How Do We Know Success?

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Mark 12:41-44 • The Widow’s Offering 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

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1 Corinthians 4:14 • Warning not shame 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

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1 Corinthians 4:7 • Paul’s three questions 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Do you think you are better than everyone else? How did you, in your eyes, get to be so impressive? Why do you think all the good things you have are to your credit?

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1 Corinthians 4:8 • Wow, you made it! 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

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1 Corinthians 4:10-12 • The apostle struggle vs. the Corinthian success 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

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1 Corinthians 4:14 • Trying to help 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

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Matthew 25:14-30 • The parable of the bags of gold This is a parable pointing to the importance of taking what you have been given and being faithful with it

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Mark 9:38-41 • Whoever is not against us is for us Mark 9:41 • Value of even the most simple faithfulness 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. Someone else being faithful doesn't detract from your faithfulness

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Mark 12:41-44 • The widow’s offering Faithfulness is not connected to impressiveness

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1 Corinthians 4:16 • Imitate me 14 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

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1 Corinthians 4:10-12 • The Apostle struggle vs. the Corinthian success 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

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1 Corinthians 3:3-4 • Still immature 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

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1 Corinthians 2:2-5 • Rest your faith on God’s power 2 For I (Paul) resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

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1 Corinthians 1:10 • Be united in mind and thought 10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

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1 Corinthians 4:7 • Paul’s Dialogue Questions 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?