umm...insecurity?

umm...insecurity?
note; this is was prepared as an isolated teaching in an adult sunday school class.

anytime you put a group of people together, you've got some insecurity.
1. examples of insecurity

- everyone remembers back to high school

insecure people in the cafeteria, the mall, at church
maybe have them all look around at each other?

- most embarassing moment?

2. everyone (including ourselves) is insecure

insecurity is easy to find because everyone is insecure
we may not be insecure all of the time, or most of the time, but at some point we all become insecure.

3. what is insecurity?

ASK THIS TO THE CROWD
potential answer : caring too much about the opinions of others
potential answer : pride coupled with weakness

background of corinth

- culture obsessed with getting ahead (money == success)
- pluralistic (lots of ideas and religions) society
- examples of boasting (the monument with the inscription "gnaeus babbius philinus, aedile and pontifex, had this monument erected at his own expense, and he approved it in his official capacity of duovir")
- a culture in which who you knew and what they thought of you was your ticket to success (patronage)

context of corinthians 4

paul has been chiding the corinthians for their divisions
he now seems to be defending his authority against some within the corinthian church (a situation that has blown up by the time 2 cor. is written)

read text

1 Corinthians 4:1-4
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

(explain basic meaning)

there are two sides in dealing with insecurity;
1. you can avoid being in a situation that makes yourself insecure
2. you can change yourself to be less prone to insecurity
Both are valid and necessary - 1 is often the best way you can help others (avoid making them insecure). 2 is what we're talking about here.

1Cr 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by {any} human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 1Cr 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

DISCLAIMER : This is not a statement to ignore people. We'll talk about that later

A. Do not fear human authority or status - the judgement of men is insignificant

QUESTION : what humans do we fear? why?

people considered 'sexy', 'cool', 'successful/rich'
people with legal authority (we should have respect here, but through our respect for the Bible)

unfortunately, christians have always shown reverence to

james 2:1-4, 1 cor 11

NOTE : FALLING FOR FLATTERY IS THE SAME ERROR!

B. Do not be afraid to go against the majority

1. "narrow is the way", matt 7:14

examples abound...
noah and the ark
abraham leaving ur
moses against pharoah/israel (israel didn't care for him...)
the prophets

Note : if you're really holy, you can have bears attack people who make fun of you

2 Kings 2:23,24 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"
When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.

A. God's opinion is the only one that really matters

whose opinion counts?

1. man?
2. god?
3. both?

QUESTION : WHAT ARE SOME GOOD VERSES FOR THIS? Matthew 10:28
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

B. God is going to judge us, and he will hold us accountable for our lives

1 cor 3:11-15
matt 25:14-30 (parable of talents)

C. God gives us every reason to be secure

john 3:16
rom 8:31-36
eph 1:3-5 ('blessed us with every spiritual blessing'...'kind intention of his will')
QUESTION : Other favorite verses

Question : What would be the correct use of other's opinions?

A. Use other's opinions to be find strengths/errors

this is even in the text. recall that this is an epistle...paul is giving them advice. the context presumes this point.

what scriptures talk about the usefulness of other's input?

Pro 8:33 "Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect {it.}
Pro 9:8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
Pro 15:31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. Pro 15:32 He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
matt 18:15 (a command even...) "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

B. Use other's opinions to offer help

it makes it easier to stand firm on necessary issues, and to spot the ones that are worth moving around.
1 cor 8-10 (9:22 - "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.")