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Building Cultural Bridges | 1 Corinthians 9 | Daily Devotion Series · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Today's reflection is coming from the book of First Corinthians chapter nine.
• 0:10
  Pastor Robert Young: In First Corinthians chapter nine, Paul opens like a season leader, gently but firmly, defending his calling.
• 0:21
  Pastor Robert Young: So he reminds them, if I'm not only Jesus our Lord, are you not the wheel of my apostleship?
• 0:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Their very existence as a church is a proof of his God-given authority.
• 0:41
  Pastor Robert Young: He then explains his right as an apostle, the right to financial support, the right to food and drink, even the right to take along a believing life, like the other apostles.
• 0:55
  Pastor Robert Young: Scripture itself supports this work.
• 0:59
  Pastor Robert Young: Workers deserve wages.
• 1:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Soldiers don't serve at their own expense.
• 1:06
  Pastor Robert Young: And the law says not to muzzle an ox while it treads green.
• 1:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul has every right to receive support, yet he refuses to use these rights, so nothing will hinder the gospel.
• 1:21
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul describes his ministry as a sacred compulsion.
• 1:27
  Pastor Robert Young: He says, Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.
• 1:31
  Pastor Robert Young: His reward is not money, but the privilege of offering the gospel free of charge.
• 1:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Then becomes one of the most famous passages in the letter.
• 1:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul becomes all things to all people.
• 1:48
  Pastor Robert Young: A cultural bridge.
• 1:50
  Pastor Robert Young: He becomes as a Jew.
• 1:54
  Pastor Robert Young: To Gentiles as one outside the law.
• 1:58
  Pastor Robert Young: To the weak, he becomes weak.
• 2:00
  Pastor Robert Young: His goal is singular.
• 2:03
  Pastor Robert Young: To win as many as possible.
• 2:07
  Pastor Robert Young: He ends with an athletic imagery.
• 2:12
  Pastor Robert Young: The Christian life is a race requiring discipline, focus, and self-control.
• 2:19
  Pastor Robert Young: Just as athletes train for a perishable crown, believers run for an imperishable one.
• 2:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul disciplines his body so that after preaching to others, he himself will not be disqualified.
• 2:36
  Pastor Robert Young: Friends, let's take three minutes to reflect on this question.
• 2:49
  Pastor Robert Young: Where is God inviting me to surrender personal rights, comforts, or preferences so that my life can more clearly reflect Christ and draw others to Him?
• 3:06
  Pastor Robert Young: I willingly lay down my rights for the sake of the gospel.
• 6:16
  Pastor Robert Young: I run my race with discipline, purpose, and devotion to my Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 6:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Our closing prayer.
• 6:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Father, teach me the humility and discipline of Paul.
• 6:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Help me lay down anything that hinders your gospel in my life.
• 6:48
  Pastor Robert Young: Make me adaptable, compassionate, and focused, becoming what I must to reach those you place before me.
• 7:00
  Pastor Robert Young: Father, strengthen me to run my race with endurance, self-control, and joy, aiming always for the imperishable crown for Christ's sake.
• 7:12
  Pastor Robert Young: Amen.