Sermon20110731

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Two Mandatory Goals for every Christian so you will never lose focus in your primary mission
I. The goal of Christian freedom is to win others to Christ vv.19-23
A. Enter the world of others in order to win them to Christ
Four categories of people to win vv.20-22
Race-the Jews
Religion-those under the law
Religionless (irreligious)-those without law
Restrained-the weak
B. Share the Gospel

II. The goal of Christian living is to win the prize vv.24-27
A. Three sports analogies for Christian living vv24-26
Runner vv. 24, 26a
Athlete vs. 25
Boxer vs.26b
B. Discipline yourself so that your testimony is un-compromised vv.27

Sermon20110731

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Sermon20110724

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Two Necessary Goals for every Christian:
I. The goal of Christian freedom is to win others to Christ vv.19-23
Four categories of people to win vv.20-22
Race-the Jews
Religion-those under the law
Religionless (irreligious)-those without law
Restrained-the weak

Sermon20110724

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Sermon20110612

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are theseal of myapostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
4   Do we not have a right to eat and drink?
5   Do we not have a right to take along abelieving wife, even as the rest of the apostles and thebrothers of the Lord andCephas?
6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?
7 Who at any time servesas a soldier at his own expense? Whoplants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does notuse the milk of the flock?
8 I am not speaking these thingsaccording tohuman judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing. God is not concerned aboutoxen, is He?
10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes,for our sake it was written, becausethe plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.
11  If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, wedid not use this right, but we endure all thingsso that we will cause no hindrance to thegospel of Christ.
13  Do you not know that those whoperform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their sharefrom the altar?
14 So alsothe Lord directed those who proclaim thegospel toget their living from the gospel.
15 But I haveused none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man makemy boast an empty one. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, forI am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preachthe gospel.
17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have areward; but if against my will, I have astewardship entrusted to me.
18 What then is myreward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospelwithout charge, so asnot to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Theme: Two important features of personal rights so you might know when to surrender them for the good of others

I. Paul’s Apostolic Ministry served as an example of personal rights  vv. 1-12a

A. Apostles belonged to an elite group  vv. 1-2

The Proof of Paul’s Apostleship Asserted

B. Apostles had equal rights comparable to all other Christians vv. 3-6

The Rights of Paul’s Apostleship Asserted

C. Apostles had equal rights compared to other common occupations of that time vs. 7

The Rights of Paul’s Apostleship Illustrated

D. Apostles had a Biblical basis for receiving support vv. 8-10

The Rights of Paul’s Apostleship Defended with Scripture

E. Apostles formed unique bonds with those to whom they ministered vv. 11-12

The Rights of Paul’s Apostleship Applied

II. The gospel is the highest priority and reason to surrender one’s rights vv. 12a-18

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Sermon20110403

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Sermon20110327

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Sermon20110320

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Sermon20110313

1 Corinthians 7:8-16

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.
9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband
11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us  to peace.
16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

1- Be Committed to your spouse
2- Mutuality yes autonomy no
3 -Beware the danger of depriving your spouse conjugal privileges

Three more Principals
1-For the single remain single , unless self control is an issue
2-For the married, stay married.
3-For the unequally yoked……..

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Sermon20110227

Four Dangers of Lovelessness:

1 – Disregard for Gods ultimate act of love, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
2 – Lovelessness causes misunderstanding of spiritual gifts and life
3 – Lovelessness always manifests itself in actions contrary to biblical love
4 – Lovelessness dishonors God and destroys our testimony in the eyes of the world.

What are the consequences of continued lovelessness in the Church ?

Lovelessness- lack of genuine concern for others.

How to recover from Lovelessness:

Confess and forsake the sin of Lovelessness.
Meditate daily on God’s love for you.
Obey Gods word out of a heart of love for him. Romans12:10, 1Peter4:8
Prayerfully ask God to change your heart by the Spirit.
Actively seek to demonstrate love to one another.

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Sermon20101128

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Sermon20101114

Instructions: Read the verses and then prayerfully answer the following questions (you may need a separate sheet of paper)

1. In verse 12, Paul gives two general principles for the Christian life; complete each of the following questions you should ask yourself, before engaging in a given activity, based on this verse (see the translation of this verse in KJV or NKJV if necessary).

A. Is this _________________________ for me?
B. Is this going to bring me __________________________________________?

Based on this verse, is there any activity (or activities) in your life that is not profitable, though it may be lawful? Is there anything by which you have been brought under control? List as many as you can think of (Hint: this could be a hobby, a non-sinful habit, a food or drink you really enjoy, etc.)

2. In the illustration Paul provides on food in verse 13, what is his conclusion? Why do you think he uses food to illustrate this? How might food and immorality be related in regards to the body?

3. What is the Christian’s future hope given in verse 14? Should this influence how you use your body in this life? Why or why not?

4. What should the Corinthians have already known according to verse 15? In light of this, why is it so unthinkable for a Christian to consort with a prostitute?

5. What should the Corinthians have already known according to verse 16? If the nature of sexual intercourse is to become “one flesh” (cf. Gen. 2:24) does this mean that every illicit sexual union is equal to the marriage bond? Why or why not?

6. In contrast to joining one’s physical body to a prostitute, what results from Who the Christian has been joined to? How should this impact how we use our body?

7. What is the command to believers in verse 18? Why is immorality such a serious sin? Have you experienced this consequence in your own life? If so, briefly explain the consequences you experienced (not in detail) and how God brought you through it?

8. What should the Corinthians have already known according to verse 19? What was so unique about the temple in Jerusalem? (cf. 2 Sam. 7:13; 2 Kings 21:4, 7; 23:27) What was the price with which they were bought according to verse 20? (cf. 1 Pet. 1:18-19) How are you commanded to use your body in light of this? List 3 ways you might use your body to glorify God.

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