Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Introduction

Our culture seems fascinated by the idea of being lost in a remote place, but could we be spiritual castaways without knowing it?

Discussion

I. Israel became a nation of spiritual castaways.

A. They cast away God’s law (Isaiah 5:20–25).

B. God cast Judah out of their land in the days of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 52:1–3), but He promised to reserve a remnant (33:14–26).

II. If we are not careful we can become castaways ourselves.

A. We live in a society filled with spiritual castaways.

B. Jesus and the apostles all taught that it is possible for someone to preach to others and still become a castaway himself (1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:12; Revelation 2:5).

C. If God did not spare saints when they rejected Him, why should we expect Him to spare us (Romans 11:17–24)?

III. How can we prevent ourselves from becoming castaways?

A. We must bring our bodies into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27).

B. We must bring our minds into subjection (2 Corinthians 10:5).

C. We must put our priorities in order (Matthew 6:24–34).

Conclusion

A. In the first century, one of the greatest fears of the Jews was to be cast out of the synagogue (John 9:22), but this is nothing to be compared with being cast out of God’s presence.

B. If we wish to keep ourselves from becoming spiritual castaways, we must bring our minds and bodies into subjection to God’s will.