Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• What is true spirituality?
• Someone who has triumphant faith?
• A successful Christian seeing conversions and church growth?
• Someone strong in faith and belief - always overcoming?
• Paul and the apostles faced a lot of criticism - being told they were weak
• 2 Cor 10:10 - a weak body and contemptible speech
• 1 Cor 9:1 - questioning if he was an apostle
• 1 Cor 4:13 - treated really badly
• Not just criticism from the world - but from brothers and sisters
• Paul was their spiritual father - yet they were treating him badly
• v3 - Paul was not licking his wounds but thinking this overall a small thing
• This is a great mark of true spirituality
• Overview:
• A humble response
• A candid response

A humble response (v1-5)

• Do not consider us as a 'great' speaker but as stewards and servants
• How do you respond to criticism?
• Do you try to elevate yourself?
• Paul does not do this - "Consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries if God" (v1)
• Paul says he would rather be with them / he thanks God for all their gifts
• He waits to reply to the criticism until chapter 4
• He does not elevate himself but teaching
• He does not elevate men - 1 Cor 3:5-6
• 'Servant of Christ'
• The Greek word meaning an 'under rower'
• A slave in the bottom hull of the boat, rowing away
• 'Stewards'
• Someone who works on behalf of another
• Paul passes on what he has received from God - 1 Cor 15:3
• Someone who is faithful (v2)
• v3 - Do not worry about what others think of you / what matters is what God thinks about us
• God will be the one to judge v4-5
• What we do will (should) bring praise to God
• We should not take things to heart and fear man
• Quote from Matthew Henry
• Ecc 7:21-22
• Do not be too introspective about yourself
• Do not be so inward looking that you condemn yourself and stunt your Christian life
• Quote
• Paul does not judge himself - putting things in the past behind him
• Rom 14:4, 2 Tim 4:8, 2 Cor 10:18

A candid response (v6-13)

• v5 - Using ironic language
• You are full, you are so successful, you are like kings
• O that you were reigning with Christ - but it was not true!
• The church was divided
• v6 - Paul has transferred the image of a servant and steward to himself so teach them not to boast
• They were boasting about their experience and abilities
• They were not to be puffed up one against the other
• v7 - Remember that God and Jesus Christ is head of the Church
• Different gifts are given to different believers
• 1 Cor 15:9-10 - consider yourself the least, by the grace of God
• Do not boast
• Saying the opposite to make a point
• v8-9 – He really wants them to consider what is going on
• v10 - The apostles seem to be foolish and the Corinthians wise!
• What does it mean to be spiritual?
• Example
• v11 - They had a harsh life
• v12 - They laboured
• v13 - They were treated very badly but they did not respond in kind

Applications

• The danger of virtual church - comfortable Christianity
• The danger of the cult of the personality
• True spirituality is rooted in humility
• This passage is very liberating