1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5 The church focused / The power of the message of the cross
Notes
Transcript
If we are a hundred individuals scattered a hundred ways we accomplish little
Yet if we align properly, the light of the gospel takes focus. We don’t really provide any power, but the message of the gospel is truly powerful.
Religious stuff becomes secondary.
Personal stuff becomes secondary.
Personal glory / personal pride / the need to make it about me becomes unimportant
The Church Focused: Not focused on people
The Church Focused: Not focused on people
A. A need to avoid divisions
A. A need to avoid divisions
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 1 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
B. Not personality based
B. Not personality based
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 1 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? …
1. Lots of different good people
1. Lots of different good people
a. Like different styles / deep truth / oratory / practical / religious
a. Like different styles / deep truth / oratory / practical / religious
b. A need for each style – no style is preeminent – remember various people respond to different styles – not about me – intend is to focus together /different ways of communicating the same gospel
b. A need for each style – no style is preeminent – remember various people respond to different styles – not about me – intend is to focus together /different ways of communicating the same gospel
C. Only one who made salvation happen
C. Only one who made salvation happen
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 1 12 … Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 1 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
a. Focus should be on Christ / He is the one who died for us / He is the one who makes you alive
a. Focus should be on Christ / He is the one who died for us / He is the one who makes you alive
The church focused is a powerful tool that could unleash the power of the cross.
(ESV) Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5 The church focused
1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5 The church focused
The message of the cross is the power of God
I. The Cross: A Disregarded message
I. The Cross: A Disregarded message
A. Considered Foolish
A. Considered Foolish
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
1. Foolishness to the world
1. Foolishness to the world
2. Does not fit with world values
2. Does not fit with world values
3. World about me
3. World about me
4. What I can do
4. What I can do
5. I set the standard / measure
5. I set the standard / measure
6. All about my felt needs – teach me stuff I want to hear
6. All about my felt needs – teach me stuff I want to hear
B. Not embraced
B. Not embraced
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 2 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1. Welcome with warm hospitality
1. Welcome with warm hospitality
C. But the message of the cross is power
C. But the message of the cross is power
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1. Spoken word – message
1. Spoken word – message
2. Overcomes the rejection
2. Overcomes the rejection
3. Salvation to those who place trust in its message
3. Salvation to those who place trust in its message
4. Meets real need
4. Meets real need
(ESV) Ephesians 2 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility … 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
The cross – the place that Jesus made peace between God and man – taking on the sins of the world
The cross – where Jesus took on the wrath of God for sin – the just One dying for the unjust
The cross – where it became possible for those who were strangers to God to enter into His household.
II. The Cross: Not a religious message
II. The Cross: Not a religious message
A. Religion will amount to nothing
A. Religion will amount to nothing
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
1. Religious information
1. Religious information
2. Religious actions
2. Religious actions
3. Religious pride – exalt the performer
3. Religious pride – exalt the performer
B. Religion seeks God on its own terms
B. Religion seeks God on its own terms
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 22 For Jews request a sign,
1. God to respond on their terms
1. God to respond on their terms
2. Religiously consistent with their own beliefs
2. Religiously consistent with their own beliefs
3. God meet them on their terms
3. God meet them on their terms
C. The weakness of the cross is an obstacle
C. The weakness of the cross is an obstacle
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block
1. Self oriented deeds killed Christ
1. Self oriented deeds killed Christ
2. Exposes religious inadequacy
2. Exposes religious inadequacy
3. Shame of one’s own sin
3. Shame of one’s own sin
4. Come on His terms
4. Come on His terms
D. God’s uses the weak
D. God’s uses the weak
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 19 … Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God …
25 Because … the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that …, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But … God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
28 … and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
III. The Cross: Not an intellectual message
III. The Cross: Not an intellectual message
A. Human wisdom amounts to nothing
A. Human wisdom amounts to nothing
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? … Where is the disputer of this age?
1. Don’t need anything – I am sufficient
1. Don’t need anything – I am sufficient
2. Exalt man
2. Exalt man
3. Personal pride
3. Personal pride
B. Human wisdom seeks God to be like him
B. Human wisdom seeks God to be like him
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 22 … and Greeks seek after wisdom;
1. Personal benefit
1. Personal benefit
2. Reasonable on their terms
2. Reasonable on their terms
3. God to respond on their terms
3. God to respond on their terms
C. The simplicity of the Cross is an obstacle
C. The simplicity of the Cross is an obstacle
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 23 but we preach Christ crucified, … to the Greeks foolishness,
D. God’s uses the simple
D. God’s uses the simple
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 19 … Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, …
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, …. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, … 28 and the base things of the world … God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
IV. The Cross: But a necessary response
IV. The Cross: But a necessary response
A. Reverse opinions
A. Reverse opinions
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1. A plan developed in the wisdom of God
1. A plan developed in the wisdom of God
2. A plan to bring salvation to those who chose their own way
2. A plan to bring salvation to those who chose their own way
B. Trust Christ personally
B. Trust Christ personally
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
1. Value what Christ has done
1. Value what Christ has done
2. Worthless life if He did not die for sin
2. Worthless life if He did not die for sin
3. The only means for righteousness – hear / respond
3. The only means for righteousness – hear / respond