1 Corinthians: Entrusted with the Mystery

Sermon Outline for October 3, 2021

1 CORINTHIANS: Entrusted with the Mystery

1 Corinthians 3:18 – 4:5

Introduction

Genesis 39:2-6,

2 The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. … 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Point #1 — All things are yours…. And you are Christ’s (1 Cor. 3:18-23)

Point #2 — So, let us live as faithful servants of the Gospel (1 Cor. 4:1-5)

Romans 14:3-4,

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Questions for discussion:

1. In light of this passage, what are the implications for our lives that we are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ?

2. Paul says he does not care what judgements the Corinthian church makes about him, and says he does not judge even himself (4:3). Instead, it is only Christ’s judgement that matters. How true is this for your own life? Do you often allow the judgements of others to shape how you live? Whose ‘judgements’ do you give the most weight to?

3. Based on this passage, how would you describe the Christian life? What other elements from Scripture would you want to bring in to your presentation of Christianity?