Anniversary Sunday 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Introduction

In 1912 when our church was started things were a lot different than they are today. A pound of beef was 25 cents for 3 pounds, bacon was 16 cents per pound, a brand new model t cost 690 dollars, an 8 acre farm with a house that had 9 rooms cost a whopping 4000 dollars. In the 1910 census Stephenville had a population of 2561 people.

A lot has change in 112 years, but the message of Washington Street Baptist Church has not.

The message is Jesus Christ. He is the central focus of the Bible and he is the central focus of our church.

This morning I am not here to entice you with words, but rather to declare the testimony of Jesus Christ and what He did so we can have Eternal Life.

We will look at three things a church must do to stay the course.

For a Church to continue they must keep the main thing the main thing vs. 1-2

Many churches today are using their platform to push an agenda, but here Paul is reminding the church of Corinth that when he came to them, he preached Jesus and Him alone

In Acts 18 when Paul arrived in Corinth, he didn’t come with the best speech and worldly wisdom.

In 1 Corinthians 1:17 we see the reason Paul came to Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:17 “17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

As Paul came to Corinth we notice that it didn’t take much time before he was in the synagogue preaching that Jesus was Christ

Paul could’ve used excellency of speech and wisdom because he was:

Well taught

Philippians 3:1–7 “1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”

Paul’s life was radically changed by the gospel and your life can be changed as well.

In verse 2 Paul tells the message that he wanted them to get.

He tells them that he didn’t want them to get anything outside of the message of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

This is the same message that God has given the church to proclaim today!

When you leave this morning the goal isn’t for you to say Oh what a sermon, but rather Oh, what a Saviour.

When you come to church, you shouldn’t leave the same way you came.

God didn’t call pastors to give self help talks, but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we preach Christ, we must remember that He was literarily God in the flesh, When we think about Christianity is Christ we should think about the Fact that Jesus is God in the flesh.

Paul reminded them that the focus was on Christ, because where you put your focus is where you put your faith.

While the world is saying you can change your life, we must realize we cannot change our lives only Jesus can change our lives.

Victory is found in Jesus Christ and His word

For a Church to continue we must realize its not about the preacher, but rather about the Power vs. 3-5

In verse 3 we see Paul coming to them in weakness, fear and trembling.

God cannot use a prideful preacher.

Paul came in weakness.

In his second letter to the corinthians we see Paul came to the Lord three times about the thorn in his flesh and you’ll notice this verse is in red in your bible because Jesus said it

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 “8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Paul came in fear

Paul was reverent of the message that he was called to preach.

In verse 4 He again reminds us what he didn’t do

He didn’t come with enticing words

This means he didn’t come with flattering words.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

When we come to church we should be convicted, not looking to feel good about ourselves.

We like Paul must come to the point when we see ourselves we cry out O wretched man that I am.

He didn’t preach the wisdom of men

The wisdom man has is finite compared to the infinite wisdom of an all knowing God.

Paul didn’t preach in his own power, or his own wisdom, but as we see in the last part of verse 4 he spoke and preached in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching without the Holy Spirits guidance is just a loud speech. As we have been studying in the book of Acts, Paul stayed yielded to the Spirit and the Spirit led every aspect of his life including his teaching and preaching.

For a church to continue they must stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of man vs. 5

Paul ends this section by telling them what not to stand on

Mans wisdom. Mans wisdom cannot save you from an eternity separated from God in a place called hell.

Paul didn’t want them to put their faith in clever arguments.

Paul wants them to stand in the power of God

2 Corinthians 4:7 “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

This treasure- The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Earthen Vessels- Our frail human bodies

The Excellency of the power- Paul makes it clear that the power is from no man, it is from God.

As we close this morning I want to use an outline made by Pastor Wayne Hardy in Stillwater, OK that describes the church we are

We are still Church- We are church like it used to be. Its not old fashioned as in 50 years ago, but its timeless as in 2000 years okay

Still preaching- The preaching of the Gospel is still paramount in our church.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

Still men - We still believe that men should lead their families and lead churches into the future.

Still Hymns - The Bible method for music is Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. I love the timeless truths found in the Hymns. I am thankful that good solid, doctrinal Hymns are still being written today.

Still reverent - Pastor Hardy said this “We still believe that the presence of a Holy God deserves our attempt to express respect and reverence, not because it impresses Him, but because it affects our own hearts and attitudes.”

Still Families - We still believe that God set up the family in Genesis 2 with one man and one woman and they were to be married for a lifetime.

Still exciting- We believe that church is still something to be excited about. Church shouldn’t be boring, it should be exciting. When we truly prepare our hearts to worship God and allow the Holy Spirit to move in our life, we can be excited about church.

Conclusion

This morning I want to remind us why we are here and that is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Do you believe that Jesus Christ who was God in the flesh came to earth and lived a sinless life, was crucified on a cross, was buried for three days, and gloriously rose from the dead, paying the debt of Sin we owed if we place our faith and trust in Him?

If you have never trusted Christ as your saviour come this morning and we can show you from God’s word how you can be saved.