1 Corinthians Week 19

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 9:11-12 

¹¹ Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? ¹² If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. 

Paul drove his point home about the ministry he and Barnabas had among the Corinthian believers. Apparently the believers were supporting others but not Paul and Barnabas. Paul said they had never used this right because they did not want to be a stumbling block to those to whom they were presenting the gospel.  

REFLECT 

Have you previously thought about what the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:11-12? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about this passage in 1 Corinthians and then discuss how you are, or are not, doing this.  

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 

¹³ Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 

Paul continued to drive home his point by citing the Old Testament law system. The Corinthians may have known this practice was also followed in the pagan temples of their time. Paul’s statement is strong when he wrote, “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” 

REFLECT 

Do you agree that some statements in the Bible are clear without further debate? 

RESPOND 

Discuss with a friend about the Old Testament instructions about how the priests and Levites were to be supported. Read Numbers 18:8-11 to help in your discussion. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 9:15-16 

¹⁵ Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. ¹⁶ Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 

Paul presented why he was not taking support from others even though it was his right to do so. He thought it was important to be able to say he was not receiving support for his preaching. On the other hand, he knew he could not boast about this because he was compelled by God to do it. 

REFLECT 

Has God given you a strong feeling that you are to do something without expecting a financial response, even as Paul did? 

RESPOND  

Talk with a friend about Proverbs 11:24-25. Visit about the times you have been refreshed by helping someone without expecting anything in return.  

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 9:17-18 

¹⁷ If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. ¹⁸ What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 

Paul was not receiving support for faithfully preaching the gospel. His riches were spiritual instead of material. Even though this was his choice as an apostle, it does not mean others must do the same. Paul worked to support himself as he preached to others without charge. Today that is often called a “bi-vocational” ministry.  

REFLECT 

Are you teaching others about the Scriptures without charge? If so, you can be spiritually rich even if not materially rich.  

RESPOND 

For Paul’s skill in supporting himself, read Acts 18:1-3. Do you know of others who have a bi-vocational ministry? 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 9:19-20 

¹⁹ Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. ²⁰ When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 

This is a passage commonly misunderstood. Some think that in order to evangelize others Paul broadened out what he would normally do. It seems to be the opposite. He had complete freedom in the grace that Christ had offered. Instead, he gladly limited himself so as not to offend those he was trying to reach with the gospel.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes limited your liberty around those you did not want to offend as you were seeking to win them to Jesus? 

RESPOND 

It is important to remember that the topic being treated in 1 Corinthians refers to relating to a person who is a “weak” believer. Such a believer is one who has not been properly taught about his liberty in Jesus. It is not about some who have been saved and have studied the Scriptures for years but is acting like a weak believer.