Mutual Responsibility
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 10/10/2026
Foundation Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 9:1-27
If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits? 1 Corinthians 9:11 AMPC
1. Faithfully Preach.
a. God has established a divine order of mutual responsibility between those who preach the Gospel and those who receive it.
b. 1 Corinthians 9:1–2, 16–17
c. The Corinthians were the fruit of Paul’s ministry and the evidence of his apostleship.
d. The minister’s responsibility is to:
– Preach the Gospel faithfully.
– Teach God’s Word and labor for the salvation and spiritual growth of others.
– Lead by example and live a godly life.
– Live a disciplined life and pursue eternal rewards.
– Watch over the souls of those entrusted to their care, knowing they must give account to God (Heb. 13:17).
2. Put the Gospel Above Personal Gain.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:12, 15–23
b. Paul had the right to receive material support, yet he sometimes chose not to exercise that right to avoid hindering the Gospel.
c. Paul preached because God called him, and because his goal was to win souls.
d. Ministers must feed God’s flock willingly (1 Pet. 5:2).
e. Ministers are to serve and sacrifice, motivated by eternal rewards, not dishonest gain.
f. Nevertheless, their willingness to sacrifice does not cancel the people’s responsibility to support them.
3. Recognize, Honor, and Support Those Who Minister.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:1–2
b. Believers are instructed to recognize those who labor among them and esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake (1 Thess. 5:12–13).
c. Those who labor in the Word and doctrine are worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17–18; Deut. 25:4; Luke 10:7).
d. God expects His people to recognize, honor, and support those who faithfully minister His Word to them.
4. The Laborer Is Worthy of His Reward.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:3–7
b. Paul uses three illustrations to establish the minister’s right to receive material support.
c. The soldier: The soldier is supported by those who send him.
d. The farmer: The farmer has a right to benefit from his labor.
e. The shepherd: The shepherd receives provision from the flock he tends.
f. Luke 10:7 KJV –– “…for the labourer is worthy of his hire…”
g. Those who devote themselves to ministering the Gospel have a biblical right to receive material support.
5. The Laborer Is to Partake of the Fruit of His Labor.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:8–10
b. You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn (Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor. 9:9).
c. God established that the ox, working to produce grain, should be permitted to eat from that grain.
d. Paul applies this principle to those who labor in the ministry.
e. …the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest (1 Cor. 9:10 AMPC).
f. 2 Timothy 2:6 AMPC –– …the hard-working farmer [who labors to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits.
g. God does not expect those who labor in the Gospel to work without provision or the expectation of partaking in the fruit of their labor.
6. Receive Spiritual Things; Give Material Things.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:11 AMPC –– If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?
b. The minister sows spiritual things: God’s Word, faith, wisdom, instruction, encouragement, and the Gospel of salvation.
c. The people respond by sharing material things: finances, resources, and practical provision.
d. Spiritual things have eternal value.
e. Material things have temporary value.
f. Galatians 6:6 AMPC –– Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].
g. Those who benefit from spiritual ministry have a biblical responsibility to share their material blessings with those who minister to them.
7. Gospel Preachers Should Live Off the Gospel.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:12–14
b. The priests who served in the temple received their provision through the offerings brought by God’s people (Num. 18:21).
c. 1 Corinthians 9:14 AMPC –– [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.
d. This is not man’s opinion; it is God’s established order.
e. The Lord Himself ordained that those who devote themselves to preaching the Gospel should receive their livelihood through the Gospel ministry.
8. Participate in the Gospel and Its Eternal Rewards.
a. 1 Corinthians 9:23–25
b. Our labor and giving for the Gospel have eternal significance.
c. Philippians 4:17–19
d. There is fruit (the harvest of blessing) that abounds to the giver’s account.
e. Your gifts are a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
f. …my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
g. When we faithfully support the Gospel, we participate in its work and its eternal fruit.
9. Partnership.
a. God has established a beautiful partnership between those who preach the Gospel and those who receive it.
b. The minister sows spiritual things and the people respond with their material things.
c. The minister faithfully preaches, teaches, and cares for God’s people.
d. The people faithfully honor and support the ministry.
e. And together, they participate in the advancement of the Gospel and the harvest of souls.
f. Our giving is not simply meeting a natural need.
g. It is honoring God, valuing His Word, supporting His work, and investing in eternity.
h. As we give today, we can give willingly, cheerfully, and expectantly, knowing that God sees our faithfulness and rewards those who honor Him from the heart and with their substance.