This video, "Don't Trip A Brother Up," is a sermon from Pastor Steve Yater focusing on 1 Corinthians Chapter 9 (12:03). The speaker, Steve, explains Paul's discourse on amoral practices (2:05), which are issues that are neither inherently good nor bad but can become stumbling blocks for others.
Key takeaways from the sermon include:
- Understanding Amoral Practices (2:05-4:58): Amoral issues are actions or subjects that have no moral implication in themselves. Paul addresses this in the context of eating meat offered to idols (2:32). While the meat itself is amoral, for those who previously worshipped idols, eating it could cause them to stumble.
- Examples of Amoral Issues (3:43-4:39): The speaker provides examples such as sports (3:49) and entertainment (4:23), noting that these are not sinful unless they promote sin or cause a weaker brother to stumble.
- Laying Down Your Rights (3:27-3:40, 5:08-5:22): Paul's central message is to lay aside personal freedoms or rights if they cause another believer to stumble. This is exemplified by Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 8:13: "Therefore if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." The speaker further illustrates this with an anecdote about watching a game in front of someone with a gambling addiction(6:05-7:36) and his college's rule about movies (8:11-10:40).
- Paul's Identity and Rights as an Apostle (12:37-20:51): Paul sarcastically reaffirms his apostolic identity and freedom (13:33-15:00) and then establishes his rights as a minister (15:53-20:51), including the right to be financially sustained by those he ministers to. He uses analogies of a soldier, a farmer, and a shepherd (21:04-22:17) to support this.
- Biblical Support for Supporting Ministers (22:59-30:09): The speaker references Mosaic Law (23:27) about not muzzling an ox while it treads out grain, and 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (24:17) which states that elders who labor in the word are worthy of their wages. He also cites Luke 10:2-10 (33:04), where Jesus instructs his disciples to be provided for by those they minister to.
- Paul's Restraint of His Rights (35:19-39:02): Despite having the right to be supported, Paul chose to work as a tentmaker (20:24) to avoid hindering the gospel and to present it "without charge" (39:26). He explains that his reward is in preaching the gospel, not in material gain, distinguishing himself from corrupt religious leaders he once was (40:09-42:51).
- Becoming All Things to All Men (43:11-46:40): Paul's practice was to adapt his behavior to win others to Christ. He became "as a Jew to the Jew" by observing dietary laws and feasts (44:42-45:22), and "without the law to those without the law" among Gentiles (45:27-46:18), all to avoid offense and lead people to salvation.
- Running the Race to Win (49:09-52:55): The sermon concludes with an encouragement to "run in such a way that you may obtain it" (49:50), likening the Christian life to a race where believers seek an imperishable crown (52:46) rather than a perishable one. This requires self-discipline and subjection of the body (53:48-54:50) to avoid disqualification.
