Real Church Leaders: 1 Corinthians 4v1-21

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court.

Indeed, I do not even judge myself.

My consciousness is clear, but that does not make me innocent.

It is the Lord who judges me.

Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time.

Wait till the Lord comes.

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness,

and will expose the motive of men's hearts.

At that time, each will receive his praise from God.

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit,

so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying,

Do not go beyond what is written.

Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

For what makes you different from anyone else?

What do you have that you did not receive?

And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want.

Already you have become rich.

You have become kings, and that without us.

How I wish that you really had become kings,

so that we might be kings with you.

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession,

like men condemned to die in the arena.

We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe,

to angels as well as to men.

We are fools for Christ,

but you are so wise in Christ.

We are weak, but you are so strong.

You are honored.

We are dishonored.

To this very hour, we go hungry and thirsty.

We are in rags.

We are brutally treated.

We are homeless.

We work hard with our own hands.

When we are cursed, we bless.

When we are persecuted, we endure it.

When we are slandered, we answer kindly.

Up to this moment, we have become the scum of the earth,

the refuse of the world.

I am not writing this to shame you,

but to warn you as my dear children.

Even though you have 10,000 guardians in Christ,

you do not have many fathers.

For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the gospel.

Therefore, I urge you to imitate me.

For this reason, I am sending to you Timothy,

my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord.

He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,

which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Some of you have become arrogant,

as if I were not coming to you.

But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing.

And then I will find out,

not only how these arrogant people are talking,

but what power they have.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk,

but of power.

What do you prefer?

Shall I come with you a whip,

or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Thank you, Sam.

Well, please keep your Bibles open there,

and let's follow along as we hear God's word.

We're going to pray first,

so let's do that now.

Our Father God, we come before you,

and we humble ourselves before you.

For you are the God who rules over all.

You are the King of kings,

the Lord of lords.

It is with your word that you spoke this universe into existence.

It is by your word you sustain all things.

It is by your word you bring about life,

and spiritual life.

And so we ask that the power of the Holy Spirit

would be speaking through your word this morning,

changing hearts,

transforming lives,

causing us to be a church

that follows you

and leads

in the way you would have us to lead.

So we ask for your help.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

A legend.

A warrior.

Paul O'Connell is not just a great player.

He has all the qualities of a great leader.

As one teammate shared,

nothing he ever said

felt unattainable.

He made us feel we could beat anyone.

An inspirational leader

and a motivating captain.

Leaders are vital, aren't they?

They're vital if we're to win in sports.

Succeed in business.

Defeat our enemies.

So what kind of leader

should we choose

for the church?

If you've been reading the notices carefully,

you will know that that's something

we're seeking to do in this church.

We're wanting to appoint

an additional elder

or elders

to help lead

the church here in Carrigoline.

So what should we be looking for

when we are appointing

a new leader?

Well, it's been very clear

as we've been going through

1 Corinthians

what the church in Corinth wanted.

Their leaders had to be

popular with people.

Successful in ministry.

Well educated.

They had to be impressive

in knowledge

and eloquent in speech.

It was all about people

and their status.

Now these things

may be helpful

but they are not

the essential qualities

of a church leader.

Go back to chapter 3

verse 3.

You see,

they were looking at leadership

from a worldly point of view.

So he says in chapter 3

verse 1

Brothers and sisters

I could not address you

as spiritual

but as worldly

mere infants

in Christ.

They were behaving

like babies.

Verse 3

You are still worldly

for since there is jealousy

and quarrelling among you

are you not worldly?

Are you not acting

like mere men?

Are you not just following

the wisdom of the world?

For when one says

oh I follow Paul

and another

I follow Apollos

are you not mere men?

You see,

it was all about people

and their status

what they did

and what they could do.

And he reminds us

that no,

that is not

what we should look for.

So what are the qualities

we should look for

when we are choosing

a leader?

Well we are going to look

at this in three ways.

Three things

that are said

about church leaders.

The first one

is this

leaders

live gospel

faithful lives.

And there's three things

I want to say

under this.

First

leaders are entrusted

with the gospel.

Look at chapter 4

verse 1

1 and 2

So then

men ought to

regard us

as servants

of Christ

and as those

entrusted

with the secret

things

of God.

So what are these

secret things

that have been

entrusted

to leaders?

What are the secret

things?

Well he's already

told us what they are.

If you go back

to chapter 2

verse 1

and 2

so chapter 2

he reminds them

that when Paul

first arrived

in Corinth

he said

I didn't come

with eloquence

or superior wisdom

as I proclaim

to you

the testimony

about God

for I resolved

to know nothing

while I was with you

except

so this was the only

thing I wanted

to teach you

was that

Jesus Christ

and him crucified.

Go down to

verse 7

he says

we speak

of God's

secret wisdom

a wisdom

that has been

hidden

but

look at

verse 10

God has

revealed it

to us

by his

spirit

so God

had made

known

the gospel

he had

declared

to the apostles

to Paul

and his

spirit

had enabled

them to

understand

and see

the good

news

about

Jesus

Christ

and what

the death

of Christ

on the cross

meant

that is

what has

been entrusted

to the leaders

of the church

now if something

has been entrusted

to you

that means

you're to

care for it

you're to

look after it

you're to

preserve it

you're to

keep it

and guard it

it is

something

special

something

very

precious

because

the message

of Jesus

Christ

and him

crucified

is

God's

power

to

save

people

it's

the means

by which

people are

changed

and transformed

so it is

precious

it is

special

and it

must be

preserved

it's been

entrusted

to you

so they

have been

entrusted

with the

gospel

faithful

and

second

they must

be

proven

faithful

with

the

gospel

verse 2

chapter 4

now it is

required that

those who have

been given a

trust

must prove

faithful

yes they are

to protect

the gospel

they're to make

sure that it

doesn't get

changed or

altered or

diluted in

any shape or

form

they are to

be faithful

well how can

we be

faithful

how can

we make

sure we

do that

well look

down at

verse 6

now brothers

he says I

have applied

these things

to myself

and apostles

and Apollos

as those who

are leaders

for your

benefit so

that you

may learn

from us

the meaning

of the

saying

do not

go beyond

what is

written

in other

words

he's

teaching

the church

you're not

to go

beyond

anything

that we

have written

like this

first letter

or anything

that we

have taught

you

remember

Paul is

an apostle

and he's

referring to

the other

apostles

so do not

go beyond

what has

been

written

everything

that they

teach

must be

tested

against

the things

that Paul

has already

written

and spoken

about

which means

for us

today

leaders

must have

a very

clear

grasp

and understanding

of what

God's

word

has to

say

this is

our

apostolic

authority

it is

the word

of God

this is

the standard

by which

we must

test

everything

and we

mustn't

go beyond

the cover

if you

like

of holy

scripture

look at

the rest

of verse

six

then

you will

not

take

pride

in one

man

over

against

another

you see

we're not

interested

in how

popular

or how

successful

or how

educated

a leader

is

we're not

wanting to

gather around

leaders

with big

personalities

we want

to gather

around

God's

word

and his

son

the Lord

Jesus

Christ

and so

what we

need

are

leaders

who are

able to

explain

the truth

of God

and be

able to

apply the

truth of

God to

people's

lives

and lead

people

according to

what God

has to

say

they must

prove

faithful

according

to God's

word

as one

writer has

put it

God's

word

is his

supernatural

power

for

accomplishing

his

supernatural

work

this is

no

ordinary

book

it is

his

supernatural

power

to accomplish

his

supernatural

work

preaching

the content

and intent

of God's

word

is what

unleashes

the power

of God

on the

people of

God

if we

want to

know the

power of

God at

work in

our lives

then we

are to

hear

the word

of God

being taught

and explained

so we

are entrusted

with the

gospel

we must

prove

faithful

and third

leaders are

to be

accountable

to God

go back

to verse

three

he says

I care

very little

if I am

judged by

you

or by

any human

court

indeed

I do

not even

judge

myself

you see

the church

were making

all kinds

of judgments

about Paul

what kind

of leader

he was

his message

what they

thought

and he's

stepping back

from all of

that he

says I

don't mind

I don't

care if

you judge

me

or what

little

committee

you set

up to

judge

me

leaders

are not

there to

please

people

they are

there to

please

God

look what he

says at the

end of verse

four

it is

the Lord

who judges

me

you see

people might

look for

popular leaders

but God

looks for

faithful

leaders

faithful

leaders who

are true

to his

gospel

who are

there to

please

God

and not

people

and the

danger is

is what

happens

is people

begin to

teach what

other people

want to

hear

so you

know

Johnny

you shouldn't

really be

teaching so

much about

Jesus'

death on

the cross

it's a little

bit outdated

and irrelevant

and people

don't really

want to hear

that message

anymore

we need to

we need to

move on

and the

danger is

that we

can begin

to fit

our message

to what

people want

to hear

but leaders

are not

accountable

to the

judgments

of people

they are

accountable

to God

verse

five

therefore

judge

nothing

before

the

appointed

time

wait

till

the

Lord

comes

he

will

bring

to

light

what

is

hidden

in

darkness

and

he

will

expose

the

motives

of

men's

hearts

now of

course

that doesn't

mean

leaders

are to

ignore

the

judgments

of

people

we know

from

scripture

that we

are

accountable

to

the

church

body

but it

is vital

that every

judgment

made

is first

tested

against

God's

word

as we

saw

back in

verse

six

to make

sure

that it

is not

going

beyond

the

bounds

of what

is

written

because

it is

God

to whom

we are

ultimately

accountable

you see

when we

stand before

God

as judge

he's not

going to

ask the

leaders

how popular

with you

were you

did the

church

like you

did the

community

in which

you

lived

did they

did they

think you

were great

we're not

going to be

asked how

successful

we were

how many

churches

we planted

or how

many people

came to

faith

how educated

how many

letters

we have

after our

name

God

will want

to know

were we

faithful

to the

gospel

did we

teach it

and explain

it to

people

did we

guard it

and keep

it

so real

leaders

true

leaders

must live

gospel

faithful

lives

second

church

leaders

live

cross

shaped

lives

I wonder

how you

would feel

if you

were considered

a fool

or called

scum

maybe you've

had that

said to

you

I don't

know

but it's

certainly

not very

nice

is it

well that it

seems is the

quality God

looks for

in leaders

have a look

at verse

10

look what he

says

we are

fools

for Christ

or down

we're down

at the end

of verse

13

he says

the scum

of the

earth

you see

the wisdom

of the

world

looks for

a different

kind of

leader

back in

verse 8

he says

already you

have all

you want

already you

have become

rich

you have

become

kings

and that

without us

you see

the kind

of leaders

they are

looking for

are powerful

and wealthy

and influential

like the

kings

and the

rulers

of this

world

look at

the rest

of verse

8

how I

wish that

you really

had become

kings

so that

we might

be kings

with you

now Paul

is getting

very sarcastic

and ironic

here with

them

it's like

oh we

seem to

have got

it wrong

please

teach us

how we

should be

real leaders

so that

we don't

have to

suffer

and we

don't

have to

serve

teach us

what it

is to

be a

worldly

leader

no true

leaders

not only

preach the

cross

they must

also follow

the example

of the

cross

so he

tells us

two things

that first

leaders

are

fools

for

Christ

look at

verse 9

for

for it

seems to

me

that

God

has

put

us

apostles

on

display

at

the

end

of

the

procession

like

men

condemned

to die

in the

arena

in days

past

when a

king

returned

to his

city

after a

great big

victory

a great

big

battle

there would

be this

great

celebration

and at

the front

of the

procession

would be

the king

and his

chariot

and all

the streets

would be

lined with

the cheering

people

celebrating

this great

king

and his

marvellous

victory

and at

the back

of the

procession

would be

the captured

enemies

shuffling

along in

their chains

waiting

for their

execution

or as it

says here

in verse 9

like men

condemned

to die

in the

arena

well

this

he says

is what

a church

leader

is like

to the

eyes

of the

world

like

men

condemned

to die

in the

arena

we have

been made

a spectacle

to the

whole

universe

to angels

as well

as to

men

you see

when people

look at

the cross

of Christ

they think

it's

stupid

it's not

a victory

that man

dying on

the cross

it's a

failure

they hear

the message

of Christ

and they

regard it

as foolish

so it's

not surprising

then that

those who

preach the

cross

and those

who live

by the

cross

are also

considered

fools

verse 10

we are

fools for

Christ

but you

you're so

wise in

Christ

we are

weak

oh but

you're so

strong

aren't

you

you are

honoured

we are

dishonoured

you see

the wisdom

of the

world

says it's

the powerful

the clever

the influential

people that

count

these are the

kinds of

leaders we

need for

our churches

no the

leaders that

count

are those

who follow

the example

of Christ

Christ

was thought

of as a

fool

as he

hung on

the cross

he was

considered

weak

come down

from the

cross if

you can

save

yourself

look at

the state

of him

as the

crowds laughed

and mocked

he was

dishonoured

real leaders

must be

prepared to

follow the

way

of the

cross

but not

only are

we to

be

fools

leaders

are to

be the

scum

of the

earth

you see

for many

leadership

is kind

of prestige

it's

power

it's a

title

it's

position

but not

the leader

God looks

for

look at

how Paul

describes his

life

verse 11

to this

very hour

we go

hungry

and thirsty

we are

in rags

we are

brutally

treated

we are

homeless

we work

hard with

our own

hands

when we

are cursed

we bless

when we

are persecuted

we endure

it

when we

are slandered

we answer

kindly

there is

nothing

advantageous

in the

world's

eyes

about

being

a

church

leader

no

privileges

no

special

treatment

no

particular

rights

it's a

life of

service

and sacrifice

it's where

people

misunderstand

you

where

people

ignore

you

and

mistreat

you

just as

Christ

lived

with

rejection

just as

Christ

died

in

humiliation

so the

church

leader

must be

prepared

to follow

in that

same

path

look at

the end

of verse

13

up to

this

moment

we have

become

the

scum

of the

earth

the

refuse

of the

world

the

stuff

that

is

thrown

into

your

bin

the

stuff

that

is

scraped

into

the

compost

this

is

what

church

leaders

are

in

the

eyes

of

the

world

they

have

nothing

to

say

they

have

nothing

to

give

just

think

about

the

last

time

you

heard

an

evangelical

minister

Christian

on the

radio

or on

television

being

invited

onto

the

late

late

show

to

give

their

opinion

or

on

some

talk

show

when

was

the

last

time

you

hear

it

don't

hear

it

very

often

if

at

all

why

because

well

the

message

that

they

have

to

share

is

it's

like

filth

it's

like

dirt

it's

like

scum

we

don't

need

it

we

don't

need

to

hear

that

it's

useless

so

real

leaders

not only

preach

the

cross

they

must

be

prepared

to

follow

the

example

of

the

cross

third

church

leaders

are to

live

Christ

like

lives

look at

verse

14

he says

I'm not

writing this

to shame

you

but to

warn you

as my

dear

children

he's

caring

for them

he loves

them

so much

don't

look for

the

qualities

that

the

world

looks

for

don't

be

looking

out

for

big

personalities

and

impressive

speakers

those

who

are

highly

educated

he's

saying

this

for

their

own

good

look

at

the

end

of

verse

15

he

says

for

in

Christ

Jesus

I

became

your

father

through

the

gospel

I

care

for

you

like

a

father

cares

for

his

own

child

I

want

to

make

sure

that

your

church

and

your

people

are

protected

and

cared

for

and

loved

so

choose

your

leaders

well

do

what

is

right

and

he

goes

on

to

explain

what

that

is

first

leaders

must

live

by

example

verse

16

therefore

I

urge

you

to

imitate

me

what

a

thing

to

say

follow

my

example

don't

just

listen

to

what

I

say

live

as

I

live

watch

my

life

and

do

the

kinds

of

things

that

I

do

verse

17

for

this

reason

I

am

sending

to

you

Timothy

my

son

whom

I

love

who

is

faithful

in

the

Lord

he

will

remind

you

of

my

way

of

life

in

Christ

Jesus

you

see

leaders

are not

only

to

preach

Christ

they

are

to

live

like

Christ

their

lives

must

back

up

the

message

listen

he

says

to

what

Timothy

has

to

say

he'll

tell

you

how

I

live

the

kind

of

life

I

live

towards

other

people

he

will

remind

you

of

my

way

of

life

in

Christ

Jesus

which

agrees

with

what

I

teach

everywhere

in

every

church

leaders

live

what

they

preach

they

are

to

be

a

walking

example

of

the

message

they

declare

not

only

talk

about

Jesus

but

live

like

Jesus

of

course

it

doesn't

mean

perfection

and I

stand

here

and I

speak

as a

leader

of the

church

it's

not

perfection

rather

there is

this

continual

growing

in

Christ

likeness

there is

a

continuing

grasping

and understanding

of God's

word

that is

continually

being

applied

so that

it is

not only

seen

in

life

but

can

actually

be

followed

and go

yes

that is

the way

we should

live

church

leaders

are to

live

Christ

like

lives

and

live

by

example

and

second

leaders

must

discipline

gently

verse

18

some

of you

have

become

arrogant

as if

I

were

not

coming

to

you

all

that

Paul

character

glad

he's

not

here

anymore

we

can

do

things

our

way

now

let's

show

him

how

to

lead

let's

show

him

how

to

really

do

church

and

how

to

win

the

crowd

we

know

what

to

do

but

leadership

in

the

church

is

too

serious

a

matter

to

ignore

because

the

quality

of

a

leader

will

determine

the

quality

of

the

church

verse

19

but

I

will

come

to

you

very

soon

if

the

Lord

is

willing

and

then

I

will

find

out

not

only

how