Bethel Sunday School 23 FEB 2020
Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19 – 23

A DEEP BURDEN TO HELP PEOPLE RECEIVE SALVATION IN CHRIST

1. This was the heart of the Apostle Paul

a. To preach the gospel to all!

b. To help as many people as possible to receive the eternal salvation of Christ!

2. “I am free from all men” 1 Corinthians 9:19a

a. A wonderful liberty is enjoyed in having faith in Christ

b. Paul lived with a sense of joy and freedom

i. Freed from his past ways

ii. Freed from how he was brought up as a strict Pharisee

3. “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more” 1 Corinthians 9:19b

a. Paul chose to use his freedom to serve the Lord humbly

b. Paul’s great desire was to help people find faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

4. “To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win the Jews” 1 Corinthians 9:20

a. Paul himself was a Jew

b. He knew their constraints under the law

c. He would be identified with them to win / gain them to faith in Christ!

i. By ministering to them in Synagogues

ii. By observing the Jewish Feasts

5. “To those who are without the law…that I might win those who are without the law”
1 Corinthians 9:21

a. These were the Gentiles

b. Paul became an Apostle to the Gentiles

c. He became identified with them to help them come to faith in Christ!

d. They were not given the laws of Moses to keep like the Jews

e. They would keep the laws of Christ

i. The New Covenant

ii. The law of love! (John 13:34)

6. “To the weak, I became as weak, that I might win the weak” 1 Corinthians 9:22a

a. He had compassion for the weak too!

b. He reached out to them by ministering at their level of understanding and ability

7. “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”
1Corinthians 9:22b

a. Paul displayed much humility as a minister of God

b. He would adapt to the needs of people and yet be true to the gospel

c. He would try whatever means to help different people find faith in Christ!

8. “Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
1 Corinthians 9:23

a. Paul’s motivation and desire as to share the gospel freely

b. To help people obtain faith in Jesus Christ

c. To be a partaker of the fellowship of the gospel

GREAT CHALLENGES

1. To cultivate a burden to win souls for Christ

2. To learn how to share the gospel well

3. To be equipped to help people find faith in Jesus