Living a Cross Shaped Life (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) | Imperfect (K)

In this chapter, Paul asks the Corinthians, “What do you have that you did not receive?” This question encapsulates Paul’s theology of grace, which holds that everything we have is a gift from God. In order to encourage the Corinthians to live a life shaped by God’s grace, and the sacrifice and surrender the cross calls us to, Paul employs a combination of irony, sarcasm, and tender love to guide them. However, he recognizes that mere teachings are not enough; the Corinthians need an embodied example to follow. As such, he sends them Timothy, a living embodiment of humility and grace, to model for them what it means to live a life in accordance with the gospel.

Sermon Notes:

• There is a need for a course correction.
• 1 Corinthians 4:1-7
• You can either be shaped by the world or reshaped by grace.
• Grace will reshape how you live your life (v. 7-13)
  • How you work
  • How you boast
  • How you suffer
• Grace will reshape who you follow (v. 14-21)
  • Who influences your life.
  • Who you influence.
  • Who disciples you.
• To be reshaped by grace, you must receive the gift of grace.