Example of Christian Humility
Notes
Transcript
Opening Scripture Verse: 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
Opening Prayer (Include Big Woods)
Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1–11
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 4:6–13
Prayer
Learning by Example
Learning by Example
What does it mean to learn by example?
Representative
Representative
Paul was a representative for Christianity in what he preached but also in how he lived.
The Corinthians could learn about being a Christian from both. They could learn where they are wrong by Paul’s example.
Paul was an example of Christian humility even though he had God-given authority.
In these verses Paul wants the Corinthians to see how different their arrogance was from the standard that Paul had set for them.
Division
Division
Remember what Paul is dealing with here in this first section of the letter…division due to arrogance.
1 Corinthians 1:10–12 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.””
1 Corinthians 3:1–4 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?”
1 Corinthians 3:21 “So let no one boast in men...”
In dealing with this Paul does two things in this text...
Perspective (vv. 6-7)
Perspective (vv. 6-7)
The first thing that Paul does in this text is challenge their perspective/thinking.
Their thinking was much different than Paul’s (v. 6).
Paul tried to be an example - “applied” - figure of, form of
“These things” - What Paul has been saying about he and Apollos summarized well in 1 Corinthians 3:5 “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.”
“What is written” - in scripture, which Paul has applied to their problem...
1 Corinthians 1:19 “For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”” (Isaiah 29:14)
1 Corinthians 1:31 “so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (Jeremiah 9:23–24)
1 Corinthians 2:9 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—” (Isaiah 64:4)
1 Corinthians 2:16 ““For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (Isaiah 40:13)
1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”” (Job 5:13)
1 Corinthians 3:20 “and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”” (Psalm 94:11)
In each of these he show the superiority of God and His wisdom. God alone deserves to be exalted.
They shouldn’t go beyond exalting God to exalting themselves or others.
After all, what does mankind really have to exalt themselves in (v. 7)?
What makes you so special? Whatever it may be, it was a gift.
This perspective is the remedy for all pride.
Romans 12:6 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
So, the first thing that Paul does in this text is challenge their perspective/thinking.
Contrast (vv. 8-13)
Contrast (vv. 8-13)
The second thing that Paul does in this text is call attention to a contrast, which is a challenge to their living.
Their lifestyle was much different than Paul’s (v. 8).
Paul speaks sarcastically of how they view their own spiritual condition.
They are spiritually full and spiritually wealthy.
They have exalted themselves to a level of spiritual ruling.
And this apart from the apostles.
If they have arrived, then so has Paul, but…NO.
By contrast, the reality is seen in the apostles (vv. 9-13).
They were displayed as martyrs on a grand scale (v. 9).
They were disdained by the world for what they preached (v. 10).
1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing...”
They suffered and laboured in ways despised by the world (vv. 11-13).
2 Corinthians 11:23–28 “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”
This was so different than the lifestyle prized by the Corinthians.
Which one better represents Christianity? Which one better represents Christ?
1 Peter 2:21–24 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
The Corinthians’ arrogant thinking and living is therefore rebuked by the apostles’ thinking and living. They were suffering servants just as Christ was a suffering servant, just as all Christians can be suffering servants.
Why should I expect to be anything else in the world than a suffering servant? That is the application questions from this text. This is what it means to apply the Gospel to the very practical parts of our lives.
No place for arrogance!
No place for arrogance!
There is no place for arrogance in Christianity.
And, if we allow any of it, it can grow to divisive proportions (which may look different than the Corinthians).
The solution is service emulated by Paul.
We are blessed servants. This is what the Gospel teaches us.
We must learn to be humble servants as our Lord Jesus Christ was (Philippians 2:1–8).
Mark 8:34 “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Benediction:
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”