1 Corinthians 4:9-13
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

The only model of leader given to us by Jesus is that of a servant/leader.

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

The Call to Serve
Let a man regard us…as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God… v.1

We have the honor of serving under the Master and Commander, Jesus Christ, as we help propel the gospel and the kingdom forward toward eternity.

To be “resilient” is to be able to recover from adversity and hardship. To return to center when pushed or stretched. To rebound.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Are they servants of Christ? I speak as if insane. I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure...

We expect to GIVE our life for the gospel, not GAIN it.
…God has exhibited us as apostles…as men condemned to death… v. 9

Luke 9:23-24
And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

We expect hardship NOW and rewards LATER.
We are fools…we are weak…we are without honor… v. 10

We’re willing to be fools for Christ, but you’re prudent.
We’re often serving in weakness, but you want to keep your strength.
We’re often dishonored and humbled, you keep your dignity.
We’ve experienced hunger, thirst, stripped naked, roughly treated, homelessness.

You have not.

We expect to RECONCILE in hardship, not RETALIATE.
…when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate… v. 12-13

1 Peter 2:21-24
For you have been called to this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Him who judges righteously; and He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross…