Spiritual Wisdom
The Foolishness of the Cross • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction:
· The Jamaican Bobsled Team – underdogs in every way.
· The gospel is an underdog story: unimpressive; “traffics in weakness”; calls us to a life ridiculed by many
Transition:
I) The Weakness of the Cross is Central to Christianity
I) The Weakness of the Cross is Central to Christianity
A. The Gospel Works in Worldly Weakness
A. The Gospel Works in Worldly Weakness
i. Not this but that:
1. Is Christianity anti-intellectual or “dumbed down”?
2. No; Paul uses reason and logic in many places
ii. When the medium becomes the message! (vv. 1, 4)
1. The Corinthians measured Paul’s message against Greek rhetoric/logic
2. Christendom Market by self-help, self-improvement, good advice…and comedy to boot?
B. The Cross Is Central to the Christian Faith
B. The Cross Is Central to the Christian Faith
i. The cross must be central to the life of the church (vs. 2-5)
1. Paul’s central message was a crucified savior
2. Why? Paul feared calling people to trust in something other than Jesus
ii. The cross must be central to the message of the church
1. EXAMPLE: Knox trembled in the pulpit
2. APPLICATION: A family seeks a new church what do you look for?
THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS AN UNDERDOG MESSAGE – ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD.
II) The Weakness of God’s Wisdom Is Superior to Wisdom of the Age
II) The Weakness of God’s Wisdom Is Superior to Wisdom of the Age
A. God’s Wisdom is Eternal but worldly wisdom is not (vv. 6-7)
A. God’s Wisdom is Eternal but worldly wisdom is not (vv. 6-7)
i. Worldly Wisdom doesn’t last
1. Paul’s message is only “foolish” to those whose hearts are shaped by our age
2. The Contrast: The Wisdom of this age is temporal!
ii. …But God’s Wisdom decreed a plan of salvation before time itself (vs. 7)
1. God had a plan to save his people before the foundation of the world
2. APPLICATION: Our existence: A blink? In God’s mind before eternity!
B. God’s Wisdom reveals Glory – worldly wisdom does not (vv. 7b-10)
B. God’s Wisdom reveals Glory – worldly wisdom does not (vv. 7b-10)
i. What does “glory” look like?
1. Worldly wisdom elevates worldly glory: Wealth, success, beauty…
2. Jesus embodied NONE of this glory àJesus is killed (vs. 8)
ii. God’s wisdom is unexpected and unpredictable(Is. 64)
1. Isaiah’s people longed for salvation; God reveals his glory in Christ in ways we’d never imagine
2. APPLICATION: What “glory” do we live for?
Transition:
III) The Weakness of Our Minds is Enlightened By God’s Spirit
III) The Weakness of Our Minds is Enlightened By God’s Spirit
A. Is Spiritual Knowledge a Human Accomplishment? (vv. 10-16)
A. Is Spiritual Knowledge a Human Accomplishment? (vv. 10-16)
i. Our minds cannot comprehend spiritual matters on their own (vs. 14)
1. We will reject faith because our minds are shadowed by sin
2. APPLICATION: Patience with unbelievers;
B. No, it is a Revelation of God
B. No, it is a Revelation of God
i. It takes a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual knowledge
1. “Revelation” “Receiving” are words that show us how we come to faith!
2. God is the active worker in salvation:
ii. Therefore:
1. Grandparents praying for grandkids:
2. Prayer list of non-believers!
3. Fervent but non-anxious witnessing
Transition:
Conclusion
Communion and the simplicity of the gospel!