“abounding in the work of the lord”. 1 cor. 15:58

“Abounding in the Work of the Lord”



1 Cor. 15:58


Be Steadfast, Immovable, Abounding

(1 Corinthians 15:58)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,

immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in

vain in the Lord. (NKJV)


Steadfast = Settled

(Ephesians 4:14) that we should no longer be children, tossed to

and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

(NKJV)


“Abounding”

Matthew 5:20 "For I say to you, that unless your

righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and

Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (NKJV)


The Church: Organized to “Abound” in the Work

(1 Peter 5:2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not

for dishonest gain but eagerly; (NKJV)

(1 Timothy 3:2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good

behavior, hospitable, able to teach; (NKJV)

(Titus 1:11) whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not,

for the sake of dishonest gain. (NKJV)


Faith Must Be Active

(James 2:26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so

faith without works is dead also. (NKJV)


The Christian Life: A Life of Work

(Matthew 9:37-38) Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly

is plentiful, but the laborers are few. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to

send out laborers into His harvest." (NKJV)


A Sower First Went Out to Sow(Mark 4:3-8)

"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. "And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. "Some fell on stony

ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. "But when the

sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. "And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. "But

other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some

sixty, and some a hundred." (NKJV)


Christians: Co-Workers With God

(1 Corinthians 3:9) For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's

field, you are God's building. (NKJV)

(1 Corinthians 3:6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the

increase. (NKJV)


Why We Are Created: The Meaning of Life

(Ephesians 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

(NKJV)


1. The Urgent Need To Work


“In the fifty years from 1955 to 2005 churches of Christ have dwindled from 3.0 to 1.267 million

members and from 18,000 to 12, 963 congregations.”

“While the population has nearly doubled in the same period of time, membership in the churches

of Christ has declined 58%.”“At the average rate of decline of 35,000 members

or 1.2% per year, churches of Christ will vanish by 2042.”


Self Examination: Strengthen Weak Areas

(Revelation 3:1-2) "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you

are alive, but you are dead. "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works

perfect before God. (NKJV)


1. The Urgent Need To Work2. The Work is Universal


(1 Corinthians 15:58)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,




Elders Set the Example…

(1 Peter 5:3) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,

but being examples to the flock; (NKJV)


Preachers Must Get to Work…

(2 Timothy 4:5) But you be watchful in all things, endure

afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NKJV)


Every Christian MUST Be a Worker

(Acts 8:4) Therefore those who were scattered went

everywhere preaching the word. (NKJV)


1. The Urgent Need To Work2. The Work is Universal3. Not Everyone Should Work: The Basic

Requirements of the Work


Strong Zeal and Faith: Result = Works

(James 2:18) But someone will say, "You have faith, and I

have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by

my works. (NKJV)



Requirements of the Work4. The Work is Constant


The Work is Constant“The religion of Christ is the religion of always.”

– Eugene W. Clevenger


Speech: Constantly (Always) Graceful

(Colossians 4:6) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned

with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (NKJV)


Christians: Always Rejoicing

(Philippians 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,

rejoice! (NKJV)


Christians: Always Obedient

(Philippians 2:12) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now

much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

(NKJV)


Christians: Always Ready to Give a Defense

(1 Peter 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and

always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope

that is in you, with meekness and fear; (NKJV)


Not Always Makes Us Lukewarm

(Revelation 3:15-16) "I know your works, that you are neither cold

nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and

neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (NKJV)



Requirements of the Work4. The Work is Constant5. The Fervor of Our Work


Abounding in Fervent Service

(Romans 12:10-11) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent

in spirit, serving the Lord; (NKJV)


Abounding in Service From the Heart

(Ephesians 6:6) not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God

from the heart, (NKJV)


Abounding: Serving While Placing God First in Your Life

(Matthew 6:33) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be

added to you. (NKJV)



Requirements of the Work4. The Work is Constant5. The Fervor of Our Work6. Why Work?


Why? The Judgment Awaits

(2 Corinthians 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)


Why? Primarily because We Love the Lord & Want to Please Him

(1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are

not burdensome. (NKJV)


Laboring For the Lord: Not in Vain

(1 Corinthians 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,



“abounding in the work of the lord”. 1 cor. 15:58

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