The Right of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9

Study 9

 

An exhausted mother pulls herself out of bed to care for her wakeful baby.  A pastor interrupts his vacation to comfort a grieving family.  A doctor leaves a lucrative practice to become a missionary.  The apostle Paul knew well what it meant to give up his rights for the sake of ministering to others.  We will see how his example applies to the church today.

 

  1. Describe a time when you or someone you know gave up personal rights for the sake of ministry.

 

 

 

 

Read 1 Corinthians 9.

 

  1. What evidence does Paul give to validate his apostleship?  Why was seeing the risen Christ so important (verses 1-2)?

 

 

 

  1. What special relationship does he have to the Corinthians, and how should it strengthen his authority as an apostle?

 

 

 

  1. What rights are being exercised by other apostles, and how would they be an advantage to the ministries of those who are called to travel extensively (verses 3-6)?

 

 

 

  1. What do the illustrations from social custom in verse 7 reveal about how Christian workers should be supported?

 

 

 

  1. What additional argument does Paul give from Scripture in verses 8-10a?  How does he show, in 10b, that this principle applies to all people, in whatever work they are engaged?

 

 

 

  1. How does Paul apply this principle to his support by the Corinthians (verses 11-12)?  In what ways is our commitment to spiritual values tested by our willingness to contribute financial support to Christian workers and missionaries?  Share any specific actions God has led you to take along this line.

 

 

 

  1. Having established financial support as his legitimate right, what is Paul’s attitude toward this right (verse 12b)?  In what way is his voluntary self-limitation costing him?

 

 

 

  1. Paul doesn’t want his own choice of forgoing financial help to lessen that which was owed to other preachers.  So what further evidence does he give for this principle of support (verses 13-14)?

 

 

 

  1. In verses 15-18, what do we learn about Paul’s motivation for preaching the gospel?  What is his reward for going without the financial support he has a right to claim?

 

 

 

  1. How does the apostle practice the principle stated in verses 19-23?  How can we become everything to everybody and still maintain our own convictions?

 

 

 

  1. Why is it important to recognize where people are coming from and make this our starting point in a dialogue?

 

 

 

  1. What kind of training should Christians undertake, and how is our goal different from that of athletic contests (verses 24-27)?

 

 

 

  1. In what areas of life are you presently being called to forgo your rights for the sake of others?  How well are you doing?