No Little People, No Little Places

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has

called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already

circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of

his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for

anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain

in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned

about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was

called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called

is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers,

in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God” (1 Cor. 7:17-24).

In the words of Francis A. Schaeffer “there are no little people and no little places.” I think what

Schaeffer meant by that is very similar to Paul’s point in 1 Cor. 7:17-24 when he says, “only let each

person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.”

We live in a culture where bigger is better and climbing up the economic ladder is essential and not

optional. The American economy, for better or worse, is very hierarchical. In our economic system

there are little people and there are big people and there are people in between. I am afraid sometimes

we have a similar view of the people in our churches. We view pastors as the more mature and holy

Christians–especially the famous ones who write books and speak at conferences. This, however

doesn’t seem to fit the ethic of the Kingdom of God. Especially when Jesus said things like “whoever

wishes to be first must be last and servant of all” (Mark 9:35) and “whoever shall be great among you

shall be your servant” (10:44).

Seeking to climb the evangelical ladder is a dangerous ambition. Especially when Paul says, “each one

should remain in the condition in which he was called.” I don’t think that means that if you become a

Christian as a school teacher you must remain a school teacher for the rest of your life. I think what it

means is that our “position” in the world really doesn’t matter. What matters is that in whatever

position I am in, I am pointing to the one who has freed me from sin and death–Jesus Christ the

righteous one.

A slave in first century Corinth would have been lowest of the low on the social totem pole. And yet

Paul tells slaves who have become Christians “do not be concerned” about your position as a slave.

Didn’t Paul care? Didn’t he want slaves to be free from the difficult yoke of slavery? Yes and no. Yes

in that he tells them if they can gain their freedom to do so. But Paul is more concerned with teaching

slaves to be content in Christ and to realize that all who have come to know Christ are “Slaves of

Christ” and that is a beautiful and good slavery.

Again, the New Testament writers were not social revolutionaries but spiritual revolutionaries–they

wanted to see people free from sin and enslaved to Christ! Any human rights campaign started by

Christians would have failed, but the gospel offers freedom from a far greater slavery—slavery to sin

and self. The message of Paul to the slaves in Corinth was one of reminder–he reminded them that they

had been “bought with a price!”

Whatever place you are in right now matters to God and God wants you to be faithful to display the

gospel wherever you are at. Sometimes being in Albertville or being in the United States for that

people aren’t coming by the thousands to hear me teach. However, what I have come to realize is that

it doesn’t matter where we are in life so much as that we are obedient to the one who has called us.

I don’t want to think of myself better than Jesus. That is what we are doing when we refuse to serve in

whatever position we are in–we are thinking ourselves better than Jesus. For “the Son of Man came not

to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

That is why Peter could tell slaves in Asia Minor to obey even “unjust” masters, because Peter was

more concerned that slaves in Asia Minor bore consistent witness to the glory of Jesus than that they

get out of their difficult social position (1 Peter 2:18-24). A slave was the lowest of the low in Roman

culture, but a slave that lives to consistently bear witness to the freedom he has in Christ is precious in

the eyes of God. You may feel pretty low on the totem pole in God’s grand scheme for the world and

that may be a good thing, but remember, there are no little people, there are no little places.

The gospel levels the playing field. In Christ there is “neither slave nor free . . . all are one in Christ

Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We are all dead in trespasses and sins and every believer has received new life in

Christ. If a slave’s witness to Christ matters, so does yours.

Spiritual one-upmanship has no place in the Kingdom of God. Don’t think yourself better than Jesus,

In Christ,

Drew

anniversary. After the service we will have a fellowship meal at Hospice catered by Giovanni’s.

There is no cost for this meal; however, we are asking everyone to bring 2 liter drinks and/or tea.

There will be no Sunday night services.

finish up on Saturday at around 3-4pm. We will have dinner, breakfast, and lunch prepared for us

there. The cost is $170. Sign up online or at the church.

back table in the Sanctuary.

morning.

and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Please let Lisa know if you are interested in going ASAP

fellowship, food and study of God’s Word. Bring your favorite soup and/or crackers/topping and/or

dessert. If you bring soup, bring the recipe if you have not already given it out.

be going through the study Holiness: The Heart God Purifies by Nancy Lee DeMoss. Book cost is

$10. Let Lisa Spence know by January 10 if you need her to order a book. Make checks payable to

New Covenant Baptist Church.

The price is $129 plus hotel accommodations. Let Lisa Spence or Amy Williams know if you are

interested. Here’s a link: http://www.truewoman.com/?id=760

some major health issues.

pray for Denise as she is trying to help her mother as much as possible.

her.

Please begin praying for those who are going to Nicaragua in February. These include Jimmy Barnard,

Matt Colvin, Jennifer Dixon, Charlie Fields, Todd Gregg, Lisa Spence, and Amy Williams.

M.U.D. is raising money to buy land and build houses in Nicaragua to build houses for orphans. If you

would like to donate money, please contact Eric Hixon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like to get in touch with the Teague’s, you can contact them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

They are working United World Missions. The website is www.unitedworldmission.org.

Attendance: Worship Service - 93

Offering: General - 1,415.00

Sunday, January 3 – Patricia Champion