Series: The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Speaker: Daniel Sweet
June 22: I Corinthians 2:1-5
The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Consider Our Weakness, I Corinthians 2:1-5
- Context:
A. Consider the Cross, I Corinthians 1:18-25
B. Consider Your Calling, I Corinthians 1:26-31
- Now Consider Our Ministry, I Corinthians 2:1-4
A. Not based on our speech or intellect
B. Instead, based on the testimony of God
C. So that you would know Jesus Christ and Him crucified
D. The messenger preached in weakness and fear
E. The message preached was in power and by the work of the Spirit
- Because Saving Faith Comes through the Power of God, I Corinthians 2:5
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The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Consider Our Weakness, I Corinthians 2:1-5
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I. Context:
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I Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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A. Consider the Cross, I Corinthians 1:18-25
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I Corinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
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B. Consider Your Calling, I Corinthians 1:26-31
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II. Now Consider Our Ministry, I Corinthians 2:1-4
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I Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
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A. Not based on our speech or intellect
B. Instead, based on the testimony of God
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Two things they were wanting from Paul in Corinth. 1. Some impressive miracles or signs such as healing or speaking in tongues to impress the sightseeing public or 2. Some impressive philosophy or wisdom to impress the educated. It wouldn't give either so he was maligned.
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However, Paul's great concern was the Gospel. If people came to hear him and received what he said on the basis of his cleverness, then the next time a eloquent speaker came along, they would follow that person.
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If people came to be followers of Paul's abilities at miraculous signs, then as soon as Paul left the signs would diminish and the followers would go after some other form of entertainment. This is Paul's great concern with this. Preaching Christ and Him crucified prevents false security and false conversions.
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There is a peculiar aspect of pastoral ministry and in particular of preaching itself as to constantly battle in my own heart the desire to be impressive instead of being Christ exalting. Thinking that maybe if they are impressed they will believe all the while preaching about a Christ who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.
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Alister Begg's story of going to the candy counter while on his way to a choir concert. Lady behind the counter, "Sonny, flattery is like perfume, sniff it. Don't swallow it."
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In pastoral ministry, discount the high end and the low end. There are people who will tell you that you are fantastic and there are people who will remind you of everything that makes you an ineffective preacher.
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I Corinthians 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
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There is great temptation within the church to love the theology of Christ more than Christ Himself. To love the ministry of Christ more than Christ Himself. To enjoy the fellowship of the church of Christ more than Christ Himself. To love the eternal heaven of Christ more than Christ Himself. There is within our hearts a subtle idolatry that can occur where in small steps not huge leaps away from the centrality of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, that we can find ourselves worshiping something other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
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Philippians 3:8-10 ...I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ....that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings...
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C. So that you would know Jesus Christ and Him crucified
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I Corinthians 2:3-4 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
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D. The messenger preached in weakness and fear
E. The message preached was in power and by the work of the Spirit
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I Corinthians 2:5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
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III. Because Saving Faith Comes through the Power of God, I Corinthians 2:5
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“The gospel is preached in the ears of all; yet it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel does not reside in the eloquence of the preacher otherwise preachers would be the converters of souls. Nor does it reside in the preacher’s learning; otherwise it could consists of the wisdom of humanity.
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We might preach till our tongues rot, till we should exhaust our lungs and die, but never would a soul be converted unless there were mysterious power going with the preaching – the Holy Spirit changing the will of a person. We might as well preach to stone walls as to preach to humanity unless the Holy Spirit be with the word, to give it power to convert the soul.” Spurgeon