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"Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:16

THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

Paul was deeply committed to the preaching of the Gospel. The message of the cross was the very power of God leading people to salvation!

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of,
for necessity is laid upon me;
yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
1 Corinthians 9:16

1. “For if I preach the gospel”

a) Paul was deeply committed to preaching the gospel.

b) He shares how he felt as he reviewed the ministry of preaching the gospel.

2. “I have nothing to boast of”

a) There were some who “boasted” about preaching the gospel.

b) There were some who boasted about their preaching ministry.

i) Some took pride in their “eloquence”.

ii) Others took pride in their “effectiveness”.

c) Paul did not talk about himself in any way.

3. “Necessity is laid upon me”

a) How then did Paul see his ministry as a preacher of the gospel?

b) Paul spoke about the feeling of “necessity”.

i) He had been called to preach.

ii) He had been appointed by the Lord.

iii) He had to fulfil what was given to him by the Lord.

4. “Yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel”

a) Paul felt “woe” if he did not preach the gospel.

b) Some reasons for this feeling of “woe”:

i) A sense of failure

ii) A sense of disobedience

iii) A sense of guilt

iv) A sense of fear of the Lord

v) A sense of remorse for the many who would die without hearing the gospel

c) Hence, preaching of the gospel was a “necessity!”