Evangelistic ministry always costs somebody something, but Paul made sure it didn’t cost his hearers. He preached for free. He loved the reward of costly preaching and was able to win more Jews, Gentiles, and weak believers because of it (9:19-23). This ministerial strategy is consistent with the incarnation and life of Christ. 

Consider the formula: Giving up rights = Gospel advancement. Rights are those preferences and freedoms we enjoy as Christians related to what we eat, drink, and enjoy and even some things that we are owed or deserve.

To us in the West, willingly giving these up is an uncomfortable concept.

However, in 1 Corinthians 9, we discover that Paul’s main method of evangelistic ministry was focused upon giving up his rights. Three are mentioned explicitly: the right to get married (9:4), the right to eat and drink certain things (9:5), and the right to refrain from working rather than just preaching the gospel (9:6).

Read More