1 Corinthians 9:23-27
“Freedom” at Corinth
 The
Corinthian party-down town!
 Indeed, we do have freedom under grace!
 “All things are lawful!” 1 Cor. 10:23
“Freedom” at Corinth
 The
Corinthian party-down town!
 Indeed, we do have freedom under grace!
 BUT: Don’t use freedom to live like a loser!
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.
All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
1 Cor. 10:23
“Freedom” at Corinth
 The
Corinthian party-down town!
 Indeed, we do have freedom under grace!
 BUT: Don’t use freedom to live like a loser!
 Use freedom to build real love relationships!
“All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his
neighbor!”
1 Cor. 10:23-24
…Freedom to Build Real Love!
 “Love
Edifies.” – 1 Cor.8 to 10
 This IS the “New Life” from Jesus Christ
“For the love of Christ controls us…” 2 Cor.5:14
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full
understanding and expression of the love of God
and the patient endurance that comes from
Christ.”
2 Thess. 3:5
…Freedom to Build Real Love!
 “Love
Edifies.” – 1 Cor.8 to 10
 This IS the “New Life” from Jesus Christ
 Living beyond “Christianity 101” (1 Cor.9:1…)
 Christianity 101: God  Me. “Faith in Christ”
○ Now what ????
○ More “Worship Services…”
○ More “Spiritual Disciplines…”
○ More “Religious Activities…”
…Freedom to Build Real Love!
 “Love
Edifies.” – 1 Cor.8 to 10
 This IS the “New Life” from Jesus Christ
 Living beyond “Christianity 101” (1 Cor.9:1…)
 Christianity 101: God  Me. “Faith in Christ”
 Advanced Christianity: God  Me  Others
…Freedom to Build Real Love!
 “Love
Edifies.” – 1 Cor.8 to 10
 This IS the “New Life” from Jesus Christ
 Living beyond “Christianity 101” (1 Cor.9:1…)
 How does “Love Edify” actually WORK?
“Yet I have never used any of these rights!”
1 Corinthians 9:15
Love is a choice, not a feeling…
Beyond Christianity 101
1.
Choosing to Sacrifice.
 Leading an others-centered life.
Beyond Christianity 101
1.
Choosing to Sacrifice.
Beyond Christianity 101
Choosing to Sacrifice.
2. Goal-Oriented Sacrifice.
1.
○
○
BUILDING spiritual relationships
…Me & God together
 But
we always make goals!
 Usually materialistic goals…
 Spiritual goals? Relational goals?
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
Galatians 3:3
Are you so foolish? After beginning
with the Spirit, are you now trying to
attain your goal by human effort?
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all
your heart and lean not on your own
understanding…
v.6 …In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
James 4:13-14 Now listen, you who say, "Today
or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a
year there, carry on business and make money."
Why, you do not even know what will happen
v.15 Instead,
youlife?
ought
say,
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are
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Lordforwills,
shall
and
also do this
or that."
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore
I tell
you, will
do not
worry
righteousness,
and all these
things
be given
your
life, what you
will
eat or
drink; or for
about
toabout
you as
well…Don’t
worry
about
tomorrow,
your body,
what
willofwear.
tomorrow
will
takeyou
care
itself.”Is not life more
important than food, and the body more important
than clothes?”
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
 It’s a question of “what’s worthwhile?”
Everyone who competes in the games
exercises self-control in all things. They
then do it to receive a perishable wreath,
but we an imperishable
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
 It’s a question of “what’s worthwhile?”
 Humans are builders by nature!
 Genesis 2:15 “…cultivate it…”
 We love to watch things grow!
 We’re incredibly creative!
 But “work” is a drag today!
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
 It’s a question of “what’s worthwhile?”
 Humans are builders by nature!
 We continue building in ETERNITY!
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and
faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this
small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ Matthew 25:21
 But
we always make goals!
 “But that’s not very spiritual!”
 It’s a question of “what’s worthwhile?”
 Humans are builders by nature!
 We continue building in ETERNITY!
 So start building now!
John 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Win or Lose?
 Losers…
 Don’t run…
 Wandering, lacking focus…Frustration!
 Bad direction…
1 Cor. 9:24 Do 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.
Win or Lose?
 Losers…
 Winners…
 Consider it, think about it…
 Small steps, not giant leaps!
○ “ONE another…”
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Win or Lose?
 Losers…
 Winners…
 Consider, think about it…
 Small steps, not giant leaps!
 Concrete steps, not vague wishes…
○ “consider HOW…”
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Win or Lose?
 Losers…
 Winners…
 Consider, think about it…
 Small, concrete steps, not giant leaps!
 Results-oriented thinking
 Prioritized goals…
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Goal-Oriented Thinking
1 Cor. 9:24 Do 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.