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1 Corinthians 16:13-18 ESV
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 ESV
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

I.THE CORINTHIANS AND GOSPEL CENTRALITY (13-18)
A.Paul instructs the Corinthians to be watchful that they don’t fall into sin by staying centered on the Gospel.
B.Paul instructs the Corinthians to be mature in Christ through the constant renewing of their minds by staying centered on the Gospel.
C.Paul instructs the Corinthians to be made strong in Christ through staying centered on the Gospel.

II.NJ AND GOSPEL CENTRALITY
A.We stay centered on the Gospel because the Gospel is more than the plan of salvation, but the sum total of all God has done in history.
B.To be Gospel centered means we will focus on God and what He has done and is doing.

III.CORINTH & CARING FOR THOSE NOT LIKE YOU (1-4)
A.Paul shockingly wants a Gentile congregation to contribute to the well-being of Jewish Christians.
B.The tension between Jew and Gentile never erupted because they stayed segregated from one another.
C.Jesus forces Jew and Gentile together into one church because what He had done was for all of mankind.

IV.NJ AND BEING MULTI-ETHNIC
A.Being the first multi-ethnic Southern Baptist Church in Mississippi is a Gospel issue for us. (Ephesians 2:11-16)
B.The full doctrine of reconciliation is that God has not just reconciled man to Himself through Jesus but man to man as well.
C.For the sake of the Gospel clarity and testimony we will continue to pursue being a multi-ethnic congregation at NJ.

NEXT STEPS
1.Who we worship with on Sunday will change when who we hang out with on Saturday night changes.