Every Church Needs 'Gospel Fathers' (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [15] For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [16] I urge you, then, be imitators of me. [17] That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. [18] Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. [19] But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. [20] For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. [21] What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)

I. A Father's Love at Christmas

Reading a holiday story before bedtime. Decorating the front yard with colorful lights and fun inflatables. Taking everyone to a memorable holiday event. Putting those extra special presents under the tree. A personalized inscription or card. Staying up late to wrap presents or build a doll house or bike. What are all these? Though not exclusively, they are ways in which a father might express his love at Christmas. Yes, lots of people might do these very things, and they might do them simply out of a sense of duty or obligation. Yes, dads and moms might, for example, put lots of nice things under the Christmas Tree in order to pat themselves on the back, or impress friends or relatives. But none of that changes the fact that all of these can also be, and often are, ways in which fatherly love might be displayed at Christmas.

II. The Passage: “Your Father...Through the Gospel” (4:14-21)

I mention this, not only because Christmas is this week, but more so because this same idea is present in our main text this morning. As we look together over 1 Corinthians 4, verses 14-21, it's important to point out that Paul is coming to the end of a section of teaching that began all the way back in chapter 1, v. 10. Do you remember the issue he raised with them there, as he launched into the main part of his letter? He wrote...

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

As we worked together over many weeks through the rest of chapter 1, into chapter 2, then into chapter 3, and right on into chapter 4, I think it was clear that the splintering of the church in Corinth was at least partly the result of distorted thinking among these disciples. Distorted by what? By cultural values that ran contrary to gospel values. Pride more than humility. Strength more than weakness. Me more than us, or, me more than God. Values that seemed more aimed at fitting in with the world, rather than faithfully following Jesus.

Now, given the sarcasm he just employed in 4:8-13, and then the picture he painted there of costly discipleship to Jesus, it's no wonder that Paul begins vs. 14 with this clarifying statement: “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you...”. But before we dig into that clarification, look with me first at how Paul goes on to define their relationship. As we see in verse 14, he writes to them as his... “beloved children”. What exactly does he mean by that affectionate title? He explains in verse 15: “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” The young believers at Corinth had been shaped by many teachers, some good and some bad. But these disciples had only one 'gospel father': Paul. As Acts 18 recounts, in the face of much resistance, the Apostle Paul faithfully preached the Good News about Jesus to the Corinthians, and even spent a year and half teaching among them, helping them become established in their fledgling faith. It's his unique history and unique relationship with them that Paul wants to high-light in verses 14 and 15. Everything he's been telling them in chapters 1-4, these are not the words of a divisive leader or a paid orator or just a teacher passing through. These are the loving words of someone who was with them from the beginning, as they experienced new birth by God's grace; someone who helped raise them. These are the words of their gospel father.

But please notice that after defining (or reminding them about) the nature of their relationship, what Paul is doing in the rest of this passage is, second, demonstrating that relationship. Like the Christmas dad I talked about at the outset, most of what we find in these verses are just some of the ways (albeit, not always the common or popular ways) in which a father might express love to his children. What does that look like here? I see three examples of this:

Number one, Paul loves them by admonishing them. What does it mean to admonish? Well, in light of the context, and how Paul uses this word in other letters, admonishing someone means teaching or encouraging someone strongly, usually from a place of concern. For example, if you felt devastated after your girlfriend broke up with you, I might come and encourage you. But if your devastation fueled some notion that you had to get her back... no matter the cost, then I might admonish you to go slow, to pray, to give her space. When a loving father hears his children entertaining foolish ideas, or sees his children flirting with foolish choices, he admonishes them. As Paul indicates here, he doesn't help or guide them by trying to shame them. He guides them by declaring the truth to them, clearly and strongly, with a fatherly heart.

Number two, Paul loves them by instructing them (through his own example). In addition to a strong and clear declaration of the truth, a loving father also demonstrates the truth in the way he lives. In several places up to this point, Paul has reminded his readers about his example of faith. For example, when he was them, he wasn't boasting in his own skill or strength, but he was them, according to 2:3, “in weakness and in fear and much trembling”, trusting in the Spirit's power instead of his own. That's one example of “the ways” Paul is referring to in 4:17, when he explains why he sent Timothy to them: “to remind you of my ways in Christ”. Thus as a mature and loving Father, as a humble and faith-filled apostle, Paul can write what he writes one verse earlier in 4:16... “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” And no, Paul is not applying a different set of standards to the Corinthians. He's not raising the bar just for them, or being more rigorous or demanding. That's why he adds a clarification at the end of v. 17. “[These are] my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” Finally, friends...

Number three, Paul loves them by warning them. Now, as you some of you might be asking, “How is warning different than admonishing?” It's a great question, especially because the original Greek word behind the English word “admonish” in verse 14, is, in fact, translated in several places with the word “warn”. But when we look back at the situation Paul is describing in verse 18-21, it's clear that Paul is talking about something more severe. It seems that some of Paul's “beloved children” in Corinth are more than just confused. They are complicit; they are complicit in deepening divisions within the church, and even using those divisions to their own advantage; for their own gain. They are like stubborn teenagers who think they know it all, and their attitudes and their actions are leading others astray. So in these verses, Paul speaks about taking what we might call a 'tough love' approach. Listen to how the NIV renders these verses...

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. [19] But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they [actually] have. [20] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. [21] What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline [the very thing a parent might use with a stubborn child], or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

III. Imitating Paul Today

Friends, do you remember what I said earlier? These “are some of the ways (albeit, not always the common or popular ways) in which a father might express love to his children”.

These areas certainly are not easy, are they? Admonishing? Warning? Setting an example? Sadly, as many of you know (some from firsthand experience), not every dad loves like Paul loved. Some 'suggest', when they should admonish. Some talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Some, when their children need them, more than ever, to be courageous in terms of doing what is right, some give in or back down, instead of warning and following through.

So maybe that's the application here. Maybe the takeaway for this passage, for this message, should be focused on fathers; or maybe for anyone who's a parent. Or maybe the application this morning is mainly for church leaders like me; so that we might have the courage to lead and love like Paul, even when leading and loving are difficult. I like both of those applications, since there are great principles here in terms of leading and loving, whether that be at home or in the church. But let me add a broader application, one that I hope can help all of us become (as James chapter 1:23 puts it) “doers of the word” in regard to our passage this morning; “...doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving [our]selves.”

If Paul urged the Corinthians to imitate him, and he did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then we should also imitate Paul's ways, right? While Paul was a 'gospel father' to the Corinthian church in a very specific and a very unique way, I think all of us, in a broader way, one that lines up with other passages, all of us should strive to be 'gospel fathers' in this church. Here's what I mean: fathers have, ideally, a sense of responsibility for their children. And, again ideally, that sense of responsibility should be guided by love and wisdom, right? Well, apart from fatherly authority, aren't those ideals all of us should strive to embody with our brothers & sisters here?

“Brothers (sisters), join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” (Philippians 3:17) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom...” (Colossians 3:16). You see, things like modeling and admonishing, it wasn't only leaders who were called to such practices. Brothers and sisters, in this season of both giving and receiving, I could simply challenge you this morning to imitate Paul in these same ways, even though they are not common or popular or easy. I could also encourage you in terms of receiving such admonitions and warnings, or to think more carefully about the solid examples of faith in your own life. But none of this is usually effective unless we start where Paul starts in this passage: relationship. Do we have relationships with one another in which such things, when necessary, would be effective? Of course, you or I could admonish or warn another believer, even if we didn't know them well. But how much more effective would our words be if that person also knew our heart? How much more effective would our example of faith be if a person was able to see us and know us in a variety of settings?

Way of Grace, I want to encourage you this morning to give to one another the gift of relation-ship. This church needs more 'gospel fathers' like this, doesn't it? Yes, it needs more godly men who can serve as leaders like Paul. But it also needs you...you as you imitate Paul, as he imitated Jesus. It needs you to give the gift of relationship. I understand that some of you are too busy. I understand that some of your are too scared. I understand that some of you are too concerned that you will not know what to say, that you will probably mess things up. But God knows. And He can help you with these things. He stands ready this morning to help you. If he could part the sea for His people. If He could multiple the loaves for the crowd. If He could rise again on the third day, he can help you get out of your comfort zone, he can help you through your fear, he can help you with your anxieties. Just as the Corinthians needed Paul, we need one another. Please let the Apostle's fatherly love inform your brotherly love for one another.

And our reassurance for that kind of help is the very thing that forges the family bond between us: the gospel. Paul was their father through... the gospel. It's the only way you and I are brothers and sisters. Consider with me and be inspired by these verses...

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2)

We need to let the Father's example inform our example to one another. How do we best see the fatherly example of God? Jesus! 'If you've seen me, you've seen the Father' (John 14:9), Jesus taught. In Jesus, we see God the Father most clearly. Let His love empower us to love one another, just as Paul did here, even as he had to speak hard words to this church. And let us do this all throughout the year.

So let's take a moment to think about the 'gospel fathers' God has put in your life. Would you give thanks for them this morning? Then, thinking about their example of faith, may you recommit, saying, “God, I want to build healthy relationships with brothers and sisters in the gospel, so that I can live out this kind of life, just as Paul did.”