1 Corinthians [chapter 9]

Dear Young Adult family, how are you?

College family, another week comes to a close. As things start picking-up here and there, always keep Christ at the center of all you do, and let your heart not grow weary but stronger for the Lord!

Young adult family, as your work week closes, and as you navigate your future and how the Lord desires to build your livelihood and careers, keep walking in step with the Holy Spirit! May the Spirit of God bring you joy over any anxieties or worries, and settle your heart in the peace transcending all knowledge. May Jesus be the center of all you do.

Let us become all things to all people, so that Christ and His gospel may save many through us! 

Let us not give up meeting together. Lord-willing, hopeful to see you again.

​
Your Brother Chester

Young Adult (College/Post-Grad) Life group
THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS
I Have Become All Things to All People [chapter 9]
I HAVE BECOME A NON-APOSTLE TO ALL (9:1-14)
(Question #1) The Corinthian church was full of problems. From divisions, to impurity, to believers suing each other with lawsuits, to distorted views on marriage/singleness, to stumbling other believers with their eating habits of foods offered on the altar to other idols – this church certainly didn’t have it together. Yet Pastor Paul had hope for this church! In the previous chapter, the apostle Paul commanded us not to wound the conscience of the weaker brother or sister in Christ. Whether it is by what we eat, or do, or say – if it encourages our brother or sister in the Lord to fall, we are to give up that freedom for their sake. Now here in chapter 9, the apostle Paul gives examples of those things he gave up in order to become all things to all people. Some thought Paul was not an apostle, and challenged his spiritual authority. Yet Paul was truly an apostle (someone sent with God’s authority who had physically seen the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead). Although being an apostle, Paul presented himself as if he was not an apostle. What are some of the rights that Paul gave up to appear as if he wasn’t an apostle (verse 1-14)?
[*REFLECT #1] The lesson here is that although we may hold certain rights to something, we must be willing to give them up for the sake of serving others the gospel of Christ. In Paul’s case, he highlights especially his right to be supported financially and materially – those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. Yet, Paul Himself did not make use of that right, and ministered freely by other means of support. *What are the rights due to you, that you are holding on to that the Lord is calling you to forsake? We have rights to… study, to be happy, to be thanked, to be loved, to marry, to be respected, to be acknowledged, to be justified, to be heard, to hold a title, etc – what are we forsaking to become all things to all people so that they might come to Jesus on account of our surrender?
I HAVE BECOME A BOASTER IN THE GOSPEL TO ALL (9:15-18)
(Question #2) Although the apostle Paul would rather die than have anyone deprive him of his ground for boasting, what does the gospel do with his boasting (verse 15-18)?
[*REFLECT #2] We can boast in our rights. Yet how does the gospel change our boasting? How does the gospel change us to do all things as entrusted with a stewardship? The apostle Paul preached the gospel without demanding the right to be financially supported – although he had every right to be –  so as not making full use of his right in the gospel. How are we presenting the gospel free of charge? What is your ultimate reward in the gospel? Have you received the free gift of Jesus Christ in the gospel, or has it come to you as conditional?
I HAVE BECOME A SERVANT OF CHRIST TO ALL (9:19-27)
(Question #3) The apostle Paul willingly became a servant to all, although he was free from all. What are some ways Paul willingly became a servant to all (verse 19-23)? In a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize. So also, how should we, as athletes of Jesus Christ, run this race of faith in following after Jesus Christ (verse 24-27)?
[*REFLECT #3] How can you become a servant to all, although you are free from all? What are some qualities needed to run in a race/rally/marathon? How are these qualities of every good athlete being exercised in your own life?
HOLY SPIRIT MOMENT
(APPLY #1) Spend two minutes inviting and listening to the Holy Spirit to show you the rights you need to forsake, in order to become a servant to all.
(APPLY #2) Write those two things here: (1) _______________________________________; (2) ___________________________________________
(APPLY #3) Share one of them with the group, and a first practical step you can take to accomplish it.
(APPLY #4) Write a sentence-prayer for it: _________________________________________________________________________________________
(APPLY #5) Share spiritual life – How are you? What is one thing about Jesus that carried you through this week? What is one thing you prayed for today? Can we give praise to God for prayers answered, or call out to God for continued prayers requested?