Please turn in your copy of the scriptures to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. We’ll be looking today at the very end, verses 15 through 24. If you’re using the pew copy of the scriptures, it’s found on page 962. Page 962, 1 Corinthians chapter 16, beginning at verse 15.
Before we read, let’s ask for God’s help and blessing. Pray with me. Lord, you promise to relieve our burdens if we come to Jesus. And so we come now with all the cares and concerns of life and life east of Eden. And we have so many hurts and heartaches and thorns and thistles. We have uncertainties. We even have rough edges that need to be knocked off.
And so Lord, by your word and spirit today, we pray that you would work in each of us We pray also that the seed of the gospel would fall all on good soil and that it would turn and produce a hundredfold. Do not let Satan snatch away your word. Do not let the cares of the world cause us to forget what we have heard and do not let the issues of life crowd out the good things that you have for us. Help us and bless us. We pray now in Christ’s name. Amen.
The apostle Paul writes at the end of his letter, 1 Corinthians 16, beginning at verse 15. Now I urge you brothers, you know that the house of Stephanos were the first converts in Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Be subject to such as these and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanos and Fortunatus and to Caiacus, because they have made up for your absence, for they have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.
The churches of Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. And all the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord come, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. A question, how should we relate to one another in the church? How should we relate to one another in the household of faith? How should we act in church life?
You can answer that question all kinds of ways with the modern world. We should treat each other according to our race, our ethnic background. We should treat each other according to our social status, our economic status. Perhaps we should treat one another because of our common interest, our affinities and all the like. We should treat one another this way or that way. Well, that all sounds really wonderful until we realize that it separates. It divides, it destroys the unity that we have in the church, in Jesus Christ. So how should we relate to one another?
Well, our passage, I think, gives us eight, we’ll call them social graces. It gives eight things that we as believers can do now. I’m aware of this and I’m breaking a rule or two. Some of these things that we’ll see are things Paul does tell the church to do. And then they are things, the others are things that he does that are worth imitating.
So you’ll see the method to the madness, I do believe. But how are we to relate to one another in the body of Jesus Christ? And some of you are probably saying, what’s he going to say about greeting each other with the Holy kiss? Do not attempt it. Uh, I can move. I don’t, I don’t want you to don’t touch me. Um, now you’re wondering about that one. I’m very sure.
Uh, but here we have Paul writing his second letter to the Corinthians. Remember he’s written another letter to them because of their many issues, problems. It’s not one that we have in our copy of the scripture. So first Corinthians is the second letter that he has written. Uh, uh, it’s our first, of course. Paul is across the Aegean Sea.
He’s to their east in Ephesus, where he has had a three year ministry. It’s been a very difficult ministry. And so our passage mentions that Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus a head of household and probably two, two Roman slaves from that man’s house. They sail across the sea and they visit with Paul bringing a report on what’s taking place in the church at Ephesus. But they also go to encourage and help him. You might think in terms of a short term mission trip in our modern day language. And so they go visit Paul, bring report.
He writes a letter and sends it back across the Aegean Sea with them to the people at Corinth. And so this letter would have been highly anticipated as it answers some of their questions. It addresses many of their problems. And so when these three and perhaps others return with it, that first Sunday, that first Lord’s day morning, it is read.
And of course we know it to be the word of God. and we have received it as such, and perhaps they did as well because the Holy Spirit made them aware this was indeed God’s word to them. And so there’s eight things that I think can be helpful to us as believers and to life together in the church. Now, the first one, you’re gonna scratch your head when I mention it, but I think you’ll see the method to the madness. The first thing we ought to be in the church of Jesus Christ is converted. Now, of course, we wanna say if someone is in the church and they are not a believer, they’re seeking the Lord and they need to keep coming, they need to keep hearing, they need to keep coming until perhaps the spirit grants them salvation. We for sure want that.
But in light of 1 Corinthians and in light of the curse that is pronounced at the end of this letter, It should be said that those in the church of Jesus Christ should be those who have come to faith in him and received him and rest in him alone for their salvation.
In fact, verse 22 says, if anyone has no love for the Lord, let them be accursed. There’s a sermon right there. If you do not love the Lord, it will not go well for you. If you do not love the Lord, there is everlasting punishment. Jesus in his own body bore the sins of many and received the curses due for their sins. But for those who do not repent and turn to Jesus, they will receive that same curse that fell upon Jesus at the cross. They will receive that in their own body and soul forever.
And so the first thing we see in this passage that I think is the most important is we ought to be converted. Paul says in verse 15, I urge you brothers, you know that the household of Stephanas were of the first fruits or the first converts in Asia. And so we ought to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Do we know ourselves to be sinners? Do we know ourselves to be under the wrath and curse and displeasure of almighty God and the only hope that we have? is the mercy of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Paul came to Corinth, you know, from Philippi and through Berea and Thessalonica and passing through Athens, when he came to the people at Corinth, there were none saved. But he gave the gospel. He presented hope. He gave them Jesus. And fruit began to show up as we will see in this glorious passage.
We will see that there were those there not converted. They did not love the Lord and they were on a path to everlasting accursement by God. But through the preaching of the gospel, many have come to faith because of that good news. Now, why would Paul say at the end of this letter, if any of you have no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Now, we generally live life in a church with people who are interested in the Lord. They have faith in the Lord.
And even if someone is in our midst who does not yet love the Lord, they’re not going to be antagonistic. But in the church at Corinth, they had those who did not love the Lord and they let it be known and they taught false things, false gospels, false hopes. And so Paul needs to say with a loud voice or a loud pen and bold letters, if you don’t love the Lord, you’re in hot water. If you don’t love the Lord, there are bad things coming. And so within the church of Jesus Christ, we ought to be a converted people. The church is made up of those who are called out of the world to live for the Lord Jesus. So be converted. The second thing, be devoted. We find in verses 15 and 17 this devotion. In verse 15, he speaks of the household of Stephanas coming to faith in Jesus.
They’re the first fruits of the gospel and that they, the whole household, have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. And so we ought to be, as believers, whether new or old, middle-aged, dead, or old, we ought to be devoted in some way, shape, or form to the service of the saints. In fact, Paul will say of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus when they came across the sea to him at Corinth or at Ephesus where he’s having a really fruitful gospel ministry, but it’s under high spiritual antagonism and duress. He’ll say, they have come and refreshed me. So in our devotion to God, are we also devoted to the service of the saints? This is something that we ought to consider and maybe reflect on and think of how we with our unique gifts and graces and abilities might serve the saints in some way, shape or form. These people were loyal, they were devoted. If you are a King James reader, Kind of funny to me says they were addicted to the service of the saints.
You know, we live in a world that is self-service. You go to the grocery store now and you self-checkout. You go to Lowe’s, you self-checkout. We’re used to serving ourselves. But do we have time built in our schedules? Do we have freedom within the boundaries of our lives to serve others, especially the saints? Something to consider. These folks were serving the Corinthian church. They were serving Paul. They were serving the Ephesians. And God willing, they would make it back across the sea to serve the Corinthians again. You know how it is. Church doesn’t run unless good people step up and use their gifts and graces.
And so are we devoted to the saints? Are God’s people your people? So how do we relate to one another? Well, we relate in Christ as we have been converted. We relate through devotion to one another in service. The third way that this passage teaches us to relate to one another is to be subject to one another.
Verse 16, Paul says of the household of Stephanas and all their service to the saints, be subject to such as these and to every fellow worker. And I thought it was interesting here. He’s not speaking of be subject to ministers, be subject to your elders, nor is he saying be subject to deacons. He’s saying be subject to one another and to anyone who is a fellow worker, a fellow laborer in the gospel.
You can look around you and see who serves. You can look around and see perhaps who’s not an elder or a deacon or a minister, and you can see their service to the church and how vital it is and how wonderful it is and how, think of the Corinthian setting, how difficult it must have been to be a volunteer in the life of the church and to receive antagonism and criticism and party spirit and all the other messes and hardships that Paul has spoken of in this letter, things that are going on and causing great difficulty in the life of the Corinthian church. And so, uh, to take a phrase from Peter, uh, towards ministers and elders, and you could apply this, maybe young children to your school teachers. Um, maybe, maybe some of you have a boss at work, make their job easier by respecting who they are and what they do.
That will make the church go well and seem glorious. And the work of fellow workers, church workers, devoted servants to Christ’s people, their work will be a joy and not a sorrow. And so we ought to be subject to those whose work is worthy of our respect. A fourth thing we find in verse 17 is we should be joyful. Now this is one of those where Paul is rejoicing, Like good Christians, we imitate other good Christians in their righteous deeds. In verse 17, Paul says, I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus.
Paul rejoices. They must have been a sight for sore eyes. He’s over there at Ephesus fighting with beasts, as he says in an earlier chapter. Of course, he has people that love him. They love the Lord. They’re learning. They’re growing. Remember, Paul set up shop in a place called Tyranus Hall. It was not being used during the siesta hours of the day. And so for like two years, he’s preaching and teaching every day in Tyranus Hall. And I’m sure there’s people that come. They love him. They receive from him. They are walking with the Lord and growing in grace. And that’s very refreshing to them as well.
But sometimes when you’re in ministry and there are antagonists, There are people, and I can speak from great painful experience even, there are people that love you and respect your ministry and there are people that hate you and they hate your ministry.
I can tell stories, which I’m not going to do because that would be a downer, but you can while you’re preaching see who is mad at you. who’s got their arms folded, who just has this look at you like, when is he ever going to be done? Cause I can’t hate him while he’s preaching. Cause he’s speaking God’s word, that kind of thing. You can imagine what Paul was going through at Ephesus.
He had people that wanted to hug his neck and say, thank you for bringing Jesus to me. And others that wanted to put something else around his neck and make his life miserable or end. And so, um, We want to be joyful when we see others in the faith, serving the Lord and encouraging. Paul was thankful that those three showed up. They were a sight for sore eyes back at Corinth. You know, they had some following Apollos. some following Paul, some following Cephas and probably Timothy and Jesus and several others. And this be joyful command, I think ought to put in perspective when others in the church by God’s gifts and graces are serving, we should be thankful.
We should be happy about it. We should be joyful about it because they are bringing life. They are bringing refreshment. They are bringing good things. We ought to look at one another as those for whom Christ died. but also those to whom the Spirit has given unique gifts. And when they come to Paul, they refresh him and he’s joyful about it.
And so within the church, as we look around and as we see gifts and graces being used, does it refresh the saints and are we joyful about it? That’s the fourth thing. The fifth thing follows and it’s this, be refreshing. When you come to church, are you a life giver? or a life taker.
We’ve got it really good here, I’ll just say. I think y’all know that. We have a sweet fellowship. We have a sweet bunch. I think we are a happy and thankful group of people. I don’t get the sense there’s whispering and backbiting. If there is, I haven’t heard it. We have had it and it has stunk and it has hurt. It’s been painful. It’s been no fun. I’ve probably done it too.
You know, we’re all not guilt-free here, but we ought to be refreshing when we show up to church. How about before we show up to church? Do we think to ourselves, when I get there today, I’m gonna look for so-and-so because they need a pat on the back. They need a word of encouragement. They need a look in the eye. They need a word of grace because I know where they are. I know the hardship they’re under. And if I can do anything today, Lord, let me be a blessing to that person.
Do we think that way when I show up to church? Yes, we hope to be refreshed ourselves, but are we ourselves refreshers? You know, when we come to church, we are worn out and weary from this world. We are worn out and weary from life east of Eden. We are worn out and weary from thorns and thistles and Satan and the world and our own flesh. We are worn out and weary and weary saints need refreshing. And so we ought to think of church as the place where there’s a cool splash of water. There’s a fresh drink. There is food for the soul. There’s the encouragement of the saints.
Think of Aaron and her. when ministry was tough for Moses. They were fighting the Amalekites before they entered the promised land. And as long as Moses held up his hands, remember that story, the Israelites would prevail. But when Moses got weary and his hands went down, the Amalekites would prevail. And so Aaron on one side and her on the other, they sat Moses on a rock and each held up a hand. And so Israel prevailed, Israel won. And it’s a little saying, Do you have your Aaron?
Do you have your her in ministry? Do others have you in their corner? Do they know that when they bump into you at church or they receive a text, receive a phone call, a letter, a note, a card, do they know they will be refreshed? I also have this thought of the refreshment of Paul over at Ephesus, hard ministry, and he sees familiar faces, the sight for sore eyes. Perhaps you have been on a missions trip and you have gone to a faraway place where people from your culture are serving in another culture and you show up with supplies and energy and you show up with encouragement. How refreshing that is.
Now, I’ll just be selfish here for a moment. It refreshes me when the people of this church do things that just make church life work and they do it, they take it up, they quietly do it. And it’s such an encouragement that don’t even have to think about it. Don’t even have to fuss about it. It’s just done. And how wonderful that is.
Well, there’s a sixth thing our passage. shows us that it’s helpful for us as believers. And verse 18 tells us, be mindful of such people. Give recognition to them. I wonder if you look around sometimes and say, boy, we wouldn’t have a church if it weren’t for these cogs and wheels and gears. If it weren’t for these people quietly doing their thing, we would not have what we have. And I wonder if you stop to thank them. You know, mom used to wear an apron in the kitchen. You know, some of you may have had it.
It says, kiss the cook. And for us, that meant a lot of things. Mom was the cook, but her maiden name was Cook. So it had a little double meaning. And when we would sit down and eat, and dad would usually say the blessing, he would say that, you know, Mr. Eloquence, he’d say a beautiful prayer. And when he was done, my mom would say, and thank you, Lord, for the loving hands that prepared the meal. It was always her little way. But sometimes we need to be reminded there are loving hands that prepared the meal. We’re going to have a meal today.
Be sure to say thanks. There are folks that just magically during the week, they clean, they count, they write checks, they empty the trash, there’s bulletins printed, there’s floors scrubbed, there’s all kinds of things that take place. We walk in and enjoy the blessings of it, but be mindful of them. Say thank you. Take note. I’m sure many of them, most of them would say, Oh, don’t, don’t mention it, but it’s good to mention it. That’s encouraging. So be mindful of these things and take time to say, I see it. And I thank you.
The seventh thing is to be prayerful. Paul ends this prayer. In verse 22, with a quick little, our Lord come, you know that probably is the Aramaic word, Maranatha, come Lord Jesus. It’s how the book of Revelation ends. Lord, life east of Eden is pretty tough. So come, make all things new. Come crush Satan under your feet. Come take away our pain, our hardship, our sorrows. our losses and our crosses, so be prayerful. Our Lord come. Now, this little prayer, our Lord come, is connected to judgment.
The next verse is anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. There is a sense, and it’s biblical, say you’ve been in a church that’s been full of strife and hardship. There is a sense where in your mind, and you can write me a letter or take me out to coffee if you don’t understand this, But there is a sense in our minds that ought to be if someone is causing so much strife in the church, it must follow that they did not love the Lord. Otherwise, why would they wreak havoc on God’s people? And God has told us there’ll be wheat among the tares. And so sometimes our prayer can be in church hardship, our Lord come and judge. those who do not love you and who war on the saints.
That’s a tough prayer. We do want them to be saved, but we also want them to quit it. And it could be the only way some evil folks will quit antagonizing the people of God will be for the Lord Jesus to come and to come mightily and to come judging and to come make all things new and to punish the righteous or bless the righteous and punish the wicked. Well, the final thing we pray for, the eighth thing, is found at the very end.
It’s be blessed. The grace of the Lord be with you. We receive that greeting at every church service. Brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Be blessed. Paul wants this rotten, trouble-filled church to be blessed. He calls them saints, he calls them brothers, and he wants God’s blessing on them. All hope is not lost. He who began a good work in them will bring it to completion.
And so not only does he pray that the blessings of Jesus through his grace would fall upon them, rain upon them, refresh them, but he says, my love, be with you all in Christ Jesus. Now Paul here has deviated from his usual blessing. He usually says God’s grace, God’s love, the Spirit’s blessings be on you. And yes, here he says the grace of Jesus be with you. You people need it, right?
But he says, my love. What an assuring thing this father in the faith says to a troubled church, to a group of saints who have caused him so much heartache So much pain and so much disgust. It’s a wonder he doesn’t end this like Moses in the wilderness and says, God, you gave me these people. And why don’t you take over? I’m sick of it. I’m done with it. Nobody says my love be with you all.
How motivating that would be. And you fathers and grandfathers, you’ve got little ones and perhaps they drive you crazy. but you want them to live right, act right, do right. And perhaps you can motivate them by hugging them and saying, I love you so much. And I want you to be obedient. Happiness and holiness goes such a long ways. And daddy’s love or papa’s love for you is cheering you on in these things. What a thing that would be. And it would stick with that child into their old age. That’s what Paul does here.
And so brothers and sisters, be converted, be devoted, be subject, be joyful, be refreshing, be mindful, be prayerful, and be blessed. And these things will lead you well in this life. Let’s ask for God’s grace. Lord, we ask now that as we prepare to eat the food that has been so lovingly prepared for us this day that you would nourish our bodies with it, that you would nourish our souls through that fellowship around the table, but also as your word has come into our midst today by the reading and preaching of it, may we be refreshed and may we be joyful and may we be converted people who serve the saints and who give thanks and who are not only blessed, but a blessing to others. Go with us now and be with us. We pray in the name of Jesus, our savior. Amen. We want to respond to God’s word. And so let’s stand together and sing number 538.