Sunday, April 11, 2010
Servants of the Most High
In today's sermon we were faced with a biblical explanation for the role of ministers in the local church. So often people tend to make pastors and teachers out to be more than who they are. It is a mistake we can easily fall into when captivated by those who have been gifted by God in the area of preaching and teaching. But nevertheless, they are men who have been redeemed and set apart to be servants of God and of the members of the body. While most of this text was related to those who are ordained ministers(servants), the passage had application to all Christians as well. Here are some questions to help stimulate feedback and conversation.
1) When Paul said, "I sowed, and Appollos watered", he was referring to the work of sowing the seeds of the gospel and watering it with more elaboration on the gospel. How can we better sow the seeds of the gospel in our lives?
2) Read Matt. 20:1-16. How does it correspond with 1 Cor. 3:3-8? What is the main point of Matt. 20:1-16?
3) While ministers can build with cheap materiel upon the foundation of the cross, so can we. What is our attitude about ministry? It can be any ministry; children, family, music, etc. Are we doing it for ourselves to be noticed by others? Or are we doing it for the glory of God? The Day of the Lord will reveal the quality of each persons labor. How can we cultivate and promote a more humble approach to ministry?
4) Promoting Divisions in the church is equivalent to "Destroying God's Temple" Not only are there consequences in causing sometimes irreparable damage, but also inviting God's judgment. John MacArthur says this about division, "What the Lord laments and opposes, Satan applauds and fosters. Few things demoralize, discourage, and weaken a church as much as bickering, backbiting and fighting among its members. ...Because of quarreling, the Father is dishonored, the Son is disgraced, His people are demoralized and discredited, and the world is turned off and confirmed in unbelief. Fractured fellowship robs Christians of joy and effectiveness, robs God of glory, and robs the world of the true testimony of the gospel. A high price for an ego trip!"
What are some practical ways we can avoid division? How can we promote unity? Is there ever a time when we should divide?
May God bless you this week, and may you keep hanging on his words.
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I'm going to take a crack at the first question for the sake of time. I have to turn in, my week has been extremely overwhelming already.
ReplyDeleteI believe every encounter with an unbeliever is an opportunity to sow, whether it looks like one or not, evangelism is not just going on the streets and handing out tracts, or open air. I'm a big advocate of that style of evangelism, but we can't forget or neglect the fact that our lives is a witness, whether we get the immediate opportunity to vocalize the Gospel, that of course will arise.
So in that sense I sow the seeds of the Gospel by example, and every opportunity I get I vocalize the Gospel without compromise. I trust that the Lord will send those to water, and as the Bible says He brings the increase. We are called to bare fruit, God is the producer of them.
Here it goes:
John 15:1-5,8-11
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, He it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. 9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
I know I'm a bit scattered right now, but I felt this portion of Scripture was appropriate for the topic of sowing, especially when we understand that God is the one that brings the increase, and we are merely the avenue he chooses to use for his bidding.
So keep sowing, keep watering cause He's at work in us!
T-R-PAE
PS: I'll be back to answer some questions later.
The farmer has one desire as he enters his field: to get his seed into the soil. He wants to plant his crop so that he can reap a harvest at the proper season.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be reminded that God did not give us the Word just to save us. He did not give us the Gospel so that we could horde it up, keep it to ourselves and shout about the blessing we have. He did not give us the seed so that we might allow it to rot in the barn, Haggai 2:19. God’s mandate to His people is that we take the seed of the Gospel into all the world and sow it for His glory. We are commanded to share the Gospel: Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19-20; We are to Go Into all the world, Mark 16:15. No place is off limits. No people group is off limits. We are to go everywhere and tell everybody. We are to be living example, proclaiming the Gospel message as we go through life, 2 Cor. 3:1-5.) We need to live the right kind of life before the world.
T/seymour
more later
I would like to post on Yesterdays Sermon April 18, 2010 -"Whose Approval Matters Most".
ReplyDeleteYesterdays sermon was very challenging to me personally specifically when Bob spoke about the "exclusive" thinking of reformed believers. I would around a year ago yesterdays sermon would've been even more challenging for me because I myself was very exclusive. I think a lot of reformed brothers and sisters deal with this issue early on in initial stages of the reformed world. I can speak for myself in that when I was new to the reformed world I pushed myself away from a lot of other believers because I thought they really didn't have anything to say to me that would leave an imprint on my life. After going through 1 Corinthians I see the folly in that way of thinking and I see how that arrogant view point can tear down the church instead of building it up. I see the balance the Apostle Paul was speaking of concerning ministers of the word. Personally I now look for preachers to uphold core essential doctrines and most importantly I look for a minister to have a proper view of the Gospel and for that minister to be sure that the glorious Gospel is proclaimed to all people. Bob again I would like to say thank you for your commitment to the word of God and for your balanced approach; I think this sermon was much needed.