June 12, 2022

Taking Barriers Away

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Service Type:

Introduction

Paul was a very balanced Christian

He had a great concern for God’s people
He was concerned for people outside of the Church
He was a pastor and evangelist
He preached inside and outside buildings

He didn’t want to put a stumbling block in front of any Christian – 8:13
He didn’t want to put a stumbling block in front of any person – 9:19-20

He would be sensitive to people
He would become all things to all people so he might save some (v20)

His burdens was to save souls
Taking away barriers

What barriers are there in our life that need to be taken away? – examples
Do I build bridges or construct walls?

Paul/Scripture is very clear about pleasing God and not men

He was willing to change his personal lifestyle but not the message

Overview:

Removing barriers for religious people – e.g. Judeo-Catholic
Removing barriers for pagan people
Removing barriers for weak people

Paul is free from all men (v19a)

He is free from the dictates of men and women
But under the Lordship of Christ

He has made himself a servant/salve of all (v19b)

He will not cause offense – examples

We can act wrongly

Paul did not, he sought to win all – his one goal was salvation
Example of Roger Carswell
We are called to be evangelists, share the gospel and shine our light

Removing barriers for religious people (v20)

To the Jews I became a Jew

Ever there was a Jew – it was Paul

When he became a Christian:

He renounced self-righteousness
He realised that the law no longer needed to be fulfilled
He realised the Mishnah laws no longer applied (those established by Jewish Rabbi’s) – examples

However, he restricted/restrained himself to win the religious

He attended religious festivals

Acts 18, 21

How does this apply to us?

Examples

How do we reach a religious person?

Starting by listening to them
Building bridges and not walls

Removing barriers for pagan people (v21)

They have conscience but they can have very little knowledge

The UK society is a pagan society without restraint

How do we reach them?

Not to live in a different time but to people of this era

1 Chronicles 12:32

Consider our language

When Paul went to Acts (chapter 17) – he sought to find common ground

Example of football
Example of Paul – the statues of the idols, a quote from a poet

Example of Hudson Taylor, Paul Daniels

Not to abandon the standards of the Bible (v21b-c)

We will always be counter cultural in our holiness and morality
But we will meet people

Removing barriers for weak people (v22)

Those who were weak – had a weak conscience – 1 Cor 8

To these Paul will be gentle and patient – Examples

There are different types of people – 1 Thess 5:14

Some are unruly and need discipline
Some are faint hearted
Some are weak

It is not about learning a formula for Evangelism

We need to change where we need to change
We need to bring a word that is right for that person
We need to treat people as people
Example of Jesus with the Samaritan woman

Are we being all things to all men?

Paul went in faith and really loved the sinner
If we really love them – there will be change in us

Closing Remarks