DRAFT ONLY

Introduction
      In chapter 3 of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he continues to work on the problem of the church's failure to recognise his apostolic authority. They had allowed themselves to be influenced by powerful oratory and worldly wisdom, and had come to belittle Paul's ministry style. In this chapter Paul addresses the prime consequence that stems from their failure to submit to his ministry. It is the terrible spectre of division within the church of Christ. In v1-4 he addresses them as "worldly." They think they are "spiritual", but their "jealousy and quarreling" shows that they are "worldly". In v5-9 he begins to correct the false view the congregation has on the nature of church and ministry. He develops this theme from v5-17. In v5-9 he makes the point that church leaders are merely servants of Christ. Together they are "God's fellow workers". They are not special in their own right.

The passage
      2:10b-16. Paul argues that true wisdom is only perceived by spiritual people.
      v1-4. Sadly, the Corinthians are unspiritual - mere men, worldly, infants - and therefore are unable to receive true wisdom. The evidence of this can be seen in the dissensions that exist within the group - Jealousy, quarreling and the like.
      v5-9. The members of the Corinthian church have failed to understand the true nature of ministry and have allowed themselves to be divided by the influence of teachers who are guided by worldly wisdom rather than the foolishness of the cross. The church (the assembled congregation) is God's building, his special creation. The true minister in the church of God, is but a servant, a workman for the Lord. It is the Lord who makes the building grow. Christ's ministers are but servants who tend his creation. Where is the worldly glory in that?

The nature of ministry
      Our passage for study exposes the nature of Christian ministry. Today we are faced with numerous forms of ministry style, and it is therefore difficult to decide what to expect in a faithful ministry within our church. Are we too look for the great orator, the person with high academic qualifications, a counsellor, a manager .....? By what standards do we judge whether our minister is performing a Biblical ministry? Some of the criteria of a Biblical ministry come out in this passage and they are not necessarily the ones we would expect. The pastoral ministry of prophecy, teaching and exhortation, is primarily exercised in the Anglican church by ordained men, that is by men set apart to fulfill that role within a particular congregation.
      In this passage, Paul gives us some clues as to the nature of that ministry.
          i] Servant, v5. In Luke 22:24-27 Jesus describes the role of his disciples as that of a servant. The one who rules must be like the one who serves. Our example of service is Jesus himself. Paul uses this image to describe Christian ministry, "servants of Christ". A Biblical pastoral ministry must show itself in a life given for the sake of the church, rather than as an opportunity for personal fulfillment.
          ii] Christ-centred, v11. A Biblical pastoral ministry must be itself submissive to Jesus and under his direct control. "Servants of Christ entrusted with the secret things of God." The life example of Jesus and his teachings, must be the central emphasis of pastoral ministry. The Christian life can only grow on that foundation.
          iii] Mature, v6. The prime function of a Biblical pastoral ministry is to build up the children of God "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ". Such a ministry draws out the lost, builds them up, and so presents them mature in the last day. It is a ministry that prepares believers for the struggle of life, enabling them to stand against temptation, persecution, trouble ..... Preparation for eternity, that's its business.
          iv] Rewarded, v8. The greater the gift the greater the expectation. "To him who has even more will be given." So a faithful handling of the responsibilities of the things of this life will produce the gift of greater responsibilities in the age to come. On the other hand, faithlessness in ministry will result in the loss of responsibilities. The test of the faithfulness of a person's ministry rests in the preparedness of those ministered to. If all crumble under the onslaught of the Evil One, if all fall in the day of testing (which is now), then there was no upbuilding in the Word. The minister responsible was not faithful and "he will suffer loss".