1 Corinthians 11:1

 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. -1 Corinthians 11:1

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This is a pretty bold statement made by the Apostle Paul.  I don’t believe he’s trying to be arrogant or that this was a statement made out of spiritual pride.  Paul’s just being real.  His life has been one dedicated to following Jesus and he’s simply telling others to do what he’s doing because it’s the best.

Are you living your Christian lives in such a way that you can say this exact statement to others?  Are you following the example of Jesus?  What does that even mean?

When Maria and I first met, the only way that I could have gotten to know her was to spend time with her.  If I wanted to know what Maria’s likes and dislikes, I would have to interact with her.

It is no different with God.  If you want to follow Jesus, you have to first know him.  So many of us though claim that we know him even though we never spend any time with him by reading His Word and through prayer.  When we do this, what ends up happening is that we put our own words in Jesus’ mouth .  We essentially make-up our own Jesus because we don’t know the real Jesus.

Do you know Jesus or do you only think you know him?  When was the last time you spent any time in your Bible or in prayer?

1 Corinthians 10:18-33

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[f]

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

-1 Corinthians 10:18-33

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Soon after I graduated from college  I was really considering dying my hair blue—anime blue.  For real.  It never happened though and this passage had something to do with it.

The Apostle Paul here is advising Christians to stay away from food that’s been offered to other gods in other religions.  He makes it a point to say that the food is fine regardless.  There’s nothing magical that happens to food when it is used in another religious ceremony.   For Christians, it’s still food and it’s still delicious.

BUT if by eating the food others might think that you are worshipping a different god, you need to take pause.  If your actions can lead others astray or confuse others about the Christian faith, you need to reconsider.

That’s what happened with my hair dying desires.  There is nothing wrong with dying your hair.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Thou shalt not dye your hair blue!”  BUT, during that time I was starting to serve in youth ministry at a fairly conservative church and I knew a counselor with dyed hair would probably not be taken seriously by parents.

Anime blue hair is not forbidden by Scripture, but if me dying my hair might prevent parents from trusting me with their students, then it’s better for me not to do it.  This is what Paul means when he says, “Do not cause anyone to stumble.”   I give up the freedoms that I have so that the Gospel can reach others unhindered.  Not dying my hair anime blue is but a small, small sacrifice.  And in the long run, it worked out.  I shudder to think ridicule I would receive now if pictures of my blue hair existed.

In your actions, are you seeking the good of others or do your actions preventing others from seeing God clearly?

1 Corinthians 10:14-17

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

-1 Corinthians 10:14-17

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An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives.  It could be anything!  It could be a relationship, a sport, a video game, whatever.  Oftentimes an idol can appear innocuous because it doesn’t “look” evil.  For example: enjoying playing tennis is neither good nor bad.  But if you elevate tennis in your heart above God, then it becomes an idol.

Pastor Tim Keller puts it in this way—idolatry is mis-ordered loves.  It’s when you order other things higher than your love for God.

The Apostle Paul here warns us of idolatry then starts talking about Communion.  Communion is when Christians eat of the bread and drink of the cup at church with other Christians.  It’s a sacrament (ritual) that reminds us that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.

Why would Paul connect idolatry to Communion?  It’s because when we place other things or people above God, we are dishonoring what Jesus has done for us.  When we play with idols or with sin, it’s like a slap in the face to Jesus.

The famous pastor and theologian said this: 

“If Christ has died for me, I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend.”

Are you trifling with the evil that killed your best friend? 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

-1 Corinthians 9:24-27

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Discipline is oftentimes an ugly word in today’s society but the Bible paints discipline in an incredibly positive light.  Discipline is often seen as ugly because it requires work and sacrifice.  There are no short cuts in discipline.  You can’t cheat your way in discipline.  Discipline can only be built slowly over time.  In our fast paced, instant-gratification culture—discipline is an enemy.

Yet, discipline is crucial to a healthy Christian life.  There is no way that Christians experience a deep satisfying connection with God every time they read the Bible or pray.  At least that’s not what I’ve experienced.  In fact, to be honest, most of the time, even today, accomplishing my daily spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible or praying can seem like just another chore.  But in the midst of those daily routines, allow for opportunities when I do feel an intense connection to God and I feel thoroughly convicted in my time with God’s Word or through prayer.  Admittedly, those times are the exceptions, but they can only happen through faithfulness in my daily spiritual disciplines.

Dr. Tim Keller from Redeemer Church in the city puts it this way, and I’m paraphrasing: “When it comes to your devotional life, quantity is not the same as quality.  But you can’t get quality without quantity.”

Runners and other athletes can only can better through discipline.  That’s why there’s something called “going to practices” in sports.  In our spiritual life, it’s the same way.  When we spend time on our a regular basis, it trains us to grow in sensitivity to God’s Spirit and allows the Holy Spirit time and space to transform our hearts.

Are you spending time with God?  Are you going to “spiritual” practice every day, or have you been skipping out?

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

-1 Corinthians 9:19-23

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So many time as Christians, we ask non-Christians to come into our world and adapt to our Christian culture and standards.  But as we see here, the Apostle Paul has a very different ministry philosophy.  He argues that we need to go into people’s worlds and we need to immerse ourselves in their culture so that we can communicate the Gospel to them.

Immersion doesn’t mean that we take on their beliefs or ideals while forgoing on own.  But it does mean we live life with people and in the process of living life with people we get to show them Jesus by the way we live and with our words.

This is one of the reasons why I love Young Life.  So often in Christian-dom we ask kids to do this or do that, to come here or go there.  In YL, caring Christian adults go into the world of young people.  They show up in school.  They go to football games (pre-pandemic, of course) and orchestra concerts.  They go into the world of teenagers so they can communicate the Gospel to teenagers.

I know all of you are at different places in your walk with God.  But if He hasn’t done so yet, one day God will give you an opportunity to leave the comforts of your environment so that you can go into someone else’s world and culture to tell them and show them God.

Jesus did that for us.  He left the comforts of heaven to come to earth so that he can die for our sins and to show us a better way to live.

Who are you living life with?  With whom are you sharing Jesus?

1 Corinthians 9:13-18

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

-1 Corinthians 9:13-18

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Yesterday we talked about the Apostle Paul’s desire for blamelessness.  At the heart of why he wants blamelessness is so that people would come to know Jesus.  The Gospel—the Good News of how Jesus came to die for our sins so that we can be reconnected to God—is all the the Apostle Paul cares about.

Do you care about the Gospel?  Do you care about how the Gospel impacts your life?  Do you care whether or not other people hear about the Gospel?  How many times a day do you think about the Gospel?

There’s a lot of things I obsess about.  I can think a lot about the next computer I’m going to buy.  I can think a lot about a video game I’m currently trying to beat.  I can think a lot about a show that I can’t wait to watch.  Today, Maria and I are definitely going to watch the latest episode of The Mandalorian.  It’s so good!  BUT, do I obsess about the Gospel?  Do I think about the Gospel with the same intensity that I think about other things in life of far, far lesser importance?

Sadly for me, it’s a “no.”  And I suspect for you, it’s a “no,” too.  This passage reminds us that the Gospel must be at the center of our lives.  We must eat it, drink it, breath it, and live it.  It is by far the most important thing we have and the most important thing we can give to others.

Do you obsess about the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 9:3-12

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

-1 Corinthians 9:3-12

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Blamelessness.  This was the Apostle Paul’s focus.  Apparently, the Christians in Corinth were complaining about him, so Paul brought up the point that he didn’t even take money from them for serving them.  Just like churches pay their pastors for their services, the Apostle Paul should have been paid for serving the church.

But Paul refused payment.  He refused to get paid by the church in case any members thought that Paul was serving them for money.  He didn’t want that as a reason for people to doubt his sincerity in sharing Christ.  That’s next level.

Are you being blameless in the way that you live your life to help others see Christ in you?  What does being blameless look like for a high school kid in Tenafly?  It means practicing academic integrity so that people will see that your faith actually matters to you.  It means treating those in school who are outcasts with dignity and respect so that people will see that your faith actually matters to you.  It means using words of encouragement instead of words of discouragement so that people will see that you faith matters to you.

Are you living a blameless life for the sake of the Gospel?