“I want the whole Christ for my Saviour, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field” (John Wesley).
After people are empowered and equipped in a small group process through God’s word, then they can give themselves fully to the work of the gospel by preaching the crucified and resurrected Christ along with encouraging and giving generously to those engaged in gospel ministry.
Send Out People to Preach the Gospel in the World
Paul reminded the Corinthians of the gospel He preached, they received and were saved so they would not believe in vain. What he passed on as first importance was that Christ died for their sins, buried and raised on third day according to the Scriptures and appeared to Peter, the Twelve, 500 brothers, James and every apostle and finally Paul. God’s grace allowed him to work harder as the least of the apostles since he persecuted the church of God (1 Cor. 15:1-11). Preach the crucified and resurrected Christ for the forgiveness of sins according to the Scriptures as you are empowered by His grace.
Endure Hardship in Gospel Ministry Since God Destroys Evil
If Christ was not raised from the dead as some people say, then his preaching and their faith were useless as false witnesses about God. If the dead were not raised, then Christ was not raised either proving their faith was futile being still in their sins. If people have hope in Him for this life only because the dead in Christ were lost, then they were to be pitied more than all men. But Christ was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who died. For as Adam died, in Christ all were made alive. When the end came, Christ handed the kingdom to God the Father after He destroyed all dominion, authority and power. He reigned until putting all His enemies under His feet including death as stated in Psalm 8:6. God put everything under Christ who was subject to Him so God may be all in all. If Paul fought wild beasts in Ephesus assuming the dead were not raised with the philosophy of “eating and drinking for tomorrow we die,” he gained nothing. Do not be misled and stop sinning because bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:12-34). Endure hardship in preaching the gospel because of the resurrection and knowing that God will destroy all evil authorities including death.
Focus Fully on God’s Kingdom Work Because of Christ’s Resurrection
Just as God determined the kind of body that grew from a seed, what was sown perishable would be raised imperishable. What was sown in dishonor, would be raised in glory, What was sown in weakness, would be raised in power. What was sown as a natural body would be raised a spiritual body. The first man Adam became a living being, but the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The natural or first man who was the dust of the earth came before the spiritual or second man from heaven so people can bear the likeness of Christ. When the trumpet sounded, the dead will be raised imperishable and changed since flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality so that death would be swallowed up in victory without sting. The sting of death was sin and the power of sin was the law, but God gave victory through Christ. Therefore, they must stand firm and give themselves fully to the Lord’s work knowing their labor was not in vain (1 Cor. 15:35-58). Give yourself fully to God’s kingdom work because of Christ’s resurrection.
Support and Engage in Effective Ministries
Each person should set aside money on the first day of the week in proportion to his income so no collections would be made when Paul arrived. He would give letters of introduction to the men they approved so they could send the gift to Jerusalem. Paul said he might spend the winter so they could help him wherever he went. He would stay at Ephesus until Pentecost because of an open door for effective work amid opposition (1 Cor. 16:1-9). Support and engage in ministries that have open doors for effective work.
Connect Families to Gospel Ministry Opportunities
He told them to accept and support Timothy in every way because of his work in the Lord so he could rejoin Paul. Apollos was unwilling to go to them with the brothers but would come when he had opportunity. They were to be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be strong as men of courage while doing everything in love. As the first converts in Achaia, the household of Stephanas devoted themselves to the service of the saints and deserved recognition because they supplied what was lacking and refreshed Paul’s spirit and the Corinthians. The churches in Asia, Aquila, Priscilla, their house church and all the brothers with Paul greeted them warmly with grace and love in Christ Jesus. A curse be on anyone who did not love the Lord. Come, O Lord (1 Cor. 16:10-24). Families serve, encourage and give generously to those engaged in gospel ministry.
Are you giving yourself fully to preaching the crucified and resurrected Christ while serving, encouraging and giving generously to those engaged in gospel ministry?
