Gods wisdom is Faith in His Power

ME

story about us evangelizing the other day

WE

sometimes we try to figure things out our own way and get caught up thinking we know the right answers

GOD

This passage is all about the difference between Gods wisdom and the world foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 CSB

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. - Foolishness here refers to how unbelievers perceive the gospel. - “Foolishness” represents the world’s rejection of God's wisdom, which is spiritually discerned. 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? - God will upend what we expect is smart or wise

What is the worlds idea of wisdom?

Logic

“teacher of the law”

Reason

“debater of the age”

What is God’s idea of wisdom?

Faith

1 Corinthians 1:21 CSB

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. (Faith)

to them it’s foolish to trust

its foolish to lose, to sacrifice

God intentionally chose something other than worldly wisdom, again, Logic and reason, Paul says...

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 CSB

22 For the Jews ask for signs (PROOF) and the Greeks seek wisdom (ANSWERS), 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. (REQUIRES FAITH) 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.

why is it wiser?

faith spits in the face of reason, and it forces those with pride to humble themselves… and guess what, we all are prideful, yet we shouldn’t be, as the word continues…

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 CSB

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish (Faith, trusting in God’s strength and wisdom rather than our own) in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, WHY? 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

He chose for wisdom to come from faith so that glorifying him is our only option

God’s wisdom is Faith in His Power

1 Corinthians 1:18 CSB

18 For the word of the cross (The Gospel) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

YOU

- Paul’s message is that God's wisdom, revealed through the cross, upends human pride. Believers must rely on Christ, not intellect or social status, and must give all glory to God.

God’s Wisdom is Faith in His Power

So when you’re

struggling on an exam

trying to evangelize

having a discussion or disagreement

PRAY, ask God to give you FAITH to trust that HE will take care of it. Ask for HIS wisdom and creativity, and be patient for His reply

WE

We have the choice today to go our own way,

to live life based off of reason

evidence

and when we can’t find nswers we will be left wondering

Or we can choose faith

To trust the power of Christ

trust his words of forgiveness

he has chosen to use what seems foolish, like trusting in something you cant see or understand, to lead us into a relationship with Him