What Happens to a Church When Christ is No Longer Central?
Closing Remarks
1 Corinthians 16
Paul closes his letter
to the Corinthians
Not with the words “Love,
Paul”
But
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be
strong.
Do everything in love.
Paul sums up his
letter as if he was speaking to someone going to war
Yet everything we do is to be done in love
God so loved the world that He gave…
In all you give spiritual
gifts, financial gifts, etc. to the Gospel
Do everything in love
Closing Remarks
1 Corinthians 16
One of the hardest parts of a message
whether written or spoken is the Closing Remarks.
It is the summing up of everything you
just took some time to communicate.
Many preachers who have done a lot of work
and research to communicate a message
find it hard to sum it all up in a few words.
Paul sums up with a list of people
who are building the church,
Messengers of the Gospel, like Paul.
He also gives greetings from
other believers and churches.
Paul starts this
chapter with the matter
of financially supporting the ministry.
Most of us have heard Pastors use Paul’s words
to encourage today’s church to support the ministry.
As I read Chapter 16, I was in my mind’s eye able
to see people living like me, living like you and I.
I could see them giving to the work of the Lord.
Many on a regular
schedule
of the first day of the week.
I thought…
Where would the Gospel
be today,
almost 2000 years later,
without their regular
giving?
Their gifts were a seed that has fed
the world the Gospel for 2000 years.
That is incredible and I am sure not even Paul
could see how powerful those offerings would be.
Paul also sums up in a few words
what the Church should do…
Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage; be strong.
Do everything in love.
Recently, I heard an Islamic leader speaking
on the rights of the winners of war;
the rights of the
Islamic state to take the booty
and make slaves of women and children.
I can image this Islamic leader
using the closing statement of Paul…
Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage; be
strong
But I could never imagine Him saying…
Do everything in love.
The money of the Corinthians and every
other financial gift to the Gospel has caused
the Gospel of Jesus Christ to grow.
Christians are still the largest
religious group in the world.
But money is not the reason.
LOVE IS!!!
Love changed the world.
God so loved the world.
Those who follow Jesus also love the world
and when we give to the Gospel…
We give so that the love of Christ
might reach every person on earth
now and until the Lord returns.
Of all the spiritual gifts…
Of all the money…
The greatest of these
is love.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 16 NIV
16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I
told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of
you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up,
so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive,
I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with
your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will
accompany me.
5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you — for I
will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even
spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 I do
not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some
time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until
Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and
there are many who oppose me.
10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear
while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.
11 No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so
that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go
to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when
he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of
courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first
converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the
saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who
joins in the work, and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus
and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings.
Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that
meets at their house. 20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one
another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord — a curse be on him.
Come, O Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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