This exposition of 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 15, 2018.
Intro:
Ministry is hard. Preaching a sermon is not. Teaching a lesson is not. Participating in a program is not.
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But ministry, pouring your life into the lives of others, loving the unlovely, caring for the hurting and the dying, being faithful to live a biblical lifestyle in an increasingly secular culture is excruciatingly difficult! Ministry is not for the faint of heart. I remember being told as a young seminary graduate that maybe 20 out of 100 of us would make it to retirement age. One in five would retire from ministry. Four out of five would quit much earlier. I have friends who have been battered and scarred for life through ministry. I know folks who were faithful laymen who want nothing to do with the church because of what happened to them in the course of ministry. It’s not easy to, as Paul put it, carrying about in your body the dying of Jesus and the burden of the church. “Doing church” isn’t hard and not much of a burden if it doesn’t involve your heart and soul. You can show up, visit with your friends, sing, hear a message, share a meal or two, attended a party and go on your merry way. But to minister you must open yourself up. You must be vulnerable. And you likely will be hurt. Your message may be misunderstood, your motives will be questioned, your methods will be criticized, and you will be talked about. By the way I’m talking about the ministry we all are called to. I’m not talking about “full-time” ministry, I’m talking about our living the faith together and the burden we share in ministering the gospel as faithful stewards of what the Lord has given to us. This is not your pastor talking about what you mean members do to your dear shepherd. I’m talking about the price every child of God pays for seeking to faithfully live out their faith. How do we remain faithful to the task assigned? How do we continue to minister despite the difficulties, despite the attacks, despite the fact we want to quit?
For a year and a half he faithfully preached the gospel. He lovingly built the church in one of the most pagan cities in the Roman world. Now, from within the church, came vicious attacks on his character, his integrity and his message. Paul’s critics in Corinth believed that his hardships and struggles were proof that he was not the servant of God that he claimed to be. Paul insisted that the hardships and struggles proved the authenticity of his claims! He insisted that his endurance in the face of such trouble proved the genuineness of his faith and his ministry. Our text this evening is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 beginning with verse 4.
Text: 2 Corinthians 6:4-10
As we walk through this passage I intend to show you that…
Thesis: Paul’s experience with the folks in Corinth vividly reminds us that endurance in the face of adversity is the mark of authentic ministry.
Ministry is hard.
To love people and the faithfully serve them in Jesus’ name is difficult.
When things get ugly and difficult the natural tendency is to walk away.
It is natural in the heat of the battle to say, “It’s not worth it.”
I have a resignation letter saved on my computer.
It’s been then since about 6 months into my ministry here.
Over the last 27 years I’ve updated it several times, I have no intention of using it but it’s there and on difficult days I look at. Honesty demands that we say, “Ministry is hard” but it’s worth it! I mean never play baseball and you will never strike out. Never lead and you’ll never be criticized. Never preach and you’ll never bore anyone. Ministry is an act of love and love is vulnerable and love hurts.
There are three things I want us to note in our text about enduring in ministry.
- Ministry, by its very nature, comes with a boatload of trouble. (6:4-5)
- Survival demands God’s gracious provision and a commitment to holy living. (6:6-8)
- Biblical endurance defies the categories established by our critics. (6:8-10)
Conclusion:
Friends failed him, converts turned on him, his work threatened by evil men yet so sorrow, no disappointment could interrupt or take away the joy of his salvation.
He endured the trials and troubles of ministry by the grace of God and holy living and thus he defied the categories set by his enemies. Press on dear saint. Do not grow weary in well doing. Stay faithful to the end. Press on it is worth every heartache, every trial. God is faithful and He will lead you to victory.
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