INTRODUCTION - HERE IS PAUL'S GREAT EPISTLE TO A TROUBLED CHURCH -WORLDLY WISDOM HAD INVADED CHURCH

• Established on his 2nd Missionary Journey-(Acts 18) Paul had to leave -Jewish Vendetta against him
• Corinth was the center of the politics, art, commerce, philosophy- evil too
• Paul wrote from Eph.-Acts 19:10, Deeply disturbed at their conduct, rejection, corruption, and his epistle shows grief-

Paul writes with flashes of emotion-not logic & rhetoric

I. SENT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL I Cor 1:17a

Not with the wisdom of words lest the cross have no effect- We need the effect of Cross!

PAUL'S 2nd MISSIONARY JOURNEY WAS DIRECTED OF GOD - HE WAS TRULY SENT BY GOD - God Directed!

• Paul, Timothy, Barnabas were turned from Asia- and directed to Europe- Greece- Acts 16:6
• In Athens Paul preached on Mars Hill- Acts 17:23 to the Philosophers- the wisest men of the world
• But when He mentioned Resurrection-V.23- they mocked him- Scientists know this is impossible

WHEN PAUL ARRIVED IN CORINTH HE TURNED FROM THE JEWS TO THE GENTILES WITH THE GOSPEL

• 40 miles East of Athens- A Roman Colony-at crossing of Greece-Trade center Jewish refugees
• But the Jews rejected the message of Christ- Acts 18:5 - Paul preached where he worked-Tents
• The Jews kept stirring up trouble until Paul had to leave so that the church could have peace

PAUL PREACHED THE GOSPEL SIMPLY LEST THE CROSS BE MADE OF NO EFFECT - v.17b

• "Not to Baptize"-no Pauline party- Baptism not essential to Salvation- Follow Christ
• Not with wisdom of words"- I Cor 2:1-5 He had done this with Mars hill- but now- Jesus only
• Lest the cross-be of none effect-" no power, The central point of Christianity-Jesus on Cross

With so much Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Mysticism, Monasticism-people miss cross!

II. THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS - v. 18b

Paul's message to those who choose to perish it is foolishness, but to saved- it is POWER

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS - v.18 - IS THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION

• The simple story of the Sin offering-presenting the Lamb of God to the Jews- they should believe
• The picture of a substitute dying in our place the Greeks could understand - reconciliation
• But it is a person- JESUS dying on the cross- v.23 -Christ Crucified-The point of power!

TO THEM THAT PERISH IT IS FOOLISHNESS- v.18b - AND THEY HAVE DELIBERATELY MADE IT SO TO THEMSELVES

• The wisdom of men- v. 19-20 - shows how they turn from God- and so God simply gives them up
• The Jews want a sign -22a (Matt 12:38,9) Greeks want Wisdom- Acts 17:21 a new thing?
• So the the Jews a Stumblingblock - (Rom 9:32,33) - and Greeks-foolishness- Prov 15:5 fool despises father

BUT UNTO US WHICH ARE SAVED, IT IS THE POWER OF GOD - v.18b - see Romans 1:16

• To both Jews and Greeks-the very way to God is by way of faith in His message of the Cross
• The power of God- Over man's ignorance & sin - power to forgive, cleanse, and to change!
• The comparison of God & man - v.25 - if you want real wisdom, real power- find it in God-not man

No matter what a man thinks of God's plan- this cannot be changed- God still reigns

III. THE WISDOM OF GOD IS GIVEN TO MAN 21a, 24b

We have so much to learn, but we can learn only when we are humble enough to listen

GOD HAS CHOSEN THE WEAK AND FOOLISH OF THIS WORLD TO CONFOUND THE WISE AND STRONG v. 27

• In the calling in Salvation- some are saved by letter M, -For in Corinth - slaves- workmen-
• The choice for Service is also not by man's wisdom- This is humbling for preachers-but true!
• The reason that the Power might be of God, so also the Glory, Wisdom, All of Christ

THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE - v. 29 - THE SECRET PURPOSES OF GOD UNFOLDED

• In Christ there is no ground for our personal boasting- in anything, or anyone - all for Christ
• The divisions and cliques were sinful- The Corinth factions showed eyes off Christ-on man
• Jesus Christ is the great equalizer of men- for we are all equal at the foot of the Cross

CHRIST JESUS IS MADE UNTO US WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS, SANCTIFICATION, AND REDEMPTION - v. 30

• In God's plan the person who receives Christ- receives the Wisdom of God- Seek it in Christ
• The most wicked in Corinth when Christ came in became righteous - made righteous by God
• The most earthly man- when sanctified became spiritual- 2:13,4 not Pharisee - but spiritual

The person under bondage-slave to sin- became redeemed - bought and freed from penalty-death

CONCLUSION - SO LET EVERY TONGUE GLORY IN AND GLORIFY CHRIST - V. 31 - DO YOU WAVE HIS LIGHT TO ALL??

• Proclaim Christ instead of Self- or man's best- and in Christ you will find Salvation
• Let Christ change your life, leave behind shackles of sin- and find Power in action!
• Instead of being under the circumstances of World invade world with power of Gospel!