Sermon Cloud

Intro:  3 World Council of Churches pastors.  “Well, someone had to act like a Christian.”

Big Idea: Jesus frees us from rights & preferences to save sinners.

Context: Paul has been defending his ministry from opponents in Corinth.  They accused him of acting one way with Jews and another with Gentiles.  They rejected his authority since they were not his patrons.  Without a patron Paul was free to fulfill the ministry he’d been given.

A. Paul rejected rights & preferences for redemptive relationships.

-         His ‘financial independence’ freed him from demands.  Ill. 2-Car garage: Pratt

-         He used his ‘freedom’ to enslave himself for the lost, just like Jesus (Phil. 2).

-         Paul entered ‘their turf’ in order to bring them the unchanging gospel.  Ill. My clothes

-         Paul ate kosher when he was w/Jews, and anything he wanted w/Gentiles.

-         Respect cultural norms that do not violate biblical norms.  Ill. Drinking & smoking

-         Christians are supposed to be the ones making accommodations- not unbelievers.

-         One great sin is Christians demanding/imposing their rights & preferences.  Ill. movies

Transition: Christians are free in order to enter the lives of unbelievers to bring the gospel.

B. The stumbling block must be Jesus crucified- not our preferences.

-         The goal was not the exercise of Paul’s freedom, but the salvation of the lost.  Ill. Kosher

-         Demanding rights & preferences creates the wrong stumbling block.  Ill. Bumper sticker

-         The Gospel should be the stumbling block, not demanding our rights & preferences.

-         The Gospel has plenty of offend sinners (1 Cor. 1-2).  Our pettiness is not needed.

Transition: Like Paul, we should be concerned that the stumbling block is the Gospel, not us.

C. Paul did this in accordance with the Great News.

-         This was a demonstration of the Gospel & what it produces: Free people willing to serve!

-         Paul became Jesus’ partner in His mission to save the lost.  Are you His partner?

-         Paul was crucified with Christ & no longer lived, but Jesus lived in him (Gal. 2).

-         Paul did this thru the power of Messiah through faith in Him.  So must we!

-         Refusal to live the Gospel is actually a refusal of the Gospel.  Put them (r & p) to death

Transition: We can only live this missional lifestyle through the powerful Gospel of Jesus.

A. Put the redemptive back in your relationships.  Winter Haven is your mission field!

-         Most of us make accommodations in our personal relationships.  Ill. Sports, food, TV

-         But do we bring Jesus into our personal relationships?  Ill. Bono/fill in circles

-         Do we build relationships with unbelievers that we might win some?

Transition: Individually, we have relationships with people from whom we withhold Jesus.

B. Redemptive churches are like the communities they are in.  Winter Haven is our mission field.

-         Most churches reflect the rights & preferences of Christians.  Ill. Worship wars

-         “Plant a church for your community, not your head (preferences).”  Ed Stetzer

-         Redemptive churches reflect their communities on indifferent matters.

-         Redemptive churches are clear about the gospel, and biblical morality.

-         They do both that they might see many saved in their community.