1. FIRST CORINTHIANS How to Live in a Pagan World

2. 1 st Corinthians 4:1-6 1.Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2.Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3.But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4.For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

3. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. (New King James Version)

4. Two Mega-Themes In 1 st Corinthians Living as Christians in a pagan world.Living as Christians in a pagan world. Being the Church in a pagan world.Being the Church in a pagan world.

5. Two Mega-Themes In 1 st Corinthians Living as Christians in a pagan world. Being the Church in a pagan world.Being the Church in a pagan world.

6. Being the Church in a Pagan World Nine Issues: 1.Identity1:1-9 2.Unity1:10-17 3.Maturity3:1-17 4.Authority3:18-4:21 5.Purity5 6.Orderly11 7.Ministry12-14 8.Generosity16:1-4 9.Duty16:5-24

7. Being the Church in a Pagan World Nine Issues: 1.Identity1:1-9 2.Unity1:10-17 3.Maturity3:1-17 4.Authority3:18-4:21 5.Purity5 6.Orderly11 7.Ministry12-14 8.Generosity16:1-4 9.Duty16:5-24

8. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders

9. 1.Don’t reduce yourselves to being “groupies” 3:18-23 Vs. 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: Vs. 21, NLT “So don’t take pride in following a particular leader. Everything belongs to you” Vs. 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come — all are yours. Vs. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

10. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 2.Recognize that spiritual leaders are stewards, not celebrities 4:1-2 Vs. 1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Vs. 1 NLT “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries.” Vs. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

11. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 3.Realize that it’s too soon to judge the best spiritual leaders 4:3-5 Vs. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

12. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 3.Realize that it’s too soon to judge the best spiritual leaders, not even ourselves Vs. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. HCS: “I don't even evaluate myself” Vs. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. NLT: “My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

13. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 4.Remember that spiritual leaders are not self-made men 4:6-7 Vs. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. Vs. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

14. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 5.Don’t judge a spiritual leader on the basis of outward appearances 4:8-13 weVs. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

15. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 5.Don’t judge a spiritual leader on the basis of outward appearances 4:8-13 weVs. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. Vs. 12-13 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

16. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 6.Distinguish between God-sent leadership and the “wannabes” 4:14-17 Vs. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

17. Understanding Authority3:18-4:21 Having the proper concept of spiritual leaders 7.Be aware that true spiritual leaders have genuine spiritual power 4:18-21 Vs. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. Vs. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

19. Translations That May Have Been Used: Abbreviations & Copyright Info AMP or Amplified: © Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible © 2001, Broadman & Holman Publishers, LifeWay Christian Resources 127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234 JPS: The Holy Scriptures (Old Testament) By the Jewish Publication Society All rights reserved MSG or Message: The Message © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson NAS: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1988, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NAS95: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS95) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NET: The NET Bible, New English Translation (NET) Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved The Holy Bible: The NET Bible(r) Copyright © 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved www.netbible.orgwww.netbible.org NIV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by The International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Scripture quoted by permission. NJKV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NKJV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. NLT: Quotations designated (NLT) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, 60189. All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. NRSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NRSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyrighted 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. RSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (RSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1973 by National Council of Churches of Christ. All rights reserved. Weymouth: WEYMOUTH NEW TESTAMENT: NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN SPEECH by Richard F. Weymouth 3rd Edition (1912)-- Revised & edited E. Hampden-Cooke YLT: Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible by J.N. Young, 1862, 1898 (Author of the Young's Analytical Concordance)