The Foolishness of God in the Wisdom of the Cross

Bill Sizemore

Messy • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

1 Corinthians 1:18–31

Jesus dies on the cross

Wisdom

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Introduction

Have you ever had growing pains. If you look at a picture of me with my brothers you will see that every son of my Dad got taller and taller. I’m the oldest but I’m also the shortest at 6’.

My brother, Gregg, is the youngest and he stands 6’ 3” and with his hair cut sometimes he’s 6’ 5”.

When Gregg was a teenager he was constantly having growing pains. The bones in his legs were growing so fast that it was tighten all the muscles in his thighs and calfs and cause excruciating pain.

There was nothing that could be done to help it. They were just growing pains and the only cure was time.

Last week we started a new book of the Bible that I believe is going to help us as young Church establish ourselves as a true body of Christ.

The church of Corinth was excited about the gospel but they were having some problems. Around here we call them growing pains.

They had come together from all walks of life, both Jews and Gentiles. They had this new family called the Church that they were having to learn how to live with and how to deal with.

The highlight from last week was found in 1:9-10

1 Corinthians 1:9–10 ESV

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

1 Corinthians 1:8–10 ESV

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

But there were some devisions and some quarreling that was going on. This is a comfort to me because there are time that we have devisions and quarreling. And I say to myself, “Get right you knuckleheads.”

We have a job to do. We have a message to preach. We have a kingdom to build.

This message we preach is not easy for people to believe. We preach the gospel, the good news of the cross and resurrection from the dead.

Sermon Text

When we preach the gospel we release the power of God for salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

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.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor

What is the gospel. If we’re not careful we through these terms around not really comprehending what they mean.

The gospel is clearly defined in chapter 15 of this book.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

The Simple Gospel

Christ died for our sins

Christ was buried in a tomb for three day.

Christ was raised from the grave conquering sin and death forever.

Christ now offers salvation to all who will believe.

Someone has to preach

Romans 10

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

We have become fools for Christ’s sake as we preach the wisdom of God.

1 Cor 1:20-

1 Corinthians 1:20–21 ESV

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

The wisdom of man always thinks God right out of the picture.

Romans 1:

Romans 1:20 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1:21–22 AV

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:21

This is why apologetics is so important and so ineffective.

Using reasoning and logic to prove your case for christ.

The message of the gospel and the proof of the resurrection makes all the sense in the world to those who believe. But to the perishing it’s just foolishness.

But the proof is always in the changed life.

The power of your preaching rests in proof of life and not pride of life.

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

1 Cor 1:28-

1 Corinthians 1:28–29 ESV

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

You don’t have to be somebody to preach the gospel you just have to know somebody.

1 Cor 1:30

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 ESV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Jesus his our righteous

Conclusion

So every person in this room finds themselves at a crossroad today.

Are you going to go with the wisdom of this world that denies God, denies the cross, and the power of Christ to save.

Are you going to receive the wisdom of God and trust in the gospel and let God turn you into something great.

Let me show what the wisdom of the world looks like in

James 3:

James 3:13 ESV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:14–16 ESV

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

James 3:14

James 3:17

James 3:17 ESV

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

If this gospel message sounds like foolishness to you. It’s just because you haven experienced the wonder of salvation. You need to receive the message and person of Christ today.