1 Corinthians 4:1-8 (NIV)
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 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.
6 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.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
I. A clarification on judgment (vv. 1-2)
• The Bible instructs Christians how to judge
• Leadership is not representation of
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• Spiritual ministry is being entrusted with a
• Parents need to judge that children are a
II. A standard for judgment (vv. 3-6)
• Judging
• Judgment as a
• All people’s
• Our
• Conscience is our
III. A better understanding of judgment (vv. 6-8)
• Our doctrines, morals, and judgments should never go beyond what is written in
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• The universal sin-nature gives people a
• Fake Christians are not disciples of the cross, but rather disciples of
• Our