1 Corinthians 4 shows by the personal examples of the church's leadership during apostolic era that we will be united with the apostles if we are not concerned about status, honor and praise. Paul and Apollos are examples so that the people might not go beyond, "It is written" (that is, the written word of God) and might not exalt one person among them at the expense of another. And the only "well done" that is ultimately important is the Lord's. The spectacle of the apostles shows that the church should be upside down from the world. Where the world would see being last of all in the procession of a Roman legion as weakness and folly, it is the wisdom of God that the first will be last. And the apostles are last, prisoners and slaves, being led to the arena for slaughter rather than starting their reign as kings with Christ. And the third example that we should not be concerned about status, honor, and praise is shown by imitating Paul like a son imitates his father. This message gets at the heart of what the gospel does.

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Labels: 1 corinthians, honor, praise, servant, status, unity

1 Corinthians 4 shows by the personal examples of the church's leadership during apostolic era that we will be united with the apostles if we are not concerned about status, honor and praise. Paul and Apollos are examples so that the people might not go beyond, "It is written" (that is, the written word of God) and might not exalt one person among them at the expense of another. And the only "well done" that is ultimately important is the Lord's. The spectacle of the apostles shows that the church should be upside down from the world. Where the world would see being last of all in the procession of a Roman legion as weakness and folly, it is the wisdom of God that the first will be last. And the apostles are last, prisoners and slaves, being led to the arena for slaughter rather than starting their reign as kings with Christ. And the third example that we should not be concerned about status, honor, and praise is shown by imitating Paul like a son imitates his father. This message gets at the heart of what the gospel does.

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Labels: 1 corinthians, honor, praise, servant, status, unity

1 Cor 3:5-23 shows us not to form factions behind human leaders or boast in our leaders. Positively it teaches that Christians leaders are servants of God who will be held accountable for their work. If their work is done with the right building materials (the true preaching of the Word of God) then it is work that God will praise in the Day. We belong to God, we do not belong to His servants. We should not give to people allegiance that should be reserved for God, which is what forming factions does (even though people would not realize this is what they are doing).

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Labels: leadership, servant

1 Cor 3:5-23 shows us not to form factions behind human leaders or boast in our leaders. Positively it teaches that Christians leaders are servants of God who will be held accountable for their work. If their work is done with the right building materials (the true preaching of the Word of God) then it is work that God will praise in the Day. We belong to God, we do not belong to His servants. We should not give to people allegiance that should be reserved for God, which is what forming factions does (even though people would not realize this is what they are doing).

Click here or title to listen.

Labels: leadership, servant

The cleansing of the temple (Matt 21:12-17), the chief priests and elders of Israel questioning Jesus about the source of His authority (21:23-27) and the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (26:57-68) are tied together by the theme of authority and power. Jesus Christ speaks and acts with authority from God. The priests, scribes and elders response was, "Who made you king?" Jesus never responded defensively, and when forced to respond under oath, He responded offensively. He offended them. He is the kind of preacher that no one would choose to be their pastor, but He is the pastor of every true church. And seeing the abuse that He endured: He is the kind of king you would not choose to lead you into battle, but He has been made king and judge over you. Is He your Lord? Or are you still asking, "Who made you king?"

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Labels: elders, king, Matthew, pastor, priests, scribes, servant, temple

The cleansing of the temple (Matt 21:12-17), the chief priests and elders of Israel questioning Jesus about the source of His authority (21:23-27) and the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (26:57-68) are tied together by the theme of authority and power. Jesus Christ speaks and acts with authority from God. The priests, scribes and elders response was, "Who made you king?" Jesus never responded defensively, and when forced to respond under oath, He responded offensively. He offended them. He is the kind of preacher that no one would choose to be their pastor, but He is the pastor of every true church. And seeing the abuse that He endured: He is the kind of king you would not choose to lead you into battle, but He has been made king and judge over you. Is He your Lord? Or are you still asking, "Who made you king?"

Click here or the title to listen to this message.

Labels: christ, elders, king, Matthew, pastor, priests, scribes, servant, temple

This is an advent sermon on Matthew 25:31-46 called "The Live Nativity Resumes" since we find sheep and goats and shepherds at the nativity of Christ and we find Christ is the shepherd separating the sheep and goats when He returns. He can tell the sheep and goats apart easily because the sheep are active in ministry to fellow Christians and the goats fail to serve other Christians. In a sense you "earn" eternal life because it is a reward for doing what God prepared beforehand for you to walk in.

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Labels: christ, deacon, eternal life, goats, Matthew, minister, ministry, reward, servant, sheep, shepherd

This is an advent sermon on Matthew 25:31-46 called "The Live Nativity Resumes" since we find sheep and goats and shepherds at the nativity of Christ and we find Christ is the shepherd separating the sheep and goats when He returns. He can tell the sheep and goats apart easily because the sheep are active in ministry to fellow Christians and the goats fail to serve other Christians.

Click here or post title to listen to the MP3

Labels: christ, deacon, eternal life, goats, Matthew, minister, ministry, servant, sheep, shepherd