Well let’s get started! We are teaching through 1 Corinthians and this letter has been such a timely letter for our Christian church family in north Austin. If you are new this morning, the first 4 chapters the primary theme is quarrels and conflicts, which seems like a never-ending part of our lives!
In chapters 5, 6 and 7 we see the Apostle Paul introducing a biblical perspective toward sex, marriage, divorce, being single that is definitely appropriate for our day. Then a couple of weeks ago Roberto Moctezuma walked us through 1 Corinthians 8 where we see the Apostle Paul get into a practical discussion around how the follower of Jesus is supposed to interact with the Corinthian culture.
As a follower of Jesus, do we blend into our cities culture and values or do we isolate and separate from our cities culture and values? Blending into our city is called synchronicity. It is the process of coming together and forming a combined meaning, which is what we see in some of the church buildings in our city doing today, right?
It isn’t uncommon to see people in church buildings being shaped by cultural topics of our day, so you will see banners and flags around inclusion, acceptance, tolerance and it’s because those people know the culture values those words so the people in those church buildings are waving those flags so as to say, “Come over here, we like those things also.” It’s called synchronicity.
At the other end of the spectrum are people who look down on all that synchronicity and instead conclude, “We don’t want to blend in, we want to break.” It’s not synchronicity but separatism. It is the belief that the pitfalls and challenges of our culture are somehow tied to the geographical location in time, therefore, we must separate ourselves from the culture and values of our day, which is what creates groups of people like the Amish.
Or practically, where the follower of Jesus begins to ask questions like, “Should my children watch shows from Disney or should we separate? Should I listen to secular music? Should I homeschool my children? Should I spend time with these types of people? Should we live in the city?” After all, wouldn’t Jesus want me in a quiet place in the mountains where I can worship Him by myself all day?
How do we engage the culture and values of our day? God’s Word calls the follower of Jesus to be in the world but not of the world, but what does that look like? Do we synchronize? Do we separate? Are we a monastery to retreat from the world or are we on mission? Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 9, verses 19-22:
1 Corinthians 9:19-22, “19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”
In the context of 1 Corinthians 9 we see the Corinthian church is struggling to follow the spiritual leadership of the Apostle Paul because Paul wasn’t flashy, he wasn’t physically impressive.
In fact, it would have been common in Corinthian culture for philosophical leaders to receive financial contribution from the people but the Apostle Paul has refused to take money from the Corinthian people because he didn’t want his teachings about Jesus to be reduced to “just another philosophy of the day.”
As a result, the Apostle Paul works a 9-5 job as a tentmaker, wasn’t flashy, wasn’t impressive and the reason he does this is because he wants to make it as easy as possible for people hear and respond by faith to the glory of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
This is really the heart of 1 Corinthians 8, 9 and 10. The Apostle Paul has a right to receive financial gain from the Corinthian culture but for the sake of the gospel being reduced to a philosophy of the day, the Apostle Paul declines the financial contribution. Does that make sense? Let’s dig into verse 19:
1 Corinthians 9:19-22, “19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.”
In verse 19 when the Apostle Paul uses this word “free” it is to imply he has no partiality to any group. He’s free to say what he wants to say when he wants to say it. He doesn’t have to worry about offending a certain group of people. He’s free! His allegiance is to Jesus!
How many of get nervous in the workplace when sensitive topics come up? How many of us walk on eggshells, so as not to offend our employer? We do so because our salary is tied to the workplace, so that the Apostle Paul has removed that hurdle and voluntarily made himself a slave to proclaiming the name of Jesus. Do you see that in verse 19?
The language is meant to be shocking “someone free becoming a slave.” The language is meant to draw you in, so that Paul is reminding the reader, “He is in Christ! His life is not his own.” 1 Corinthians 6, “You’ve been bought for a price.” 1 Corinthians 3, “You belong to Christ!” So that Paul’s greatest ambition in life is to win as many people to Christ as possible. Look at verses 20-22:
1 Corinthians 9:20-22, “20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”
The word “win” is repeated over and over in our passage this morning, so that Paul’s greatest ambition is to see the name of Jesus transform as many lives as possible. Win, win, win, no matter what! (T-Pain)
When Paul was with Jewish people, he followed Jewish customs. When Paul was with those who are under the law, people who have yet to trust in Jesus, he followed culture and customs they would have followed, as long as it didn’t violate God’s Word. When Paul was with people who are without the law, which are Gentile people, he followed their customs and values. When Paul was with those who are weak, those who are spiritual young (Romans 14), he was sensitive to them so that he might win those who are weak. Paul will become all things to all men…so that he might see as many as possible come to faith in Jesus.
Even the use of “all” in verse 22 is shaping Paul’s mindset toward engaging the culture and values of his day. Paul wants to see all types of people come to faith in Christ. Jew and Gentile. Liberal and conservative. Men and women. Rich and poor. Educated and uneducated. All nationalities. All ethnicities. All languages. Why? So that he might see as many as possible come to faith in Jesus.
The word “saved” in verse 22 means “to be delivered.” It means humanity is dead in our sin (Romans 3). Do you believe God’s Word is clear that the wages of sin is death? The God of Scripture didn’t create us to live in chaos. He didn’t create us to live in darkness. He didn’t create us to cancel each other, lie to each other, and hurt one another. He created us to live with Him and for Him but all of humanity has gone astray. We do what we want to do when we want to do it. It’s called sin!
The good news of Jesus is that He could leave humanity in death and darkness or He could come to rescue us, deliver us and the Apostle Paul wants as many people as possible to know Jesus.
This is the heart of why we started North Village Church in Austin, TX. I didn’t particularly want to be a pastor and work at a church in Austin. I am not really interested in gathering a large crowd to listen to me speak from a stage. I wanted to start something in a city like Austin where any person with any background could ask questions about Jesus, wrestle with God’s Word and give a person every chance to believe in Jesus, so that we might win as many as possible for as long as possible. Look at verse 23:
1 Corinthians 9:23, “23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”
I want to keep pressing in on “all things for the gospel” but let’s focus on this wording “fellow partaker of the gospel.” Did you know our salvation in Christ isn’t a passive experience?
Did you know when we believe in Jesus we aren’t just saved from sin, death and judgment that is to come but through faith in Jesus we are delivered from death into life. It’s what Nehemiah was teaching us last Sunday. We were saved from darkness to light. That’s what Paul is talking about as a “fellow partaker of the gospel.”
My motivation to talk to people about Jesus, pray for others, serve others, live for Christ isn’t because I am just trying to just help people avoid an eternal judgment of God’s wrath, which is true but, even more so, I genuinely want people to know the joy, peace and goodness of living in His Kingdom on earth today. That’s what Paul means “fellow partaker of the gospel.”
When I came to faith in Jesus I wasn’t overwhelmingly convinced that Jesus was Lord. Honestly, I was like, “We’ll see.” I believed in Jesus, I committed my life to following Jesus and after 30 years of following Jesus I can tell you, “Life is better in Jesus.”
I am not saying all my problems went away, I got rich, better looking, and everyone wanted to be my friend. Life in Jesus is just better. I’ve experienced life outside of Jesus. I’ve experienced darkness. I’ve experienced limited understanding. I’ve experienced being enslaved to sin. I’ve experienced life apart from Christ, apart from His Word, apart from the indwelling of His Spirit, apart from the fellowship of the body, and life in Jesus is just better.
When you believe in Jesus, when you are reconciled to the Father, when you are indwelled with the Spirit, the chains of sin are broken. His Word comes alive. His presence comes to live inside you. When you obey Jesus, you walk in the light. You gain wisdom, you gain understanding about life; past, present and future.
It’s not because I was depressed before, or life was horrible before Jesus and I couldn’t make it without Jesus. I was doing fine in worldly standards, but I’ve walked with Jesus for 30 years and in my heart of hearts, when I talk to people, I find myself thinking, “I wish you would believe in Jesus and follow Jesus.” And it’s because, like Paul, I am a fellow partaker of the gospel.”
Now, let’s talk more about this phrase, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel” because I am guessing that some of us are a little confused about what that looks like practically. What does that look like practically?
Does that mean if my friend gets high and I want my friend to know Jesus, I get high with my friend? Does that mean if we want strippers to come to faith in Jesus, we go to strip clubs? Does that mean if we live in a city with people who drive luxury cars, we want to make sure our pastor drives a luxury car?
I remember when I was 20-years old I bought a jet-ski, I was new in Jesus and I told myself, “I am going to buy this (one seater) jet ski because it will help me talk to my friends about Jesus.” I don’t think I ever talked to anyone about Jesus because of that jet ski. Here’s a simple guide for us when it comes to how we engage culture and values of our city: Reject / Redeem.
As followers of Jesus, we are in the world but not of the world, therefore, there are cultures and values we want to reject. We aren’t going to murder people so that we can relate to murderers. When God’s Word gives clear direction on what is sinful and ungodly, then we don’t want to blend in with the culture and values of our day.
As a church family we’re going to hold to a biblical view of marriage and sexuality. We’re not going to blend into the culture and values of our city. As a church family in Austin we’re going to hold to God’s Word as authority in our lives. We’re going to hold to Jesus being God in the flesh through the Virgin birth. We’re going to hold to our sin being worthy of judgment. We’re going to hold to Jesus’ resurrection, so that we might have eternal, living hope in Christ. We’re not going to blend.
As an individual follower of Jesus, I would encourage you to think about what it means and what it doesn’t mean to blend into the cultures and values of our city. What’s shaping our view toward how we spend money? What’s shaping our view toward marriage? What’s shaping our view toward how we spend our time? What’s shaping our view toward how we serve others? Is it the culture and values of our day or is it God’s Word?
But that doesn’t mean we need to separate, isolate, and lock ourselves in a closet. There are some parts of our culture and values that we can receive as a follower of Jesus in Austin, TX in 2023.
We can receive electricity and redeem electricity for His glory. We can receive technology and redeem technology for His glory. We can drive cars, own homes, buy clothes, take vacations, drink a beer, get tattoos, but the lens is always through redemption for His glory. The perspective toward the culture and values of our day is always, “Does this help me as a follower of Jesus proclaim the name of Jesus in the lives of the people around me?” Couldn’t we meditate on that question the rest of the day? Couldn’t we filter that question through every area of our life?
Does this house help me build bridges for the gospel? Does my child’s hobbies and interests help me build bridges for the gospel? Does this nap put me in a place to further the causes of Christ?
When we picked the name for North Village Church in north Austin it was through the lens of how people might perceive us in this part of our city for the name of Jesus to be known, so we took the name from the North Village Library.
When we picked out styles and brands for our non-denominational church family in Austin we shaped those decisions around people who live in this part of our city. If we were in the Hill Country we would use a lot of limestone, Texas stars, wear boots, and look like people who live in the hill country.
If we were in South Austin we would have to have a lot more tattoos, it would probably help if we drove motorcycles, so that as we make decisions to be salt and light in this part of our city we are always wrestling through the perspective, “We want to hold fast to God’s Word and at the same time, make it as easy as possible for people know Jesus, believe in Jesus and follow Jesus.” Look at verses 24-25:
1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
The style / model of the Olympic games we know today came from this period in history, so that people would compete in races much like we see today, they would train for those races, they would deny themselves food, sleep, comfort and they would do it all so that might have a chance at receiving a “perishable wreath.” The wreaths in that day were made out of celery, so the wreath wasn’t impressive but the motivation to win was the same then as it is today, therefore, how much more would we who are in Christ who run, who race for a reward that is imperishable?
We don’t talk about it often on a Sunday morning but God’s Word makes it clear that there are rewards that we receive in eternity, there are crowns we receive, so that throughout Scripture we see this imagery of the follower of Jesus as a soldier, as a farmer, as an athlete, as a slave who works diligently for the Lord.
We had a meeting last Sunday after the worship service about the transitions of our bible church family in Austin and the majority of our church family in Austin responded to this challenge by saying, “We want to do whatever it takes to see our church family through this season.”
Listen to me, the opportunity we have as a church family in north Austin is to proclaim the name of Jesus in a central part of our city. In a city that is a world influencing city. In a city where people are moving from all over the world and the Lord has chosen us for this city at this time.
But this season of transition is not going to be easy. There’s going to be distractions. There’s going to be comforts we need to deny. There’s habits and patterns we have built up through the pandemic that we still need to turn away from.
We’re going to have to hold our calendars with an open hand. We’re not going to be able to say, “I have 30-minutes on Thursday.” I am not talking about anyone individually. I saying in general, that we would all approach this transition like the soldier, farmer, athlete and slave, not to me, not to North Village Church in Austin, but to Christ, so that, like Paul, we might see as many as possible come to know Jesus and not only know Jesus but become partakers of His goodness on earth as it is in heaven! Look at verses 25-27:
1 Corinthians 9:26-27, “26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
First, the reference to “disqualification” is not talking about a loss of salvation. Your response to God’s Word this morning might be to change nothing and in no way does that mean you are in threat to be disqualified from the Lord.
This reference to “disqualification” is more so how the Apostle Paul saw his apostolic ministry. It’s why Paul gives up receiving financial contribution. He doesn’t want to create any distractions for others. He doesn’t want to create any hinderances to the gospel.
It’s why Paul uses the word “discipline” in verse 27. It’s why Paul repeats the imagery of a “slave.” It’s why Paul uses the word “self-control” back in verse 24. It’s because how we engage the culture and values of our city are so challenging.
Listen to me, we live at a point in history where privilege is available to everyone in this room. We live at a point in history where everyone in this room is rich. We live at a point in history where we are bombarded with the culture and values of this day through movies, music, social media, work, education, and friends. We live in a city like Austin that is very influential.
Therefore, we can’t run without aim. It doesn’t mean we need to be perfect. But we want to run with purpose. We don’t want to give into winging our faith in Christ. We can. Jesus is that good. He will call you His for eternity but when the prize of Christ is this good we want to make the most of every opportunity of what it looks like to engage the culture and values of our city today.