1 Corinthians 3 Advanced Christianity II: Christian Stewardship

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self- sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self- sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss Fear, Withdrawal

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self- sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss Fear, Withdrawal Able to drop the question of what is owed Obsessed with how others have failed us or messed us over

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self- sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss Fear, Withdrawal Able to drop the question of what is owed Obsessed with how others have failed us or messed us over

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Desperation The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self- sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss Fear, Withdrawal Able to drop the question of what is owed Obsessed with how others have failed us or messed us over Bitterness & Hate

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism Starts with a settled knowledge of who he is and why he matters Starts from confusion about who we are and why we matter

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism Starts with a settled knowledge of who he is and why he matters Starts from confusion about who we are and why we matter Insecurity

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism Starts with a settled knowledge of who he is and why he matters Starts from confusion about who we are and why we matter Insecurity Doesn’t need others to affirm his identity Feel the need to have others affirm us and admire us

Wisdom of GodWisdom of ManImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism Starts with a settled knowledge of who he is and why he matters Starts from confusion about who we are and why we matter Insecurity Doesn’t need others to affirm his identity Feel the need to have others affirm us and admire us Egotism and Self- righteous- ness

The Defectiveness of Human Wisdom For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men? 1Cor.3:4 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 28 God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God. 31"Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. 21 So then let no one boast in men.

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 1Cor.3:5 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood Servanthood is real love. Servanthood is real love. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 1Cor.3:5 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood Servanthood is real love. Servanthood is real love. Depending on God’s Opportunities Depending on God’s Opportunities

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Cor. 3:6-7 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood Servanthood is real love. Servanthood is real love. Depending on God’s Opportunities Depending on God’s Opportunities Depending on God’s Power Depending on God’s Power

Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood Servanthood is real love. Servanthood is real love. Depending on God’s Opportunities Depending on God’s Opportunities Depending on God’s Power Depending on God’s Power GROWING UP! GROWING UP! I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready - 1 Corinthians 3:2

MatureImmatureImplication Starts from a position of having all his own needs met already Starts from a base of fear that our needs won’t be met Despera- tion The central value is what he can give to others The central value is what we can get from others Selfishness Not afraid to give even to the radical extreme of self-sacrifice Guards what we have against intrusion or loss Fear, Withdraw al Able to drop the question of what is owed Obsessed with how others have failed us or messed us over Bitterness & Hate

MatureImmatureImplication Values eternal thingsValues temporary things crabgrass life Willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal values Seeks present or near-term pleasure over all else Greed, Power- thirst, & Hedonism Starts with a settled knowledge of who he is and why he matters Starts from confusion about who we are and why we matter Insecurity Doesn’t need others to affirm his identity Feel the need to have others affirm us and admire us Egotism and Self- righteous- ness WEAKNESS! POWER!

Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:8-9 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3:10-11 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective

Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 1 Cor. 3:12-13 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective

The Bema Seat at Corinth

[14] If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:14-15 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards 1 Cor. 4:5; Chapter 9, 15; 1 Thes. 2; 2 Tim. 4:8; 2 Cor. 5:10ff

Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards Loving Servanthood… Loving Servanthood…

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards Loving Servanthood… Loving Servanthood… MOTIVES ARE IMPORTANT! MOTIVES ARE IMPORTANT!

Human Wisdom: Antidotes 1. Learning Servanthood 2. Gaining an Eternal Perspective Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards Loving Servanthood… Loving Servanthood… MOTIVES ARE IMPORTANT! MOTIVES ARE IMPORTANT! Cut our losses! Cut our losses! “If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss…”

A Positive Message! 1 Cor. 4:5 and then each man's praise will come to him from God. Luke 19:17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.’” Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we shall judge angels? 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

A New Order 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up... 2 Peter 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness

Building A Future And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

Building A Future God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:1-2 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17

Mental Transformation: Building A Future When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11