Preaching The Gospel By All Possible Means

TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-23

• 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
• 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
• 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
• 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
• 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
• 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
• 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
• 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

INTRODUCTION:

vs 16. Apostle Paul saw the preaching of the gospel as a necessity and nothing to glory in. He knew he could not compare himself to any other apostle because heaven has laid a necessity upon him. If he reneged, heaven will be disappointed, this was why he pronounced woe upon himself if he failed to preach the gospel. This is the same with us: woe is unto us if we fail to preach the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1) Remembering the consuming desire of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will know how important it is to Him that we preach the gospel and win souls. The grace to follow the example of Christ and have the zeal of Apostle Paul we will receive in Jesus name (Philippians 3:17) We must not follow the example of the lazy and indolent ones who see nothing urgent or important in winning souls.

Our topic for consideration tonight is PREACHING THE GOSPEL BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS. That is, preaching the gospel through every means possible: by person to person contact, through literature, social media, etc. The study is divided into three parts:

1. THE PREVAILING COMPELLING COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

(1 Corinthians 9:16; Jeremiah 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:13-15; Acts 9:6,15-16; 2 Corinthians 9:17; Acts 20:23-24; Romans 15:16,19-21; 1 Thessalonians 2:4,8-10; 1 Corinthians 9:18; 10:33; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Luke 9:6,23,59-62)

1 Corinthians 9:16. The commission to preach the gospel is the prevailing purpose, passion and pursuit of your life which you must not allow any other thing to hinder. Nothing else must take precedence or preeminence in your life. You will commit yourself to it to the point that any day, week or month you don’t preach is lost to you.

Acts 9:6. Apostle Paul had the compelling passion to preach the gospel because of the commission the Lord gave him at his conversion on the way to Damascus. He was going to persecute believers who were following the Lord but the Lord brought him down from the chariot he was in and challenged him. He answered by asking who the Lord is. Eventually he surrendered his life to Him. After this experience, he asked the Lord what he was supposed to do. He was told to go into the city of Damascus where he would be told what to do.

vs 15. Ananias was sent to him, spelling out the commission he was to pursue: to bear the name of the Lord as Saviour, Redeemer and the only One who came to save them from their sins. He would bear His name before the Gentiles, Kings and Rulers, and before the children of Israel. He would be persecuted and opposed but that would not deter him because he had a mandate from the Lord.