Consider Your Service 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Adapted from a Michael Luke sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?SermonID=86282

2. When he was 80-years-old Dr. Albert
Schweitzer returned to Europe on furlough
from his missionary service in Africa. One of
the reporters who came to interview the
humble doctor just could not understand why
such a famous person would leave the comfort
and security of Europe to live on the mission
field in Africa. He asked Dr. Schweitzer for an
explanation. Schweitzer replied: “You see, I
had to do something for Christ.”

3. It’s been said: “We are saved to serve, not to
be served.” Jesus Himself set us an example
as a servant.
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4. In our text Paul asks us to consider (to think
about; ponder; reflect on) our service.
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6. Paul says that people should see us “
.”
It should be evident to all who we serve –
Jesus Christ.
Not self, not others, not our families, not our
bosses or our customers, not our country, but
Christ.
All other service should then flow out of our
service to Christ.

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8. Mark Twain and a Mormon were arguing about
polygamy (having more than one wife).
The Mormon said, “Give me just one verse in
the Bible that forbids polygamy!”
Twain quickly answered, “That’s easy.
‘No man can serve two masters.’”

9. The term “regard” is actually an accounting
term in the original language it means to give
an account; take inventory;

10. Paul says that as servants of Christ we are
“ .”
“ ” – The word in the original
language is mustērion (moos-tay'-ree-on) is where
we get our word “mystery.”
In the biblical sense, it means things that were
hidden at one time and have now been
revealed.

11. God's mysteries mean those secret things
which are now revealed in contrast with what
Israel had of old (Deut. 29:29), not, as is vulgarly
supposed, things unintelligible, but truths
reserved by God in Old Testament times, now
displayed in Christ on high and made known
by the Spirit in the New Testament. (Kelly)

12. We understand God more thoroughly through
Jesus.
What was once hidden has now been
revealed.
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13. Paul is saying that because of our service to
Christ, others will see Christ in us and will thus
see what God is like.
When Wycliffe Bible translator Doug Meland
and his wife moved into a village of Brazil’s
Fulnio Indians, the Indians referred to him
simply as “the white man”.
That reference was not complimentary since
other “white men” had exploited them, burned
their homes, and robbed them of their lands.

14. But after the Melands learned the Fulnio
language and began to help the people with
medicine and in other ways, they began calling
Doug “the respectable white man.”
When the Melands began adapting to some of
the customs of the people that did not
compromise their faith, the Fulnio gave them
greater acceptance and spoke of Doug as “the
white Indian.”

15. Then one day, as Doug was washing the dirty,
blood-caked foot of an injured Fulnio boy, he
overheard one of the Indians watching what
was happening say, “Whoever heard of a white
man washing an Indian’s foot before?
Certainly this man is from God.”

16. From that day on, whenever Doug would go
into an Indian home, it would be announced,
“Here come the man God sent us.”
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17. We must serve faithfully
A steward was someone placed in charge of
the master’s household or business to run the
operation while the master is gone away.

18. Although a steward has great responsibility, a
steward is accountable to the master always
and in everything.
Paul says that faithfulness is “required” – it’s
not an option or a suggestion.
Several times, Jesus told parables concerning
master who had left for a time and placed
servants in charge.
Listen to what Jesus says about faithful and
unfaithful stewardship.

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21. During a meeting of the Connecticut House of
Representatives in 1789, the sky outside
turned very dark and ominous.
Some of the representatives kept glancing out
the windows and feared the end of the world
was at hand.
They began to ask for an immediate
adjournment to the meeting.

22. The Speaker of the House was a man named
Colonel Davenport.
He stood up and said, “The Day of Judgment
is either approaching or it is not.
If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment.
If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty.
Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”
Someone said, “The world crowns success.
God crowns faithfulness.”

23. Paul points out that our reason for serving
should be base on one thing – pleasing God.

25. Paul says that there are three kinds of
judgment that we face:
1. Man’s judgment
He says, “
.”
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26. 2. Self-judgment
We can’t measure ourselves by the standard
of ourselves
3. God’s judgment

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28. We will face judgment
How does that future event apply to us in the
here and now?
Paul stresses that as long as we are faithful in
our service to Christ, it doesn’t matter what
anyone else thinks or says about us as long as
God approves.
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29. Paul also implies that if we are unfaithful to
Christ, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks
about us (including ourselves) as long as God
disapproves of us.
Someone once said to Abraham Lincoln that
the Union’s cause in the Civil War was in good
shape as long as God was on their side.
Lincoln replied that his concern was not
whether God was on his side but that he was
on God’s side.

30. Paul points out why God’s judgment is the only
one that counts
Human judgments are fallible.
The opinions of others and our own opinions
of our motives and actions are susceptible to
human error.

31. God’s judgment is infallible. In , God
told Samuel to find a replacement for Saul
because of his sinfulness.
God sent Samuel to find this replacement from
the family of Jesse of Bethlehem.
Samuel saw Jesse’ son Eliab.

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33. There was a wealthy man who enjoyed giving
his mother unique gifts for Mother’s Day.
Every year he outdid himself until finally he
couldn’t think of anything else to give her.
He was visiting a city for business reasons and
had time to kill.
He went to the local mall to see what was
offered there.

34. He walked into the pet store in that mall and
discovered a beautiful bird in a cage.
Not only was the bird beautiful, it could speak
five languages and sing Amazing Grace, his
mother’s favorite hymn.
The man knew that this was the gift for his
mother.

35. Although the bird cost $10,000.00, he paid for
the it and had the storeowner ship the bird to
his mother’s address.
When he got home from his business trip, he
called his mother and asked her, “Mom, how
did you like the bird?”
His mom said, “It was delicious!”

36. “You ate him?” the son exclaimed.
“But that was an expensive, smart bird!
He could speak five languages and sing
Amazing Grace!”
“Well he should of spoke up or started singing
when I put the knife to his neck!”
What have you done with what God has given
you?

37. A preacher went to a small town & preached a
series of gospel sermons to evangelize that
little town.
He preached for two weeks.
During the whole time, only one little girl
responded to the invitation at the end of one of
his sermons.
She confessed Christ, was baptized, and
turned out to be the only convert during the
entire meeting.

38. The preacher judged the meeting a failure,
and for years, he bemoaned the great effort he
had made for such little result.
However, he did not have the right view of
things.
That little girl grew up to be a strong, faithful
Christian woman.
She married a Christian man, and together
they produced several sons, all of whom
became preachers of the gospel.
Those sons converted thousands of
unbelievers to Christ.

39. Now, what do you suppose would have
happened to that little girl and her family, had
that gospel preacher not faithfully proclaimed
Christ?
Do you really think that preacher’s effort was a
failure?
Sometimes, what looks like a very small,
insignificant effort on our part, turns out to be
far greater than we think.
Paul said, “
.”

40. Some congregations close each worship time
by saying, “Worship had ended, the service
has begun,” or, “We enter to worship, now exit
to serve.”
Have you considered your service to Christ?
Is it what he has required?
Are you faithful to Him.
Are you judging your efforts by your own
opinion, the opinions of others, or are you
allowing God to be the final judge of your
service?

41. The requirement for God’s approval isn’t
success; it’s faithfulness
1. We’re not required to be brilliant—
just FAITHFUL.
2. We’re not required to be intelligent—just
FAITHFUL.
3. We’re not required to be articulate—
just FAITHFUL.
4. We’re not required to be handsome or
beautiful—
just FAITHFUL.
5. We’re not required to be eloquent—
just FAITHFUL.

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