themselves. 241 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:34,360 That's what Paul had. Chosen this by vocational 242 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,320 option. It certainly sounds like the 243 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,280 hardest one to do, but I'm struck. 244 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,200 By the fact that Paul. Doesn't say so he doesn't. 245 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,080 Describe it as the hardest option. 246 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,080 He certainly felt it. If he hadn't. 247 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,480 Felt it. He wouldn't say in verse 12 we 248 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:53,800 endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the 249 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:58,600 gospel of Christ voluntarily working an extra job wasn't. 250 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,400 Pleasurable it required. Endurance. 251 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,480 Yet under the circumstances, Paul preferred supporting 252 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:06,880 himself. Over the other. 253 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,520 Options because he knew that it would. 254 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,600 Best serve. In his mission of sharing the. 255 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,440 Gospel with others when he. Talks about sharing the gospel. 256 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,880 By the way, this is just a way of. 257 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,920 Describing the good news of Jesus. 258 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,480 Who had died? And who is risen and who? 259 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,480 Is the rightful heir to all the world. 260 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,600 Everyone needs to hear this good news and preaching the gospel 261 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,400 over sharing the gospel is not just. 262 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,800 For pastors or apostles, it is for. 263 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,760 All Christians. That's what the. 264 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,200 Argument is here from Paul. He's urging everyone. 265 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,680 To be a gospel. Proclaimer now years ago when I 266 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,200 was newly ordained and we. First started rez. 267 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,800 In our home, I remember thinking, how in the world is 268 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,320 this going to work? I'm called to lead a voluntary 269 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:06,960 organization upstream against a decadent culture in a city where 270 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,560 many of the. Other churches tell people just 271 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,880 to go with the flow. My job is to convince and lead 272 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,240 people in a challenging way of life, yet I have no. 273 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,760 Power. To command them to. 274 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,480 Do so you. Are not enlisted. 275 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,680 As soldiers, you. Are not enrolled as students. 276 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,400 You are not incarcerated as prisoners. 277 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,600 You are here. Voluntarily and you might drop 278 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,760 out when the going. Gets rough which? 279 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,000 Might include, but is not limited to, sermons that are 280 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:45,560 boring or too long winded. Or. 281 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,200 The quality of snacks after worship not being up to par. 282 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,080 Right there are. Lots of reasons to not stick 283 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:57,280 around and I remember thinking years ago, if only I were a. 284 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,240 Pastor back. In the good old. 285 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,000 Days right back. In the days. 286 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:06,120 Before the divided church back. In the early church, when 287 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:06,960 people. Would follow. 288 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,680 Jesus, even if it meant being thrown to the lions. 289 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,360 But then the more I read the Bible, particularly Acts and 290 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,120 Corinthians books like this, the more. 291 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,120 I realized that. Things haven't changed that much 292 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,960 at all. Leading a voluntary 293 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,040 organization. Has always. 294 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,880 Been like this. It has always been about more 295 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,560 about carrots than sticks, you know? 296 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,080 It's always been about trying. To help people. 297 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,920 Understand. How to sacrificially? 298 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:40,720 And lovingly follow. Jesus. 299 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:42,760 And go against the flow. Of culture. 300 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,720 And so I've come to appreciate Paul's example in this. 301 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,120 Chapter in particular. So much more. 302 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,800 Over the years. Corinth. 303 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,800 Was a wealthy. Decadent. 304 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,920 Powerful. City just like. 305 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:00,960 Washington, DC Paul knew that his ministry. 306 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,120 There would require. Challenging. 307 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,119 The people's way of life. And saying some very hard things 308 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,040 to them. So from the. 309 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,920 Outset, he opted. Not to. 310 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,119 Be paid by them so that he was better. 311 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,000 Positioned to speak the truth and love and the. 312 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,280 Proof of this is what? We have now in our New Testament 313 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,520 2 very long letters. That are shared. 314 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,400 With us now and in these two very long letters, Paul pulled 315 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:35,200 no punches. His honesty is extraordinary and 316 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,120 we are the beneficiaries of it. Instead of selfishly. 317 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:41,800 Insisting on his right. To be paid he. 318 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,000 Voluntarily laid down his rights. 319 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,880 For their. Sake so that he might fulfill 320 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:49,960 his mission as Christ ambassador. 321 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:55,320 Look at verse. 16 he says. Woe to me if I do not proclaim. 322 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,760 The Gospel. This is what mattered the most. 323 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,000 To Paul. So he ordered his. 324 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,760 Life accordingly. It's easy to think that he was. 325 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,120 Special because he. Was an apostle that he made. 326 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:11,800 Extra sacrifices because of his high office. 327 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,800 And that rank and file Christians needn't worry about 328 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,440 these things, but the. Whole. 329 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,560 Point of this. Passage is exactly the opposite. 330 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Paul is. Calling all Christians, 331 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,440 including you and me. To joyfully. 332 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,600 Lay down our rights. For the Lord's sake to see. 333 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:34,760 His will done and His Kingdom come in Washington as it is in 334 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:40,160 heaven. This is for us to the wealthy 335 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,320 powerful. Decadent culture in which we 336 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,840 live we are invited to do something different to. 337 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,520 Set aside our. Selfishness and to live. 338 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:51,840 For God's. Kingdom and the. 339 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,800 Glory of His. King Jesus Christ. 340 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,360 Paul. Learned this from. 341 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,440 Jesus, of course. Who did not count equality with 342 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,840 God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking 343 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,200 on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of human 344 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,200 beings and being found in human form. 345 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,080 He humbled himself by becoming obedient even to the point of 346 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,400 death, even death on a cross voluntarily. 347 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,080 Jesus did these things. He lay aside his. 348 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,720 Rights as king and sacrificed himself therefore. 349 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,760 God has highly. Exalted him, Paul says, and 350 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:32,040 bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the 351 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,280 name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, and on earth, and 352 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,960 under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus. 353 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,640 Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 354 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,520 And the selflessness. That Paul. 355 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:50,400 Demonstrated in Corinth has been replicated. 356 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,360 All. Over the world, I want to give 357 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:56,960 you 3 examples of this happening as a way of inspiring you. 358 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:01,040 Also to do the. Same St. 359 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:05,360 Basil, 4th century Caesarea. Bishop of Caesarea. 360 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:10,720 Lay down his rights to wealth and comfort in order. 361 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,600 To establish the. This amazing outpost of God's 362 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,520 Kingdom in Caesarea that included. 363 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:22,400 A hospital, a Hospice, Schools, houses for the poor. 364 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,480 A copy centered for distributing the Bible. 365 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,800 Throughout the world. And all of this at his own 366 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,600 expense, donating his own money and never profiting from the 367 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:36,640 work. Itself, Basil set aside his 368 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,880 rights for the glory. Of the Lord and for the 369 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,000 proclamation of the Gospel. But it hasn't been just. 370 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,400 Clergy through the. Ages. 371 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,360 Think about William Wilberforce. Many of you know his story. 372 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:52,440 The 18th century British Member of Parliament who faced immense 373 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:57,480 opposition and sacrificed his time, his own money and his own. 374 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,440 Political future? In order to advance God's 375 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,480 Kingdom through abolishing. Slavery. 376 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:05,280 But it hasn't just been wealthy people. 377 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,960 It hasn't just been powerful. People, it's also. 378 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,680 Been ordinary Christians Think of Corey Tin Boom in the 20th 379 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:13,600 century. Somewhat of no Great. 380 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,920 Wealth or? Status who voluntarily. 381 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:20,000 Risked her life. During World War 2IN. 382 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,240 Order to create. A tiny embassy of the Kingdom of 383 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,360 God in her house in order. To protect Jews. 384 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:31,080 From extermination by the Nazis. These are just. 3 examples. 385 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,520 There are so many other examples down through. 386 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:37,000 The ages. Of Christians who have chosen 387 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,040 as. Paul has been. 388 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,640 Talking about here. To lay aside their rights. 389 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,200 For the sake of the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. 390 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,720 The Lord is. Calling you. 391 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:55,760 To this today, this is that. One of those seam weekends here. 392 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,120 At res 1. Of those transitions, a lot of 393 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,080 interns are finishing up. You're going to be going back to 394 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:02,840 where you're from and we're saying goodbye. 395 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,120 To you we've. Had a great time with you this 396 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:06,680 summer. We hope that you've been blessed 397 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:07,920 by being a part. Of the church. 398 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:09,720 And. There are people. 399 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,040 Who are going off to college and many moves are happening right 400 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,320 now. As you go, are you? 401 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,680 Going now, Convinced. That you too. 402 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,440 Can be an ambassador of the. Gospel that you? 403 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,600 Too can lay down your. Rights for the sake. 404 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,080 Of the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus and for all who 405 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:35,400 are staying, who are seeking renewal and your calling to be 406 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:36,840 here. For whatever God has called. 407 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,480 You this message is for. You as well. 408 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:40,840 God is. Calling you. 409 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,760 To set aside your rights for the good of these. 410 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,800 Strangers all around, just as Paul had done. 411 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,800 So that the. Gospel might go forth, and the 412 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,560 world would know. What is God? 413 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,040 Saying to you. Today. 414 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:01,320 He invites you into this same joy by voluntarily sacrificing 415 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,080 your rights. For the sake. 416 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,680 Of your mission as an ambassador of King. 417 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:10,240 Jesus, will you heed his call? Let's pray. 418 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:16,520 Thank you Almighty God. That you do give us grace to set 419 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:22,840 aside our rights for your glory to serve You. 420 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,200 In sharing this Kingdom. With others. 421 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:31,040 Thank you for your own. Sacrifices for our sake. 422 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,000 Now. By the power. 423 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,560 Of your Spirit, enable us to do the same. 424 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,640 For we. Pray in Jesus name, Amen.