Bring Your Brick | Sermon Two

Judging Hampers Service | 1 Corinthians 4:1-6

1 Corinthians 3:4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

1 Corinthians 4:1 “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.”  

“servants” (huperetes) means under-rowers
“steward” (oikonomos) NIV– “those entrusted.”
“the mysteries (mysterion) of God.”

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

2 Corinthians 10:10 “For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”

1. Human judgment

1 Corinthians 4:3a “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court”2. Personal judgment

1 Corinthians 4:3b-4a “indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.”

Warren Wiersbe “There can be a fine line between a clear conscience and a self-righteous attitude, so we must beware.”3. God’s judgment

1 Corinthians 4:4b “It is the Lord who judges me.”

1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”

Truth #1. Judgment comes when Jesus returns.

1 Samuel 16:7 “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Key Point: When dealing with other Christ followers assume best intentions from them.

1 Corinthians 4:6a “Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”

Truth #2. The Bible is our standard.

1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

1 Corinthians 4:6b “Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.”
Truth #3. Caution: Your pride can lead to judging others.Every Christ follower has a part to play to help build God’s kingdom.

Every disciple should be faithful to serve in God’s kingdom.

Grab the Rope and Start Pulling.



John 13:12-17 “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

John 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”