1 Corinthians 9:1-15

1 Corinthians 9:1–15 (ESV) — 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. INTRO: 1 Corinthians 8:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV) — 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. THE REALITY OF PAUL’S MINISTRY (V1-2) (V. 1) 4 Rhetorical  Questions  (V. 2) 1 Clear Answer   THE REGULAR RIGHTS OF MINISTRY DEFINED (V3-11) (V. 3-6) 3 Rhetorical Questions Of Sustaining v.4 Sustaining life v.5 Sustaining responsibilities v.6 Sustaining from double labor     (V.7) 3 Rhetorical Questions of Comparing The work of a soldier The work of a farmer The work of a shepherd    (V.8-11) The Character and Commands of God v.8-9 The character of God in command v.10-11 The hope of service in Christ   (Deut 24:14-22, 25:4, Heb 6:10-12, Col 3:12-17)           1 Timothy 5:17–18 (ESV) — 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”   PAUL’S RIGHTS IN MINISTRY DECLINED (V12-15) But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.  .