Download 1 Corinthians 4:8-21 Scum and Spiritual Father

Scum and Spiritual Father
Studies in 1 Corinthians Series [13]
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
August 17, 2014
Pastor Paul K. Kim
RECAP: RESTORING THE BIBLICAL
DEFINITIONS OF THE PASTOR [FT & LAY]
• Definition #1: Pastors are the SERVANTS of Christ.
• If so, pastors are to seek (1) their submission to Christ, (2)
their desire to please Christ not men, and (3) their focus to be
on the judgment and commendations of the Lord not of men.
• Definition #2: Pastors are the STEWARDS of God’s Word.
• If so, pastors are to seek (1) their primary role as teachers, (2)
their teachings to be guided by Scripture, and (3) their
faithfulness to Scripture.
“We have this notion in this country, not only of endless
economic growth but of endless personal growth. I have a
certain characterological antipathy to the notion of we're
all getting better and better all the time.”
— American novelist Jonathan Franzen
“A theology of glory… operates on the assumption that
what we need is optimistic encouragement, some flattery,
some positive thinking, some support to build our selfesteem. Theologically speaking it operates on the
assumption that we are not seriously addicted to sin, and
that our improvement is both necessary and possible. We
need a little boost in our desire to do good works…. But
the hallmark of a theology of glory is that it will always
consider grace as something of a supplement to whatever
is left of human will and power.”
— Lutheran theologian Gerhard Forde
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
1) Pastors are to model in taking the Calvary road—hence, learn
true spirituality from their suffering and sacrifice for Christ.
8
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!
Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so
that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited
us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have
become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. (vs. 8-9)
 Unlike the Corinthian Christians who lived by the theology of
glory (“already”), Paul lived by the theology of the cross.
 Suffering and sacrifice were their way of life in following the
Lord Jesus Christ on the Calvary road.
 We are also to take the Calvary road following the examples
of Paul and the apostles in their true spirituality.
The Badge of True Discipleship
Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not
above his master . . . That is why Luther reckoned suffering among
the marks of the true church… If we refuse to take up our cross
and submit to suffering and rejection at the hands of men, we
forfeit our fellowship with Christ and have ceased to follow Him.
But if we lose our lives in His service and carry out cross, we shall
find our lives again in the fellowship of the cross with Christ. The
opposite of discipleship is to be ashamed of Christ and His cross
and all the offense which the cross brings in its train . . .
Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ… It is a joy
and token of His grace. … Christ transfigures for His own [the early
Christian martyrs] the hour of their moral agony by granting them
the unspeakable assurance of His presence. In the hour of the
cruelest torture they bear for His sake, they are made partakers in
the perfect joy and bliss of fellowship with Him. To bear the cross
proves to be the only way of triumphing over suffering. …
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
2) Pastors are the SCUM of the world—hence, follow their
example of choosing faithfulness over popularity.
10 We
are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ.
We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in
disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly
dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our
own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still,
like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (vs. 10-13)
 Paul wasn’t intentionally looking for suffering—but, it was
the cost of faithfulness to Christ and the way of Jesus.
 Jesus did warn us about being praise by all men (Luke 6:26).
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you,
for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
Luke 6:26
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
2) Pastors are the SCUM of the world—hence, follow their
example of choosing faithfulness over popularity.
10 We
are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ.
We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in
disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly
dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our
own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still,
like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (vs. 10-13)
 Paul wasn’t intentionally looking for suffering—but, it was
the cost of faithfulness to Christ and the way of Jesus.
 Jesus did warn us about being praise by all men (Luke 6:26).
 We are also to gladly choose faithfulness over popularity, the
way of Jesus [the cross] over the way of the world.
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
3) Pastors are the SPIRITUAL FATHERS—hence, be imitators of
them.
14
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to
admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have
countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I
became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you,
then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved
and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,
as I teach them everywhere in every church. (vs. 10-13)
 While there were many guides/teachers in Christ, Paul took
on the role of spiritual father for the Corinthian Christians.
 It was going beyond merely teaching content but imparting
life as a spiritual father.
7
But we were gentle among you,
like a nursing mother taking care of her
own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous
of you, we were ready to share with you not only
the gospel of God but also our own selves,
because you had become very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
3) Pastors are the SPIRITUAL FATHERS—hence, be imitators of
them.
14
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to
admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have
countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I
became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you,
then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved
and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,
as I teach them everywhere in every church. (vs. 10-13)
 While there were many guides/teachers in Christ, Paul took
on the role of spiritual father for the Corinthian Christians.
 It was going beyond merely teaching content but imparting
life as a spiritual father.
 We are also to imitate our spiritual leaders by life and words.
WHAT ARE TRUE MARKS OF
THE PASTOR/SPIRITUAL LEADER?
4) Pastors are to love their flock with deep genuine love—hence,
follow their example of taking pains for others.
18 Some are
arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out
not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom
of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I
come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? (vs. 10-13)
 Paul as the spiritual father of the Corinthian church loved
them far beyond the superficial level.
 This meant loving them with tough love of sternness as well
as with tender love of gentleness of a father.
 We are also to take pains for those whom we lead and care
for spiritually.
THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
1.
In what ways are you convinced by “theology of the cross”
over “theology of glory”? What will you do?
2. What would it mean for you to follow Apostle Paul’s
example in choosing suffering and sacrifice as the true
marks of a Christ-follower as well as of a spiritual leader?
3. In what ways will you be a spiritual father for those whom
you lead and care for? What is your first step?