WEBVTT 00:00:41.829 --> 00:00:49.909 I invite you to open your copy of God's word to 1 Corinthians chapter 16, starting in verse 5 and following. 00:00:53.429 --> 00:01:04.469 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go. 00:01:04.870 --> 00:01:07.590 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. 00:01:07.829 --> 00:01:10.870 I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 00:01:11.189 --> 00:01:18.789 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 00:01:19.030 --> 00:01:25.509 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord as I am. 00:01:25.750 --> 00:01:33.349 So let no one despise him, help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 00:01:33.829 --> 00:01:42.629 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. 00:01:42.870 --> 00:01:45.109 He will come when he has opportunity. 00:01:45.750 --> 00:01:53.830 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong, let all that you do be done in love. 00:01:54.229 --> 00:02:04.870 Now I urge you, brothers, you know that the household of Stephanus were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. 00:02:05.189 --> 00:02:10.150 Be subject to th to such as these and to every fellow worker and laborer. 00:02:10.310 --> 00:02:20.550 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaichus, because they have made up for your absence, for they have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. 00:02:20.789 --> 00:02:23.109 Give recognition to such people. 00:02:23.349 --> 00:02:25.509 The churches of Asia send you greetings. 00:02:25.750 --> 00:02:31.509 Achilla and Prisca, together with the church and their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 00:02:31.750 --> 00:02:36.069 All the brothers send you greetings, greet one another with a holy kiss. 00:02:36.310 --> 00:02:39.270 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 00:02:39.509 --> 00:02:42.870 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. 00:02:43.030 --> 00:02:44.310 Our Lord come. 00:02:44.789 --> 00:02:47.189 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 00:02:47.430 --> 00:02:49.909 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. 00:02:50.150 --> 00:02:50.710 Amen. 00:02:51.030 --> 00:02:52.469 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:14.950 --> 00:03:15.990 Father in heaven. 00:03:17.110 --> 00:03:18.710 Here we are, Father. 00:03:19.670 --> 00:03:23.030 Just anxiously awaiting to hear what you have for us today. 00:03:24.950 --> 00:03:32.469 Father, I'm just so thankful for your word, but I'm so thankful just right now for Michael and that you brought him to us. 00:03:33.909 --> 00:03:39.270 And uh just Father, we just pray that uh Michael can deliver your word to us confidently. 00:03:42.150 --> 00:03:45.990 Father, we just we just want to hear what you have for us today, Father. 00:03:46.069 --> 00:03:47.349 We just want to know you. 00:03:47.909 --> 00:03:54.230 And we just pray we know you and you know us, and that that relationship is further strengthened this morning. 00:03:55.750 --> 00:03:58.230 Prepare our hearts for what you have for us today. 00:03:58.870 --> 00:04:02.069 We love you, Father, and all praise be to Jesus. 00:04:02.310 --> 00:04:02.870 Amen. 00:04:06.310 --> 00:04:07.510 Yes, you may be seated. 00:04:07.670 --> 00:04:09.510 Peace be with you, church. 00:04:09.990 --> 00:04:12.629 For those of you who may not know me, my name is Michael Gerardo. 00:04:12.710 --> 00:04:16.230 I have the great privilege of serving as one of the pastors here at Heartland Church. 00:04:16.310 --> 00:04:30.310 And this morning, after almost an entire year, 45 different sermons, we come to the conclusion of this letter written in the first century to the church in Corinth, known to us as 1 Corinthians. 00:04:30.550 --> 00:04:44.550 And while we we often forget that what we're often reading or what we are reading when we read through the epistles, are letters written to specific people, a specific time and place for a specific purpose, there's no way for us to miss that fact this morning. 00:04:44.709 --> 00:04:45.990 We read it just a moment ago. 00:04:46.069 --> 00:04:59.029 These 20 verses read as what they actually are: a formal conclusion to a letter which includes regular things like greetings to and from various people, travel plans from one city to another. 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:17.669 And after spending 15 chapters reading through the Apostle Paul's countless theological arguments and ethical corrections, not to mention the masterful treatise on the resurrection that is chapter 15, we can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed this morning. 00:05:17.909 --> 00:05:23.989 Like if we're honest with ourselves, it's passages like this that we're often tempted to simply gloss over. 00:05:24.149 --> 00:05:27.909 After all, what do greetings and travel plans have to offer us? 00:05:28.310 --> 00:05:34.949 And while that sentiment may be understandable, to do so would be to dismiss the very Word of God. 00:05:35.349 --> 00:05:43.429 After all, 1 Timothy 3 tells us that all of Scripture, not some, but all of Scripture is breathed out by God. 00:05:43.509 --> 00:05:49.189 And yes, that even includes the formal endings of letters like we read this morning in chapter 16. 00:05:49.750 --> 00:05:56.549 But even after we've settled the fact that these 20 verses are indeed the Word of God, we still have to make sense of them. 00:05:56.789 --> 00:06:02.549 We have to wonder, is there an actual coherent meaning and purpose behind these updates? 00:06:02.870 --> 00:06:08.709 Is there anything tying these seemingly sporadic verses together that are meant to continue to speak to us? 00:06:08.870 --> 00:06:12.149 And as you guessed, the answer is obviously yes. 00:06:12.709 --> 00:06:21.189 But to understand how the conclusion of this letter makes any sense, we first have to take a step back and consider the letter as a whole. 00:06:21.429 --> 00:06:35.109 If you recall, the Corinthians were a proud people, proud of their leaders, proud of their wisdom, proud of their Christian freedom, proud of their spiritual gifts, and yet the church was being torn apart. 00:06:35.750 --> 00:06:57.269 Consider some of the things that we saw throughout this letter, splintering factions among their favorite leaders, boasting in human wisdom, tolerating sexual immorality, distorting God's design for marriage, misusing Christian freedom, abusing the Lord's Supper, uh confusion and corporate worship, and we could go on and on. 00:06:57.669 --> 00:07:07.109 And underneath every single one of these actions was an underlying sin deeply rooted in the hearts of the Corinthians, as you guessed it. 00:07:07.269 --> 00:07:15.589 It's the sin of pride, a deep-seated arrogance that was continually expressed in a disposition of self-importance. 00:07:15.750 --> 00:07:21.909 This is what Paul has been writing to correct, not just the behaviors themselves, but the heart behind them. 00:07:22.229 --> 00:07:28.870 My Paul's not simply looking for behavior modifications, he's after spiritual transformation. 00:07:29.509 --> 00:07:42.549 And so, to do so, one last time as he concludes this letter, in a very simple and subtle way, Paul points the Corinthians beyond themselves, and he invites them to look to others. 00:07:49.509 --> 00:08:00.389 Paul, Timothy, Apollo, Stephanus, Fortunatus, Archaicus, Aquila, and Prissa, the churches in Asia, Ephesus, Macedonia, and Achaia, over and over again. 00:08:00.709 --> 00:08:08.069 Paul mentions all of these places and people, I believe, in part, to call the Corinthians to look beyond themselves. 00:08:08.389 --> 00:08:11.029 As if to say, look around you, Corinthians. 00:08:11.109 --> 00:08:13.750 You are not the center of the story. 00:08:14.389 --> 00:08:21.829 The Christian life was never meant to orbit around personal preferences or status or recognition. 00:08:21.989 --> 00:08:28.789 It is meant to be poured out in a selfless giving of ourselves for the good of others. 00:08:29.589 --> 00:08:36.789 But not only does Paul point them to others, he ultimately points them to the other, Jesus Christ. 00:08:37.110 --> 00:08:43.590 And he points them to the centrality of the gospel message, a message they must firmly stand upon. 00:08:43.830 --> 00:08:49.029 But not just a message that they must defend, it's a mission they they are invited to join, right? 00:08:49.110 --> 00:08:57.269 The gospel is meant to compel them to actively participate in spreading the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and to the ends of the earth. 00:08:57.509 --> 00:09:10.789 In short, Paul points them to the humbling reality of their crucified and risen Savior, because, as one author puts it, nothing cuts us down to size like the cross of Christ. 00:09:11.590 --> 00:09:15.110 The gospel strips away self-reliance, right? 00:09:15.269 --> 00:09:24.230 It dismantles self-importance and what it ultimately does, it reorients the entirety of our lives around Jesus Christ and his mission. 00:09:24.389 --> 00:09:34.789 And so as we come to these final 20 verses this morning, what might at first glance seem like simple greetings and travel plans, we actually find something deeper. 00:09:35.189 --> 00:09:45.269 We actually find a series of commands, 12 imperatives, in fact, that act as a final invitation, calling the Corinthians to embrace a humble disposition. 00:09:45.990 --> 00:09:52.470 And after considering these 12 imperatives this week, I think we can boil them down to three categories, if you will. 00:09:52.709 --> 00:09:58.949 What I believe we find in these verses are three concluding commands for growing in gospel humility. 00:09:59.110 --> 00:10:09.110 They're partnering together for the advancement of the gospel, honoring faithful gospel servants, and standing firm on the gospel message. 00:10:09.269 --> 00:10:11.909 So partnering, honoring, and standing. 00:10:12.069 --> 00:10:29.669 And with the time that we have remaining, I want to just briefly look at each of these in turn and consider how they help us here at Heartland Church embrace gospel humility, or maybe said differently, a humility among us here as a people of God that reflects a proper understanding of the gospel. 00:10:29.990 --> 00:10:32.309 So three concluding commands. 00:10:32.389 --> 00:10:33.429 Here's the first one. 00:10:33.750 --> 00:10:35.269 Partner together, Paul says. 00:10:35.509 --> 00:10:39.509 Partner together for gospel advancement. 00:10:39.750 --> 00:10:42.389 So Paul begins this section with a personal update. 00:10:42.470 --> 00:10:44.470 We find that in verses five through nine. 00:10:44.549 --> 00:10:50.230 As he's currently writing this letter to the Corinthians, he finds himself in the city of Ephesus, right? 00:10:50.309 --> 00:11:05.909 In verse 9, he says, A wide door for effective work has opened to me there, so much so that Paul spends an entire three years among the Ephesians, evangelizing the lost, planting the church, and then strengthening and discipling believers in Christ. 00:11:06.069 --> 00:11:08.549 You can read about this in Acts 19. 00:11:08.789 --> 00:11:11.909 And yet Paul's plans are not to remain in Ephesus, right? 00:11:11.990 --> 00:11:21.669 In verse 5, he begins and he tells the Corinthians that he plans on visiting them as he passes through Macedonia, a region just north of Corinth. 00:11:21.829 --> 00:11:25.110 But his desire isn't merely to see them in passing. 00:11:25.269 --> 00:11:29.269 He says he desires to spend a considerable amount of time with them. 00:11:29.429 --> 00:11:32.470 Verse 7, for I do not want to see you now just in passing. 00:11:32.629 --> 00:11:36.389 I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits. 00:11:36.549 --> 00:11:40.309 As we've already mentioned, pretty straightforward stuff, right? 00:11:40.629 --> 00:11:44.149 Travel plans, updates, nothing more, nothing less. 00:11:44.709 --> 00:11:53.269 And yet, amid these simple travel plans, we find Paul's ultimate reasoning for wanting to visit the Corinthians. 00:11:53.429 --> 00:11:55.110 This is where we need to focus. 00:11:55.269 --> 00:11:57.269 Look at verse 6 with me. 00:11:57.509 --> 00:12:03.429 Verse 6, Paul says, and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter so that. 00:12:04.230 --> 00:12:08.870 In other words, he's giving us the reason for why he wants to Corinth, come to Corinth. 00:12:08.949 --> 00:12:15.350 He says, so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go. 00:12:15.750 --> 00:12:18.629 I want to spend some time with you so that you may help me. 00:12:18.789 --> 00:12:21.669 What is Paul referring to in this verse? 00:12:21.990 --> 00:12:27.350 Well, that phrase, help me on my journey, is actually just one word in the Greek. 00:12:27.509 --> 00:12:30.949 And here's how one theological dictionary defines this word. 00:12:31.029 --> 00:12:34.709 It means to send or to accompany or to escort. 00:12:34.789 --> 00:12:39.110 It's to fit someone with the requirements needed for a journey. 00:12:39.269 --> 00:12:46.470 In essence, this Greek term was used throughout the New Testament in reference to missionary support. 00:12:47.269 --> 00:12:53.189 This includes the provision of things like food, money, and partners, the means of travel. 00:12:53.350 --> 00:13:02.870 Don't forget that Paul is primarily a missionary, a missionary that's been given a specific task by Christ to take the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:13:03.110 --> 00:13:07.909 And in order for Paul to succeed in his mission, he needs the body of Christ. 00:13:08.149 --> 00:13:10.549 Paul needs the Corinthians. 00:13:11.029 --> 00:13:15.590 But just as importantly, the Corinthians need Paul. 00:13:15.909 --> 00:13:18.789 That together they might reach the nations for Christ. 00:13:18.870 --> 00:13:25.829 In essence, what Paul is doing is he's inviting the Corinthians to partner together for gospel advancement. 00:13:26.309 --> 00:13:27.909 But not just Paul, right? 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:30.149 He does the same with Timothy, verse 10. 00:13:30.230 --> 00:13:35.350 He says, When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he's doing what? 00:13:35.590 --> 00:13:37.829 The work of the Lord as I am. 00:13:37.990 --> 00:13:46.470 Just like Paul, Timothy, his protege, is a missionary, going from city to city as he's sent by Paul to strengthen local churches. 00:13:46.629 --> 00:13:47.990 Paul then says this. 00:13:50.470 --> 00:13:52.309 Instead, what are the Corinthians to do? 00:13:52.629 --> 00:13:58.949 Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me for I'm expecting him with the brothers. 00:13:59.110 --> 00:14:00.789 Help him on his way again. 00:14:01.110 --> 00:14:05.189 The same Greek word for missionary support. 00:14:05.350 --> 00:14:10.549 Paul says, receive Timothy, support Timothy, send Timothy. 00:14:10.709 --> 00:14:11.110 Why? 00:14:11.350 --> 00:14:14.069 Because he's doing the work of the Lord. 00:14:14.870 --> 00:14:19.110 This call to support missionaries isn't unique to the Corinthians. 00:14:19.189 --> 00:14:21.590 This is a pattern that we find all throughout Scripture. 00:14:21.750 --> 00:14:26.629 Here's how the Apostle John writes to an elder in the early church to describe this work. 00:14:26.789 --> 00:14:28.949 You'll see these verses on the screen. 00:14:29.110 --> 00:14:30.230 He writes this. 00:14:30.470 --> 00:14:41.350 He says, Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testify to your love before the church. 00:14:41.509 --> 00:14:42.549 Who's he talking about? 00:14:42.789 --> 00:14:43.990 Missionaries. 00:14:44.230 --> 00:14:48.709 And he says, You will do well to send them on their journey. 00:14:48.949 --> 00:14:52.549 Same Greek term found in 1 Corinthians 16. 00:14:52.870 --> 00:14:54.230 Send them on their journey. 00:14:54.309 --> 00:14:54.549 How? 00:14:54.709 --> 00:14:56.549 In a manner worthy of God. 00:14:56.789 --> 00:14:59.189 For here's why we're to support them. 00:14:59.429 --> 00:15:07.509 They have gone out for the sake of the name, the name of Jesus, accepting nothing from the Gentiles in this context, referring to non-Christians. 00:15:07.590 --> 00:15:10.069 And then in verse 8, this is where I want us to see this. 00:15:10.230 --> 00:15:14.470 Verse 8, therefore, we ought to support people like these. 00:15:14.629 --> 00:15:15.110 Why? 00:15:15.429 --> 00:15:20.709 That we may be fellow workers for the truth. 00:15:20.870 --> 00:15:21.909 Don't miss this. 00:15:22.549 --> 00:15:33.189 When you and I, when we generously and sacrificially give of our resources to the mission of God, we aren't simply enabling someone else to do gospel ministry. 00:15:33.509 --> 00:15:36.470 We ourselves become fellow workers. 00:15:36.789 --> 00:15:38.549 We become co-laborers. 00:15:38.789 --> 00:15:43.509 We join in the work of advancing the gospel message. 00:15:44.549 --> 00:15:49.269 Let's take a moment and go back and think about the Corinthian context. 00:15:49.429 --> 00:15:59.750 Here is a church full of themselves, proud of their wisdom and giftings and status, so much so that they find themselves at odds with none other than the Apostle Paul himself. 00:15:59.990 --> 00:16:01.909 Talk about arrogance. 00:16:02.709 --> 00:16:10.870 And yet, here, as he brings his letter to a conclusion, rather than rebuking them one last time, Paul does something remarkable. 00:16:11.269 --> 00:16:15.509 He invites them to be co-laborers with him on mission. 00:16:15.590 --> 00:16:23.029 He humbles them by reminding them of the invitation they have received to be participants in the mission of God. 00:16:23.110 --> 00:16:32.470 And listen, church, that same invitation has been extended to every single one of us here this morning. 00:16:33.669 --> 00:16:37.429 An invitation that is humbling to say the least. 00:16:58.309 --> 00:16:59.429 Don't miss what he's doing there. 00:16:59.669 --> 00:17:00.870 This isn't just semantics. 00:17:00.949 --> 00:17:07.190 He's not playing with words, as he says elsewhere, the inversion of the subject and the object is intentional. 00:17:07.509 --> 00:17:15.750 That the church only has a mission insofar as it understands that it's simply participating in a mission that belongs to God. 00:17:16.390 --> 00:17:18.309 God is the one who saves. 00:17:18.549 --> 00:17:20.950 God is the one who redeems and reconciles. 00:17:21.110 --> 00:17:23.910 God is the one who justifies and sanctifies. 00:17:24.069 --> 00:17:28.549 And God is the one who will eventually bring us to glory from beginning to end. 00:17:28.710 --> 00:17:35.110 The mission belongs to God, and yet, and yet, he works through specific means. 00:17:36.230 --> 00:17:39.990 Individuals who are willing to say yes to his participation. 00:17:40.150 --> 00:17:51.350 And so Dearborn ends, and he says the church's involvement in mission is its privileged participation in the actions of the triune God. 00:17:52.950 --> 00:18:00.790 Our involvement in the mission of God is a privileged participation and an involvement that is meant to humble us. 00:18:01.590 --> 00:18:07.350 I don't know if you've ever had the chance to sit down and have an intimate conversation with a missionary. 00:18:07.670 --> 00:18:21.750 But every time I sit across a brother or sister in Christ who's willing to give up everything for the sake of the gospel, I am encouraged, I am challenged and convicted, and I am deeply humbled all at the same time. 00:18:22.070 --> 00:18:34.630 This past week, as Pastor Robert said, several of us had the opportunity to sit down with some missionaries to discuss what it would look like for Heartland to partner in the Middle East, particularly in the war-torn country of Syria. 00:18:34.870 --> 00:18:47.430 And this missionary shared story after story of believers suffering, of churches who were struggling, of pastors who were laboring in isolation with little to no support from the Western church. 00:18:47.509 --> 00:18:59.590 And as Pastor said, Pastor Robert said just a moment ago, he shared one particular story of a pastor who had not heard from another Christian outside of his surrounding area for over 30 years. 00:18:59.830 --> 00:19:00.870 Consider that. 00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:23.430 Somewhere along the way, in our prideful and arrogant disposition, we made the church all about us. 00:20:24.950 --> 00:20:37.030 Church, this morning, our prayer is that we would not be so self-focused, so self-absorbed that we completely forget that we've been invited to something so much bigger than ourselves. 00:20:37.590 --> 00:20:49.750 Something global in its reach, something that goes on into eternity, something that does not revolve around us, but rather calls us out of ourselves in order to give ourselves for the good of others. 00:20:50.070 --> 00:20:54.310 We have been invited to participate in the mission of God. 00:20:55.269 --> 00:21:02.470 Mission that continually strips us of our pride as we humbly support the work of God around the world. 00:21:02.710 --> 00:21:04.550 What does that practically look like? 00:21:04.710 --> 00:21:07.670 Let me just suggest four ways to us this morning. 00:21:07.910 --> 00:21:14.710 It means that we intentionally pray for our mission partners like we just did a moment ago, regularly, by name, with intentionality. 00:21:14.870 --> 00:21:20.710 We're gonna have an opportunity to do that as a church next Thursday, this coming Thursday at 6 p.m., right in this very room. 00:21:20.790 --> 00:21:23.509 You'll hear more about that at the end of our time together. 00:21:23.670 --> 00:21:33.670 So we pray, but we also give generously and sacrificially, sacrificially, recognizing, as we saw last week, that the resources we have do not belong to us, right? 00:21:33.830 --> 00:21:40.710 We're simply stewards of all that God has given to us and called to give it all away for his glory. 00:21:40.870 --> 00:21:42.950 We've been entrusted with our resources. 00:21:43.110 --> 00:21:46.790 And so we pray, we give, we also send. 00:21:47.190 --> 00:22:00.310 We raise up leaders among us who are willing to go to the ends of the earth, doing everything that we can to provide for them, from resources to encouragement, to be able to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord around the world. 00:22:00.470 --> 00:22:02.310 And finally, we go. 00:22:25.269 --> 00:22:29.269 We pray, we give, we send, and we go. 00:22:29.430 --> 00:22:37.910 In short, we partner together for the advancement of the gospel, and in doing so, humbles us over and over again. 00:22:38.870 --> 00:22:39.750 Here's a second command. 00:22:40.470 --> 00:22:45.910 We find in Paul's conclusion, honor faithful gospel servants. 00:22:45.990 --> 00:22:47.750 How do we grow in gospel humility? 00:22:47.910 --> 00:22:49.269 We honor servants. 00:22:49.430 --> 00:22:50.710 Look back at the text. 00:22:50.950 --> 00:22:55.030 Verse 12, Paul then says, now concerning our brother Apollos. 00:22:55.110 --> 00:22:59.269 That phrase now concerning has been used previously in this letter. 00:22:59.350 --> 00:23:08.150 And every time it's used, it's an indication that Paul is responding to a question, a concern, or perhaps even a request from the Corinthians. 00:23:08.230 --> 00:23:14.070 Remember, Paul is writing in response to a letter that he had received from Corinth, right? 00:23:14.150 --> 00:23:17.750 There's a back and forth going on between Paul and the Corinthians. 00:23:17.830 --> 00:23:20.230 They've become pen pals, so to speak. 00:23:20.470 --> 00:23:29.990 And according to verse 12, it seems that the Corinthians had requested for Apollos, another Christian leader and missionary, to return to Corinth. 00:23:30.470 --> 00:23:35.990 Now it's been a while since we've been in the beginning of this letter, so you may have forgotten all about Apollos. 00:23:36.150 --> 00:23:44.150 But if you go back and read the first few chapters of this letter, this was the leader that the Corinthians preferred over Paul. 00:23:44.310 --> 00:23:46.310 And preferred as an understatement, right? 00:23:46.390 --> 00:23:51.030 The Corinthians had shirts printed that say, I follow Apollos. 00:23:51.750 --> 00:23:54.710 They highly regarded his wisdom and rhetorical skills. 00:23:54.790 --> 00:23:57.509 They considered him to be a super apostle. 00:23:57.670 --> 00:24:00.710 Paul, on the other hand, was part of the JV squad. 00:24:01.030 --> 00:24:06.790 According to Paul, he was, or according to the Corinthians, Paul was weak and unimpressive. 00:24:06.870 --> 00:24:10.550 He was a mediocre preacher with less than adequate skills. 00:24:10.710 --> 00:24:16.230 In essence, they rejected Paul's authority and they requested the return of Apollos. 00:24:16.310 --> 00:24:18.950 And how does Paul respond? 00:24:20.390 --> 00:24:23.030 Does he pridefully reject their requests? 00:24:23.190 --> 00:24:24.390 He had every right to do so. 00:24:24.470 --> 00:24:26.710 Consider this: Paul planted this church. 00:24:26.870 --> 00:24:33.750 He spent over a year among them, discipling them in their infant faith, and they reject his leadership. 00:24:33.910 --> 00:24:43.110 Paul had every right to reject their requests, but instead, he humbly attempts to send them Apollos. 00:24:43.190 --> 00:24:43.910 Look at what he says. 00:24:44.150 --> 00:24:48.950 I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers. 00:24:49.110 --> 00:24:53.590 Paul pleaded with Apollos, return back to this church. 00:24:53.910 --> 00:24:56.070 But he says it was not at all his will to come. 00:24:56.150 --> 00:24:58.310 He will come when he has opportunity. 00:24:58.550 --> 00:25:02.390 Even when he was wronged by the Corinthians, Paul remains humble. 00:25:02.550 --> 00:25:08.950 Yes, firm, correcting them all throughout this letter, but nevertheless humble in his response. 00:25:09.110 --> 00:25:09.750 Now jump with me. 00:25:09.910 --> 00:25:10.950 We're going to jump a couple verses. 00:25:11.030 --> 00:25:13.830 Go to chapter, or excuse me, verse 15. 00:25:14.470 --> 00:25:21.990 Verses 15 through 18, this next section, Paul now mentions three individuals that the Corinthians knew very well. 00:25:22.150 --> 00:25:28.950 These were members of the Corinthian church, perhaps even the couriers of this letter that Paul is responding to. 00:25:29.110 --> 00:25:37.670 And in verse 15, Paul says, Now I urge you, brothers, you know that the household of Stephanos were the first converts in Achaia. 00:25:37.830 --> 00:25:41.110 That's the Roman province in which Corinth was the capital city. 00:25:41.269 --> 00:25:50.870 And then he adds this, and that they, right, Stephanos and his household have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. 00:25:51.269 --> 00:26:01.830 So here are some of the first believers in Achaia who have become leaders in the Corinthian church, individuals who've committed themselves to serve the body of Christ at Corinth. 00:26:01.990 --> 00:26:04.150 Now, don't miss the imperative. 00:26:04.310 --> 00:26:08.390 There's a command given to this church in relationship to these leaders. 00:26:08.870 --> 00:26:10.870 He begins in verse 7 or verse 15. 00:26:11.030 --> 00:26:15.830 Now I urge you, brothers, and then in Pauline fashion, I can I hate when Paul does this. 00:26:16.070 --> 00:26:20.390 He interrupts his flow of thought to give us some background on Stephanos. 00:26:20.470 --> 00:26:21.910 So it's easy to miss what he's doing here. 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:24.310 But then he continues his thought in verse 16. 00:26:24.390 --> 00:26:34.310 So he says, Now I urge you, brothers, dot dot dot, verse 16, be subject to such as these, to every fellow worker and laborer. 00:26:34.470 --> 00:26:36.710 Be subject to such as these. 00:26:36.870 --> 00:26:43.910 That term means to be arranged under, means to subordinate, to submit to one's control. 00:26:44.070 --> 00:26:46.390 This is a term of authority. 00:26:46.630 --> 00:26:52.070 It's a willful and deliberate choice to yield yourself under the leadership of another. 00:26:52.230 --> 00:26:57.670 Paul says, you know, you know how Stephanos has devoted himself to serve you. 00:26:57.830 --> 00:27:02.870 So therefore, joyfully submit to his leadership. 00:27:03.269 --> 00:27:05.750 He doesn't just call them to submit to them. 00:27:05.990 --> 00:27:07.830 Look at the next few verses. 00:27:08.070 --> 00:27:10.950 Paul now mentions two other leaders in the Corinthian church. 00:27:11.110 --> 00:27:12.230 Verse 17. 00:27:16.950 --> 00:27:21.430 These are our brothers from Corinth who have come to visit Paul in Ephesus. 00:27:21.750 --> 00:27:28.710 Then he says this, because they have made up for your absence, verse 18, for they refresh my spirit as well as yours. 00:27:28.870 --> 00:27:30.630 And here's the next imperative. 00:27:30.710 --> 00:27:31.830 He ends verse 18. 00:27:31.910 --> 00:27:36.710 He says, Give recognition to such people. 00:27:37.670 --> 00:27:38.790 What type of people? 00:27:39.110 --> 00:27:53.830 Leaders who refresh your spirit, who build you up in the most holy faith, who encourage you with the word of God, who comfort you with godly counsel, who continually minister to your needs. 00:27:53.990 --> 00:27:57.590 Paul says, give recognition to such leaders. 00:27:57.750 --> 00:28:02.710 In other words, honor faithful gospel servants. 00:28:03.509 --> 00:28:06.470 Now, what does it mean to recognize leaders? 00:28:06.550 --> 00:28:09.750 How do we honor faithful gospel servants? 00:28:09.910 --> 00:28:13.990 Quickly, I want to give us four biblical means that we find throughout the New Testament of doing so. 00:28:14.150 --> 00:28:14.950 Here's the first one. 00:28:15.110 --> 00:28:16.390 We'll run through these quickly. 00:28:16.630 --> 00:28:18.710 Support your leaders. 00:28:18.950 --> 00:28:27.670 1 Timothy 5, 17, let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 00:28:27.830 --> 00:28:33.990 If you've ever studied this text, you know that the following verses make it clear that Paul's referring to financial support. 00:28:34.470 --> 00:28:37.910 But the support mentioned here goes beyond finances, right? 00:28:38.390 --> 00:28:40.790 Support them by encouraging them. 00:28:41.190 --> 00:28:45.190 Support them by caring for their spouses and their children. 00:28:45.430 --> 00:28:48.310 Support them by honoring and respecting their authority. 00:28:48.550 --> 00:28:54.870 Support your leaders, especially those who build you up and equip you through their teaching and preaching. 00:28:55.030 --> 00:28:55.910 Here's the second one. 00:28:56.230 --> 00:28:58.070 Love your leaders. 00:29:13.190 --> 00:29:16.710 Paul says, respect your leaders, honor them, esteem them very highly. 00:29:16.790 --> 00:29:17.269 How? 00:29:17.670 --> 00:29:18.950 In love. 00:29:19.990 --> 00:29:23.509 It means your posture toward your leaders is not cold. 00:29:23.750 --> 00:29:25.110 It's not critical. 00:29:25.350 --> 00:29:26.310 It's not distant. 00:29:26.470 --> 00:29:30.390 Instead, it's warm, it's affectionate, it's gracious. 00:29:30.550 --> 00:29:30.790 Why? 00:29:30.950 --> 00:29:36.470 Because they're not just functioning in a row, they're laboring for your soul. 00:29:37.110 --> 00:29:38.950 Love your leaders, Paul says. 00:29:39.110 --> 00:29:41.910 Number three, pray for your leaders. 00:29:42.070 --> 00:29:43.509 Romans 15, 30. 00:29:43.750 --> 00:29:55.350 Paul writes to the church in Rome, and he says, I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf. 00:29:55.509 --> 00:29:57.350 Paul says, Pray for me. 00:29:58.070 --> 00:30:01.590 The language that he uses here reflects intensity, does it not? 00:30:01.830 --> 00:30:03.430 Strive with me in prayer. 00:30:03.509 --> 00:30:04.710 This isn't casual, right? 00:30:04.790 --> 00:30:09.190 It's intentional, it's persistent, it's a pleading before God. 00:30:09.910 --> 00:30:19.830 Pray for your leaders, pray for their faithfulness, pray for their holiness, pray for their endurance, pray that they would finish well. 00:30:20.070 --> 00:30:21.910 Pray for your leaders. 00:30:22.230 --> 00:30:23.430 And here's the last one. 00:30:23.670 --> 00:30:25.750 Follow your leaders. 00:30:26.150 --> 00:30:36.150 Hebrews 13, 17, obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account. 00:30:37.509 --> 00:30:41.110 Scripture does never call you to blindly follow your leaders. 00:30:41.269 --> 00:30:45.750 You follow your leaders as they faithfully call you to obey the word of God. 00:30:46.150 --> 00:31:00.710 Insofar as your leaders stand upon the authority of the scriptures, you are called to obey and to submit to their leadership as they lead you toward Christ, knowing that one day they will have to give an account for how they did so. 00:31:01.190 --> 00:31:02.950 Follow your leaders. 00:31:03.190 --> 00:31:18.070 There's more that we can say, but this is in essence what it means to recognize or honor your leaders, support them, love them, pray for them, follow them, because when we do, listen, when we do, we grow in humility. 00:31:18.710 --> 00:31:30.230 Again, Paul's attempting to help the Corinthians grow in gospel humility, and as a popular adage goes, true humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. 00:31:30.950 --> 00:31:40.230 Because when your life is oriented towards others, when you're supporting, loving, praying for, and following, you don't have the space to be occupied with yourself. 00:31:40.630 --> 00:31:46.310 You can't be fixated on your own importance when you're actively seeking to build someone else up, right? 00:31:46.950 --> 00:31:52.150 You can't cling tightly to your own preferences when you are intentionally honoring others. 00:31:52.310 --> 00:31:59.030 You can't remain self-consumed when your life is being poured out for the good of others. 00:31:59.830 --> 00:32:03.750 I know as one of your leaders, this can sound a bit self-serving. 00:32:04.630 --> 00:32:07.350 But it goes well beyond just elders. 00:32:08.070 --> 00:32:11.110 This is the culture that's supposed to be among us as Christians. 00:32:11.190 --> 00:32:13.509 I think about what Paul writes in Romans 10. 00:32:13.590 --> 00:32:15.750 He's not writing to leaders, he's writing to the whole church. 00:32:15.830 --> 00:32:21.670 In Romans 10, I forget what verse he says, outdo one another in showing honor. 00:32:21.990 --> 00:32:38.550 So yes, honor your elders, but elder your deacon, honor your deacons, honor your community group leaders, honor your Bible study leaders, honor your brothers and sisters in Christ, spouses, honor one another, children, honor your parents. 00:32:39.190 --> 00:32:42.630 May this be the type of culture here at Heartland Church. 00:32:42.790 --> 00:32:58.310 This is how we grow in humility, becoming a people so shaped by the gospel that we're no longer preoccupied with ourselves, but instead gladly and joyfully think of others as more important than ourselves. 00:32:58.390 --> 00:33:03.910 And again, one of the ways we do so by honoring faithful gospel servants. 00:33:04.470 --> 00:33:09.030 Alright, here's the last command from Paul for growing in gospel humility. 00:33:09.350 --> 00:33:12.230 Stand firm on the gospel. 00:33:12.630 --> 00:33:13.509 Stand firm. 00:33:21.830 --> 00:33:25.269 It's as if Paul is attempting to grab our attention. 00:33:25.509 --> 00:33:34.550 He abruptly interrupts the flow of this letter and without warning fires off five punchy imperatives. 00:33:34.710 --> 00:33:40.630 They're short, straight to the point, and unmistakable in their intent. 00:33:40.870 --> 00:33:44.150 I purposefully skipped over them to end with these verses. 00:33:44.310 --> 00:33:47.110 Look back at verses 13 and 14 with me. 00:33:47.910 --> 00:33:50.150 Paul writes, be watchful. 00:33:51.350 --> 00:33:53.590 Stand firm in the faith. 00:33:53.750 --> 00:33:56.790 Act like men, be strong. 00:33:57.269 --> 00:33:59.350 That all that you do be done in love. 00:33:59.509 --> 00:34:02.950 Be watchful, stand firm, act like men, be strong and love. 00:34:03.590 --> 00:34:09.429 And what ties all these five short, punchy imperatives together is the gospel message, church. 00:34:09.670 --> 00:34:19.269 If you and I are truly gonna grow in gospel humility, then the gospel message must stand at the very center of our lives and reality. 00:34:19.509 --> 00:34:26.949 You can preach an entire sermon on these two verses, but for the sake of time, let's just briefly consider each of these imperatives. 00:34:27.190 --> 00:34:32.869 In many ways, the first four commands come across as a military commander giving instructions to his army. 00:34:32.949 --> 00:34:35.670 As a matter of fact, Paul uses military terms. 00:34:35.909 --> 00:34:44.869 He begins by saying, be watchful, be on alert, be attentive and cautious and vigilant to whom or to what? 00:34:45.110 --> 00:34:46.309 To the enemy. 00:34:52.789 --> 00:34:58.389 Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:34:58.630 --> 00:35:01.110 Resist him, firm in your faith. 00:35:01.269 --> 00:35:03.590 Church, we have to be reminded of this. 00:35:03.829 --> 00:35:09.269 We have a real enemy that would like nothing more than to see our faith destroyed. 00:35:09.430 --> 00:35:15.990 Paul says, be watchful, alert to the enemy in his schemes, and resist him. 00:35:16.070 --> 00:35:16.550 How? 00:35:16.789 --> 00:35:21.110 Firm in your faith, which is exactly what Paul says next. 00:35:21.349 --> 00:35:25.030 Be watchful and stand firm in the faith. 00:35:25.190 --> 00:35:26.230 What does Paul mean by this? 00:35:26.389 --> 00:35:35.269 Well, as one commentator puts it, this is shorthand for believing the core doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly as it relates to the gospel message. 00:35:35.430 --> 00:35:37.829 Paul says, hold fast to the gospel. 00:35:38.309 --> 00:35:40.389 This is chapter 15, all over again. 00:35:40.550 --> 00:35:42.869 If you remember the first few verses, what does Paul say? 00:35:43.030 --> 00:35:52.389 He says, Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preach to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you what? 00:35:52.869 --> 00:35:57.430 Hold fast to the word I preach to you unless you believed in me. 00:35:57.750 --> 00:35:58.789 What is that word? 00:35:59.030 --> 00:36:05.510 Well, according to the next few verses in chapter 15, it's the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. 00:36:05.670 --> 00:36:10.550 Paul says, Let no one or nothing move you from that truth. 00:36:11.190 --> 00:36:17.510 Stand firm, hold fast, remain resolute to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:36:18.150 --> 00:36:20.550 Now the next two imperatives are actually synonymous. 00:36:20.710 --> 00:36:24.230 Paul says, act like men, be strong. 00:36:25.190 --> 00:36:33.590 Now, if you've been around the church for some time and you've been parts of uh or a part of different men's ministries, you've probably heard a sermon or two on this text. 00:36:33.670 --> 00:36:38.150 And that may be appropriate at times, but we don't want to miss what Paul's saying here. 00:36:38.470 --> 00:36:40.950 This isn't a message just for men. 00:36:41.349 --> 00:36:41.590 Right? 00:36:41.670 --> 00:36:44.710 Paul isn't necessarily contrasting men versus women. 00:36:44.869 --> 00:36:51.269 This was a military term, a common expression in the ancient world for being courageous. 00:36:51.750 --> 00:36:55.829 When Paul says act like men, he's saying be courageous. 00:36:55.910 --> 00:36:58.950 And he's he's talking to the entire Corinthian church. 00:36:59.349 --> 00:37:03.110 He's telling both men and women to be strong and courageous. 00:37:03.269 --> 00:37:03.829 Why? 00:37:04.150 --> 00:37:08.230 Because standing firm on the gospel requires boldness. 00:37:09.590 --> 00:37:15.269 It takes courage to hold to truth when the world is pushing back against it at every opportunity. 00:37:15.750 --> 00:37:21.510 It takes strength to remain anchored to the gospel when everything around you is culturally shifting, right? 00:37:21.590 --> 00:37:28.150 It takes resolve to cling to Christ when your very own heart is prone to wander. 00:37:28.950 --> 00:37:36.630 Paul says, be courageous, be strong, hold fast to the gospel message. 00:37:37.750 --> 00:37:40.630 Now, these four imperatives, they're like something out of a movie, right? 00:37:40.789 --> 00:37:46.230 William Wallace and Braveheart leading the Scottish army to fight for their freedom, and all the men in the room are like, yeah. 00:37:47.349 --> 00:37:49.750 And then Paul adds one more command. 00:37:50.550 --> 00:37:52.309 One that you don't expect. 00:37:52.630 --> 00:37:54.950 Act like men, be strong. 00:37:55.670 --> 00:37:58.550 Let all that you do be done in love. 00:37:59.990 --> 00:38:01.670 It's jarring, isn't it? 00:38:02.550 --> 00:38:06.230 The call to fight is juxtaposed with the call to love. 00:38:07.190 --> 00:38:09.829 And according to Paul, these aren't competing ideas. 00:38:09.910 --> 00:38:13.110 No, they belong together like two sides of the same coin. 00:38:13.190 --> 00:38:17.910 Again, Paul's going back to some of his earlier arguments, chapter 13. 00:38:18.470 --> 00:38:24.950 If I have faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 00:38:25.670 --> 00:38:34.070 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 00:38:35.750 --> 00:38:44.230 The call to be courageous and strong, to stand firm on the gospel message must be, listen, must be accompanied by love. 00:38:46.070 --> 00:38:48.550 Both in our motivation, but that's not enough. 00:38:48.710 --> 00:38:53.110 Yes, in our motivation, but also in our expression. 00:38:54.710 --> 00:38:59.829