6 day plan

The Bible for all Australians

Day 4 of 6

NIV

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Reflection:

The word ‘missions’ is a word we use quite commonly in modern Christianity, but not one you’ll find in the Bible. But what is it? Can you accurately explain what ‘missions’ is? Have a go.

Now how does your answer differ from ‘Christianity’? Oftentimes, we consider missions to be sharing the gospel with intentionality outside the walls of the Church — but we are called to do that as Christians, so what distinguishes ‘missionaries’ from other Christians? If it just involves moving overseas to be a Christian, then how can there be such a thing as local missions? What is the purpose of having this word ‘missions’ at all? I think the answer lies with Paul and his ministry.

The gospel has Jewish roots; the Bible is a profoundly Jewish book. Paul’s work as a missionary was to translate the gospel; linguistically, culturally, and socially. What may be convicting and relevant to the Jews may mean very little to the Gentiles. The gospel required translation into other cultures. Paul even changed his name depending on his audience: Paul for the Gentiles and Saul for the Jews. The New Testament often involves Paul helping Gentiles understand how to live within their cultures whilst remaining a Christian.

The gospel which we are benefiting from in Australia is the fruit of past missionaries’ labour; they have anglicised it for our benefit, and I am thankful to them for doing so.

Local mission work involves the crossing of barriers, socially or culturally, to people in your area of the world. It means taking the time to get to know them and what matters in their world and showing them that God can bring hope and life into their lives also. Who comes to mind in your life when you think on this? Let’s pray and ask God to help us be local missionaries in our own contexts.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to untangle my own culture from my faith; grant me the wisdom to speak your good news into my neighbour’s context. I pray for opportunities to become a local missionary, to follow Paul’s example and understand the gospel as a global message. Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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6

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.