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Slide 1 X Before you enter into the most sacred shrine in the country of Portugal, you encounter this warning. It is written in several languages and it is a huge sign. Among the several warnings about what not to wear are other precautions. This is a holy place -- (and the picture communicates) so hang on to your wallet. This is a holy place -- so make sure you lock your car. This is a holy place. Beware of people begging. This is symbolic of what I see Paul saying in 2 Corinthians 11. He is saying ... church is a holy place, but BEWARE of what goes on in church. Protect your goods. Hold on to your wallet. Don't blindly trust everyone who is present in the church. Not all activity in holy places is endorsed by God. Not all messengers who oversee sacred spaces are God's chosen messengers. Slide 2 2 Corinthians 11:4 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. X Let's read the passage. 2 Corinthians 11:421 (NIV) 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. Slide 3 2 Corinthians 11:5-6 5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. X 5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those super-apostles.6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Slide 4 2 Corinthians 11:7-8 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed ot her churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. X 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.

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Page 1: Slide X XX Before you enter into the most sacred shrine in ... Before you enter into the most sacred shrine in the country of Portugal, ... Xenos.com) Slide 15 Just because it is a

Slide

1

XXXX Before you enter into the most sacred shrine in the country of

Portugal, you encounter this warning. It is written in several

languages and it is a huge sign. Among the several warnings about

what not to wear are other precautions. This is a holy place -- (and

the picture communicates) so hang on to your wallet. This is a holy

place -- so make sure you lock your car. This is a holy place. Beware

of people begging.

This is symbolic of what I see Paul saying in 2 Corinthians 11. He is

saying ... church is a holy place, but BEWARE of what goes on in

church. Protect your goods. Hold on to your wallet. Don't blindly

trust everyone who is present in the church.

Not all activity in holy places is endorsed by God. Not all messengers

who oversee sacred spaces are God's chosen messengers.

Slide

2 2 Corinthians 11:4

4 For if someone comes to you and

preaches a Jesus other than the

Jesus we preached, or if you

receive a different spirit from the

Spirit you received, or a different

gospel from the one you

accepted, you put up with it easily

enough.

XXXX Let's read the passage.

2 Corinthians 11:4–21 (NIV)

4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the

Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit

you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you

put up with it easily enough.

Slide

3 2 Corinthians 11:5-6

5 I do not think I am in the least

inferior to those “super-apostles.”

6 I may indeed be untrained as a

speaker, but I do have knowledge.

We have made this perfectly clear

to you in every way.

XXXX 5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”

6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge.

We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

Slide

4 2 Corinthians 11:7-8

7 Was it a sin for me to lower

myself in order to elevate you by

preaching the gospel of God to

you free of charge?

8 I robbed ot her churches by

receiving support from them so as

to serve you.

XXXX 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by

preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?

8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to

serve you.

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Slide

5 2 Corinthians 11:9

9 And when I was with you and

needed something, I was not a

burden to anyone, for the

brothers who came from

Macedonia supplied what I needed.

I have kept myself from being a

burden to you in any way, and will

continue to do so.

XXXX 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a

burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia

supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to

you in any way, and will continue to do so.

Slide

6 2 Corinthians 11:10-11

10 As surely as the truth of Christ

is in me, nobody in the regions of

Achaia will stop this boasting of

mine.

11 Why? Because I do not love

you? God knows I do!

XXXX 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of

Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.

11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Slide

7 2 Corinthians 11:12-13

12 And I will keep on doing what I am

doing in order to cut the ground from

under those who want an opportunity

to be considered equal with us in the

things they boast about.

13 For such people are false apostles,

deceitful workers, masquerading as

apost les of Christ .

XXXX 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the

ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered

equal with us in the things they boast about.

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,

masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Slide

8 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

14 And no wonder, for Satan

himself masquerades as an angel

of light.

15 It is not surprising, then, if his

servant s also masquerade as

servant s of righteousness. Their

end will be what their actions

deserve.

XXXX 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of

light.

15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as

servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions

deserve.

Slide

9 2 Corinthians 11:16-17

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for

a fool. But if you do, then tolerate

me just as you would a fool, so

t hat I may do a lit t le boasting.

17 In this self-confident boasting I

am not talking as the Lord would,

but as a fool.

XXXX 16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then

tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,

but as a fool.

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Slide

10 2 Corinthians 11:18-19

18 Since many are boasting in the

way t he world does, I too will

boast.

19 You gladly put up wit h fools

since you are so wise!

XXXX 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will

boast.

19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!

Slide

11 2 Corinthians 11:20-21

20 In fact, you even put up with

anyone who enslaves you or

exploits you or takes advantage of

you or puts on airs or slaps you in

t he face.

XXXX 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or

exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in

the face.

Slide

12 2 Corinthians 11:20-21

21 To my shame I admit that we

were too weak for that! Whatever

anyone else dares to boast

about—I am speaking as a fool—I

also dare to boast about.

XXXX 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever

anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also

dare to boast about.

Embedded in the passage you can find this warning:

Slide

13 HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL

DECEPTION

1. Believe what every preacher says

when he/she talks about Jesus.

Assume everyone who speaks

positively about Jesus is from God. (v.4)

2. If the messenger is eloquent and

dignified, dynamic and motivating,

you can trust their message. (vvs. 5-6)

XXXX HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

The Apostle Paul diplomatically warns the congregation about his

opponents' tactics.

For instance, look at verse 4 in your Bible. Paul is saying: If you

want to be misled and deceived when you go to church ...

XXXX 1. Believe what every preacher says when he/she talks about Jesus. Assume everyone who speaks positively about Jesus is from God. (v.4)

Verses 5-6 have a similar message:

XXXX 2. If the messenger is eloquent and dignified, dynamic and motivating, you can trust their message. (vvs. 5-6)

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Slide

14 HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL

DECEPTION

3. Assume that an appeal for your money

is really an appeal from God rather than

a cash grab by the messenger. When a

preacher asks for money, never question

his motives. (v.7)

4. Look for leaders who want to run your

life and make all your decisions for you. (vvs. 19-20)

XXXX If you want to be misled and deceived ... (verse 7)

3. Assume that an appeal for your money is really an appeal from God -- rather than a cash grab by the messenger. When a preacher asks for

money, never question his motives. (v.7)

If you want to be misled and deceived ...

XXXX 4. Look for leaders who want to run your life and make all your decisions for you. (vvs. 19-20) (These 4 points adapted from Xenos.com)

Slide 15

Just because it is a Christian program, or a

Christian camp or a Christian church does

not mean that what is said

is what Christ would approve of. Hence the theme of ALPHA:

Question Everything!!!

XXXX Like the sign at Portugal's most holy shrine, every believer must

put up his/her guard when you go to church, when you watch

religious TV programs, when you listen to the radio preachers, when

you send your kids to camp, etc. Just because it is a Christian

program, or a Christian camp or a Christian church does not mean

that what is said is what Christ would approve of. Hence the theme

of ALPHA: Question Everything!!!

If you don't put up your guard, you are liable to be deceived. Don't

blindly trust those who teach and preach and work in the church.

They may or may not have your best spiritual interests at heart. You

must learn to discern.

So what do you do to keep your guard up -- so that when you do go to

church you are not misled or deceived?

Slide 16

HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to

those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed

be untrained as a speaker, but I do have

knowledge. We have made this perfectly

clear to you in every way.

Precaution #1:

Examine t he content of a person's

message, rat her t han simply t rusting t he

outward image (5-6 ).

XXXX HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

Look at what the Apostle Paul said in verses 5-6:

5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I

may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We

have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

XXXX Precaution #1:

1. Examine the content of a person's message, rather than simply

trusting the outward image (of the person or the presentation )

(5-6).

Image is not everything. Some of us will walk into a church that lives

and breathes "success" outwardly. We may smell "success" and

think, "This smells good. I like the smell - - - even though I get the

occasional stench of something rotten." Don't ignore that rotten

smell. True spirituality is not built upon appearances and

superficiality. It is built upon substance. Don't trust only in the looks

of the messenger. Investigate the content of the message. Is God's

word central? Is knowledge present?

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Paul could have considered competing with the "super-apostles" in

the church at Corinth. But he didn't try to copy them; he tried to

imitate the Lord. He knew that by trying to imitate the Lord only, he

would be ridiculed by the "super-apostle" crowd. They were

eloquent speakers. They were entertainers and comedians who could

"wow" the congregation with their words. Paul simply said: "I might

not have the gift of communicating in a relevant manner and I may

not stroke everybody's fancy when I speak. But, I do have one thing.

I have knowledge. The fact that you know Christ and have seen the

work of His Spirit in you, is a demonstration of that knowledge. Paul

had no reason to feel inferior. Image sells in our society. It's true.

BUT, before the throne of grace, knowledge of the truth

communicated with a humility of spirit are the measurement of

success.

Slide 17

HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

Precaution #2: Try to discover if the mot ivat ion of the messenger matches the content of the message (7-9)

7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

XXXX How to avoid the snare of spiritual deception:

Precaution #2:

2. Try to discover if the motivation of the messenger matches the

content of the message (7-9)

XXXX 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by

preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other

churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And

when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to

anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I

needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way,

and will continue to do so.

The message of the gospel, the ministry of the Spirit, and the

Messiah, Jesus Christ, are full of two things: GRACE AND TRUTH

(John 1:14,17).

So when a preacher comes to church or when a spiritual leader

stands up to pontificate on some issue of spirituality, you need to

discover if the content of their message is truly BIBLICAL, and

secondly, you need to discover their motivation. Does their

motivation for speaking match the content of the message?

How do you do that?

The MESSAGE of the gospel, the MINISTRY of the Spirit and the

MESSIAH HIMSELF, Jesus Christ are all full of grace. Does the human

messenger speaking to the church relate to the congregation with

grace? Notice the phrases Paul uses that describe himself in

comparison to the super-apostles.

7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you

8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to

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serve you.

9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden

to anyone

9 I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way

Ministry done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of

delivering the message of the gospel should only be performed by the

means of the Spirit which is BY GRACE. That is not to say you can't

take money. It simply says that when you represent God before

people, what you do is not self-serving nor is it for self-reward. You

represent God before people by offering to them A GIFT OF GRACE

FROM GOD FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND THEIR BETTERMENT.

The super-apostles were not doing that. They were communicating a

message that was corrupt because it served them rather than the

congregation. Paul suffered himself and made others foot the bill so

that the Corinthian congregation would experience a message free of

charge - a message that spoke about grace and a message that was

offered with grace. By doing so, Paul was imitating Jesus Christ.

Slide 18

HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

Precaution #3:

Determine if the messenger's pleasure

comes from the power over the

congregat ion or f rom the pleasure of

serving the congregat ion. (20 -21)

20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who

enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage

of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.

21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for

that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast

about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to

boast about.

XXXX How to avoid the snare of spiritual deception:

Precaution #3:

3. Determine whether the messenger's boasting comes from the

power he has over the congregation or from the pleasure of

protecting and serving the congregation.

You could tell what the super-apostles were up to by what their

boastings did to the congregation. The Corinthians were being

abused and manipulated by the boastings of the "super-apostles."

XXXX 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or

exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in

the face.

21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that [a true

messenger of Christ couldn't treat the congregation that way]!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a

fool—I also dare to boast about.

Sometimes you've got to play the game the way your opponents do.

The super-apostles were boasters - full of pride. But if you have to

resort to boasting, how do you tell who is boasting for the benefit of

the congregation and whose boasting is hurting and manipulating the

congregation?

Paul does not want to boast about his ministry, but if his critics'

ridicule go unanswered completely, the congregation will start

believing the boastings of the super-apostles. If that happens, verse

20 says they will be abused and enslaved. It is so easy to believe

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what someone else says about themselves. When you trust them

implicitly without testing the truthfulness of their boasting you are

setting yourself up to be enslaved, exploited, taken advantage of,

conned and abused (not my words, but the inspired Bible's words -

see verse 20).

So ... for this reason ... for the spiritual health of the Corinthian

congregation... Paul plays their game. He will boast as well.

However there is a difference between the one boasting in self-

defense [for the benefit of the congregation] and the one who boasts

naturally and snobbishly [to the detriment of the congregation]. The

truly foolish person believes that he must boast about himself and his

boasting will better his chances of gaining what he wants out of life.

The one boasting in self-defense will readily admit that what he is

doing is uncomfortable and unspiritual - even unwise (10:12). He is

forced to do it so that misunderstandings are not propagated ... so

that the congregation is not hurt worse.

Slide 19

You can feel Paul's discomfort in verses 16-19:

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if

you do, then tolerate me just as you would a

fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as

the Lord would, but as a fool.

18 Since many are boasting in the way the world

does, I too will boast.

19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so

wise!

21 [therefore] ... Whatever anyone else dares to

boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare

to boast about.

XXXX You can feel Paul's discomfort in verses 16-19:

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate

me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.

17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,

but as a fool.

18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will

boast.

19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!

21 [therefore] ... Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am

speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.

Paul clarifies that his boasting is (a) foolish, (b) it is not what the Lord

would do and (c) it is something that comes natural to the world, but

not to him. Admittedly, he does not want to do this, but if he is losing

the respect of his congregation, he is not going to lie down and let

them be deceived by a bunch of liars. He is going to rise up in self-

defense and tell them the truth. He cannot suffer them to be hurt.

That's what a shepherd does.

When we compare the super-apostles' boastings to the boastings of

the apostle Paul we discover something very, very key about Christian

ministry.

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Slide

20 We have already said that along

with the content of the message it

is necessary to make sure it is

delivered with grace.

Now along with grace, the true

Christian message will achieve one

key result:

the congregation will be SERVED.

XXXX We have already said that along with the content of the message it

is necessary to make sure it is delivered with grace. Now along with

grace, the true Christian message will achieve one key result: the

congregation will be SERVED. The STATUS of the messenger will be

secondary, if not, unnoticed.

Slide

21 So then, think about this:

• When a spiritual leader is trying to deceive

you, you will smell the presence of STATUS -

self-serving, self-congratulating, self-

promoting status.

Here is the difference between Paul and the

super-apostles.

• When a spiritual leader, like Paul, is

delivering to you the message of Christ, you

will smell the presence of SERVICE.

XXXX So then, think about this:

When a spiritual leader is trying to deceive you, you will smell the

presence of STATUS - self-serving, self-congratulating, self-promoting

status.

Paul's opponents liked to think of themselves as "super-apostles."

That was their reputation among the congregation at Corinth.

- this is the big problem with our cultural emphasis on "self-

esteem"

- there is a "self-esteem" that comes from God's word. It tells

us to be confident in what God has done for us and, when we

feel inadequate, it tells us to rely on God's faithfulness

- Cultural self-esteem is different. In many ways, cultural self-

esteem is what the Bible would call "thinking more highly of

yourself than you ought to". It is a confidence not rooted in

reality, but only in the perception that one has of oneself.

- Paul's critics and foes represented our cultural kind of self-

esteem

- They boasted about themselves, about their image, about

things that they did not even accomplish themselves - but

what Paul had accomplished. They plagiarized another

person's work and called it their own.

What are the accusations they leveled against Paul? What made Paul

so irrelevant and insignificant to them?

- Paul was an untrained speaker (v.6)

- Paul was someone who served the Lord free of charge (v.7-8)

- Paul was someone who refused to put a burden on the people he

helped (v.9).

Among the "super-apostles" GRACE was absent. The attitude was:

Paul, you're doing ministry all wrong. You're not to serve people!

They are to serve you!

What is the difference between the "super-apostles" and Paul?

XXXX Here is the difference between Paul and the super-apostles.

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XXXX When a spiritual leader, like Paul, is delivering to you the

message of Christ, you will smell the presence of SERVICE.

To the "super-apostles" ministry was status and to Paul ministry was

serving.

Slide

22 Status Serving

Status is maintained

by pride

Serving is

maintained by

humility

Status is motivated

by greed

Serving is motivated

by grace

Status can easily

become abusive

Serving will

generally foster

gratitude

XXXX STATUS vs. SERVING

How do you tell the difference?

1) Status is maintained by pride (bolsters one's own reputation) vs.

Serving is maintained by humility (bolsters the reputation of others)

XXXX 2) Status is motivated by greed vs. Serving is motivated by grace (a

spirit of generosity)

XXXX 3) Status can easily become abusive (the congregation is consumed

by the leader, or at least, becomes the prey upon which the leader

gains his status) vs. Serving will generally foster gratitude (the leader

earns the admiration of the congregation for his sacrifice for them) .

In the super-apostles' case, they had their eye on some target they

wanted to reach, and they saw the congregation at Corinth as being

something that would help them achieve what they wanted. That's

what the Bible would call deceptive ministry.

Slide 23

In the Apostle Paul's case, the end result

would be that the congregation looks back

at Paul and would testify that they had

become what they were because of the

grace God manifested to them through

the sacrificial ministry of Paul. In this

case, it is God who gets the glory for

ministry. The ministry is not about a target

being reached. It is about a God who

manifested his glory.

XXXX In the Apostle Paul's case, the end result would be that the

congregation looks back at Paul and would testify that they had

become what they were because of the grace God manifested to

them through the sacrificial ministry of Paul. In this case, it is God

who gets the glory for ministry. The ministry is not about a target

being reached. It is about a God who manifested his glory.

So when it came to ministry style in the Corinthian church, the

inspired word of God deemed certain practices in ministry to be

suspicious - even though they were culturally accepted.

Slide

24 Ministry Style of the “Super-apostles”

1. Paul's critics considered themselves to

be eloquent speakers because the

message they preached was done with

style.

2. Paul's critics took from the congregation

rather than invested in it.

3. Paul's critics promoted their own

authority and abused their leadership

privileges

XXXX For instance:

1. Paul's critics considered themselves to be eloquent speakers - not

because of the message they preached, but because the message

they preached - which was a different Jesus, a different spirit and a

different gospel - was done with style. Style became more important

that content (4-6). This is true of many motivational speakers in

churches today. Eloquent speakers need to be weighed in the

balance of God's word to be sure we are not attracted to eloquence

instead of truth.

XXXX 2. Paul's critics took from the congregation rather than invested in

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it. It was more about their personal goals and their peer approval

than it was about getting God's message into men's hearts.

XXXX 3. Paul's critics promoted their own authority and abused their

leadership privileges. Instead of climbing down the ladder to lift

people up, they climbed up the ladder to put people down.

That was their ministry style.

Slide 25 Why is ministry style important?

• The kind of ministry style you resort to reveals the mentor after whom you model your ministry and through whom your ministry is accomplished.

• After whom was the ministry of the super-apostles modeled?

XXXX Why is ministry style important? The kind of ministry style you

resort to reveals the mentor after whom you model your ministry and

through whom your ministry is accomplished.

XXXX After whom was the ministry of the super-apostles modeled and

accomplished? The words of verses 13-15 reveal to us the true

source of abusive religions and aggressive, manipulative religious

leaders.

Slide

26 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

13 For such people are false apostles,

deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles

of Christ.

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself

masquerades as an angel of light.

15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also

masquerade as servants of righteousness.

Their end will be what their actions deserve.

XXXX 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,

masquerading as apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of

light.

15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as

servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions

deserve.

Their boasting revealed their mentor. Who was their mentor? Satan.

Slide

27 How did Paul's boasting reveal a

different mentor?

• Paul does not boast about his glorious

accomplishments as his crit ics had,

but in a string of humiliating

experiences, and he boldly cont ends

t hat he is a bet t er servant of Christ

because of t hem [ the humiliat ing

experiences] (2 Cor. 11:23)

(1989). Review and Expositor, 86(3), 375.

XXXX How did Paul's boasting reveal a different mentor?

Paul does not boast about his glorious accomplishments as they [his critics] had but [he boasts] in a string of

humiliating experiences [which we will discuss next

message], and he boldly contends that he is a better servant of Christ because of them [the humiliating experiences] (11:23)

(1989). Review and Expositor, 86(3), 375.

Whereas, they boasted about their status over Paul, Paul boasted

about his service to the church.

He was like a Robin Hood before his time. He "robbed" the churches

(generated outside support) to serve the Corinthians. He lowered

himself to elevate his people. He made sure that the "grace of the

gospel of God" was modeled in his behaviour as a messenger of God -

he did it free of charge. He resisted pushing himself on them in any

way. Verse 21 says: "To my shame I admit that we were too weak for

that!" Being interpreted it means this: We just didn't want anything

we did to be construed as manipulation or man-handling. We

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wanted our ministry to be modeled as much as we could make it

just like the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therein lies a stark warning to Christian churches, personal

evangelism and discipleship training: it is not about manipulation and

man-handling. It is always about serving and supporting and

submitting.

Paul muses in verses 9b to 12: (Here is my paraphrase of those

verses)

Should I have been harder on you? Maybe! But sometimes love

makes you gentler than you ought to be. I did it this way and I will

continue to do it this way. I do it because the "truth of Christ is in

me" and because my love for you is so strong. When it comes to

ministry and self-sacrifice, you have no equal to me. I am totally

committed to your spiritual well-being no matter how much it hurts

me. (In verses 22 and following, Paul will then describe just how

much that commitment cost him.)

What does it matter about the style of ministry as long as people

gather and a church grows?

It matters deeply because every believer is called to make disciples of

"Jesus Christ." I am not called to make you a Baptist, or a Catholic, or

a Mormon, or a Muslim, or a good person, or a church-attendee, or a

community worker or a freedom fighter for justice. As soon as I try to

make you anything other than LIKE CHRIST, (a) Christ is suppressed,

(b) I, as a minister, have neglected my calling and (c) my gospel is no

longer about Christ - BUT has become A DIFFERENT GOSPEL, A

DIFFERENT SPIRIT AND A DIFFERENT CHRIST (see v.4). My calling was

never to gather people together. The calling was never to build a

kingdom or build what we call a church.

We are all called to a well-known and well-understood game. It's

called "follow the leader!" As a disciple of Jesus myself, I am

commissioned to help you to become learners, students, apprentices,

followers of Jesus. I am called to make disciples of Jesus --> Christians

- people who are Christ-imitators, Christ-like, Christ-minded, and

Christ-serving. As these disciples grow toward becoming like Christ,

they will gather together into groups and become what the Bible calls

an assembly or church and through these churches God will build His

eternal kingdom.

(New Slide)

XXXX Let me leave you with these final words: How should people

attend and how should they listen to religious talk?

1. Know the word of God and listen for it at church.

XXXX 2. Look for servanthood among the leadership.

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XXXX 3. Love God and live for Jesus.

XXXX 4. Learn to discern between what feels good and what is truly

healthy.