Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 7 December 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 4

Subject: “God’s display of the apostles”

Lesson #22

9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:9-10

THE OFFICE OF AN APOSTLE

1. One called by the Lord

2. And commissioned by the Lord

a) “Sent”

b) With authority

3. This may be traced to the following texts:

a) Matthew 10; Mark 3, Luke 6

b) The naming of the 12 Apostles

c) The empowering of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus

4. Acceptance of the Apostles

a) Well-regarded

b) Well-received

c) This is particularly true for those whose ministry was among the Jews

THE ISSUE OF PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP

1. He was rejected by some

2. Questioned by others

3. Reasons:

a) He was not one of the Twelve

b) He had persecuted the Church

c) He was an Apostle to the Gentiles

4. Was Paul acknowledged by the Jerusalem Church leaders?

a) Yes!

b) Both Peter and Paul were acknowledged by the Church leaders

c) Important texts:

i) Acts 15

ii) Galatians 2

UNDERSTANDING PAUL’S VIEW OF AN APOSTLE

1. A puzzling statement

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

1 Corinthians 4:9

a) Apostles displayed

“As men condemned to death”

b) Made a spectacle

i) Like being in a theatre

ii) The world is the stage

iii) The audience are both angels and men

2. A deeper understanding

a) There is the bright side of success

b) There is the darker side of suffering

c) The Apostles would be displayed as examples of how to endure suffering

PERSONAL TONE OF SADNESS

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:10

1. A comparison was made

a) Paul and his team

b) They were mocked as “fools”

c) They were regarded shabbily as “weak”

d) They were dismissed as “dishonoured”

2. Comparison with the Corinthians

a) They are considered “wise”

b) They were respected for being “strong”

c) They were regarded as “distinguished”

LESSONS TO PONDER OVER

1. How do we regard the servants of God?

2. Ponder these words from the Lord Jesus

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one

of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:40-42