Reverence and affection for God above all things helps us overcome worship of things in creation. Faith puts out the fires of unbelief before the flames of idolatry consumes our entire heart. Paul has labored much in this chapter (10) to warn the Corinthian saints of the dangers of unbelief. He recalls examples from the history of the Israelites continual cycles of disobedience in the wilderness that invited the judgement of God as a cautionary tale to the church today, thus (v11), “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.”

In Part 4 of this sermon series, Paul reminds the church of how our fellowship and unity with Christ should restrain idolatrous living, like the OT saints participated in.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17

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Marriage can only be fruitful when it lived out the way God prescribes in his Scriptures. In the first two parts of this sermon series, Paul dedicated his teaching to the topics of marital conjugal rights, single people, divorced, and mixed marriage (i.e., a believer with an unbelieving spouse). He now continues his teaching on marriage by diving into the following areas:

· Engagement (betrothed) as relates to marriage and wedding vows.

· What are realistic expectations for a married couple in dealing with the troubles of this life in how it impacts marriage and service unto God.

Paul provides an eternal perspective on how to live for God regardless of one’s marital status.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7: 25-31

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There is a common societal proverb that has endured through the generations of humanity. It is this, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Paul continues his teaching on idolatry, which is defined as worship of, or honor paid to someone or something other than God as though it were God. This ruinous sin is on display in our lives when we obey and place more trust in creation than the Creator. Remember, God does not share glory with anyone (or anything) for sovereign rule over us. Either we will rule on the throne of our lives, or He will. We cannot serve two masters (Mt 6:24).

Idolatry was growing like cancer within the congregation at Corinth. It was spreading to all areas of their community living with one another. Paul continues his warnings against this by offering several examples from Israel’s history that remain instructional to the church today. Paul’s primary objective in examining the mistakes of the past, is that we (NT church) see our own reflection (like looking into a mirror) in the OT saints that we may learn its lessons to benefit our present.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-10

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What does it mean to have faith? It is this: to trust God wholly with our provisions, protection, and providence. It is to be assured of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). Faith is in operation in our lives when we look to our Heavenly Father and place complete confidence in this Word through Jesus Christ in all things. The Bible exhorts that this is the standard way of life for a Christian (Rom 1:17). However, we still struggle with trusting God in various seasons of our lives. We are guaranteed to stumble in faith when we place our confidence in anything but Him. Sometimes, we even live in a duplicitous way. Meaning, we give lip service of worship declaring our faith in God, yet our lifestyles reflect that we trust more in:
· Human abilities

· Earthly provisions

· People

· Governments and politicians

When we have displaced God’s throne in over lives for other things, idolatry is present. We can see the fruits of its sinful operation in our hearts we show more reverence and adoration for things that are created over the Creator. The point is that we worship what we place our faith in.

In this sermon series, Paul reminds the church of the dangers of unbelief by surveying the Biblical history of the Israelites continual cycles of distrust in God (despite the many miracles, signs and wonders he performed delivering them out of Egypt). He wants the church to learn from the saints of old. He wants us to clearly see the perils of unbelief and the disciplining judgment of God it invites into our lives. Remember, man has been created for worship. We will worship something. We will either place our faith in living God or idols invented by vain human imaginations.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians: 10:1-5

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Our lifestyles are a testimony to what we actually believe. The Christian life is not one solely of lip service to our Lord, but also actions and thoughts that are consistent with what we profess. Just as a tree is identified by the fruit it bears, so also our life reveals our faith. Here is a Biblical truth: following Jesus is difficult but has eternal reward for those who take upon this journey with him. Jesus even taught (Mt 7:14), “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

With this in mind, Paul likens the life of faith to that of an athlete who begins to train and prepare for Olympic games. He uses the method of illustrations to teach the Corinthian congregation the necessity of dedicating one's whole life to the Holy Spirit Boot Camp training program in righteousness. This is the only way we be victorious in this life of Jesus and receive heaven’s prize.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

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The central focus of the Gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result, the primary purpose of all ministry is the spreading of its good news of our great salvation and thus save souls. Further, this message is not reserved for one ethnic nationalistic group, but to all nations, tribes and tongues, thus Jesus Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20), “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” This is the church mission until the Second Coming of our Lord, thus he said, “…and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Paul was called into this mission field of ministry as an Apostle to preach to the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 9:15). This was especially a difficult tasking with the Corinthian church who was composed of both. At times, their distinct cultural differences were like attempting to mix oil and water, thus causing disunity within the church. In our sermon text, Paul reminds us of our call to spread the Gospel to both groups. He offers his strategy for winning souls out of every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

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A faithful minister of the Gospel is not one who is perfect or sinless. Rather, one who diligently strives daily to obey Christ and love his Bride (his church). The Bible teaches that the relationship between clergy and congregation is symbiotic in its nature. Meaning, both are dependent on one another in a mutually beneficial relationship. Paul highlights the truth when he challenged the Corinthian congregation, (v11), “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?” (cf., Mt 10:9-10).

Further, in Part 2 of this sermon series (v7-14) Paul reiterated that God has put into the hands of the church body the resources needed to support their Pastors and families in a similar way to how he structured the care of Old Testament Priest and Levites who served God and the people through a tithing system, thus Paul affirms (v13), “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?” Though the tithing systems were a part of the Mosaic law and were fulfilled in Jesus, a similar principle of shared community care has been established by God for the NT church (e.g., 2 Cor 9, Acts 4:32-37).

In Part 3 of this sermon series, Paul reminds the church that though he has these rights to community care, he has declined to request them from the church. In today’s message, we’ll further explore why he decided to go the bi-vocational route as minister of the Gospel.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:15-18

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A preacher of the gospel shares in both the spiritual and material benefits within the church community in which they serve. As a general statement, (in American culture) too often Pastors are viewed as superhuman people who only exist to serve the needs of the congregation. Very little thought is given to how the attitudes and actions of church members impact their spiritual, emotional and financial well-being. What is sometimes forgotten is that clergy are people… with the same needs as those in the laity. As result more and more Pastors lament suffering neglect in these areas due to the lack of Biblical reciprocation of care that they extend towards their church family.

Paul was dealing with a similar situation among the Corinth congregation. His two letters (1 & 2 Corinthians) to them reveal issues he was having in this area, to include those who did not respect his God-given authority as an Apostle within the church. In Part 2 of this sermon series, he continues to challenge their unbiblical view of Christian liberty and community care as it relates to a minister of God.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:7-14

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