GOD S SOLUTION FOR TROUBLED CHURCHES. God s Servants. I Corinthians 4:1-21

Transcription

1 GOD S SOLUTION FOR TROUBLED CHURCHES God s Servants I Corinthians 4:1-21 I. INTRODUCTION a. Read text I Corinthians 4:1-21 b. Pray. c. Introduce the topic Church leadership i. The question How should one regard leadership within the church? ii. The Church at Corinth 1. I Corinthians Leaders as superstars 2. II Corinthians Leaders as enemies a. Enemies who wronged b. Enemies who corrupted c. Enemies who took advantage d. Enemies who condemned d. Main Point of the Text Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in church leaders who are but mere servants of Christ, stewards of the mysteries of God, and spiritual fathers through the gospel. e. Connecting Point Can we apply this text to pastors when it seems to be speaking explicitly of apostles? i. Internal evidence 1. Apollos I Co. 4:6 2. Timothy I Co. 4:17 ii. External Evidence 1. Related roles Ephesians 4:17 2. Differing roles Acts 1:21-22 f. APPLICATION How should one regard church leaders? More specifically, how should one view his or her pastoral leaders? i. The Aquilla Report Tim Challies What Is the Purpose of Pastors? 1. Common Views a. CEO i. Employee ii. Manager

2 iii. Operations and programs iv. Numerical growth v. Business vi. Consumer satisfaction vii. Job evaluation viii. Time ix. Money x. ILLUSTRATION John Piper The professionalization of the ministry is a constant threat to the offense of the gospel. It is a threat to the profoundly spiritual nature of our work. I have seen it often: the love of professionalism kills a man s belief that he is sent by God to save people from hell and to make them Christ-exalting, spiritual aliens in the world. b. Priest i. Pastor as mediator ii. The pastor as healer with a red phone to God iii. The pastor as counselor iv. Primary responsibility for all of the church s ministry. c. CEO & Priest g. Main Point of the Sermon Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in pastors old or new who are but mere servants of Christ, stewards of the mysteries of God, and spiritual fathers through the gospel. h. Transition statement. He says, first of all that we are but servants of Christ. II. POINT #1 PASTORS ARE BUT MERE SERVANTS OF CHRIST (vv. 1-5) a. EXPLANATION i. Servants hyperetes 1. Mounce a. Guard or officer i. Roman ii. Synagogue b. Servants c. Ministers of the word i. Luke 1:2 eyewitnesses and ministers

3 ii. Acts 26:16 servant and witness 2. Strong a. properly an under-oarsman, a subordinate oarsman 3. Larry Pierce (the Online Bible) a. suggests subordination 4. MacArthur a. a galley slave i. Typically citizens ii. An honorable profession for classical Greeks 1. a noble task? iii. Freedmen in Rome ii. Servants of Christ iii. Servants who steward the bible iv. Servants who are found trustworthy v. Servants who are ultimately tried by Christ, Himself. 1. Tried by Christ in spite of human examination 2. Tried by Christ in spite of personal examination 3. Tried by Christ at the right time, at His return 4. Tried by Christ who knows and exposes the motives of our hearts. vi. Servants who are ultimately rewarded or judged by God according to the testimony of Christ 1. I Corinthians 3:12-15 b. APPLICATION i. Do not judge?? 1. Prematurely 2. Inappropriately I Timothy 5:17-19 a. Life b. Doctrine c. With witnesses ii. But wait for the Lord c. ILLUSTRATION John Gill of the phrase then each man s praise will come to him from God Every regenerated soul; everyone that is a Jew inwardly; everyone that has the circumcision of the Spirit; and particularly every faithful minister, who is more especially designed; to whom it will be said, well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The apostle, in these words, has respect to the false teachers who sought the praise of men, and not the honour which comes from God; [honor] which the true

4 ministers of the word will have another day, however despised and criticised by men now (brackets mine). d. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in pastors old or new who are but mere servants of Christ e. Transition statement. Point #1 Pastors are but mere servants of Christ. Point #2 Pastors are but mere stewards of the gospel. III.POINT #2 PASTORS ARE BUT MERE STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL (vv. 6-13) a. EXPLANATION i. Stewards 1. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you (I Ti. 6:20a). 2. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you (II Ti. 1:13-14). 3. ii. Stewards of the mysteries of God?? 1. Paul references these mysteries in I Co. 2:6-9. a. God s wisdom b. God s wisdom predestined before the ages c. God s wisdom predestined for our glory d. God s wisdom available only to those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God 2. Paul defines this mystery in Ephesians 3:1-6 a. Gentiles are fellow heirs b. Gentiles are fellow members c. Gentiles are fellow partakers i. In Christ ii. Through the gospel 3. Paul explains this mystery in Romans 11 iii. Stewards who do not exceed Scripture 1. Not new mysteries but an old mystery a. A mystery revealed by God b. A mystery revealed to His apostles and prophets 2. Not promoting arrogance and favoritism

5 3. Not promoting an heir of superiority 4. Not promoting boastfulness iv. Stewards who have not yet received trial and judgment/reward 1. Future a. All will be made rich b. All will be made royalty c. All will reign 2. Present a. All condemned to death b. All a spectacle to the world c. All fools for Christ d. All weak e. All without honor scum of the world v. Stewards who bear the sufferings of and for Christ and respond accordingly 1. Suffering a. Hungry b. Thirsty c. Poorly clothed d. Roughly treated e. Persecuted 2. Response a. Endurance b. Reconciliation vi. Stewards who for the most part are rejected b. APPLICATION i. Questions regarding the minister 1. Does your pastor serve as one with a sacred stewardship? 2. Does your pastor exceed what is written? 3. Is your pastor willing to lay down his life for the gospel? ii. Questions regarding the church 1. Do you exceed what is written with regard to your pastor or previous pastors? 2. Have you become arrogant with regard to your pastor or with regard to a previous pastor and so pitted one against the other by comparison?

6 3. Have you become boastful in yourselves with regard to your pastor? c. ILLUSTRATION Matthew Henry The Word of God is the best rule by which to judge concerning men to think modestly of ourselves, and not above what is written of our teachers, is the most effectual means to prevent quarrels and contests, sidings and parties, in the church. We shall not be puffed up for one against another if we remember that they are all instruments employed by God in his husbandry and building, and endowed by him with their various talents and qualifications. d. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in pastors old or new who are but mere stewards of the gospel. e. Transition statement. Point #1 Pastors are but mere servants of Christ. Point #2 Pastors are but mere stewards of the gospel. Point #3 Pastors are but mere spiritual fathers in the Lord. IV. POINT #3 PASTORS ARE BUT MERE SPIRITUAL FATHERS IN THE LORD (vv ) a. EXPLANATION i. Fathers who seek to admonish and not to shame 1. Paul does not mean the Corinthians have not behaved shamefully. It is shameful to have no one wise among you to mediate between factions and discern false doctrine. a. It is shameful to have no one wise among you to mediate between factions i. I Co. 6:5 I say this to your shame b. It is shameful to have a lack of wise for the discernment of false doctrine i. I Co. 15:34 I speak this to your shame 2. Paul does not mean that shame has no useful purpose in the body of Christ. a. Shame as a part of church discipline II Thessalonians 3:14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 3. Paul speaks here of motive and purpose and relationship a. Relationship i. Beloved children I Co. 4:14

7 ii. Not an enemy, but as a brother (II Thessalonians 3:15). iii. Father brothers mothers sisters (I Timothy 5:1-2) b. Purpose i. The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (I Timothy 1:5). ii. Fathers who seek to tutor by means of the Word 1. I Timothy 4:6 2. I Timothy 4: II Timothy 2:2 4. II Timothy 2: II Timothy 2: II Timothy 4:1-5 iii. Fathers who seek to model the Word before his people 1. I Timothy 4:12 iv. Fathers who seek to remind you of the ways of Christ II Timothy 3: Through teaching 2. Through reproof 3. Through correction 4. Through training a. In righteousness b. To equip for every good work v. Fathers who are but children themselves 1. Subject to the Word 2. Prone to arrogance 3. Moved by power a. The power of God b. Or another power i. Satan ii. Flesh 4. Motivated by God s correction b. APPLICATION My heart s desire i. The seriousness of the task 1. Hebrews 13: James 3:1-2 ii. My desire to admonish, not to shame.

8 iii. My desire to tutor from the Bible. iv. My desire to model from the Bible. v. My desire to remind you from the Bible. vi. As one who is first and foremost subject to Christ and His Word, boasting only in Him. c. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in pastors old or new who are but mere fathers in the Lord. d. Transition statement. V. SUMMATION & RESPONSE How should one regard church leaders? More specifically, how should one view his or her pastor? a. Is the pastor the CEO? A paid professional? i. Employee ii. Manager iii. Operations and programs iv. Numerical growth v. Business vi. Consumer satisfaction vii. Job evaluation viii. Time ix. Money b. Is the pastor a priest? i. Pastor as mediator ii. The pastor as healer with a red phone to God iii. The pastor as counselor iv. Primary responsibility for all of the church s ministry. c. Or is the pastor a servant? i. A servant of Christ who has been graciously endowed with a sacred trust to serve the body of Christ by administering the word of Christ to the people of Christ that they might become the image of Christ in word and in deed. d. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, not in pastors old or new who are but mere servants of Christ, stewards of the mysteries of God, and spiritual fathers through the gospel. Let us pray.