en 0823

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True Apostles of Christ
1 Corinthians 4
The apostle Paul exhorts to beware of criticism against church leaders. He also sincerely
asks the members of the Corinthian church to be humble in their relationship with God
and with men.
1 Corinthians 4
1Here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted
with God's secret truth. 2 Those who have been given a trust must
prove that they are faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or
by any human court. I don't even judge myself. 4 I don't feel I have done
anything wrong. But that doesn't mean I'm not guilty. The Lord judges
me.
5So don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the
Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will
show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each
person will receive praise from God.
6Brothers and sisters, I have used myself and Apollos as examples to
help you. You can learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Don't go
beyond what is written." Then you won't be proud that you follow one
person instead of another.
7Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have
that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you brag as
though you did not?
8You already have everything you want, don't you? Have you already
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ecome rich? Have you begun to rule as kings? And did you do that
without us? I wish that you really had begun to rule. Then we could
rule with you!
9It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a
parade. We are like men sentenced to die in front of a crowd. We have
been made a show for the whole creation to see. Angels and people are
staring at us.
10We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak.
But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!
11Up to this very hour we are hungry and thirsty. We are dressed in
rags. We are being treated badly. We have no homes.
12We work hard with our own hands. When others call down a curse
on us, we bless them. When we are attacked, we put up with it. 13 When
others say bad things about us, we answer kindly. Up to this moment
we have become the world's garbage. We are everybody's trash.
14I am not writing this to shame you. You are my dear children, and I
want to warn you. 15 You may have 10,000 believers in Christ watching
over you. But you don't have many fathers. I became your father by
serving Christ Jesus and telling you the good news.
16So I'm asking you to follow my example. 17 That's the reason I'm
sending * Timothy to you. He is like a son to me, and I love him. He is
faithful in serving the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in
serving Christ Jesus. And that agrees with what I teach everywhere in
every church.
18Some of you have become proud. You act as if I weren't coming to
you. 19 But I will come very soon, if that's what the Lord wants. Then
I will find out how those proud people are talking. I will also find out
what power they have.
20The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. It is a matter of power.
21Which do you want? Should I come to you with a whip? Or should I
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come in love and with a gentle spirit?
Mission Accomplished
BIBLE CLIP
Timothy
Timothy means "one
who honors God",
and he was born out
of a Greek father and
a Jewish mother. He
became Paul's disciple
and partnered with
Paul in ministry. (1Co
4:17)
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