Connect 1 Corinthians 9:17 with Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Setting the Scene • 1 Corinthians 9:17: “If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.” • Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Both passages speak to the same reality: God entrusts His people with the gospel, and that trust carries weight. Paul calls it a “stewardship.” Jesus calls it “making disciples.” Different words, same mandate. Paul’s Stewardship Explained • “Entrusted” (Greek: pepisteumai) pictures a household manager obligated to handle the master’s property faithfully. • For Paul, the gospel itself is that property. He doesn’t own it; he manages it. • Voluntary or not, he must preach. Compulsion springs from God’s appointment, not personal preference (see Acts 9:15-16). Linking Stewardship to the Great Commission 1. Source of Authority – Jesus: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). – Paul: Christ personally commissions him (Acts 26:16-18). – Both operate under the same divine authority. 2. Scope of Responsibility – Jesus: “All nations.” – Paul: “I have become all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22). – Universal reach is non-negotiable. 3. Content of the Task – Jesus: evangelize, baptize, teach obedience. – Paul: “Preach the gospel… teach” (1 Corinthians 1:17; Colossians 1:28). – The message and the maturing of converts go together. 4. Promise of Presence – Jesus: “I am with you always.” – Paul: “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). – Divine presence empowers the entrusted worker. Reinforcing Scriptures • Luke 24:47-48 — repentance and forgiveness preached “to all nations,” witnesses empowered. • Acts 1:8 — Spirit-given power to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” • 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 — believers entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation,” ambassadors for Christ. • 1 Peter 4:10 — each believer is a “good steward” of God’s varied grace. Practical Takeaways for Today • Recognize the Trust: – The gospel has been placed in our hands; handling it lightly is not an option. • Embrace the Compulsion: – Whether we feel “voluntary” today or not, the mission remains. Obedience precedes emotion. • Reach Beyond Comfort Zones: – Nations, neighbors, coworkers—no audience is off-limits. • Teach for Obedience: – Evangelism isn’t finished at conversion. Disciple-making includes guiding others to obey everything Jesus commanded. • Rely on His Presence: – Stewardship isn’t solo work. The same Christ who commissioned us travels every step of the journey with us. Summary 1 Corinthians 9:17 and Matthew 28:19-20 converge on one truth: God entrusts His people with the gospel, obligating them to proclaim, disciple, and teach everywhere, confident that Christ’s authority and presence secure the mission. |
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