Foolish Wisdom

INTRO:

C.S. Lewis once said, "That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion that you could not have guessed." In his book *Mere Christianity*, Lewis points out the unique and unexpected nature of the Christian message—a message that centers on the foolishness of the cross.

Read Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

Lyle D. Vander Broek provides a concise summary: “Each of the community problems Paul needed to address grew out of the Corinthians’ inability to let the gospel message fully reshape their gentile, Greco-Roman lives, whether because they misunderstood that message or because they rejected it outright.”

The church in Corinth likely grappled with several challenging questions:

- Is this really the best we can come up with?

- Doesn’t it seem odd that God’s son would die on a cross?

- I believe in the gospel, but let’s be honest, it’s a little embarrassing—the hero dies on a cross.

- My friends are too smart to believe in this… to them, it’s just nonsense.

Additionally, there may have been a sense of self-righteousness, with some claiming special wisdom or sophistication in communicating the gospel.

1. To the world God’s wisdom is foolishness.

God’s Unconventional Wisdom

- God often operates in ways that, by human standards, don't make sense. Think of Gideon and David.

Gideon

Judges 6:11–12 NIV

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:14–16 NIV

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

David

1 Samuel 16:6–7 NIV

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:10–13 NIV

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Therefore...

- To the world, Christ on a cross is foolishness.

- God did not allow human wisdom to be the means by which He is revealed (v. 21).

- Paul illustrates this with the Jews seeking miraculous signs and the Greeks seeking wisdom.

- Paul preaches Christ crucified—this is sufficient; no additional signs or wisdom are needed.

Illustration:

- The distinction between those perishing and those being saved (Lee Strobel’s transformation story).

2. To God, the world’s wisdom is foolishness.

God Chooses the Foolish and Weak

- By choosing flawed people—the foolish, weak, and lowly—God makes boasting in Him our only reasonable option.

- If you are in Christ, you should recognize that you did not get there on your own merit.

- The world’s wisdom might say, “Look at what you accomplished on your own,” but Paul reminds us that being in Christ is to have God's wisdom, which is far superior.

- Paul humbles the Corinthians by reminding them where they came from, thereby exalting them in the Lord (v. 27-28).

1 Corinthians 1:26 NIV

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.

Jesus Loves Even Me

Philip P. Bliss

I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n; Wonderful things in the Bible I see, This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Refrain: I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me; I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

1 Corinthians 1:27–28 NIV

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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

A. Paul keeps us humble

B. Remember that before the creation of the world he chose you.

Ephesians 1:4–5 NIV

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

- Look around foolish ones, God is glorified, which should be the aim of everyone who bears the name Christian.

3. To Christians, God’s “foolishness” is true wisdom.

The Core Message: Christ Crucified

- Paul focused on the testimony of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

- He didn’t rely on eloquence or show off his education.

- Paul lived among the Corinthians in a way that demonstrated the Spirit’s power so that others would forsake worldly wisdom and turn to God.

- “So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

Contemporary Reflection

Question:

- Is it possible that the church in America, and specifically in Scott City, has become like the church of Corinth?

Have we misunderstood or rejected the message of the cross and its power?

- Romans 12:2 (NIV): “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Conclusion

Embrace the paradox of the gospel—what the world sees as foolishness, God reveals as His profound wisdom. Let us not conform to the world's standards but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, finding our wisdom and strength in Christ crucified.