The Stewardship of the Pulpit

Temple Baptist Church - 8-6-2025

1 Corinthians 4:1

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The Apostle Paul begins this portion of the Corinthian Epistle with stewardship and personal responsibility.  It starts with the Pulpit in verse one and then extends to the pew in verse two.

 

Steward – 20x in the Bible.  A manager or one put in charge of the assets or work of another.  It speaks of responsibility and accountability. 

 

The First Mention is found in Genesis chapter 15.  Genesis 15:2  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

 

The Last Mention is found in 1 Peter chapter 4.  1 Peter 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

B.  In verse one, we find the personal responsibility of God’s men and the protection of the mysteries of God: the fullness of the Word of God.  As a young preacher and pastor, I did not fully understand the importance of protecting the integrity of the pulpit and the local church.    The older that I get, the more that I see the importance of God’s mandate.

 

Ephesians 4:11-15  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

C.  God has purposed to preserve His infallible Word in its entirety from generation to generation through rightly dividing the Word of Truth and adherence to the Old Paths of our spiritual fathers. 

 

D.  Paul sets forth his responsibility to ground these new Corinthian believers in doctrinal truth.  Then, they can rightly divide the Word of Truth and faithfully teach the doctrines of the faith to the generations who will follow in their steps.

 

E.  Though men have the infallible Word of God, many have erred from the “Old Paths” by either ignoring certain parts of the Bible (not preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God) or by watering down the strict teachings of the Bible.

 

F.  The fact of pulpit stewardship – “as of the ministers of Christ.” Pulpit Stewardship is covered in two portions of Scripture:

 

Acts 20:26-28  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  (27)  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  (28)  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

1 Timothy 6:20-21  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  (21)  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

 

1.  The Stewardship of the Scriptures.  Spiritual Authority – The King James Bible is the Final Authority for both faith and practice.  In today’s religious communities, they say the Bible is the Word of God, and then defame those who are Bible believers?  Here is the biblical mandate.

 

2 Timothy 3:14-17  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

2.  The Stewardship of Biblical Preaching. Feeding, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.

 

2 Timothy 4:1-2  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

You cannot preach the Word of God unless you have the Word of God.

 

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

 

You cannot live by every word of God unless you have every word of God

 

3.  The Stewardship of Sound Biblical Doctrine.

 

2 Timothy 1:13-14  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  (14)  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

 

2 Timothy 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 

3.  The Stewardship of the Old Paths of our Fathers.

 

2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

 

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

4.  The Stewardship of a Pure Gospel Salvation.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Romans 1:14-17  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  (15)  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  (16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

5.  The Stewardship of Biblical Separation.

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

 

Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

6.  The Stewardship of the Local Church Pulpit in General. 

 

1 Peter 5:2-3  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

 

7.  The faithfulness of stewardship – “it is required” - God has given every pastor a mandate to protect the biblical integrity of the pulpit.