1 Cor 16
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CENTRAL TRUTH: The work of the Lord - which we abound in, which is never in vain - is broader than we can even begin to imagine. Paul’s wrap up section reminds his readers that though they ay often feel isolated - and be isolated - there is much more going on that we can even begin to understand. Paul calls for the believers in Corinth to
a). Be aware of the needs of others across the world -see Romans 15:26-27;
b). Support those who are engaged in God’s work wherever they may be serving
c). Stay engaged with the gospel - IT is the power of God (Romans 1:16-17)
OBJECTIVE: As a result of this message the people of God will respond to God’s call to support the spread of the gospel beyond their own horizons.
Are We Always Taking An Offering?
Are We Always Taking An Offering?
As Southern Baptists we take several annual offerings…besides weekly asking God’s people to support God’s work with tithes and offerings:
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, which supports the North American Mission Board occurs right around Easter.
Then in May or early June many associations, or networks of local churches, taken an offering to supplement the giving of churches to the local association
Many churches have a Christmas in July and/or . August offering for mission causes.
Early fall - September - our church encourages folks to give over and above their regular gifts to support the regional network of churches called the Northwest Baptist Convention.
We can’t forget Operation Christmas Child - which through Samaritan’s Purse distributes gift boxes to children as a way to present the gospel to hard to reach areas of the world.
And who can forget the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions during the month of December.
Of course there are often other ‘special offerings’ in the course of a church year - revivals, musical concerts, youth events, and the list goes on and on…and on and on…and on and on....
It may appear that the purpose of our gatherings every Sunday are a disguise for getting money.
ENGAGING IN GOD’S ECONOMY
ENGAGING IN GOD’S ECONOMY
While these verses are often associated with taking an offering, there is much more than simply collecting money for an offering.
As the gospel took root in Jerusalem the believers were never in need -
For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.
Historians indicate that there were several serious crop failures in the years Paul was traveling planting churches. Though born and raised in Tarsus, Paul recognized Jerusalem as his ‘home.’
Having heard that believers in Jerusalem were suffering as a result of crop failures and probably mismanagement by governments, Paul was deeply moved to reach out with some sort of aid.
It isn’t just money that motivated Paul’s desire. In Romans 15 PaUL reminds his readers that
Romans 15:27 (HCSB)
Romans 15:27… (HCSB) For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to Jews …in material needs.
It was the believers in Jerusalem that sent Barnabas to Antioch to investigate the spread of the gospel. And it was Barnabas who sought out Paul and brought him to Antioch and from there to the Roman Empire.
Just as those believers could not ignore the needs of others they had never met, so we too are to be sensitive to needs of believers around the world.
There is even more depth to the ‘offering’ as well. An earlier offering, discussed in Acts 11, we learn that giving was according to one’s ability. And in Paul’s second letter to the believers in Corinth he expands on this principle:
During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the •saints,
Using believers in Macedonia - a region of the Roman Empire that was also suffering from crop failures and severe famine - as a model, Paul points to a deeper motivation than human need.
The motive: participating in the work of God - even in places we will never see and through people we will never meet.
This offering Paul writes about is not simply about alleviating human need. Rather, it is about engaging in God’s way of making Himself known.
Centuries prior to Paul’s letter, the prophet Habakkuk pointed out how God’s people engage in God’s economy:
Haggai 2:6– 9 (HCSB)
For the Lord of Hosts says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Hosts.
“The silver and gold belong to Me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Hosts. “I will provide peace in this place” —this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
Engaging in God’s economic plan is all aimed at His purpose as Paul expressed in Eph 2:19-22
Ephesians 2:19–22 (HCSB)
So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.
You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
SUPPORTING GOD’S SERVANTS
SUPPORTING GOD’S SERVANTS
As Paul wraps up this letter, he challenges the people of God to support those who are working across the world to expand the kingdom of God.
Paul mentions 5 people in these verses. Only Timothy and Apollos are mentioned anywhere else in the NT. The others - Stephanus and his household, Fortunatus, and Achaicus - are unknown - except to Paul and those in Corinth.
I mention these individuals because they remind us of a critical part of the kingdom of God. Jeff Iorg, Pres of Gateway Seminary in CA calls them ‘Shadow Christians.’ Shadow Christians are believers like you and me - whose names will not be recorded in history - who are critical for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
Dr Iorg points to the account of Jesus’ miracle recorded in John 2.
Jesus, His disciples, and Jesus’ mother were invited guests to a wedding.
As the event proceeded - probably lasting several days - the wine ran out. Whether it was poor planning on the host’s part or another cause is not indicated.
Jesus’ mother approaches Jesus and simply says,
John 2:3 (HCSB)
“They don’t have any wine.”
Jesus at first deflects His mother’s words -
“What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.”
A moment or two later Jesus tells the servants to fill the water jars. Each jar contained around 120 gallons of water. To fill these containers, the servants had to go to the well, carry smaller containers of water - and one gallon of water weighs about eight pounds - and fill six stone jars.
That comes to 720 gallons of water. Each gallon weighs eight pounds. These servants carried over 5,700 pounds to fill these jars.
Can you name one of those servants?
Of course not.
Of course Jesus could have created wine from nothing!
That He didn’t says something about His methods…and the way God still works in our world.
It’s the unknowns, the faithful ones through whom God prepares His world for the display of His glory.
John’s conclusion to the miracle:
John 2:11 (HCSB)
Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
GROUNDED IN THE GOSPEL
GROUNDED IN THE GOSPEL
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love.
The letter began with a declaration of the singular importance of the gospel:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.
And here at the end, though he doesn’t use the word ‘gospel, Paul does return to the gospel …”stand firm in the faith….”
The four words Paul used in vs 13 are all present imperatives in the original language.
Simply: these are not actions we do only once. These are to be characteristic of our day to day life.
Earlier this week, Gen. Doug Carver, a past Chief of Chaplains for the US Army, shared a message with a group of us gathered in Alpharetta GA. In that message he reflected on his Army career of some 38 years, beginning as a field artillery officer, and then as a chaplain he told us of a practice called ‘Battle Drills.’
There are 14 specific drills practiced over and over again by army units (and other armed force units).
Each drill is rehearsed to the point so that each service member can react without receiving orders, thus reacting as a unit to whatever conditions might occur.
Gen. Carver suggested we as followers of Jesus might benefit from regular practice of ‘battle drills.’
Paul’s choice of verbs in vs 13 -14 make a helpful outline:
Always be on the lookout - never let your guard down
Remind yourself daily of your identity in Christ: HE is your righteousness!
Don’t let fear overwhelm you - Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
Exercise your faith regularly.
All of these are expressions of the fundamental truth of the gospel:
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (HCSB)
For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that He was buried,
that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
I heard of a church that actually is located, according to a regional ministry coordinator, at the gates of hell.
Or, known as Resurrection Baptist Church in Montpelier, Vermont.
Earlier this year the town of less than 8,000 experienced a massive flood due to excessive rainfall.
Only one church in town was damaged: Resurrection Baptist.
The regional ministry coordinator expressed a firm conviction that God allowed the flood in order to demonstrate His greater glory.
I’ve never met the pastor, and likely never will. I don’t know any members and I couldn’t name any of the SBC Disaster Relief people who helped mud out the church and assist with rebuilding.
Now, multiply that by 45,000 other Southern Baptist churches across North America.
Then add in 3,500 or more people serving the IMB across the world in over 120 countries...
God’s work is on a global scale.
We are privileged to be part of that work.
Will we engage in God’s economic plan?
Will we engage in God’s economic plan? like those servants carrying 5,700 pounds of water?
Will we diligently stay focused and firm in our faith?
As individuals we struggle. But together - with shadow believers from across the world, with other believers engaging in God’s economy - and coming together for regular ‘battle drills’ God can and will work!