Prioritizing the Gospel Over Personal Rights

Devotional

Day 1: The Gospel Over Our Rights

Description: In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul discusses his rights as an apostle, including the right to be compensated, to marry, and to live freely. However, he chose to forgo these rights to ensure that nothing would hinder the gospel message. This teaches us that the message of Jesus is more important than our personal freedoms. We must be willing to set aside our rights if they become obstacles to others receiving the gospel. Paul's example challenges us to prioritize the gospel above our personal liberties and comforts. [35:16]

1 Corinthians 9:12 (ESV): "If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ."

Reflection: What personal rights or freedoms are you holding onto that might be hindering your ability to share the gospel effectively? How can you begin to let go of these for the sake of others?

Day 2: The Value of Souls

Description: The souls of men, women, and children are more valuable than our personal liberties. Jesus taught that one soul is worth more than the entire world. We must prioritize the salvation of others over our own rights and freedoms, ensuring that nothing we do becomes a stumbling block to the gospel. This perspective shifts our focus from our own desires to the eternal significance of every individual we encounter. [39:33]

Matthew 16:26 (ESV): "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not know Jesus. What steps can you take today to ensure that your actions and words do not become a stumbling block to them receiving the gospel?

Day 3: Our Calling by Christ

Description: Paul’s commitment to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles was greater than his personal rights. We are all called to share the gospel, and this calling should take precedence over our personal liberties. God calls us not because we are qualified, but because He will qualify us. This means that our focus should be on obedience to God's call rather than on our own comfort or qualifications. [46:17]

2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV): "who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel unqualified to serve God? How can you trust in His ability to qualify you for His purposes?

Day 4: Eternal Reward

Description: The sacrifices we make for the gospel are worth it because of the eternal reward that awaits us. Paul compared this to athletes who sacrifice for a perishable crown, while we strive for an imperishable one. Our focus should be on the eternal reward rather than temporary comforts. This perspective helps us endure hardships and make sacrifices, knowing that our ultimate reward is with Christ in eternity. [47:57]

1 Corinthians 9:25 (ESV): "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

Reflection: What temporary comfort or convenience are you willing to sacrifice today for the sake of the gospel? How can focusing on your eternal reward help you make this sacrifice?

Day 5: Jesus is Greater than All

Description: Ultimately, Jesus is greater than our rights, privileges, and comforts. Our love for Christ should drive us to lay aside anything that hinders the gospel. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and make sacrifices for the sake of sharing the message of Jesus. This means prioritizing our relationship with Christ above all else and allowing His love to compel us to share the gospel with others. [49:21]

Philippians 3:8 (ESV): "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Tonight, we explored the theme of prioritizing the gospel above our personal rights and freedoms. We began with a light-hearted activity to illustrate the concept of trading something valuable for a greater purpose. This led us to 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul discusses his rights as an apostle and his choice to forgo them for the sake of the gospel. Paul had the right to be compensated, to marry, and to live freely, but he chose to set aside these rights to remove any hindrance to the gospel message.

Paul's example teaches us that the gospel is greater than our rights, and the souls of people are more valuable than our freedoms. He emphasized that our calling by Christ is greater than our personal liberties, and our eternal reward is far more significant than any earthly sacrifice. Paul’s life was a testament to the fact that Jesus is greater than all, and his love for Christ and others motivated him to lay aside his rights for the sake of the gospel.

We also looked at the example of Hudson Taylor, a missionary who adopted Chinese customs to better reach the people of China. This illustrates the lengths we should be willing to go to remove barriers to the gospel. We are all called to be carriers of the gospel, whether locally or globally, and we must be willing to put aside our comforts and preferences to fulfill this calling.

In conclusion, we are challenged to examine our lives and identify anything that might hinder our witness. Are we willing to lay aside our rights and comforts for the sake of the gospel? Are we ready to step out in faith and obedience, trusting that God will enable and empower us to share His message effectively?

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Gospel is Greater than Our Rights: Paul chose to forgo his rights as an apostle to remove any hindrance to the gospel. This teaches us that the message of Jesus is more important than our personal freedoms. We must be willing to set aside our rights if they become obstacles to others receiving the gospel. [35:16]
2. The Value of Souls: The souls of men, women, and children are more valuable than our personal liberties. Jesus taught that one soul is worth more than the entire world. We must prioritize the salvation of others over our own rights and freedoms, ensuring that nothing we do becomes a stumbling block to the gospel. [39:33]
3. Our Calling by Christ: Paul’s commitment to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles was greater than his personal rights. We are all called to share the gospel, and this calling should take precedence over our personal liberties. God calls us not because we are qualified, but because He will qualify us. [46:17]
4. Eternal Reward: The sacrifices we make for the gospel are worth it because of the eternal reward that awaits us. Paul compared this to athletes who sacrifice for a perishable crown, while we strive for an imperishable one. Our focus should be on the eternal reward rather than temporary comforts. [47:57]
5. Jesus is Greater than All: Ultimately, Jesus is greater than our rights, privileges, and comforts. Our love for Christ should drive us to lay aside anything that hinders the gospel. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and make sacrifices for the sake of sharing the message of Jesus. [49:21]
### [49:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:41] - Light-hearted Activity
[27:24] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 9
[27:57] - The Concept of Trading
[28:46] - Paul's Rights as an Apostle
[29:35] - Paul's Defense
[30:26] - Paul's Choice to Remain Single
[31:25] - Paul's Right to Compensation
[32:22] - Old Testament Support
[33:16] - Paul's Argument for Remuneration
[34:17] - Voluntarily Restricting Freedoms
[35:16] - The Gospel is Greater than Our Rights
[39:33] - The Value of Souls
[41:27] - Example of Hudson Taylor
[46:17] - Our Calling by Christ
[47:57] - Eternal Reward
[49:21] - Jesus is Greater than All
[55:29] - Prayer and Reflection
[56:55] - Call to Action
[58:58] - Stepping Out in Faith
[60:33] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What rights does Paul mention he has as an apostle in 1 Corinthians 9? ([28:46])
How did Paul choose to exercise or not exercise his rights, and why? ([34:17])
What example from history was given to illustrate the lengths one should go to remove barriers to the gospel? ([41:27])
What is the ultimate reason Paul gives for laying aside his rights? ([49:21])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that the gospel is greater than his personal rights? How does this perspective challenge common views on personal freedom? ([35:16])
How does the value of souls compare to personal liberties according to the sermon? What implications does this have for our daily lives? ([39:33])
What does it mean to have a calling by Christ, and how should this influence our decisions and actions? ([46:17])
How does the concept of an eternal reward motivate believers to make sacrifices in their lives? ([47:57])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there any personal rights or freedoms you hold onto that might be hindering your witness for the gospel? What steps can you take to address this? ([35:16])
Think of a specific person in your life who does not know Christ. What are you willing to give up or change in your behavior to remove any barriers to sharing the gospel with them? ([39:33])
How can you better align your daily actions with your calling by Christ? Are there specific areas where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? ([46:17])
Consider the sacrifices you make for your faith. How does focusing on the eternal reward help you persevere through challenges? ([47:57])
Identify one comfort or preference in your life that you can set aside this week to better serve others and share the gospel. What practical steps will you take to do this? ([49:21])
How can you cultivate a love for Christ that drives you to lay aside anything that hinders the gospel? What specific actions can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus? ([49:21])
Reflect on the story of Hudson Taylor. What cultural or personal adjustments can you make to better connect with and reach out to those around you? ([41:27])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "What would you be willing to do or not do in order for them to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ? I want to just briefly... We're going to start down in verse 19. But Paul begins in verse 1 of chapter 9. And he begins to talk about some things that he, as an apostle, has the right to do." [28:46] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The message of the gospel is more important than my rights or my freedoms. Paul says I have the right to do this. Is it okay to do this? Yes. Can you do this? I not only am allowed to do it, I have a right to it, but I won't do it because of the gospel." [36:25] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "What would it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul? Jesus says one soul is of greater value than the entire world, than all the wealth of this world. One soul is of greater value." [39:33] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "There are some things I'm allowed to do, but I won't for the sake of the gospel. What are some things in our lives that might hinder our witness? Ah, I've got Christian liberty. I can do this. Well, maybe you can, but is it hindering your witness before this world?" [50:10] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Are you willing to step out in faith and obedience for sake of the gospel? There's a tendency, if we're not careful, folks, to think, well, I'll do it when I feel really ready. We're not called because we're qualified. God calls us, and He will qualify us. He'll make us able." [58:58] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Paul is saying that there are times when we must voluntarily restrict our freedoms. There are times when we must voluntarily adjust our lifestyle. Forgo our own preferences, some that we have the right to do. Why? In order to remove hindrances from the gospel, there are things that are greater than our rights." [35:16] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You see, when we start sharing the gospel with other people, there is always between that person or that group of people and the gospel, there is a barrier in between. I often imagine it as a brick wall. That brick wall is built of hindrances and stumbling blocks in that person's heart and mind between them and the message of the gospel." [36:25] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Paul says, I will do this for the gospel's sake. Why? Because I don't want... Something that I'm doing. Even though I have a biblical, Christ-given, logical, rational, natural reason for doing what I can do, I won't do it if it keeps someone from the gospel. The gospel is more important. The gospel is greater than my rights." [38:45] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Paul says, my calling by Christ is greater than my rights. Do I have the right to be married? Yes. Do I have the right to make money and be compensated for ministry? Yes. But in this city, in this place, I choose not to. Why? Because of my calling." [43:05] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "There are some things I'm not required to do, but I will do them for the sake of the gospel. What might God ask you to do? do to go out of the way so that people will hear the gospel. We think about missionaries who go around the other side of the planet, and we think, oh, that's missionaries. Missionaries are simply the church being the church somewhere else." [50:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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