1. Fools for Christ 1 Corinthians 4:10
KJV “We are fools for Christ's sake”
BBE - “We are made to seem foolish for Christ”

2. Context - 1 Corinthians 4:1-8
v. 1-2 = Must be honest and trustworthy
v. 3-5 = Paul’s judgment was in God’s hands
v. 6 = Used himself & Apollos as examples
v. 7-8 = Felt greater than those who taught
Text - 1 Corinthians 4:9-16
Apostles were a spectacle
Fools for Christ’s sake
Fool = without learning or knowledge
Why ? They gave their life to God

3. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
No Property
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" Lk. 9:58
Poor
"...yet for your Sakes He became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" - 2 Cor. 8:9
No Money
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee ..." Acts 3:6

4. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
No Higher Education
“...and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled...” - Acts 4:13
No Looks: Ugly
“...but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible...” - 2 Corinthians 10:10
Jail Birds: Prisoners
“Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner-prison, and made their feet fast in stocks”
Acts 16:24

5. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
Failure to Exercise Power
“...to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think...” Rm. 12:3
Sickly
“...for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities” Timothy 5:23

6. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
Hungry, No Clothes, No Shelter
“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place” - 1 Corinthians 4:11
Persecuted and Hated
“And labour, we working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it” Corinthians 4:12

7. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
Lost Everything
“...I have suffered the loss of all things...” - Phil. 3:8
A Giver - Not a Getter
“...it is more blessed to give than to receive” - Acts 20:35
Failed to Reach Goal
“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” Thes. 2:18

8. Were the Early Christians Losers ?
Elderly or Aged
“Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner of Jesus Christ” - Philemon 9
By worldly standards Jesus and his followers were losers - they were not successful !
They were fools !

9. “We are fools for Christ’s sake” 1 Cor.4:10
Fool = “moros” - dull or stupid, blockhead, absurd, foolish
“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more” 2 Cor. 11:23a
Fool = misthink, be insane, silly, as a fool
English definition = a person who lacks good sense or judgment, a stupid or silly person

10. What Makes one a Fool for Christ ?
Not the attitude:
Make excuses - Luke 14:16-20
Do the least I can - Col. 3:23
Ashamed of Christ and Gospel - Rm.1:16
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”

11. What Makes one a Fool for Christ ?
Has a Love for:
Christ and His Church
Lost Souls
Willing to Sacrifice
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1

12. Is The Price Too High ? We will have a Fool’s Reward: NOW
Burdens - “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Ps.55:22
Companionship - “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Heb. 13:5-6
Rest - “I will give you rest” Matt. 11:28-30

13. Is The Price Too High ? We will have a Fool’s Reward: Everlasting Life
“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1:11
“crown of righteousness” - 2 Tim. 4:8
“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Mt.25:23

14. KJV “We are fools for Christ's sake”
1 Corinthians 4:10
KJV “We are fools for Christ's sake”
Man’s Estimation of what you are is not as important as God’s Evaluation !
There is an honor to being a fool for Christ !

15. “Like a Persecuted Church”

16. “Like a Persecuted Church”

17. “Like a Persecuted Church”

18. What if you were a member of
a Persecuted Church ?
Would worship be more meaningful ?
Would fellowship be strengthened ?
Would your prayer life be stronger ?
Would you overlook personality differences ?
Would you be less likely to pick flaws in others?
Would you be less critical about matters ?

19. What if you were a member of Fools for Christ’s Sake
a Persecuted Church ?
Fools for Christ’s Sake

20. Sermon by Arthur Pigman
Evans Church of Christ
515 Gibbs Road
Evans, Ga
Sunday Morning July 21, 2013