Bulletins - Redeemer Church (Fremont, CA)

- - Psalm 13:1–6ESV
Doxology
10,000 Reasons
Let Your Kingdom Come
In Christ Alone
- - 1 Corinthians 4:18–21ESV
Introduction
Exposition
DO NOT READ VERSE
1 Corinthians 4:18 ESV
18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
In vs. 18, we see that apparently, some of the members of the church in Corinth have become arrogant.
What does this mean?
In relation to the factionalism towards human leaders
In relation to the verse in question “as though I were not coming to you
Some were offended that Paul sent Timothy to them instead of coming to them personally
Later in the book we will see that there may have been some particular resentment toward Timothy
Next slide
1 Corinthians 4:19 ESV
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
Vs. 19 begins with the conjunction “but”
He uses this type of conjunction to negate their thinking.
Paul is coming personally, if the Lord wills, but it is not because of their importance, wisdom or success. Instead it is for something else that is nothing to be proud of.
He is coming to investigate these “arrogant people.”
Not their words, but their power.
What does that mean?
Next slide
1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
In verse 20, Paul begins to speak of the Kingdom of God
Matthew
Paul
Corinthian “kingship” is contrasted with “kingship/royalty” in the kingdom of God
As one commentator put it, “When Christ reigns, how impressive you sound is not an issue. Rather, what counts is whether your deeds are carried through effectively.”
Effectively, Paul is pointing out that, in the end, the “talk” of the Corinthians will avail nothing. Only what is done in the power of God will last.
Next slide
1 Corinthians 4:21 ESV
21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Paul uses this text to point to 3 instructions that he will give over the next several chapter.
They have 2 options,
either heed Paul’s instruction and have Paul come with a spirit of gentleness
or neglect the instruction and Paul will come “with a rod”
“rod of correction”
Both options involve correction but how he corrects depends upon their response.
Exhortations
I. Receive correction with humility and teachability.
II. Value obedience over wisdom in your life.
In other words, how you live is more important than what you know
This is both/and, not either/or
Applied to our struggles today, we could say, “what God sees in you is infinitely more important than what God sees in you.”
III. Live for the Kingdom to come rather than the kingdom that is now.
- - 1 Corinthians 4:18ESV
- - 1 Corinthians 4:19ESV
- - 1 Corinthians 4:20ESV
- - 1 Corinthians 4:21ESV
- - Numbers 6:24–26ESV

Psalm 13:1–6ESV

1 Corinthians 4:18–21ESV

I. Receive correction with humility and teachability.

II. Value obedience over wisdom in your life.

III. Live for the Kingdom to come rather than the kingdom that is now.

1 Corinthians 4:18ESV

1 Corinthians 4:19ESV

1 Corinthians 4:20ESV

1 Corinthians 4:21ESV

Numbers 6:24–26ESV