Title: It's All About Him
Bible Book: 1 Corinthians 3 : 3-11
Author: Frank Page
Subject: Spiritual Gifts
Objective:
Introduction
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."
The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."
She bowed her head and asked God to send her help. Within five minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.
The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.
The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?
He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank you so much! You are a very nice man." The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!" Isn't God Good!
Yes, God is good! We are thankful for His ministry to us day by day. While that humorous story could be taken many ways, I choose to see it as yet another way that God uses the different backgrounds, gifts, and abilities that people have. It also could be used to remind us to be careful of what we pray for. Sometimes God answers prayers in ways that we might never imagine. Seriously, we do believe that God is good, and that God can help us in so many ways.
He has made His church an extremely diverse body of believers. As I travel around the nation, I see people of every conceivable ethnic background, life circumstance, and geographical diversity. Yet, I see people joining together to win the lost, to minister to the saved, with one common motivation.
For weeks, we have been studying God's call to be people who are involved in a life of worship, growing, serving, and sharing. God's call to the church remains unchanged over the centuries. God's wish for us to be involved in His purposes for our church remains solid.
Turn to I Corinthians 3:3-11. Here we shall see God's clear desire for our churches. How can we be more evangelistic? How can we be more committed to worship, growing, and serving? This text helps us understand the answer to these questions.
I. There is a Diversity of Ministry
The church in Corinth was a church, which had many challenges. Part of the problem of the church was a serious disunity. Factions had grown up within the church. This reminds me of what has happened in our own Southern Baptist Convention. There are varying groups, which have become so separate and distinct as to remove themselves from fellowship one with another and close communication one with another. This deep burden leaves me greatly concerned. The Scripture is clear that the Corinthians had broken themselves up into groups which seemed to follow a particular person who had influence in that body.
How sad would it be if people in our church identified themselves with a pastor or minister and not with the Lord? That is what happened in Corinth.
In an effort to counter this serious error, the Apostle Paul accuses the church of being worldly. He identifies jealousy and quarrelling going on among the church is that which gives indication of their carnality. Interestingly enough, in verse 3, he asked human beings why they are acting like mere men. Does that strike you as somewhat unusual? What he is saying is that we have been bought by Christ and therefore should act like Christ. Acting like mere human beings is no longer an option for the believer.
The two main subgroups seem to be those who followed Paul and those who followed Apollos. In an effort to speak about the diversity of ministry, he points out that these leaders are only servants. They were only vessels through which God poured the message of Christ. Using an agrarian or agricultural analogy, he points out in verse 6 that one laborer had plowed the soil, another planted the seed, while another watered the seed. This emphasis on diversity is one of extreme importance. God has created His church to be a magnificent diverse body of believers. Every one of you has a role to play. God wishes all his people to be involved in worship, growing, serving, and sharing. It will be done in a multitude of varied ways.
Do not begin to believe that your service or ministry is any way inferior to anyone else's.
II. There is Unity of Purpose
Look at verse 8. No matter what part of the process in which a person is involved, they are still a part of the ultimate purpose. None of the apostles were competing with one another. Each was doing what God had called them to do at that particular time. Even though there was a diversity of ministry, there was only one purpose.
What is our common purpose? What is the message we need to share? Paul the apostle had already shared this in I Corinthians 2:2, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Today is Palm Sunday. On this day, we celebrate the gift of our Lord Jesus. The central purpose of our message is the gift of Jesus Christ. It is the singular message, which can save people from eternal hell. It is the singular message, which enables as person to walk with Jesus in heaven through all eternity. It is the singular message, which can redeem families. It is the singular message, which can point a church in the right direction. It is the singular message, which could lead a convention toward greatness.
Do we have one purpose? What is it? Today, I ask that you join with me in recognition that the supreme purpose and message of our lives and our church is the gift of Jesus Christ, His crucifixion so that we might have eternal life.
III. There Must be a Humility of the Spirit
In order to help the church move away from factionalism and disunity, Paul the apostle exhorted the church to understand the kind of spirit they should have. In verse 7, he makes it very clear. In other words, all this is not to lift us up or to pat us on the back. Truly, "It is all about Him!" Verse 7 makes it clear that God is the source of the message. It is not the human laborers that produce the harvest, but the Lord of the harvest. Yes God has ordained that we would be his witnesses and ministers on this earth. However, apart from God's message and power, we would be absolutely destitute. His message to the Corinthians was to remember who the source of power and purpose is. That ought to bring about a true humility of spirit.
The same is true for us. We must recognize that there is no need to feel prideful about anything that we do for the Lord. It is all about Him! Therefore, our spirit should be one of humility and gratefulness.
Conclusion
This text shows us the multiplicity and diversity of ministry. There is so much to do in God's Kingdom. It shows us a unity of purpose. We know the message we are to share. It is bigger than we are.
There must a correct spirit that recognizes the source of power and purpose. It is all about Him!
Therefore, let us ask ourselves the question, "What are we doing in God's Kingdom enterprise?" What part do you have in it? What are you doing to win the lost to Christ? What part of the harvest are you currently involved in?
