Divided (Message 3)

Two Lessons for this Series

Unity in the church is the greatest TESTIMONY to Christ and His WORK.
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We who have the SPIRIT of Christ also have the “MIND of Christ,” and we need to use this WISDOM.
1Cor. 2:16 . . . But we have the mind of Christ.

Let’s Review

Paul wrote a LETTER to Corinth several years after living 18 months AMONG the people.

He REMINDED them of the blessings in Christ Jesus: the past, GRACE; the present, GIFTS; and the future, GLORY. His message was simply, “your POSITION in Christ is secure, now let’s work on your PRACTICE.”

The first topic that needed WORK was divisions within the CHURCH. People were following MEN instead of Christ.
1Cor. 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

CONTEXT FOR TODAY: We understand that WISDOM (philosophy) was the typical Corinthian’s greatest desire. They loved ORATORS who could present words of WISDOM. (The point? Human wisdom causes division!)

1. There are Two Kinds of People in God’s Eyes

1Cor. 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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

a. There are TWO kinds of people: Those who are “being DESTROYED” (because the cross is foolishness, μωρία,mōria) and those who are “being SAVED” (because the cross is power).

b. The difference between these people is simply the “WORD (λόγος, logos) of the CROSS.” In fact, this “word” is the “DYNAMITE (δύναμις, dynamis) of God.”

c. Paul uses an Old Testament passage to PROVE his point.
Isa. 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

2. There are Two Things that People Seek

1Cor. 1:20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 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. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

a. WHERE are those who are trying to be saved by human means: The wise man (KNOWS it); the expert in Jewish law (LIVES it); or the great philosopher (TALKS it)?

b. God made them all look FOOLISH by the “foolishness of the cross,” and the simple act to BELIEVE it.

c. There are two OTHER kinds of people: Jews looked for SIGNS to save themselves (Moses, Elijah, etc); and Gentiles looked for “LOGIC that convinced.”

d. Instead, God has offered a “STUMBLING BLOCK” to Jews and “FOOLISHNESS” to Gentiles. Christ is POWER and WISDOM.

e. In fact, if it’s wisdom and power you seek, God is UNMATCHED.

3. There are Three Kinds of People in the Church

1Cor. 1:26 Brothers and sisters, 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. 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. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

a. What were you like BEFORE you followed Christ?

Not many were: | Wise | Influential | Noble
God used: | Foolish | Weak | Lowly
So that you can be: | Righteous | Holy | Redeemed

b. If you want wisdom and RHETORIC (boasting), then let it be about the LORD.
Jer. 9:23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: . . .

4. There is Only ONE Thing Needed

1Cor. 2:1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

a. Paul DIDN’T attempt wisdom or eloquence to REACH the Corinthians.

b. It was SIMPLY “Jesus Christ and Him CRUCIFIED.”

5. There Are Three Lessons that I Learn

a. The church cannot LOSE the TRUE message.

b. The church needs to be a MELTING POT.

c. There can be no BOASTING in our place as BELIEVERS since God CALLED us and SAVED us.

Walk the Talk

There are two kinds of people and two things that people seek. What did you learn from this, or how was it helpful?

Do you see a “melting pot” in our church? Why is it important that it be so?

What did you “takeaway” from this study?

Scriptures

1Cor. 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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the WISDOM of the WISE; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

1Cor. 1:20 Where is the WISE person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made FOOLISH the WISDOM of the world? 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. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for WISDOM, 23 but we preach Christ CRUCIFIED: a stumbling block to Jews and FOOLISHNESS to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has CALLED, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the POWER of God and the WISDOM of God. 25 For the FOOLISHNESS of God is WISER than human WISDOM, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1Cor. 1:26 Brothers and sisters, 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. 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. 28 God CHOSE the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1Cor. 2:1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human WISDOM as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him CRUCIFIED. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with WISE and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s POWER, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human WISDOM, but on God’s POWER.