The Right to Remain Sacrificial (9:1-27)

* This passage is simply an illustration of one of Paul's major points in his answer to their questions about food sacrificed to idols (8:1-11:1). Paul uses his own practice to make the point that sometimes rights and freedoms are better off left un-utilized.

1. Paul has the RIGHT to be compensated by the Corinthians (9:1-12a)
- He has rights because he is an apostle (he's seen Jesus, 1a)
- He has rights because he is their apostle in particular (1b)
- He has the right to compensation for his labor (food and drink, 3-4)
- He has the right to travel with a wife and not have to work a job for support (5-6)
- Soldiers get paid (7)
- Farmers reap benefits from their labor (7)
- Shepherds drink the milk of the flock (7)
- Oxen get fed when they labor (8)
- Temple workers eat of the sacrificial food (13)
- The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (14)
- How much more should those who show SPIRITUAL seed reap material compensation (9-11)
- Paul has the right, more than anyone, to material compensation for his labors in Corinth (11)

2. Paul has SACRIFICED his right to compensation (9:12b-19a)
- Instead, he chose to put up with receiving no compensation (12)
- He's not saying this so they will compensate him (15a)
- Paul does not want them to deprive him of this chance to sacrifice for God (15b)
- Paul feels that since he's been compelled to preach (he didn't really volunteer), he's compelled to work for free (16-18)

3. Paul makes this sacrifice for the sake of EVANGELISM (9:19b-22)
- He becomes like a Jew among the Jews to win Jews (20)
- He becomes like those under the law to win those under the law (21) despite his freedom from the law
- He becomes like one not having the law to win those not having the law (21), but he won't go against the law of Christ (their are boundaries)
- He becomes like the weak to win the weak (22)
- He does all this so that he might save some (22)

4. Paul thinks sacrificing will prove WORTHWHILE (9:23-27)
- He makes these sacrifices so that he might share in the gospels blessings (23, a greater reward)
- Athletes make significant sacrifices if they are serious about winning an earthly race (24-25a)
- We are running a much more significant race so we should be willing to sacrifice too (24-26)
- It's in making these sacrifices that we protect ourselves from disqualifications (26-27)