Just Preach Christ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Introduction

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul is found in the city of Athens—a city renowned for its philosophy, intellectual pride, and religious confusion. Luke describes it as “wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:16). The people were always eager to hear or tell some new thing. Paul, standing among the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, boldly preached to them about the one true God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But how did they respond? Many mocked. Some dismissed him as a “babbler,” while only a few believed (Acts 17:32–34). To the wise of this world, the message of the gospel seemed foolish.

From there, Paul traveled to Corinth—another city known for its culture, intellect, and corruption. After being mocked in Athens, it would have been easy for Paul to adjust his approach to avoid offense or rejection. But he didn’t. He didn’t come with polished speech or philosophical arguments. He came preaching Christ crucified.

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that his message and method were intentionally simple—not because the gospel is shallow, but because its power does not rest in man’s wisdom, but in God’s. The wisdom of the cross confounds the wisdom of the world.

Spurgeon said this “The sermon which does not lead to Christ or of which Jesus Christ is not the top and the bottom, is a sort of sermon that will make the devils in hell laugh, but make the angels of God weep”

The power of God is revealed in the cross vs. 1-5

How Paul came vs. 1

Paul didn’t come with excellency of speech or wisdom

Paul was no intellectual lightweight—he had been trained under Gamaliel, mastered the Torah, and was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. If anyone could have impressed with eloquence and intellect, it was Paul. But that’s not how he came.

He could’ve used his knowledge to overpower them through excellency of speech, but that wasn’t his heart and certainly wasn’t how he came to them.

Paul came declaring the testimony of God

The testimony of God is revealed in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

John Henry Jowett (1863–1923), pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, is reported to have said, What we are after is not that folks shall say at the end of it all, “What an excellent sermon!” That is a measured failure. You are there to have them say when it is over, “What a great [Savior]!” It is something for men not to have been in your presence but in his.

What Paul determined vs. 2

Paul was a determined man, and when he put his mind to something he would accomplish it. Look what he determined here:

Not to know anything (teach anything) among them save (except) Jesus Christ and Him crucified

Galatians 6:14 “14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Spurgeon wrote this “He does not merely determine to keep his preaching to that point, but he resolves not even to know any other subject. He would keep his mind fast closed among them to any thought but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

When Paul preached, it wasn’t about what he knew it was about who he knew and that was Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Application: The message the church needs to preach has not changed, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our lives should preach it, our mouths should declare it, we ought to shout it for the world to hear. As pastor’s God did not call us to give self help talks and Christian bookstore theology, he called us to preach the Gospel. We live in a day when churches want polished performances, TED Talk-style sermons, and emotional hype. But Paul reminds us—what changes lives is not charisma, it’s the cross.

What Paul preached vs. 3-5

Paul reminds them of his infirmities vs. 3

Paul had been through a lot while going on his three missionary journeys and he was in constant need of a Physician

When he got to Corinth, he was coming from a series of horrible events in Macedonia

He was beaten and imprisoned at Philippi

In Thessalonica his preaching had caused a city wide uproar

At Berea the Jews from Thessalonica stirred up the Bereans against Paul

In Athens, the city given to idolatry stirred him to preach and most commentaries agree he was depressed due to the lack of response, but while in Corinth the Lord spoke directly to him and encouraged him. Acts 18:9 “9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”

All of that would have made him weak, but his strength didn’t come from himself, it came from the spirit of God

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “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 reminds them what his message wasn’t vs. 4a

His speech and preaching wasn’t enticing word’s of mans wisdom

Enticing-To incite or instigate, by exciting hope or desire; usually in a bad sense; as, to entice one to evil. Hence, to seduce; to lead astray; to induce to sin, by promises or persuasions.

Paul wasn’t there to persuade them to follow Jesus with the use of words or worldly wisdom. Often times we try to use emotion and persuasion, when we should allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in the hearts of man.

Paul reminds them of where his power came from vs. 4b

It was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

1 Thessalonians 1:5 “5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

2 Peter 1:16 “16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

Remember right before Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples in Acts 1:8 “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

We have the Same spirit and power the first century church had

Paul tells them why the motive of the message matters vs. 5

If it is all about mans wisdom our faith is in the wisdom of men

Someone once said, “A faith that depends on clever reasoning may be demolished by a more acute argument, but the faith which is produced by the power of God can never be overthrown”

Our faith should 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.”

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul could have dazzled Corinth with philosophy, debated with eloquence, or impressed with intellect—but he chose none of that. Why? Because the gospel doesn’t need our polish; it only needs to be preached. The power to save, to change, and to transform does not lie in man’s wisdom—it lies in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Paul came to Corinth worn, weary, and weak—but in his weakness, the Spirit of God moved in power. He didn’t manipulate emotions or craft enticing arguments. He simply preached Christ, and the Holy Spirit did the work. That’s the kind of preaching we still need today.

Brothers and sisters, the message hasn’t changed. The need hasn’t changed. And the power hasn’t changed. We still have the same gospel. We still have the same Spirit. And we still serve the same risen Savior.

Let us not be ashamed of the gospel. Let us not dress it up to impress the world. Let us boldly proclaim the old, rugged cross—because it is still the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.