1 Corinthians 4

I. WE ARE STEWARDS OF A CROSS-CENTERED MESSAGE—THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST vss. 1-5

THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF A STEWARD IS THAT HE BE FOUND FAITHFUL

· Not controlled by the world’s standards

· Not controlled by the Corinthian standards

q Churches need to answer to God—His standards

· Paul was God’s employee—not the Corinthians—we are tempted to judge by worldly standards

· Teachers will be held to a stricter standard

· The gospel is not always popular—it is offensive to our pride

OUR FAITHFULNESS IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES!

· A right understanding of this should promote a desire to work hard and do more—a desire to see disciples made

· True stewards understand the GREAT VALUE of what has been entrusted to them

· True stewards understand Who will be the final judge – “faith without works (obedience) is dead”!!

II. SINCE WE ARE STEWARDS OF A CROSS-CENTERED MESSAGE, WE OUGHT TO LIVE A CROSS-CENTERED LIFE vss. 6-15

· Some in the Corinthian church were feeling self-confident

q Paul says there is no place for that

· Everything we have, we have been given by God—GRACE

· Paul mocks some in the church who think “they have arrived!” – they were self deceived – we have many in that category

· Paul’s life was cross-centered in all aspects

q He did not receive offerings in many churches

q He was derided by the political and educational leaders

q He was lowly in spirit, yet forceful about the Cross of Christ

q He was willing to be dishonored for the Cross

· The only way to follow Jesus is to dies to self-interest daily!

· Prosperity and worldliness (having things of the world) are not always wrong, BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS DANGEROUS. They can be disorienting to the Christian. We must live lives that show there are things that are worth even more than this world’s prosperity and worldliness.

III. A CROSS-CENTERED MESSAGE AND A CROSS-CENTERED LIFE SHOULD PRODUCE CROSS-CENTERED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST! vss. 16-21

· A true follower of Christ will have a burden to see people changed by the gospel of the Cross of Christ!