Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Servanthood? - 1 Corinthians 4
by Ronald Meeks
Sermon series: Holy God, Holy People
1. Prepare to Meet Your God - Exodus 19
2. The Holiness of God - 1 Peter 1
Introduction
The unmistakable message sent to us today is "Get extreme."Everywhere you look
"extreme" is in. Leaving traditional sports activities, the "X games" or "extreme"
games are growing in popularity. One business man started the the Xtreme Football
League (XFL). A radio station in Knoxville claims it plays "extreme" music. A
woman can go to a beauty salon and get "extreme" nails. You can exercise at a facility
which offers "extreme" fitness. At one of the national fast food chains you can get an
"extreme" Whopper (I assume for the extremely hungry). At one of the national
convenience stores chains you can get an "extreme" Slurpee. And at the grocery store
you can now buy "extreme" Jell-O. The message is clear - "Get extreme!"
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he challenged them to get extreme. He was
not telling them to become extremists. He was challenging them to be extreme or
authentic servants for Jesus Christ. He indicated to them that genuine Christian living
resulted in serving others, not self-exaltation. Now, just as then, we are challenged by
God to live in way that results in authentic service for others - extreme servanthood.
Are you ready to get extreme?
Illustrations
God uses a paraplegic to lead others to Christ
The Spirit can use anyone.
In his book Rising Above the Crowd, Brian Harbour tells of a church in Florida that
sponsored a Week of Champions. They invited Christian athletes from all over the
country to share their testimonies with the youth of the city. One of the athletes was
Paul Anderson, the strongest man in the world. His testimony was, "If the world's
strongest man needs Jesus, so do you."
A few weeks later, a young man went to the pastor of the church and told him of his
decision for Christ. The young man explained that he had made the decision on the
night that Anderson had spoken. Out of curiosity the pastor asked what Anderson had
said that convinced him of his need for Christ. The young man answered, "I don't
remember what Paul Anderson said. What touched me was a paraplegic being pushed
forward in his wheelchair during the invitation time to accept Jesus. I said to myself
that if God could do something for him, then surely he could do something for me."
If God can use a paraplegic in his weakness to lead others to Christ, he can use us.
Paul told the Corinthians, "follow me" because he knew the way to Jesus. Can we say
to anybody, "Follow me"?
I. The church needs love most because in the end love counts (13:1-3)
II. The church needs love most because love conquers (13:4-7)
III. The church needs love most because love continues when all loses its meaning
(13:8-13)
II. The Spirit gives us vitality we can not naturally summon (Acts 2:14). (The Spirit
gives us the courage we need to work in our world. )
III. The Spirit gives us victory we cannot naturally secure (Acts 2:38-47). (The Spirit
gives us the power we need to walk in our world. )
Dr. Ronald Meeks is Director of Church Relations for Blue Mountain College, Blue
Mountain, Mississippi.