Untitled Sermon (4)

nthians 2:1-16

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Wisdom from the Spirit

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

INTRODUCTION:

As a Sent people we first have to know what it is that we are sent with —— what is the substance of our sending —- when we go what is it that we are to carry with us and on what authority do we walk in?

In a world that seems as if it is more intrigued than ever with what you believe about certain things and what you are passion about it can seem as if there has never been a cultural moment that rivals the one we finds ourselves in today.

The narrative around Christians in particular has shifted in our world that we live in. We have spoken about this at length and its my guess that you feel this tension yourself. With family members, co-workers, etc. the people we are sent to seem to not want to hear the very message we are sent with.

This can cause us many things —- worry about what one may say if we proclaim the good news of Jesus, worry around how we may come across when we do proclaim the good news, anxiousness around the ramifications of what happens when we share the gospel.

These are fair concerns. Concerns I’ve had many many times.

One would only commit to even the thought of sharing something that could cause an array of responses, mostly assumed as negative outcomes, if we have been changed by the message we desire to proclaim.

If its true that we have been transformed by the news that Jesus died, rose, and conquered death and that we have been made alive because of this cosmic act of Jesus Christ —— than sharing this news is something that we couldn’t bare to not do.

The cost of following Jesus is that we lay down our lives, just as he did for us, to make known the truths of Jesus to those who may not yet know him.

So today I have one desire —- to put on clear display what is the power of the Gospel for those who are sent

What is the power to those who believe in Jesus? And to those who are sent out to the world to proclaim his name? If we don’t know— lets fixate on that truth today and if we do lets be encouraged form the Word of God today

BUT first, I want to debunk some myths that we believe as sent people:

people are content with what they currently believe or have

2) people don’t want the gospel

3) every gospel opportunity comes with me having to perfectly display all truth of the Bile

We are not alone in our effort to share the Gospel!!!!! An article that was written about what God is doing through our church here in NYC circulated the country back in February/March —- and I want to read some things that other Christians took time to write to you and to me

None of these people that wrote to us have ever met any of us in this room:

Wanda Graham, Tulsa, OK

“I pray that the people of Cultivate NYC would become strong Disciples of Jesus”

Eugene Breshear, a 94 year old widow in Lexington, KY

“I pray for your church every single day”

Brian and Tammy Law, in California

“I am praying for you as brothers and sisters, but I also pray for those you all are called to serve!”

Priscilla Morgane, Raleigh NC

“I pray that Cultivate NYC would exist to shine Gods Glory”

Eugene Jett, Remlap, Alabama

“Life for all is difficult at times but life without Christ is something I do not wish on anyone. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in NYC while we will do that here in Alabama”

I received 12 of these just in the last week. I simply share this to say that Christians everywhere are seeking to BE SENT and to tell others about Jesus! How beautiful is that.

The Power of the Gospel for those who are Sent

What is it that empowers the believers going and telling?

1) You Are Sent with the Power of the Gospel — This is your message

1 Cor. 2:1-5

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

CONTEXT:

Paul, on his way to Corinth to proclaim all that Christ has done —- first stopped in Athens amongst many others places —- but in Athens he had some, but very little success in preaching the gospel —-

Athens, more specifically at the Aropagus, philosophers of all kinds would gather to hear the latest ideas — in fact Acts 17 puts it like this “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” —- the Bible would later call these types of people Sophist’s —- people who were obsessed with elegant talk and hearing about new ideas —- although they were less interested in the findings of the new ideas, rather how compelling were you and if you could you draw a crowd.

Church, most of the new testament landscapes and ideologies were starkly different form our generation and the world we live in. However, people coming up with new theories or ideas on how to live the best life and drawing crowds and gaining followers either physically or virtually (in our day)—— seems oddly similar.

This was the setting Paul was in —- the church at Corinth had some of this imbedded in them as well. In chapter 1 of this letter Paul address the churches division over which christian “philosopher” they followed — it says - “there is quarreling among you, my brothers. Each one of you says, “I follow Paul” or I follow “Cephas” or “I follow Christ” —- is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul will describe 3 methods he took when he spoke of the Gospel to those in Corinth —- none of them impressive in nature. This is not to discount healthy approaches when sharing the Gospel but to HIGHLIGHT the power of the Gospel message in itself.

FCF: Sometimes we like to add to the beauty or the draw of the Gospel Message —- to make it more appealing to those who do not yet believe. Let us not strip the gospel of its beauty by trying to add to it ourselves.

This is why Paul opens chapter 2 with his clear approach to the message of the Cross

1 Cor. 2:1-2

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Simply, what Paul is stating, is that the message of the risen christ and what that brings to those who believe is enough to change lives. There is inherent power in the gospel message.

This reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 1:5:

5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit

Paul then doubles down on his unimpressive and nothing added presentation of the Gospel with 3 ways that he himself was unimpressive:

1 Cor. 2:3-5

3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Pauls sole message was Christ Crucified (he had debated in the synagogues many of times, likely using elegant language) Paul came in weakness — 1 cor. 4:11 tells he came looking rough and unimpressive He chose to not use “words of wisdom” but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power in the Gospel alone

The power of the Sophists or the philosophers of their day was in themselves … in there ability to use wise words to win over a crowd —— the power that Paul is speaking of is the Power of the holy Spirit — and the very evidence of the move of God in Corinth was the readers of this very letter. The church of Corinth was birthed because of the power of God and the message of the Risen Christ

Church, Place Your Faith In the Power of the Gospel —— what we are attempting to do as a Sent people with the gospel message is not win others to ourselves —- but it is to proclaim the power of the Gospel and Christ Crucified —— the power of the Gospel is what saves!!!!

The power of the Gospel far surpasses our crafty ways of presenting it —— have you ever in your life said this sentence “I have no clue how I got through this …. Or how I ended up here …. But God is faithful” I am unsure of how I will fix this …. But the power of the gospel surpasses my circumstances”

“I struggle in seasons to trust…. But the Gospel is my hope”

"Church…. The Christian puts their hope in the message that they are carrying…. Not in the one who is carrying it”

Rest assured …. The gospel message is enough.

BUT if it is not enough for you…. Why would go on sharing it with others?

We need to start believing that yes we are sent to share the Gospel —- but that it is impossible for us to move anyone from death to life —- not that is may be difficult to move anyone from death to life but that it is IMPOSSIBLE —- that’s when we begin to trust God. If we believe that He truly is the only one who saves and can save then we go out KNOWING THAT GOD SAVES and we RELY on Him to move.

You have a friend that you want to know Jesus? Ask Him to move, trust him to move, show up to be the messenger of Christ Crucified, and ask Jesus to save!

2) The Wisdom of God Surpasses the Wisdom of Man

1 Cor. 2:6-10

Wisdom from the Spirit

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Paul shifts the conversation from what we are sent with, to what we receive through the Holy Spirit once we accept the goodness of Christ crucified and Christ raised!

The wisdom that we receive throng our trust in Christ Jesus is the wisdom that the Spirit of God gives us —— this heavily contrasts the wisdom that Paul was refuting in the first section when he was talking about the elegant speakers.

This is yours in christ:

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory

The secret and hidden portion of this scripture is referring to those who do not believe in christ and do not have the spirit of God who are in them.

V.7 — Paul specifies the time and the purpose of this revealed wisdom to those who believe:

Time:

“Before the ages” — the leaders of Jesus’ day thought they were being wise when they executed Jesus, but they actually carried out what God had prepared to take place….

Purpose:

“For our Glory” — God has saved his people (past), He is saving His people (present), and He will save His people (future)

In direct contrast to those “who are doomed to pass away (those who do not believe) —-

Paul contrast the wisdom of men and wisdom God gives in the very thing Paul came preaching, Christ crucified

It is far better to be hidden in the wisdom in christ than it is to be bold about the wisdom one has in themselves

V.9 - “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

What God has for us …. No one could stumble on outside of the move of the Spirit of God.

So… we should trust that if we believe in Jesus….than we have the spirit….and if we have the spirit than he is revealing to us all that we need in Him.

3) The Wisdom From the Spirit Is In All Who Believe, But is Folly To the World

1 Cor. 2:11-16

11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Let me start by saying this…. Who knows the thoughts of God outside of God Himself? No one…

And yet God has decided to send His Spirit to reside in those who believe to reveal some of Gods wisdom to those who believe.

Christian this is what you're equipped with. We have the mind of christ. Not the mind of Luke which pales in comparison

Here is our contrast —- the very thing that we cling to as life and life abundantly is folly to those who do not believe.

Humility is birthed from a place where we found out that we couldn’t sustain ourselves in a satiation

to embrace the simplicity of the gospel. Hence it was, that undervaluing the Apostle, and the divine efficacy of his preaching, they were more prepared to listen to those teachers that were subtle and showy, while destitute of the Spirit.1 Hence, with the view of beating down so much the better their insolence, he declares, that they belong to the company of those who, stupified by carnal sense, are not prepared to receive the spiritual wisdom of God. He softens down, it is true, the

APPLICATION:

Let us not trust the wisdom of this world —- even in how we display the gospel to others

Learn to rely on the Spirits wisdom —- seek and ask for more wisdom from Him —- so we may discern the ways of the Lord

learn the Fathers voice and Spirits leading — and exalt the name of Jesus to this world