1 Corinthians 4:6-21

Father, we come now before you, before your word.

Lord, we ask that you would speak to us this morning.

Lord, thank you that by your Holy Spirit you enable us to know spiritual truths, Lord,

that are wonderful, precious, sweet.

Lord, we pray this morning that we would not have hard hearts, Lord, and that we would

not resist your teaching, but Lord, that you would give us soft hearts to receive what

you have to speak to us this morning.

God, I pray for your help, that I might proclaim your word faithfully, that Christ would be

lifted up in our midst.

Lord, be with us, we pray, in Jesus' name.

Amen.

My son Eli had a doctor's appointment, actually a dentist appointment this week.

He's seven and his teeth are coming in.

His two lower front teeth are coming in, but his baby teeth haven't fallen out.

As a matter of fact, until this week, they hadn't even been loose.

And I, as a, doing this for the first time around, had no idea how serious this was or

not.

So I called the dentist, made up an appointment.

I was hoping they could just call me back and talk me through it, but they couldn't.

They had to set up an appointment.

So, so we set him up to take him in on Thursday.

And, you know, my poor little boy, he just hates being treated for things like cuts and

bruises and, you know, band-aids.

He just, he hates it.

And I thought, oh, Lord, if they have to take out four of his little teeth to make room for

those big honking ones that are sticking up through his gums right now.

Oh, Lord, have mercy on him.

I just wanted so much for him to not have to go through that.

I wanted so much for him to not go through that pain and that trial.

And I realized that it's just a little window into my heart.

That's how I often think about him and Katie.

As a parent, I want them to not have to go through trials and loss.

I hope that as they go to school, they don't have to face mockery and scorn from their peers

at school.

I pray as they grow that they won't have to face the sufferings of disappointment, of dashed

hopes and broken hearts.

I'll be honest with you.

I think, haven't they already seen enough?

Haven't they lost enough?

And you know, it's not a bad instinct for a parent to feel this way about their children.

Goodness, it's far better than neglecting them or not caring at all what happens to them.

But as I examined my heart this week and as we looked at our, as I was studying this passage,

I saw in it that there's a deeper longing in my heart.

I just want my life to be free from suffering and trial altogether.

I want it to be successful.

I want it to be triumphant.

Even the trials, I want to be able to say, I've overcome them and look at all the good

that they've produced in my life.

I want it to be easy and carefree.

I think we live in a world where this is often the subtext that life is supposed to work.

It's supposed to work out well.

Even the hard things produce good things.

And if there's something wrong, there must be a problem and the problem has to be fixed

or we sue somebody.

I think we spend in our culture a lot of time avoiding pain and suffering.

And you know, I think we can even import this into the church

and think that, well, isn't this what God wants for us?

God has saved us from sin.

God has saved us from our foolishness.

God has, in Christ, given us a new life.

It gives us hope that God will be good to us.

Not only in our eternal salvation, but in our everyday life.

And again, this is not an untrue thing that God would be good to us in our everyday life.

And yet, we expect God to preserve us from every pain and trial.

To preserve us and rescue us from every distress quickly.

And when he doesn't, we blame.

We reject him.

We withdraw from him.

I think we often go through our life, rather than asking the question that I think the Bible wants us to ask,

which is, how can we glorify God in whatever our situation?

We ask ourselves and God the question, how can I avoid pain in this situation?

Here's your test.

Think about how you pray.

When you have an evaluation at work.

As you think about your kid going off to junior high.

As you go on a date.

Or, nowadays, a dating online match moment.

I don't even know what that is.

When you go into your doctor's office for your routine evaluation.

Or, for something that you don't know quite what it is.

When you launch out on a new business venture.

Set off to a new place to live.

What do you pray for?

Do you pray for anything other than God's help?

That your endeavors would be successful.

That your problems would be fixed.

I know that I often don't pray for much more than that.

Maybe you're like me.

Thankfully, God has spoken to us in his word.

And so, if you want to turn with me.

Page 953.

We're looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 4.

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

Starting in verse 6.

We're looking at verse 6 to the end of the chapter.

And as we turn there.

I want to remind you.

Because this is actually the end of a section.

The first four chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians.

Are kind of an opening salvo.

And then you will see a strong transition.

Beginning of chapter 5.

And in this, Paul has been addressing broadly.

Their understanding of the Christian life.

Of what Christian leadership ought to look like.

And specifically.

Of what the gospel that they believe.

Actually is and promises.

And for much of this.

He has been uncovering.

In their thinking.

And in their hearts.

That their understanding is far more Corinthian.

Than it is Christian.

Far more Corinthian.

Than it is cruciform.

Shaped by the cross.

One commentator explained.

That for the Corinthian church.

It seemed that their values.

Were form above content.

Prestige above humility.

Stoicism above passion.

An organizing philosophy of wisdom.

Above frank confession.

Frank confession of ignorance.

And the limitations of human knowledge.

Rhetoric above truth.

Money above people.

And reputation above integrity.

The church had in many ways.

Adopted the thinking of the culture.

That they had lived in.

And one of the effects of it.

Was that they thought.

That the kingdom had already come.

They took the successful.

Get ahead culture.

Of Corinth.

And they imported it.

Into their understanding of God's kingdom.

And they thought.

That the kingdom that was.

That is future.

Has now become theirs.

In the present.

That.

They wanted to get ahead.

For God to be sure.

But by the means.

Of the Corinthian thought patterns.

Paul has been unpacking this.

And attacking it.

Over and over again.

In the last three and a half chapters.

And here.

He ends with a very passionate.

And very personal appeal.

To the Corinthians.

To consider.

What God has actually called them to.

So let's read this passage together.

First Corinthians chapter four.

Starting in verse six.

I have applied all these things to myself.

And Apollos.

For your benefit brothers.

That you may learn by us.

Not to go beyond.

What is written.

That none of you may be puffed up.

In favor of one another.

One against another.

For who sees anything different.

In you.

What do you have.

That you did not receive.

If then you received it.

Why do you boast.

As if you did not receive it.

Already you have all you want.

Already you've become rich.

Without us.

You have become kings.

And would that you did reign.

So that we might share the rule with you.

For I think God has exhibited us apostles.

As last of all.

Like men sentenced to death.

Because we have become a spectacle to the world.

To angels.

And to men.

We are fools for Christ's sake.

But you are wise in Christ.

We are weak.

But you are strong.

You are held in honor.

But we in disrepute.

To the present hour.

We hunger and thirst.

We are poorly dressed.

And buffeted.

And homeless.

And we labor.

Working with our own hands.

When reviled.

We bless.

When persecuted.

We endure.

When slandered.

We entreat.

We have become.

And are still.

Like the scum.

Of the world.

The refuse.

Of all things.

I do not write these things.

To make you ashamed.

But to admonish you.

As my beloved children.

For though you have countless guides.

In Christ.

You do not have many fathers.

For I became your father.

And Christ Jesus.

Through the gospel.

I urge you then.

Be imitators of me.

This is why I sent you Timothy.

My beloved and faithful child.

And the Lord.

To remind you of my ways.

In Christ.

As I teach them everywhere.

In every church.

Some are arrogant.

As though I were not coming to you.

But I will come to you soon.

If the Lord wills.

And I will find out.

Not their talk.

Not the talk of these arrogant people.

But their power.

For the kingdom of God.

Does not consist in talk.

But in power.

What do you wish?

Shall I come to you with a rod.

Or with love.

In a spirit of gentleness.

In this argument.

There is actually only two central commands.

That he said.

And one is an implication.

That you might not be puffed up.

The central command here.

Is what we see in verse.

I took off my glasses.

What is it?

16.

Verse 16.

Imitate me.

Imitate me.

This is the.

This is Paul's passionate appeal.

To the Corinthian church.

Is to say.

You have been thinking so much.

About your own culture.

You have been so influenced.

By the ways of thinking around you.

And maybe even by leaders among you.

As we see at the end of this chapter.

But would you.

My beloved children.

Imitate me.

Follow my example.

Not in boasting.

Not in self-promotion.

Not in self-exaltation.

Not in self-dependence.

But in self-denial.

And sacrifice.

Following.

In the footsteps of the Savior.

Imitate me.

In following Christ.

Paul unpacks this passage.

There are two different things.

I want to look at this morning.

As we look at.

What it is that Paul is saying.

As he's doing this.

I want to look first.

At the relationship.

On which this appeal.

Was grounded.

And secondly.

I want to look at the pattern.

That he put forward.

For us to imitate.

So let's look first.

At the relationship.

That Paul had.

The relationship.

That gave the grounds.

For this imitation.

First.

What we see is that Paul loved.

The Corinthian church.

To them.

To him.

They were like family.

You see it in verse 6.

My beloved.

My brothers.

I've done this to you.

Because you are my brothers.

In Christ.

I don't lord it over you.

I am not simply trying to come in.

And fix you.

As some authority.

I am your brother.

In this.

And then as we saw.

In 14 through 17.

He says.

Not only am I your brother.

But I'm your father.

Verse 15.

When it says.

I have become your father.

The word there.

Is the same word.

To birth a child.

And it's interesting.

The way Paul puts it.

Isn't it?

He didn't say.

I have birthed you.

He said.

I have become your father.

Because the gospel.

Has begotten you.

As my child.

Do you see how he says that?

I became your father.

In Christ Jesus.

Through the gospel.

Paul isn't saying.

I'm appealing to you.

Because I have done all these great things in your life.

Paul is saying.

No.

The gospel has done great things.

And I've had the privilege.

Of being a vehicle.

Through which the gospel has worked.

In you.

And I love you.

And I love you enough.

Not to back down.

I love you enough.

Not to say.

Hey.

I just given my opinion.

Do your own thing.

He loves them enough.

To say.

I will come.

It will either be with a rod.

Or it will be with gentleness.

It will either come with strength.

Of rebuke.

Or it will come.

With the gentleness.

Of embrace.

He loves them that much.

And he does say.

I have become your father.

So imitate me.

This was a cultural pattern.

That in our modern world.

We have very little sense of.

But in the ancient world.

And in fact.

In most places in the world.

In most times.

Sons would follow.

In the footsteps of their father.

Think of how in the English language.

We have some great last names.

Baker.

And Smith.

Do you know why they have that last name?

Because their dad was the baker.

And then the son was the baker.

And the son after him.

Was the baker.

And so you just kept your name.

Or in the Scandinavian countries.

How many of you are named.

Peterson.

Or Svensson.

Or Olson.

Or Olofsson.

Or whatever.

I'm the son of my father.

And that's my identity.

And I follow in his footsteps.

And I bear his name.

Think of even how the crowds responded to Jesus.

When he began his ministry.

Isn't he the carpenter's son?

Shouldn't he be in his woodshed?

Workshop?

Working?

What is he doing?

Preaching?

This isn't what he's done.

So Paul is leaning on a cultural pattern of imitation.

He's saying, I have become your father.

Not a pedagogue.

Not a...

The word here for countless guides.

Might be best translated a governess or a nanny.

Someone who takes over the full-time care and moral development of a child for a period of time.

But not forever.

And in the ancient Near East, there's a clear distinction between who is the father.

And who was the caretaker on a day-to-day basis.

And Paul says, you have many who can come and teach you and take care of you.

He's not trying to pick a fight with the other teachers.

Apollos and Peter and others.

Saying they're a blessing to you.

But you only have one father.

Imitate me.

Finally, I want you to see that in his relationship, his focus was not on himself.

It's so easy for us, isn't it?

As people to try to sort of leverage our personal relationships to get someone else to do what we want to do.

Hey, I did all this for you.

Come on.

Give me a little...

Give me a little something in return.

If we have authority over someone, we can wield that in a way to manipulate or to control.

Paul isn't doing any of that.

So striking in verse 14.

I don't write this that you would be ashamed.

Don't be ashamed of who you are.

Don't be ashamed of what God has done in your life.

Don't be ashamed of me.

I don't want this to be a guilt trip for you.

It is instead an invitation.

I want to draw out of you the best.

I want to elicit you to find what is right and good and true.

And to pursue that.

He intervenes for their good.

The thought that Paul would be wielding his relationship with them for his own benefit flies in the whole face of the passage.

Because that's not the pattern.

I wonder if you've ever had a relationship like this in your life.

I'm thankful to say that I've had many.

I sat down this week and I counted four turning point incidents in my life.

Where I had whether mentors or friends.

Men and women both.

Who spoke into my life.

I can think of Bill who confronted me about my lack of responsibility in a dating relationship.

outside of a dormitory at college.

I talked to him.

I thought of a dear sister who sat me down when I was a young foolish and one of those really dangerous guys who was really nice.

And didn't quite know what he was doing.

And said, you've got to learn how to have more self-control so you can love your sisters well.

And not be confusing.

I can think of a couple who called me on a decision that I was making.

And they said, we think you're doing this for selfish ambition.

And not for desire for the kingdom.

I can think of a time here at Trinity when I was confronted by a brother about my lack of grace.

And you know, sometimes I saw the wisdom of their statements in the moment.

Sometimes it took years for me to really understand it.

But each of them said, you're not living up to your profession to follow Christ.

You're being foolish when you think you are wise.

You're being proud instead of humble.

I'm thankful for them.

I'm humbled by them.

And I want to imitate them.

I think Paul's example is one for us to consider as well.

How we might bring these dynamics into our relationships.

Obviously this applies to a discipling relationship or to church leadership as we lead the church.

That we might do this.

Sense both the weightiness and the responsibility to have these kinds of relationships.

For any of you who are parents, you recognize this is a part of what we do in parenting as well, isn't it?

But also in spiritual friendships.

The examples I gave many were mentors.

But one was just a friend, a sister, who sat me down and helped me see something that I couldn't see.

And I wonder if we have those kinds of relationships that are based in love.

That are calling us to live out the profession that God has given us.

Willing to confront where we think wrongly.

Willing to love, not to shame, but to encourage and exhort one another to follow Christ.

Do we value people doing this in our own lives?

Do we value, do we seek to cultivate these kinds of relationships as we initiate them with others?

But this is only setting up the content of the passage, the rest of the passage, isn't it?

Because this is the basis upon which the appeal to imitate Paul is laid in this familial, loving relationship.

But then we see Paul saying, what is it that you're to imitate with me?

And he sets up this contrast.

He says, the pattern for you, that you are to imitate in me is one of boasting in nothing.

But in the cross of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

And walking a path of life that is patterned by that crucified Messiah.

As you look, verses 7 through 13, you see this constant contrast.

You, we, you, we, you, we.

He's saying, there's a pattern that I see in your life that looks like this.

But the pattern that I have lived looks like this.

And he says, imitate this.

What is this?

Well, let's look at it.

Let's look at this contrast together.

The Corinthian way.

Start with me in verse 7.

Who sees anything different?

That is, who sees anything special in you?

What do you have that you did not receive?

And if you received it, then why do you boast of it as if you didn't?

The very core of the Corinthian problem was that of pride.

They had an inflated sense of self-worth.

Like Tom Hanks in Castaway sitting on this beach saying,

Look what I have created when he lights a bonfire.

But we think about everything in our life that way.

And rather than seeing that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above,

we take these things and we make them ours.

And then we say, look what a great thing I am.

And when we do this, we fall into all the patterns that we've been talking about for the last two and a half months.

We compare to one another.

Am I ahead of them or not?

We compete.

We lift ourselves up by putting other people down.

Taking credit for the things that we have that other people don't so that we can feel more important.

We build our identities on things that separate us from others.

And in doing so, we jockey for greatness.

And that pride is expressed in a kind of arrogance.

It builds one another up.

It's fascinating thinking about how to read this passage.

Because if you've ever wondered whether sarcasm is okay,

for those of us who are in New England, we love it.

Right?

Paul got sarcastic here.

Right?

He got ironic here.

In verse 8,

he's saying something that is both true and untrue at the same time about them.

Already you have all that you want.

Already you are rich.

Already you have begun to reign,

which is the best translation of that phrase.

You have begun to reign with Christ.

Christ.

And look, if we went back,

if you were here two weeks ago,

when Greg preached on the end of chapter 3,

you see this, right?

All things are yours in Christ.

So in one level, this is true.

And yet, because of the way they held it,

because they took these things,

and rather than seeing them as received from the Lord,

they took credit for them,

and they puffed themselves up with it.

In fact, they were empty rather than full of all that Christ had done for them.

They're boasting empties themselves.

And like a souffle before it's pricked and collapses,

like cotton candy that looks so good and yet disappears in your mouth as soon as you touch it,

Paul says, this is what your lives are.

In your pride, you have built a great facade,

and there is no substance in it.

You have a misperception of yourselves,

and the fruit of it is destructive.

You haven't even gotten what you truly want.

For what you want is true wisdom,

true spiritual life,

true greatness.

True power.

And in fact, you have none of those things,

because you have sought to build them yourself,

and take them from the world,

and establish yourself in the worldly pattern,

rather than receiving these things from Christ.

And Paul says,

you are in grave danger,

because if you follow in this pattern,

you are robbing God of his glory.

You are denying all of the things that he has done for you.

And you are refusing to see how he has done it,

and embrace him as your pattern.

And so Paul says,

you have done all of these things,

this has been your pattern,

but we have done these things.

We have followed a different pattern,

the way of the cross.

What is this characterized by?

Strikingly,

in verse 9,

God has exhibited,

God has appointed us.

His starting point is not,

look what we have done,

but this is what God has done.

God called us into this.

God has called us into this path.

We probably wouldn't have chosen it,

in our own wisdom,

but God has called us to this.

It is a part of his plan,

and it is good.

And what does it look like?

Friends,

are you ready for all these?

We have become a spectacle.

Becoming a spectacle,

usually is not a good thing.

And here,

Paul certainly means it that way.

The world looks at you and thinks,

are you kidding me?

Seriously?

Really?

Foolishness?

Weakness?

Dishonor?

We've become like a freak show.

Whoever that is,

I don't get it.

I don't understand it.

Paul goes on and he says,

I've embraced the suffering.

Physical suffering,

hardship,

hunger,

and thirst.

No clothing,

no shelter.

I've experienced the scorn and derision of other people.

I worked with my hands,

like a slave.

It's like President Obama,

vacuuming his own office.

And even we are way too democratic to get,

that actually doesn't strike us as odd.

We'd be like the King of England,

cleaning his toilet.

That's the kind of

shockiness

of a spiritual teacher

working with his hands

to earn his own

in the eyes of the Corinthians.

He worked with his hands.

He was reviled.

He was slandered.

He was persecuted.

And then,

one of my most favorite,

though most striking verses,

we have become

and still are,

verse 13,

the scum of the world,

the refuse

of all things.

Have you ever left a coffee mug

in a hot window

with a little milk in the bottom of it

for a couple weeks?

Have you ever cleaned out

the grease trap

under your sink?

Have you ever walked

the streets

of a third world country

where you share

the sidewalk

or the road,

there's no difference,

with

scooters

and bikes

and cars

and trucks

and cattle

and sheep

and

donkeys

and

chickens?

Have you ever seen

what you would scrape

off the bottom of your shoe

at the end of the day?

That's what the refuse

of all things is.

That's what the scum

of the world is.

They are things

that are not only

ugly

and distasteful,

but they're actually

offensive.

And Paul says,

this

is what God

has appointed

for us.

This is the pattern

that God has set

for us

to do it.

And do you see

there is no room

for pride here?

There's no room

for boasting

and self.

There is instead

a refining work

that empties us

of all of our

self-promotion

and self-exaltation

and self-dependence

and, dare I say,

it's self-esteem.

It refines us

and empties us

of self

and fills us

instead

with something else.

It fills us

with love.

Do you see?

This is what

the end of verse 12

and beginning of verse 13

say.

In the midst

of all of this

suffering

that I endure

for the sake

of the gospel

when I am treated

like the scum

of the earth,

when people

look at me

and think

I'm a freak show,

I seek to bless them.

I want their good.

I entreat them.

That is,

I appeal to them

to see the folly

of their way

and the wisdom

of the cross.

it fills us

with love

that enables us

to endure

because if our identity

is in

how great we are,

then when people

treat us

like

the stuff

on the road,

then we're shattered.

But if we know

that this is what

God has appointed

to us

and we know

that in Christ

we have

something far

better,

far more,

far richer

than anything else,

then we can be

patient and enduring

even in those trials.

I think of

a man named

Charles Simeon.

If you ever want

to know about him,

John Hinkson

did a master's

thesis on him.

It's a great story.

Actually,

John's thing

is a good read too.

But Charles Simeon

was a pastor

in England

a couple of

centuries ago.

And he served

in a,

he was wonderfully

converted

during his time

in college

and afterwards

he ended up

staying

and was

surprisingly

at a fairly young age

able to take

the pastoral position

of a church,

Trinity Church,

right near

Cambridge University.

But this is what

his ministry life

looked like.

For the first

ten years,

the members

of the congregation

didn't want him.

Back then,

you could

reserve,

purchase,

own a pew

in the church

so they locked

their pews.

If you've ever been

to the Old North Church

in Boston,

they have the

locking pews still.

It would be like

there's a door

along the aisles

and you couldn't

get in

without getting

over these doors.

And for the first

ten years,

the entire pews

were empty

and people came

and sat on the floor

to be preached to.

Not the members,

but others.

For ten years,

he preached to a church

that didn't want him.

That finally

changed

some,

yet

he still

thirty years

into his ministry

went through

another season

where everyone

sought to

cast him out

of his position.

When he turned

forty-seven,

he developed

a physical disability

that made him

almost unable

to speak.

After he preached,

he could only speak

in a whisper.

This went on

for thirteen years.

He was so

looked down

upon

in the

university

community,

though he was

a graduate,

he was so

looked down

upon

that he remarked

once in his

journal

of the blessing

of a colleague

who walked

with him

for fifteen

minutes

around the

courtyard

of the

college

because it

was the

first time

it had

happened

in years.

He was

so despised

and scorned

in the

university

community

that even

his colleagues

would not

walk with

him

around the

campus

universe

around

the

campus.

And then

his biographer

writes this

in April

1831,

Charles Simeon

was 71

years old.

He had been

the pastor

Trinity Church

for 49

years.

He was

asked one

afternoon

by his

friend

how he

had

surmounted

persecution

and outlasted

all the

great prejudice

against him

in his

49-year

ministry.

And he

said to

Gurney,

my dear

brother,

we must

not mind

a little

suffering

for Christ's

sake.

When I

am getting

through a

hedge,

if my

head and

shoulders

are safely

through,

I can

bear the

pricking

of my

legs,

let us

rejoice in

the remembrance

that our

holy head

has surmounted

all his

sufferings

and triumphed

over death.

Let us

follow him

patiently.

We shall

soon be

partakers

of his

victory.

This is

what Paul

longed for

the Corinthian

church,

that they

would see

that his

example

was one

of suffering

because he

was following

Jesus,

the one

who went

first and

foremost,

who suffered

in our

place.

The echoes

of Isaiah

53 ring

in our

ears that

he was

wounded for

our

transgressions,

he was

crushed for

our

iniquities.

Don't

follow the

path of

boasting,

but instead

follow the

example of

Christ.

So what

might this

look like

for us?

Friends,

we need to

do some

heart work

about who

we are.

Are you

willing to

walk around

with a

t-shirt that

says,

scum of the

earth,

spectacle before

men and

angels?

A t-shirt

is cheap.

It's not

really our

identity.

But more

importantly,

how about

those that

you interact

with in

the world?

Whether it

be your

families,

your

colleagues,

your

potential

employers,

your

classmates in

the school

room and

in the

hallways.

friends,

Jesus' call

here is

one that

is striking

because to

follow him

makes us

aliens and

strangers,

in the words

of the

apostle Peter,

aliens and

strangers in

our world.

It ought to

feel weird to

follow Christ

in our world.

Sometimes I

fear that

we have

bought into

a lie that

somehow if

we can do

our

Christianity

just well

enough and

with enough

wisdom and

savvy that

we'll be

accepted and

people will

think well

of us.

But that's

probably not

really the

case.

Jesus said

if they

persecuted me

they will

persecute you

also.

The gospel

cuts across

every culture

we will

find the

places where

the exclusivity

of Christ

or a

faithfulness

about teaching

of how we

live our

lives sexually,

how we

interact with

the world

and other

religions,

how we

forgive our

enemies.

things.

All of

these things

will be

striking and

countercultural

in various

places in

various ways.

And if we

think that by

faithfulness we're

going to be

okay and

there won't be

a cost, we

haven't heard

Paul this

morning.

We may

become

marginalized in

our culture.

Friends, we

need to be ready

for this as a

church.

church.

I don't want

to be doom

and gloom.

I don't want

to try to fight

the culture war.

I want to

follow Christ.

But we need to

recognize that

following Christ

may lead us

outside the

camp.

It may lead us

to places where

all we have is

the power of

the gospel in

our lives as

we live humbly,

brokenly, in

weakness, and

being seen as

foolish in the

world.

friends, this is

what Paul did

because he

followed Jesus.

And this is

what Jesus did

for us.

Because as

offensive as

the cross and

following the

cross can be in

our world, the

deepest offense in

the world is

far more profound,

isn't it?

The thing that

most offends us

and our friends

and our world

is not a

particular stance

on this or

that issue.

But it's that

we are owning

the fact that

we are sinners.

And that sin

is so offensive

that it deserved

not a pass,

not a warning,

but it earned

for us the

death of the

Son of God

himself.

when we

admit that

our sin

cripples us,

that our

pride makes

us empty

and puffed

up rather

than substantive

and real,

when we

recognize that

our sin

makes our

wisdom

foolishness

and our

strength

weakness

and our

spirituality

empty

and exposes

us as in

fact offensive

to God,

and helpless.

We then

see how

wonderful a

Savior we

have

because he

stepped into

that.

Jesus took

the offense

for us,

didn't he?

Jesus was

scorned and

mocked.

He was the

Son of God

and the

creator of the

world and

yet we

esteemed him

not.

not.

He came

to his

own and

his own

received him

not.

He was

taken outside

the city

and crucified

on a hill

bearing the

wrath of God

against the

offense of

our sin.

sin.

And though

our pride is

pricked and

our backs

get up,

we want

desperately to

find some

other way,

this alone

is the only

way that we

can be

saved.

And so

we find in

this salvation

not only our

greatest hope

but our only

pattern.

There's no

easier way

than following

Christ because

there's no

better way

than following

Christ.

I think about

this now

sometimes when

I pray for

my kids.

Not often.

But I pray

not that their

life would be

easy but that

they would

know.

They would

know more

of this

Savior who

loved them

so.

And that

the hearts

and the

pains of

their lives

would drive

them to

him.

That they

might know

the fellowship

of suffering

and perhaps

attain to the

resurrection from

the dead.

Let me close

with the words

of 1 Peter

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2.

for this

for this you

have been

called

because Christ

also suffered

for you

leaving you

an example

so that you

might follow

in his steps.

He committed

no sin

neither was

deceit found

in his mouth

when he was

reviled he did

not revile in

return.

When he

suffered he did

not threaten

but continued

entrusting himself

to him who

judges justly.

He himself

bore our sins

in his body

on the tree

that we might

die to sin

and live to

righteousness.

By his wounds

you have been

healed for you

were straying

like sheep

but have now

returned to

the shepherd

and overseer

of your souls.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Holy Spirit

I invite you

to do your

searching work

in our hearts.

Lord help us

to see how much

we still cling

to a vision

of a world

where life

will be easy

where success

is expected

where triumph

is

known

and

banked on.

Lord help us

to see how much

we want to avoid

suffering and trial

in this life

and how often

we are

derailed

from the path

of discipleship

and following you

because of that

commitment

in our heart.

And Jesus

help us

to see you

the great shepherd

and overseer

of our souls.

Lord help us

to return

to you

and to see

the path

that you walked

for us

and to walk

that path

for your sake

for the gospel's sake

for your glory.

Lord may we

not mind

a little suffering

in this life.

We pray this

in Jesus name.

Amen.