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Wanted: Winners
by Haddon Robinson
Text: 1 Corinthians 9
Topic: How Paul lived out the Great Commission
Big Idea: Like Paul, we should do anything short of sinning to win people to Christ.
Keywords: Evangelism, Ministry, Sacrifice
Introduction
- Illustration: Robinson relates a life-changing dream that founding father and psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Rush had: Rush watched a man climb the church roof and wrap his arms and legs around the weather vane, in a failed attempt to control the weather. The man turned out to be himself, upon which realization he concluded he was too controlling.
- Illustration: Robinson describes the melancholy that he feels sometimes, being in the ministry; he wonders why he should bother trying to improve the world, when things just seem to keep getting worse.
- When Robinson feels his efforts to change our godless nation are futile, he takes inspiration from Paul, whose ministry impacted the world, despite the suffering, disappointment, and persecution he endured.
Why Paul changed his world
- There was something in Paul's spirit that made a difference.
- Illustration: Robinson describes the importance of the Greek games in their society, and the dedication of the competing athletes, who would give anything to win the prize.
- Paul's passion was like that of a greek athlete: he was dedicated, sacrificial, and focused on the prize.
What motivated Paul
- Paul's reward was to offer the gospel free of charge while denying his rights to preach it.
- To Paul, preaching the gospel was both a commission and an obligation.
What Paul sacrificed to preach
- Paul gave up the right to food and drink, if it interfered with a seeker's growing faith.
- Paul gave up the right to be married.
- Paul gave up the right to receive a salary, since the Lord said evangelists should receive their living from the gospel.
- Paul gave up his liberty, adapting himself to the people's cultures, so he could better relate to them.
Do anything short of sinning to win people
- The reward of winning people to Christ is not the number you win, but the passion you bring to winning them.
- Illustration: Robinson references the show Wide World of Sports, the host of which talks every week about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But Robinson notes that in life, we are not in competition with one another to win people to Christ; we all win the prize.
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