Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:4-11 (EASY)
4 Some of you say, “Paul is my leader.” And other people say, “Apollos is my leader.” When you speak like that, you are talking like people who belong to this world. 5 Is Apollos important? Is Paul important? No! We are God’s servants. We told you God’s good news and you believed it. Each of us is doing the job which the Lord has given to us. 6 When I told you God’s good news, I was like someone who planted seeds. Then Apollos was like someone who gave water to the young plants. But it was God who caused everything to grow. 7 The person who plants the seeds is not important. The person who gives water to the plants is not important. The important person is God, because he causes everything to grow. 8 The person who plants and the person who gives water both have the same purpose. God will pay each person what is right for their work. 9 Apollos and I work together as God’s servants. You are like God’s field that we work in.
You are also like a building that belongs to God. 10 I am like a good builder. God has given that job to me and he has helped me to do it well. I was the person who built the foundation. Now other people are building on that foundation. But each person must be careful how he builds. 11 God has already put Jesus Christ as the only foundation of this building. So nobody can put any other foundation there.
Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and believers of all ages, welcome to the most divine showdown of the century! In this heavenly arena, we have two teams of pastors ready to face off… for the title of Bethany’s Ultimate Pastor. The winner of this esteemed title will not only have bragging rights within the Ottawa Baptist Association, but will also enjoy several VIP perks, such as exclusive use of the phrase “The Bible Says” to settle any debate, and automatic forgiveness for any mistakes. Because, let’s face it, you’re only human.
And now, making their way to the ring, with a combined experience of 500 sermons preached (and still not boring), and 600 counseling sessions delivered (with only a few gray hairs to show for it), please welcome… The Preaching Pastor, who says, “Get ready for a knockout sermon that’ll have you saying Amen and Ouch at the same time!”, and the Pastoral Care Pastor, who reminds you, “I’m all ears… for the next 10 minutes! After that, I charge by the minute!” These undefeated champions of the faith bring the heat, with their fiery sermons, gentle touch of healing, and a few battle scars from surviving church politics (where the real battles are fought).
And their opponents, with a combined experience of 200 committee meetings survived (that’s a lot of coffee and prayers) and 50 potluck lunches (can we say casseroles), please welcome… The Interim Pastor, who declares, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time!”, and the Lay Pastor, who proudly states, “I’ve got the heart of a pastor, even if I don’t have the paperwork to prove it!”
These heroes are like the special forces of the church world – they’ll parachute in, shake things up, and make some changes… but don’t worry, they’ll still make sure the Pastor seat is always warm for the next person! Today, these two teams will put it all on the line for the title of… Bethany’s Ultimate Pastor! The officials are ready, the pastors are pumped, and they’ve just turned their Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 4 to 11 – the ultimate showdown scripture. The Battle of the Church Builders! So, for all you folks in the pews and watching from the comfort of your own homes, let’s get ready to rumble!
Okay, there is no wrestling match, or title of Bethany’s Ultimate Pastor up for grabs. The real match… is actually within us. This skit was a little way to relate today’s scripture to what was happening in the Corinthian church, and perhaps, even our church today.
What do you think? Have we ever done something similar here at Bethany Baptist Church? Perhaps it’s not idolizing a wrestler, but what about a pastor? I know that I have, and I am sure that each of you have also. Maybe, we prefer the preaching style of one pastor over another? Perhaps, we enjoy the children’s stories of one pastor over another? Or, we could be thinking, we see new members are joining the church, our finances are up, and it must all be because of our pastor? We might even be tempted to only attend church when our favorite pastor is preaching.
Let’s face it. We have all been guilty of idolizing a pastor, and creating divisions and factions, just like the Corinthian church. Over the years, we have had many different Pastors, and I can imagine that each of you have a favorite. And, guess what? It’s ok to have a favorite. Yes, you heard me correctly. It’s ok to have a favorite pastor.
But… We can’t exalt one pastor above another, or focus on one pastors’ gifts while ignoring the others. Do you know why? It’s a very simple answer. God says so. It’s right there in Isaiah chapter 42 verse 8. Let me read it to you “I am the Lord. That is my name. I will not let anyone else share my glory. I will not let people praise idols. I am the only one that they must praise.” Isaiah 42:8 (EASY)
But here’s the thing, Paul had to send not one, but two letters to the Corinthian church, to remind them of the importance of unity, and to warn them against creating divisions and factions. And it’s interesting, because the problem wasn’t with the leaders (Peter, Paul, and Apollos), but with the believers in the church. It seemed like everyone had their own favorite preacher, and they thought that person was the best to lead the church.
And, honestly, I can see why. When a pastor has a big impact on your life - whether it’s leading you to the Lord, baptising you, helping you grow in your faith, or just being there for you and your family - they’re going to hold a special place in your heart. But here’s the thing: as much as we might love, and appreciate certain pastors, we can’t let that turn into competition or favoritism. Yet, that’s exactly what was happening in the Corinthian church, and we need to make sure it doesn’t happen here in ours.
PASTORS ARE WAITERS NOT THE MAIN DISH (V5)
Have you ever wondered, what the role of a pastor is? Well, let me give you a hint… It’s not about being “the boss”, and it’s not about being “the head of the Church”. Nope! Actually, we can find the answer in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 5. “Is Apollos important? Is Paul important? No! We are God’s servants.”
There we have it folks. The role of the pastor is to be God’s servant - just like us. In fact, I like to think of the pastor, believe it or not… as a waiter. Think about it. A waiter takes orders, serves food, and makes sure you have a great dining experience. But, they don’t own the restaurant, and they’re not the chef. They just work for the owner, and follow their instructions.
It’s the same with pastors. They’re like spiritual waiters, serving God’s people, and following His instructions. They don’t own the church, and they’re not in charge. They’re just here to help you connect with God. God has given each of us unique gifts so that He can use us for His glory. For a pastor, it might be teaching, it might be preaching, it could be pastoral care, or leading in uncertain times.
Pastors are just tools in God’s hands. Pastors don’t save people or make them believe - that’s God’s job. Pastors are not the ones who deserve praise – that belongs to God alone. The job of a pastor is to point you to God, and not to themselves. So, remember that pastors are waiters and not the main dish. They are just a humble servant, like each of us, serving up God’s love, and teachings to you, and please, don’t tell them I called them a waiter.
PASTORS ARE THE MOONS TO GOD’S SUN (V6-7)
Have you ever stopped to think about the night sky? When you imagine it, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is the Moon, glowing brightly in the darkness. The Moon is the brightest and largest object in our night sky, but oddly enough, its surface is actually quite dark. But here’s something you might not know: the Moon does not shine with its own light. It simply reflects the light coming from the Sun.
In a way, pastors are like the moon. They don’t have their own light; they’re just reflecting the glory of God. They’re not the source of the light; they’re just a tool to help us see it. Another thing about the moon, it’s shape, and color can vary greatly from night to night. One evening it’s a bright, full moon, and the next it’s a dark, shadowy shape, with many variations in between.
But the truth is, the moon itself isn’t actually changing - it’s just our view of it that’s changing, as it orbits the earth. The sun’s light is shining on different parts of its surface, giving us a new perspective each night. Just as the moon’s shape appears to change, as it orbits the earth, the shape of a church changes with different pastors at the helm.
One pastor may bring a focus on evangelism, while another may emphasize discipleship. One may have a strong teaching style, while another may be more inspirational. They can change the shape of the church, but it’s not because they’re changing the church itself - it’s because they’re reflecting the light of God in different ways. The foundation remains the same - God’s word and His glory.
And yet, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new pastor or a new direction for the church, and start to focus on the pastor themselves rather than the One they’re pointing us to. We might start to think that the pastor is the reason for the church’s growth or success, rather than recognizing that it’s God who is truly at work.
But the Bible reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:7, that it’s not the person who plants the seeds, or waters the plants that’s important - it’s God who causes everything to grow. The pastor may be the one preaching the sermon or leading the worship, but it’s God who is doing the real work in our hearts. So, let’s keep things in perspective, shall we? Let’s remember that PASTORS ARE THE MOONS TO GOD’S SUN. They’re not the source of the light; they’re just reflecting it.
PASTORS ARE A PUZZEL OF PARTNERSHIP (V8)
Imagine a giant jigsaw puzzle with many unique pieces, each representing a different pastor. Sounds crazy, right? But stick with me! In God’s eyes, all pastors are equal and on the same team. They’re like different puzzle pieces, each with their own special shape and design. Some are square, some are curvy, and some are even a little weird (just like us!). But together, they form a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.
Just as a puzzle needs all its pieces to be complete, the church needs all its pastors to work together. The one who plants the seeds can’t do it without the one who waters them. It’s a team effort! But sometimes, we humans like to compare and compete. We might think, “Oh, Pastor John is so much more captivating than Pastor Jane!” or “Pastor Bob’s church is way bigger than Pastor Sarah’s!”
Newsflash: God doesn’t care about our human measuring sticks! He’s not keeping score. In fact, God calls and uses pastors as He sees fit, placing them where He wants. Each pastor is responsible to God alone, not to us, or to other pastors. They’re like solo artists, using their own unique gifts to create a masterpiece for God’s kingdom.
So, let’s not pit pastors against each other or try to make them fit into our own molds. Pastors are a puzzle of partnership. Let’s celebrate their differences and rejoice in their unity. After all, we’re all part of the same body in Christ – and that’s a pretty amazing puzzle to be a part of!
PASTORS ARE CO-WORKERS WITH GOD (V9)
There are many wonderful titles for those who do God’s work. We can be called servants, teachers, pastors, elders, preachers, deacons and so forth. But, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 9, Paul says that our church leaders are God’s Co-Workers. Being co-workers with God is a concept that most Christians tend to misunderstand. In fact, because of this, we tend to elevate pastors to a God-like manner when they do good deeds. This should not be the case, because all Christians are called to the ministry of God. We are all God’s co-workers.
Have you ever heard of any of these sayings before? We’re all rowing in the same boat. We’re all links in a chain. We’re all on the same team. Or, we’re all building the same house. Imagine you are part of a big team building Solomon’s Temple. This building is a symbol of God’s greatness, and it needs many skilled workers to build it.
When you get to the building site, you see that everyone has a special job to do. Some are good at building with wood, others are good at working with metal, and some are good at carving stone. There are also artists who make beautiful decorations. At first, it might seem like some people are more important than others. The person in charge, the architect, seems to be making all the decisions, while the new stonemason might just be doing small tasks.
But as you start working together, you realize that everyone’s job is important. The woodworkers make the wooden frames, the metalworkers make the metal parts, and the stonemasons put the big stones in place. As the temple starts to take shape, it’s clear that no one person is more important than another. Everyone has a role to play, and together, they’re making something amazing.
Paul wrote that just like a building needs different workers with different skills, the church needs different people with different gifts and talents. The church is a dynamic building always under construction, with God as the Architect, and the Holy Spirit as the Builder. Pastors and believers alike are God’s co-workers, working together to serve God, and His people.
Just like the workers building the temple, we all have different roles to play in the church. Some may be planters, some may be waterers, but God is the one who makes things grow. The focus is on the harvest, on serving God, and His people.
As we conclude today’s sermon, I want you to remember that leadership is always a temporary assignment — always. It is temporary because our leaders do not own the churches they lead – God does. We are thankful for each pastor that God has put into our care, but we need to remind ourselves, that God is the one building our church, and causing it to grow.
Is Apollos important? No. Is Paul important? No. The planter, and the waterer are nothing. It is God that gives the increase. Next Sunday, October 6, 2024, we will welcome Pastor Risan Santos as our Interim Pastor at Bethany Baptist Church. We are thankful for all the past and present pastors of Bethany Baptist Church, and I want to leave you with a challenge.
Let’s not make the mistake of pitting our old pastor against our new one. Let’s not fall into the trap of ‘us versus them’ or ‘old way versus new way.’ Instead, let’s be thankful of the gifts that God has given to each of our pastors, support them, pray for them, and prioritize the mission of being God’s co-workers over our own personal preferences.
Jesus Christ is the Foundation of Bethany Baptist Church, not any pastor who has previously served here. Each pastor simply builds on true Foundation with their unique gifts, talents, and abilities. At the end of the day, it’s not about who’s in charge, it’s about who we’re serving. Amen
