The Message of the Cross: Introduction (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10)
Francis Blight, 5th September 2021Part of the The Message of the Cross series, preached at a Fordham Sunday Service service
Online Church: Listen
Online Church: Read
Service and Notice sheet (5th September 2021)
Notice & Service Sheet
Online Church: Watch
Online ChurchSunday Sermon: Watch
Sunday Sermon| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Whatever You Do, Whoever You Are | None | The Message of the Cross: Redemption through Ransom » |
1:19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1:22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1:24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
1:26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1:28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are,
1:29 so that no one may boast before him.
1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1:31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
2:5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
2:7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" --
2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
Write a comment: