Thanks so much for being there. We are honored to be here and learn from God’s Word together. This book is truly amazing, no other book has the life of God in its pages like the Bible. It is always healthy for us to spend time reading it and learning from it. Our prayer is you will be blessed during our time together and you will be encouraged in your walk with God.
Today’s lesson is a bit unique because it is the first in a series of three lessons. Normally each lesson is covered in one program, not today. Today’s lesson is the first of three, so if you want to catch them all you will also have to listen for the next two weeks. If you miss one, no worries, you can always go to our website, Heraldsofhope.org and listen to the one you missed.
The lesson title is The Paradox of Ministry, and it is taken from II Corinthians 6. If you can, turn there and let’s give our attention to J Mark as he begins teaching.
What do you think about the statement, ” The only constant in life is change?” Is that true? Has that been your experience? This statement is a paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense and is often true. In the example I mentioned, we have the words constant and change. We see those words as the opposite, yet we must admit the statement is true.
Here’s another example of a very relevant paradox to our day. “Social media disconnects us from each other.” The word social implies that media is bringing people together. But scientific studies and our experiences show us the opposite. Social media disconnects us from genuine relationships. Most of us know what it’s like to sit in a group at a family gathering or in someone’s living room, and most people are looking at their phones instead of talking to each other.
Even the Bible contains paradoxes. One that immediately comes to mind is in Matthew chapter 20. Here, the mother of James and John asked Jesus if her boys could sit on either side of Him in His kingdom. Jesus’ answer reveals the paradox. “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.” In our minds, great and servant are opposites, and we know which one we prefer. There are many others, but you get the idea.
In our continuing study of Second Corinthians, Paul discusses what I’m calling “The Paradox of Ministry.” At first, you may not be able to see it. But as we examine the Scripture together, it will become clear. Our text is Second Corinthians 6:1 to 10.
But before we read that, it’s appropriate to give a refresher on the background of the situation Paul is speaking about. Acts chapter 18 records Paul’s initial efforts in planting the church in Corinth, and we learn that he spent a year and a half there. After he moved on from there, several groups or factions formed around various leaders and began quarreling among themselves. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians didn’t clear up the controversies, and the situation worsened.
In previous studies, we learned Paul’s deep love for the Corinthian Believers. He had poured 18+ months of his life into this congregation and developed many close relationships with the people. And yet, there were those there who accused him of being a false teacher, an evangelist for hire, and other ridiculous things. Because of this, we noted that the last chapters we’ve studied in this letter are Paul’s defense of his apostolic ministry. Our text today is the concluding section of that defense.
Someone has said, “It isn’t unusual for the preacher to be the most loved man and the most hated man in his community.” To the ones who hear him and believe what he teaches, he’s a friend, a spiritual father, and a mentor. But to those who don’t believe him, he’s the voice of irritation and conviction, a troublemaker, someone who is accused of being bigoted and hateful because he proclaims God’s unchanging Word.
This attitude isn’t surprising because the faithful pastor/teacher represents Jesus Christ. We also know how the people around Jesus treated Him when He was here. No person was ever more loved or hated than Jesus. And He warned us that we can expect the same intensity of feeling toward us as His followers. As we reflect on the opening verses of Second Corinthians chapter six, we face this paradox of ministry.
In our study, just before this one, we discussed the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to us as followers of Christ. We are called to be His ambassadors. That gives us the responsibility to communicate His message, the Gospel, to the world. The Gospel is the Good News, but not everyone sees it that way. So, those who hear us will be divided into two categories: those who believe the Gospel and those who don’t. We will experience the love of some and the hatred of others. This is the paradox of ministry.
Now, let’s read the text, Second Corinthians 6:1 to 10, and further discuss this paradox.
1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much [a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Paul lists four PERSPECTIVES in this text that help us understand “The Paradox of Ministry.”
The First Perspective (to help us understand the paradox of ministry) is,
The Perspective of Privilege
Regardless of how you serve in Christ’s kingdom, whether you’re a pastor/teacher, janitor, homemaker, or whatever, do you count it a privilege to be an ambassador for Christ? In some ways, being in the role of pastor/teacher can multiply the paradox, but can you see the paradoxical nature of your position in this text? In the latter verses of our text, there’s a lot of pain, a lot of disappointment, a lot of hostility, and a lot of accusation – much of it false. But there’s tremendous joy and blessing here, too. So, if you and I don’t understand the great privilege of ministry, we will be overcome by all the negativity accompanying it.
Notice how Paul begins this text: “We are coworkers with Him,” with Christ. You and I need to take some time to meditate on what that means; “coworkers with Christ.” Because if we miss this significance, we’ll miss the most critical perspective. Do you understand the dignity of your work? All work done by Christians, except what the scriptures prohibit, has eternal value. You and I cooperate with the sovereign God, the Creator, and the Sustainer of everything! Do we truly appreciate that the way we should? I am sure I don’t. I need to grasp that more deeply.
Wouldn’t that change our perspective about our work? In my experience, I’m like James and John, wanting the seats of power next to Jesus. I’m often more concerned about what I can get than what I can give. Do you find it that way, too? The cause of Christ suffers because we don’t understand the tremendous privilege it is to be coworkers with Him.
Sometimes, we envy people who have privileged positions in life. Maybe they’re physically beautiful or handsome. They may be extraordinarily well-educated or naturally gifted in a particular area. Or they’re in a position where our friendship with them can benefit us. But all of those supposed advantages are nothing compared to the privilege of being a coworker with Christ!
If you and I could grasp this perspective, it would change how we live! If you take the final verses of chapter five and connect them with verse one of our text, it’s powerful. Verse 19 says, “God was in Christ reconciling the world, and He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation.” And then verse 20 says, “We are ambassadors for Christ, but it is God entreating through us.”
So, God wants to use you and me as the channel through which the message of reconciliation is proclaimed to the world. When we experience reconciliation with God personally, we desire to share that message of hope, joy, and peace with others. If we don’t have that desire, we must seriously consider our relationship with Him.
Paul always retained sight of the privilege of proclaiming the message of reconciliation. God was working through him for His glory; that’s God’s glory. Paul worked diligently regardless of the response. I base that on what he wrote in verses 15 and 16 in chapter two. “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” You and I can’t control how people respond to the message, but we can proclaim it faithfully. The transformation is up to God and His Holy Spirit.
But we must understand the perspective of privilege, the privilege to work with God in reconciling people to Himself.
Thanks J Mark for sharing this first part on the Paradox of Ministry. At the beginning he explained what a paradox is, I liked the short definition. It’s a statement that seems contradictory but is often true. The examples he used from the Bible help us understand what a paradox is. Then he shared the first perspective, the perspective of privilege, that helps us understand the paradox of ministry. There are three more perspectives coming, and you will have to join us in the next two weeks to hear all four. Lord willing you can join next week for the next perspective.
If you have any questions about today’s teaching or if you would like to hear it again. Please contact us and ask for it by title. Here is how you can reach us. The best way is via email and our email is [email protected]. Or you can connect with us on our website which is heraldsofhope.org. And of course, it is always possible to write to us. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3 Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to contact us however is easiest for you.
Thanks again for listening to Hope for Today. Be sure to join us next time for the second part of The Paradox of Ministry. Till then go and live out the paradox Jesus gave to all of us, His Word hit a desire in many people, our desire to be great, but He flips it on its head and says we must do the opposite. Here it is, “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.”
*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.
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