1 Corinthians 4: Servants of Christ
IN THE LAST study Paul called the Corinthians not to forget that they were God's holy temple. Now he calls them and all Christian communities to experience the power of radical servanthood for Christ's sake. St. Francis of Assisi exhibited this when he walked through Muslim battle lines during the Crusades in order to preach to the Sultan. Mother Teresa also is a "fool for Christ" when she bends down to care for a dying beggar in Calcutta. There is power in such actions, even though the wise ones of this age shake their heads in disbelief or wag their tongues in scorn.
Warming Up to God
How do you feel when you hear about people like St. Francis who give away all they have to the poor, or Mother Teresa who live sacrificially?
Read 1 Corinthians 4. »
Discovering the Word
- In contrast to the hero worship in Corinth, how do Paul and his coworkers wish to be regarded (vv. 1-2)?
- Paul fears the Corinthians are moving "beyond what was written"—probably a reference to the Old Testament Scriptures. How might going beyond the authority of Scripture result in taking "pride in one man over against another" (v. 6)?
- Scripture teaches that the suffering of this present age precedes the glory of the age to come. In their own minds, how had the Corinthians taken a shortcut to glory (vv. 8, 10)?
- How did their "glorious" description of themselves contrast with the experiences of Paul and the other apostles (vv. 9-13)?
- We receive the first hint in this section that some in Corinth were not only boasting about other leaders but were also putting down Paul. How does the apostle choose to combat these opponents (vv. 18-21)?
Applying the Word
- How would imitating Paul's way of life (vv. 16-17) require changes in your thinking and actions?
- In what ways does this passage challenge you to become a "fool for Christ"?
Responding in Prayer
Thank God for the leaders who have formed and impacted your Christian faith and walk.
For Further Study
Transforming Leadership by Leighton Ford