Sermon on Evangelism

1 Corinthians 3:5-11
“Labor for the Lord”

• Theme 1- Its all about Jesus (christology)
  • What: (v. 11) Foundation which is Jesus Christ
    • Foundation of the church is not a what, but a who
    • Its not a doctrine its a who
    • Its not a culture its a who
    • Its not a people group its a who
    • Its not a charismatic and engaging personality it a who
    • Its not a result of crazy effective marketing, it is a who
      • 1 corinthians 2: 1-2
        Colossians 1:13-23
  • So what:
    • As we talk about being God’s workers in building His church. As we seek to live out the mission of transformation church, we understand that it starts with Jesus.
    • Our making disciples is making disciples of Jesus Christ
    • Growing in love towards God begins with Jesus Christ
      • 2 corinthians 4:6
    • Growing in love towards each other with Jesus at the center
    • Being transformed, into the image of Jesus
    • Now that we are on the same page that Jesus is the foundation, let us continue with this message about God’s church
• Theme 2- Salvation is of the Lord (soteriology)
  • What: (v.5): as the Lord assigned to each
  • Romans 8:29-just as God foreknew and predestined one’s salvation, He also has assigned mouthpieces6: but God gave the growth
  • (v.7): only God who gives growth
  • (v.9): God’s fellow workers, God’s field, God’s building
  • So what:
    • We don’t want to be distracted so much with methods, or success ratios, or asking what did I do wrong, or be discouraged
  • Why? Because the salvation is a gift given by God
    • Ephesians 2:8
    • It gives our salvation the ultimate confidence boost, because it is not a result of man, but of God
  • Now what: important because it informs how we pray, “Father would you save”
    • Determine to be faithful not in saving souls, but in participating in evangelism
• Theme 3- We are gardeners (evangelism)
  • What: (v.5): as the Lord assigns to each
    • (v.6): plants and waters
    • (v.8): labor
    • Labor-kopos-debilitating toil and labor that causes pain and weariness (repent)
    • (v.10): according to the grace God has given me
  • So what: Because we are supposed to be working hard in this area!
    • Someone ought to be planting, someone ought to be watering
    • The Lord has assignments for each of us
    • Evangelism is literally the act of making disciples which we have all been charged to do
      • Matthew 28:18-20
      • 2 corinthians 5:17-20
  • Now what: Make evangelism a priority
    • Group evangelism-awana
    • Personal evangelism (plant & water)- 6 rhythms- eat, celebrate, recreate, bless, story, listen
    • Make friends

1 Corinthians 3:5-11 – English Standard Version

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[a] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.