WHO'S MORE IMPORTANT?

 

 

 WHO'S MORE IMPORTANT?

                                                  (Lesson ideas got from Pastor Mike Mislan’s devotion)

 

picture taken from Google

 BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11

 INTRODUCTION:

Paul confronts their condition in Corinthian Church. They are not behaving like a spiritual people, but like carnal or like immature Christians. They thought of themselves spiritual but their divisions, envy and strife show that they are living in the flesh.  Another thing is, the Corinthian people arguing about who was better. The first one said “I am of Paul” and another said “I am of Apollos.” This thinking shows that they are carnal.

 Remember the verse in Matthew 18:1.

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

 The same happens in our society today. Sometimes we think more highly of a pastor graduated in a famous bible college than a pastor graduated in a Church Bible institute. The pastor is chosen as the speaker because of the quantity of his members. Sometimes when a church is replaced by a new pastor and it becomes successful, we tend to think that the previous pastor is better than the old one which we don’t think that the first might be used by God to prepare the ministry. Either the first or the second is better because both serve the Lord.

 

LESSON POINTS:

1)   THE RESULTS IN YOUR SERVICE FOR CHRIST IN THE MINISTRY DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR WORTH (1 COR.3:7)

 

·       The Christian worker who plants and the Christian worker who waters the plant are the same worker of God. We can’t gauge that the other is better because they serve the same LORD. Remember is it GOD who gives the increase.

·       If you only have a small group, don’t let that discouraged you. Remember your labor is not in vain in the Lord. One may prepare the soil and the other waters and harvests them but God who gives the increase.

  2)    AREAS OF SERVICE DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR STATUS AMONG THE BRETHREN (1 COR.3:9-10)

 

·       No one should brag himself how great he is because we are all laborers of God.

·       Paul became effective because of God. Without HIM we are nothing.

 

·       In Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power

 

·       Having gifts according to grace given to us by God. He gifted us in a different way. So, there are some things we can’t do but others can. Also, there are some things we can do and others can’t.

·       Romans 12:5-6 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

·       1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

 

·       Anyone who is serving God and has been gifted in that specific area of service, does not determine their status because that’s the way God is gifted them; that’s the way God has called them to serve.

  3)    It’s WHO and HOW we serve is always more important than where we serve (1 COR. 3:10-11)

 

·       It’s not where you serve is more important. You can serve as a Sunday School Teacher, flower arranger, in the kitchen as a kitchen crew, and many more.

·       More than the social status is WHO and HOW you serve.

·       WHO’S THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE MINISTRY? – It’s actually THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

·       It’s should be our privileged and honor to serve God in whatever capacity He calls and gifts us.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

 

No ministry should be look lowly or unnecessary.