Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20010520.htm

1 CORINTHIANS: MINISTERING TO BELIEVERS WITH DEEP PAGAN BACKGROUNDS
Part XXXI: Sustaining Good Church "Lay-Leader" Relationships
(1 Corinthians 16:5-24)
  1. Introduction
    1. There is a widening circle of leadership crises in churches today as signaled by Radio Bible Class' booklet, "Who Qualifies To Be A Church Leader?" detailing such crises.
    2. The prevention of such problems in the local church is supplied by Paul's example and instruction in the closing section of 1 Corinthians 16:5-24:
  2. Sustaining Good Church "Lay-Leader" Relationships, 1 Corinthians 16:5-24.
    1. Paul detailed what church leaders should do to see God continue to bless in their positions, 16:5-9, 12:
      1. Leaders must continue trusting the Lord to keep ministering amidst opposition to their ministries, a practice exampled by the Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 16:5-9.
        1. Paul revealed his plans to arrive at Corinth following a ministry opening in Ephesus, 16:5-8.
        2. However, Ephesus' open door was accompanied with many adversaries, something Paul felt needed to be handled by faith though it existed, 1 Corinthians 16:8, 9 with 2 Timothy 4:14-17.
      2. Leaders must continue trusting the Lord with the fickle tendencies of immature followers who can be influenced by carnal views about leadership instead of by the spiritual views of God:
        1. Paul had approached Apollos about his coming to Corinth to minister again, 1 Cor. 16:12 (1:12-13).
        2. This is a remarkably courageous move on Paul's part as he had already addressed the divisive politics in 1 Cor. 3:3-6 where carnal believers sided with Apollos against Paul due to the various human characteristics of these two men, cf. Acts 18:24 with 2 Cor. 10:9-10; 11:6. Paul was not threatened by Apollos' greater oratorical skills that moved carnal people to flock after Apollos!
    2. Paul revealed what laymen must do to see God bless them in relating to church leaders, 16:10-12, 15-16:
      1. He urged the Corinthians to accept Timothy's ministry in spite of his natural shyness, 16:10-11.
      2. Paul urged the believers to submit to those who had addicted themselves to the Lord's work, 16:15-16.
    3. In the midst of these obligations, Paul hinted at the means equipping leaders and laymen alike to attain and preserve such smooth leader-follower attitudes and relationships in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 as follows:
      1. Factor One - Both church leaders and laymen must spiritually "watch," 16:13a; this implies becoming diligent in watching out for angelic conflict deceptions where, in the context, the leaders can faithlessly oppress to control and the laity can faithlessly rebel out of distrust of leaders, 1 Peter 5:5-8.
      2. Factor Two - Both church leaders and laymen must "stand fast in the faith," meaning to live by faith and adhere firmly to doctrinal truth ("faith" = the body of true doctrine), 1 Cor. 16:13b. This implies being committed to what the Bible teaches for our doctrine and acting in our lives as though it is true!
      3. Factor Three - Both church leaders and laymen must be mature and strong as men, meaning to be dependent upon God's spiritual provisions for life and service as opposed to relying on human strength, 1 Corinthians 16:13c with 2 Timothy 2:1 with 1:1-18. This means to rely on God's office (2 Tim. 1:1), His will (1:1), God's authority (1:3), His spiritual gifting us for service (1:6), God's indwelling Holy Spirit's power (1:7-8), His eternal purpose for our lives and service (1:9), God's Gospel (1:10-11) and God's preservation of our doctrinal integrity and accuracy through our dependence on His indwelling Holy Spirit (1:13-14).
      4. Factor Four - Both church leaders and laymen then can "do all things with charity," 1 Cor. 16:14.
      5. Factor Five - Both church leaders and laymen are to be in love with the Lord Himself, 1 Cor. 16:22. If we are, we yearn for His return, and prepare ourselves accordingly ("Maranatha" = Aramaic for "Our Lord, come!", cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 1 Cor. 16:22).
Lesson: When we personally fellowship with Christ, realize He is coming back and we will be held accountable to Him for our lives and ministries, whether we be leaders or laymen, we will adhere to the truth in belief and life, grow in that adherence, stay busy in the Lord's matters and love one another.

Application: Like the spokes of a wagon wheel, if we draw closer to the hub of the wheel which is Christ, we as spokes draw closer to one another. Let us then draw near in our devotion and obedience to Him that we might continue to enjoy fellowship with one another, regardless of our role in Church!