Sermon Tone Analysis

You know, the past several months, I have really stepped on toes.

I’ve talked about what married couples do in bed.

I’ve talked about divorce.

I’ve talked about singleness.

I’ve talked about a bunch of smaller issues that many people make into bigger issues, such as alcohol, gambling, and modesty.

I’ve really stepped on toes.

And ya’ll haven’t kicked me out yet.

Now, we get to a sermon that the ordinary pastor does not preach.

This is the sermon that most people get someone else to preach, because after if the pastor preaches it, he is normally fired.

Or, at least some major grudges are held.

I’m talking about ministerial finances.

When you hear the phrase: ministerial finances, what do you think of?

You all said some great positive things.... Now, what are some negative things that you think of?

Discussions I have had with people come back to the concept: He is working for God.

Why should he get so much money?

And examples are given of tele-evangelists with their fancy cars and personal jets.

Ministerial finances.

Let’s read the text:

Ministerial finances.

Oh, it is such a convoluted topic.

Let’s pray.

We are going to take this passage in two weeks.

This week we are going to talk about the Rights of a minister of the Gospel.

Next week, we will talk about the Privilege of a minister of the Gospel.

This week will be the more controversial sermon.

Next week, will be the happy, everyone is comfortable, sermon.

As I speak, please don’t think that I am saying anything to complain about our church.

I am speaking more to generalized ideas that have become rooted in the American church.

This week, the Rights of a Minister of the Gospel.

1.

The Minister Has a Right to receive Resources

The minister has a right to receive resources

Paul says

A minister has a right to receive resources for the work he is doing in a church.

Paul explains this right using experience, the Old Testament Law, the temple system, and Jesus’ teaching.

A. Explanation

1. Experience

No one is expected to work in this world without some sort of pay.

Technically, I am serving on the school board for free.

But, they do things to show appreciation.

Normally, we have cookies and brownies.

We also have opportunities for continued education.

Places like Omaha pay their school boards because of the amount of time that position takes.

Paul mentions soldiers are not expected to equip themselves when they enter the service.

Our army would be empty if that were the case.

No, the army provides everything that a soldier needs.

We would not expect someone to fight on the front line for free.

Paul also mentions agricultural work.

Someone who tends a vine expects to eat the grapes from the vine.

Someone who takes care of a flock expects to drink milk, or eat meat.

We go through the hardship of taking care of plants and animals in order to receive something back.

If we don’t, something is wrong, in Paul’s mind.

Paul equates ministry with agriculture and war.

A minister is on the front lines of a spiritual battle every day.

He says that just as a soldier should not fight at his own expense, so a minister shouldn’t because of the difficulty.

As a minister is painstakingly nurturing life from those who were spiritually dead, planting seeds, watering, fertilizing in people’s lives, caring, ministering, leading, so a minister should be able to reap a benefit from that work.

But, it is interesting, while we live in a society that proves these truths over and over again, so many churches go against what is logical and expect their minister to serve without benefits.

God is his pay.

He is laying up for himself treasures in heaven, and the church is making sure that all of his treasures are in heaven.

Why do so many churches have this mindset?

We will come back to that.

2. Old Testament Law

Paul then moves from experience to Old Testament Law.

He explains:

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 25:4 “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”

After grain was cut and put into sheaves, or bundles, the grain would be brought to the barns by way of the threshing floor.

The grain would be laid down on hard flooring and cattle were driven over it, trampling it down, and breaking the grain from straws and the ears.

It was normal practice to allow your oxen to eat from the grain as it was threshing.

This would allow it to work harder and stay healthier.

However, if you were borrowing someone else’s oxen, you may not want to allow that ox to steal your grain.

It is interesting to note the context of Deuteronomy 25:4.

It is about justice in society, not compassion.

It is just to feed your neighbors ox and return it healthy.

This verse isn’t about compassion, but about justice.

We are not to misuse something that is owned by someone else, for our own benefit.

Except for pastors.

No, Paul says, nothing, include pastors who are Jesus’ under-shepherds, should be misused.

Why do so many churches want to cheat their pastors?

We will come back to that.

3. The Temple System

From experience, to the Law, Paul turns to the Temple System.

The Jews were already practicing what Paul was preaching.

The temple priests did not work for the Israelites.

They worked for God.

They were to show the Israelites who God was and mediate a relationship between God and the Israelites.

The life of the priests was wrapped up in ministry for God.

But, God provided a way for the priests to live.

The people of Israel brought gifts, tithes, offerings.

Those were for the upkeep of the temple and the livelihood of the priests, so that they could focus on their work for God.

The people of Israel brought gifts for God, and God gave those gifts to his servants, the priests.

So, why do so many churches not want to do that?

We will come back to that.

4. Jesus’ Teaching

Finally, after speaking from experience, the Law, the temple system, Paul brings out the big guns.

He refers to Jesus’ teaching.

Interestingly, Paul refers to OT law and Jesus’ teaching in his letter to Timothy:

Both in 1 Corinthians and in 1 Timothy, Paul is referring back to instructions Jesus gave to his 72 of his disciples when they were going out as an advance team to his arrival.

He told them:

He expected his disciples, as they were ministering under him, to be provided resources so that they could focus on their task.

But, as we know, this applied to just Jesus’ disciples.

No, Paul believes Jesus’ teaching applies to all ministers of the Gospel.