Fools for Christ

Series title: United in the Gospel - Sermon : Fools for Christ

The author is the Apostle Paul (v1)

The date of writing is A.D. 53-55

Paul has received an oral report and a letter from the Corinthians church. They are struggling with division, immorality, idolatry, and theological confusion. Much of their issue stem from the arrogance of the church’s more powerful members.

The main purpose for the letter… they need to work to together for the advancement of the gospel.

Paul begins the letter to the church at Corinth in his usual manner - a greeting from himself - a general greeting to the believers there - and he usually starts with an affirmation… then he addresses the issues.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God, that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

CHRIST THE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.,

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Unity in theology and mission is a must.

Do you think there is a serious need to be united as believers?

Again, we are not talking about uniformity on all matter. We are still individuals with specific gifts, talents and skills.

We can disagree and have diverse opinions but in secondary issues.

It’s all about Jesus, not you or me.

So often we put our faith in a person. We see it all the time when a pastor leaves a church or maybe a favorite Sunday school teacher.

I have seen people refuse to move to another class, which would help the current class grow, because they didn’t want to leave their teacher.

Any blessings we have are from God. It is not about how good we are or what an amazing job we did “ministering” to someone.

The issue is pride… and there is probably no greater pride moment than thinking we know it all.

The idea of the cross leading to salvation is ridiculous BUT the reality of the cross leading to salvation is life changing.

- The Jews understood the cross of Christ as a demonstration that Christ was cursed of God (see Deut. 21:23), not blessed as they expected the Messiah to be.

Deuteronomy 21:23 CSB

23 you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

- Many Gentiles, in turn, could hardly have imagined a more ridiculous religion than one that proclaimed salvation through the death of one man on a Roman cross. A God who could not overcome his human enemies and who died at their hands like a common thief was not a God one should reasonably trust for salvation.

God knows what He is doing, trust Him no matter how crazy it may seem.

Be a fool for Christ.