Sermon: Servants and Stewards

Let's pray.

Oh Lord, who knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God.

We thank you oh Lord, that we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God. That we might understand the things freely given, uh, given to us by God. We pray, oh Lord, that you would teach us tonight by your spirit as we open this word. Would you speak to us? Would you apply your word to our hearts? And would you bring fruit forth from it? In Christ name we pray, amen. Well, would you join me in one Corinthians chapter four?

If you're using a pew Bible, you can find one Corinthians four on page 9 53.

While you're turning there, just a, a brief word about this book in terms of context. First Corinthians is one of several correspondences that the Apostle Paul had with this church in Corinth. It was a church that was near and dear to his heart because this was a church that Paul helped establish. He was the church planter. And so when he hears about issues in this church, it really concerns and grieves his own heart.

And so it's a motivation of, of love and concern for him to take up these concerns which he's heard in that exist in this church, to write them and to try to help them to address these issues in a Christlike way, in a biblical way. One of the issues that Paul takes up in, in this book, the very first one in fact, that he takes up in one Corinthians, is the issue of factionalism factionalism. In the church that is in the church there have developed

different factions. There's a part of the church that says we're for Apollo, and then there's another group in the church that says, we're for Paul. And so you can understand that as these factions exist in the church, Divisions then exist and there is, uh, judging of church leaders because they don't measure up to their favorite church leader. And uh, there's boasting in their favorite leader. So Paul seeks to address this issue.

There's lots of opinions about Paul in the church. There's lots of opinions about the church leaders that exist in this church, but how does Paul Understand church leaders? How does Paul view himself? How does he view the other leaders in the church? That's what he takes up here in First Corinthians chapter four. So let's hear how he views himself as a leader in the church and how he views the leaders as a whole. Paul writes in verse one, this is

how one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself for I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me, therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time

before the Lord comes who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. Amen. So you hear dear friends, dear people of God, that Paul sees himself as a servant and a steward. And he sees leaders in the church as servants and stewards. When you hear that word servant, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not leader,

but lowly. And being a servant in the first century was not more glamorous than it is today. Serving was a humble profession and Paul has a very humble view, a very modest view of church leadership regarding them as servants. Now this is right Paul's exactly right to think of himself and to think of all church leaders as servants because Christ himself is a servant. His master came to earth as a servant and he served, he humbled himself

even to the point of death. He served them until the very end. And as Jesus says, no servant is greater than his master. So leaders in Christ church are to follow their master, to follow their leader as servants. But as is true of maybe any job in our day, any form of employment in our day, an employer or a supervisor can make all the difference, all the difference. A good master, one who is appreciative, one who is kind,

one who is humble, one who is patient, makes the work of serving not only tolerable but pleasant and even enjoyable. And so it is in the work of church leadership. Church leadership is a humble calling, but it's a dignified calling. It's a high calling because servants in the church are servants of Christ and Christ is the greatest of all masters. So Paul views himself, Paul tells the church to view leaders as servants.

He regards himself not only as a servant, but also as a steward. In the first century, a steward was usually a role or a position for a slave. So again, someone of a, of a low estate, of a relatively low position in society was given the position of a steward, the task of a steward. But stewards were entrusted. They were tasked with a very important duty. They were entrusted to be caretakers of an owner's, most precious

possessions, church leaders. And Paul himself views himself as a steward, a caretaker of his owner's most precious possession the mysteries of God. He says in verse one, by mystery Paul, here, does not mean something that's confusing or something that's difficult to understand. We can use the word mystery like that. But what Paul means here when he uses the word mystery is that this is something that was hidden, but now it's been revealed.

And from the context it's clear. If we were to read from chapter one through, uh, chapter four, Paul here is speaking about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel, which was hidden in former times, but now it's been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul and church leaders have been called to be a steward of the mysteries of God, the gospel of God. He is to preserve the gospel. He is to promote the gospel on behalf of his owner

and church leaders, especially those who are entrusted and called to teach God's people and to teach God's word, are entrusted as stewards of the gospel. That's how Paul and how the church are to view leaders in the church. That's their, that is to be their opinion. I want you to see with me just in the few minutes we have remaining how this changes how this influences and affects Paul's ministry as a leader in God's church.

Three ways. How regarding leaders as servants and stewards influence or affect how a leader engages in ministry. First regarding himself as a servant of Christ and a steward of God's mysteries influences how a leader does ministry. How he does ministry.

A leader is to understand that as a steward, he is accountable to the one who entrusted him. And that as a steward, he will be held accountable. So he labors to be found faithful. He labors to be found faithful. That's what Paul says in verse two. It is expected of stewards that they be found faithful. That's true of all stewards. Whatever role or responsibility, whatever's been entrusted to stewards, they're to be found faithful.

And that's true of stewards and leaders in the church. They are to be found faithful when the time comes for him to give an account for what he has done with what has been entrusted to him. He wants to be found faithful.

So first, it affects how a leader does ministry, but regarding himself as a servant of Christ. And a steward of God's mysteries also influences who he does ministry for, who he does ministry for.

The person who a leader must answer to in the church is God. He must be found faithful by God. The only opinion that matters, the only judgment that matters is God's. Paul says, not even my own judgment of myself and my ministry matters, but only God's. And so the leader in God's church, labors for God's approval. Tonight here in just a few moments, we are going to be setting aside new officers to serve in Christ's church.

And what's happening here tonight is that this church is recognizing and affirming that Christ has called these men to serve Christ in his church. Properly speaking, it's not the congregation who is calling these men to serve, but it is Christ. Christ himself is the one who is calling and the congregation is merely affirming. We see Christ calling you serve.

That's what leaders are to remember in Christ's church. That it is Christ above all who has called them into service. Their allegiance is to be to Christ. They are to follow the directives of Christ. They are to make the interests of Christ their own interests. They are to work for the honor and glory of Christ and to labor for God's approval because Christ is their master.

So being a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God influences who you do ministry for as a leader in God's church. And finally, regarding yourself as himself, as a servant of Christ and a steward of God's mysteries motivates him. This is closely connected to what I just said, who you do ministry for. It's a motivation when you know who you are laboring for and who you are serving, there's a weightiness,

a proper weightiness in being a servant of Christ and a steward of God's mysteries. The Lord knows all, he knows even the intentions of one's heart. And when the Lord comes, he will take account of his servants for what they have done with what has been entrusted to them. And this reality is to motivate the leaders of the church to be faithful. Christ will take in account ministry in God's church is serious.

Perhaps one might say you're not speaking about motivation, You're speaking about fear.

Maybe so, but that's not altogether bad, is it to be motivated by a fear of God. But there's another angle that Paul is talking about here, and it's a really glorious angle in this motivation to be found faithful when the Lord comes, those who are faithful servants and stewards have no need to fear when the master returns. No need to fear because the master of these servants is pleasable. He can be pleased and he is gracious and generous.

My heart's been moved by that last sentence of our passage throughout this week.

Paul writes, then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Did you catch that word? Commendation? Not condemnation. Commendation. It is not impossible to please God. God is not slow to commend his servants who have been found faithful. Faithful servants might be condemned by self in their work. They might be condemned by others as they are going about their work. But God will not withhold his divine commendation. Leaders are motivated to be faithful to receive the only commendation that matters.

And that's God's think of that passage in Matthew, where Jesus is speaking about the master, Who he's in, who's entrusted sums to his servants. And when the master finds out how the servants have done with what they've been entrusted with, what is the commendation that the master gives? It's the one we all desire. That's servants of Christ and especially those who have been called to serve Christ as leaders. Well done. Good and faithful servant.

Dear church, I urge you to regard your leaders as no greater than. Paul views himself as a leader of the church, views himself as a servant, and as a steward, But regard them as no less than Paul views himself and as leaders of the church, a servant of Christ, steward of the mysteries of God. A dear brothers, as you join these other brothers serving Christ in his church, I urge you to regard yourselves as no greater than.

Paul views himself, servants, stewards, but no less servants of Christ, stewards of God's mysteries. Amen. Let us pray.

Oh God, we thank you that you are a gracious and generous God. We see even this night, your graciousness, your generosity to us, your people, by calling men to serve in your church, to serve you most importantly, and to serve us by serving you. We pray, oh Lord, that you would help them to labor well for your kingdom. Kingdom. We pray that you would find them faithful. Would you help them to labor for you and for your commendation?

And oh Lord, we ask this because we desire as a church, those who have been called by Christ, we desire to be found faithful. We desire to receive the commendation from God when Christ returns. Well done, good and faithful servants. So would you apply this word to our hearts? Would you help us to live it? We ask it in Christ's name. Amen.