1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Barriers to God’s Work

Breaking Down Barriers to God’s Work

Breaking Down Barriers to God’s Work 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

God’s Work John 3:14-18 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

God’s Love 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God’s Mission 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

God’s Promise 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

God’s Mission To save a lost world through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son

Our Mission 1 Corinthians 9:16 16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! … I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

Our Mission To Preach the Gospel To share the Good News To win souls for Christ To be a Lifesaving Station Not a Social Club

Our Task 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 – Paul said: I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share its blessings.

Our Task To use all means To breakdown Barriers To win souls for Christ

Real Barriers There are some barriers we can’t change - only God can overcome these

Real Barriers – only God can overcome these Sin Pride Stubbornness

God’s Word Jesus Christ The Cross of Christ

1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Barriers to God’s Work Real Barriers – Only the miracle of faith brought by the God the Holy Spirit will remove these. Artificial Barriers – These are the barriers to which we must be sensitive in both our personal lives and the congregation to bring them down.

Artificial Barriers Those barriers we build ourselves Sacred Cows Human Knowledge Personal opinions

Sacred Cows – are those things in our church to which we have an emotional attachment but are not commanded by God’s Word nor are they central to His Work

Human Knowledge – doctrines and confessional writings are essential to a church – But their purpose is to unite and identify us – not to turn people away

We all know many things. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up We all know many things. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Personal Opinions (the conscience) We all must live within our conscience, but we must be careful not to impose that conscience upon others

How can we tell the difference? God’s Word God’s Work Good Advice Good Common Sense

Do we care about God’s Work? Are we serious about His mission? Are we a lifesaving station? Are there Barriers to God’s Work getting done here at POP? What barriers can we remove so that God’s Work can be better done by us?

The Apostle Paul leads us by saying: “I would be all things to all people so that by all means some might be saved!”

And to that I pray we would all say: AMEN !

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ to everlasting life.