I Become All Things To All Men So I Might Save Some
1 Cor: 9-27
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
So-zo
to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
a) one (from injury or peril)
1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
b) to save in the technical biblical sense
1) negatively
a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment
b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
It was written from Ephesus (1Cr 16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle’s living there (Act 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57).
He had heard of the abuses and contentions that was among them
It captures the problems we face living today.
Corinth was the most American city in the New Testament---a resort, the capital of pleasure in the Roman Empire.
Corinth was a beautiful city, a lovely city of palms and beautiful buildings, the center of pleasure for the whole empire, and it was devoted to two things---the pursuit of pleasure (largely passion), and of wisdom. It was a Greek city, and its inhabitants loved to philosophize, and they were given to what Paul calls, "the wisdom of words."
intellectualism and sensualism.
This was a city devoted to the worship of the sex, like modern conditions today.
In the city of Corinth there was a temple that was dedicated to the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, and part of the worship of the Greek goddess was the performance of certain religious ceremonies that involved sexual relationships; therefore, the priestesses of this temple were really prostitutes, and there were some 10,000 of them attached to the temple.
The city was openly given over to the practices of licentiousness; it was regarded as a normal, proper part of life and no one ever thought twice about it. If we think we are living under conditions where sensualism is rampant and worship of sex is widespread, these conditions do not yet approach those of the Christians who had to live in Corinth.
The spirit of the city had come into the church.
There are those who tell us that the need in the church today is to capture again the spirit of the age in which we live.
When a church reflects the spirit of the age it immediately loses its power, and that is what had happened to the church at Corinth.
The one thing the church must never do is to capture the spirit of the age.
The job of the church is to correct the spirit of the age.
Jesus is our model for connecting with people, culture and gender.
For a church to be deemed credible, it must demonstrate the values of the Kingdom.
Role models
• Fruit
• Gifts
• Mutual accountability
We have to adjust to those weaker than us
Paul uses himself as an example.
He adjusted to those who couldn’t do what he did until he won them. Illustration:
The missionaries in a Muslim country.
We see a selfless act
We must set aside our personal desires.
Yet not compromise
V23 for the gospel only
We don’t deserve this salvation, yet God gave it.
It’s a joy to give and not expect anything back
Better to give than receive.
I’m not interested if you’ve made a decision
If you are baptized, you are to bear witness to what God has done in you.
Not baptized into Christ only, but into the Church too.
A new identity
Baptized into mission.
What significant difference is there between the values of a church-goer and a non-church-goer?
Survey showed little difference in ethical views or behaviour:
• Lying
• Cheating
• Thieving
• Pirating etc
Only those committed beyond Sunday service may be more moral.
How can we become all things to all?
The changing Church in a changing culture:
Discipleship is put under, ‘do’s ‘and don’ts’ =legalism and judgmental attitudes
It’s a fast changing world. We can’t be no-it-alls.
The church must be like a dot-to-dot making connections
We must commit to ministering to people we come into contact with
Things have to begin here first.
Ministry and mission flow from relationships; find time for each other
We need a healthy team who:
1. Feel valued
2. Are engaged in worthwhile work
3. Know their contribution, skills, wisdom and insights
4. Affirm each other
5. Combine efforts to find solutions
6. Develop strategies to tackle situations
How can we engage with society without compromising?
We need to have leaders who have life experiences and have come through various situations.
Who better to reach a certain group or individual but one who has been there and experienced Christ bring them through it!
Life experiences
We must never manipulate people into the Church but love them in and demonstrate understanding
No conditions attached!
Resist retreating into spiritual cocoons, changes are all about us.
Fresh challenges need different leaders
Today’s Church no longer meets the needs of the area or shapes its values.
If the Church doesn’t have renewal, then it will fossilize. ACTS
This depends on the quality and vision of leaders.
One size doesn’t always fit. Ask any woman!
We are in a pluralistic religious society; contact daily with other faiths.
We cannot use a ‘come to us’ style of invitational evangelism.
Leaders must recognise cross-cultural insight = Missional people
To the Jew…. Greek…weak.. etc
Our ethics and apologetics may be questioned.
Eg. Co-habiting for years?
We must look to the future with faith, convinced that the Church will survive and fluish!
I will build My Church…..
We have hope:
The Church was birthed in the same environment of pluralistic culture, yet it expanded at a phenomenal rate
What society do we today have though that has changed, so needs of a different kind need to be met?
Illustration:
Rick Marshall served with Billy Graham reports:
1. Economic developments changed:
• Rise in living standards
• Higher expectations
• The need for 2 incomes to meet needs
• Leading to pressure on marriages
• Creating a generation of latch-key kids
• Increased divorce rates
• Single parenting
• Insecure children with resentful attitudes
• Rise in co-habiting couples, same sex partners and children born out of wed-lock
Churches who are trying to uphold a stable nuclear family life alienate themselves from most of the congregation because they don’t live in their shoes.
You have to walk in someone’s shoes to understand them fully.
2. Demographic changes:
• People living longer brings two implications:
A. Pastors must meet the needs of the older groups
B. Older people don’t want change
This causes a disconnection with the under 40’s
The older generation demand higher standards and morals etc.
• The Ethnic make-up of society is changing:
• Migrants from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe bring cross-cultural ministry challenges
3. The Information Age:
• Industrial life changing to information technology age
• New Info continually
• People need to learn new skills
• Re-locating regular to find work
• Virtual friendships replacing neighbourly over the fence chat and socializing
• Games and TV causing neurological disorders as well as loss of childhood.
• Porn, Gambling and violence = street crime, sexual stimulation and debt
We are all biased to some extend to cultural conditioning
Need to sort cultural belief and baggage from Biblical treasure
It’s up to us to put the message into a context without losing the unique message and lifestyle.
If leaders fail to respond appropriately to change = decline
Don’t cling to outdated ways/ thinking and working
We together must find a way to communicate our story, our journey and experiences for those whom Christ died.
Link up resources:
• Who knows how a single parent feels? What are their needs etc
Do this to other situations in our society.
We will then becom
