Christian Preaching
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Introduction
I’d like to invite you to turn with me once more, to 1 Corinthians, as we are now in chapter 2. Let’s read this text and pray.
1 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.
1 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.
What is the goal of Christian preaching? What sets it apart? I ask this for preaching in the general sense, that every Christian is called to in sharing the gospel with those around them, as well as for this event that we set aside a great amount of time for in our congregation every Lord’s Day.
What is it, that constitutes CHRISTIAN PREACHING? What is it that would cause us to say, “Yeah, that’s true preaching?”
We’ve noted previously, that for Corinth, the ideas of their culture, would lead one to believe that the goal of public speaking is to win over the hearts and minds of the hearers, causing them to applaud or show some form of immediate affirmation, directed towards the speaker. Skills of rhetoric were honed and employed to gain at least a superficial “yes,” from those listening.
But Paul has repeatedly stated, that this was not to be the goal in preaching the gospel.
By way of refresher....
Paul has arrived at the topic of preaching, by dealing with the problem of division within the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were divided over particular ministry personalities. Paul has been dealing with the foolishness of them doing so.
Recently, we have been considering Paul’s handling of the problem of division within the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were divided over particular ministry personalities, and Paul was dealing with the foolishness of them doing so.
Recently, we have been considering Paul’s handling of the problem of division within the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were divided over particular ministry personalities, and Paul was dealing with the foolishness of them doing so.
Paul is essentially teaching, “It’s foolish to say ‘I’m of Paul, and I’m of Apollos,’ when neither of us were crucified for you, and you weren’t baptized INTO our name.”
Which then led Paul to state in verse 17:
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Here, Paul is writing in the first person singular, “Christ did not send ME to baptize but to preach the gospel....”
He then describes preaching generally, and the two general responses to preaching, in verses 18-25, writing in the first person plural.
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Notice the “THOSE” and “US” here mentioned.
In this,
In this,
Paul then shifts to second person plural, as he reminds the Corinthians of their own conversion to Christianity:
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
For, consider YOUR calling brothers.
All of this to show, that in the preaching of this message of the cross, that which men and women deem as foolish and weak, is actually God’s wisdom and power. So that, we are left to boast not in ourselves, or in preachers…but....
Paul has reminded them of their own conversion to Christ: you weren’t wise and powerful in the world’s standards....but God chose you weak and foolish, to shame the wise and powerful in the world.
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
In our text today, Paul now reminds them
Now, Paul returns to writing in first person singular in the passage we read a moment ago, picking back up on his original point from verse 17, that he was sent to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
So for verses 18-31, Paul has unpacked in a general sense what the correct preaching of the cross should be, and why it should be that way, even showing the effect of the gospel upon the Corinthians themselves, leaving God alone worthy of praise.
But here, he clearly and specifically shows a concrete example of what the message of the cross is, and how it is to be preached, by drawing upon his own model of preaching, when he was there among the Corinthians.
We learn from it, that Paul’s preaching, by its simple content and delivery, and by the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit, produced faith in God and not in man within those whom God called.
True, Christian preaching, is nothing more or less than, preaching the good news about Jesus in a simple understandable fashion, with the Holy Spirit demonstrating His power through it.
And of course, that tells us what our goals for ministry should be here as well: that men and women might come to trust God.
Our model to bring that about must be like Paul’s: preach the gospel simply, and pray for the Spirit’s power.
So then, whereas many today seem to believe that there are ‘many ways to do church,’ and one of the first things that seems to be altered or eliminated is this monologue preaching event, Paul would seem to hold the opposite view.
There’s no need to overcomplicate the message. There’s no need to water it down. There’s no need to add gimmicks to it. There IS a need to be a MESSENGER, and simply deliver this message…praying that God will work its truth powerfully into the hearts of those who are listening.
Preach the gospel simply, and pray for the Spirit’s power.
So then, let’s see that in the text before us.....and I think the text easily divides into three points that describe to us Paul’s approach to ministry, or Paul’s preaching: 1)Its Content; 2)Its Presentation; and 3)Its Goal
1. Its Content
1. Its Content
What Paul did not preach:
And in fact, that’s
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
This is another way of stating what he stated in 1:17. The testimony of God, is the message of the cross. Paul said, “I didn’t deliver to you this message, with lofty speech or wisdom.” In other words, he didn’t employ the tools of rhetoric of his day, that simply sought to win over the affirmation of the crowd to the speaker.
He didn’t need to add to it something from himself to make God’s testimony persuasive.
Paul was a messenger. Notice, Paul doesn’t contrast lofty speech and wisdom with his presentation style just yet. Instead, he contrasts “lofty speech and wisdom,” with “preaching Christ crucified.”
In other words, “I didn’t employ the tools of rhetoric when proclaiming the testimony of God....”
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
We covered previously the importance of noting that Paul’s focus was on the crucifixion. We noted that this does not mean that he didn’t focus upon the resurrection, as that is a necessary event in the gospel. But that the focus here is upon the cross of Christ. The cross of Christ, which is that seemingly shameful display of weakness in the eyes of the world, making Christ worthy of only ridicule, that was actually God’s power and wisdom!
Paul went to Corinth, knowing how the Jews and Greeks would respond to a CRUCIFIED MESSIAH…and yet, he determined, not to deliver God’s testimony with lofty speech or wisdom, to win them over with his own flowery language....but he determined to know ONLY Christ…and Him crucified.
It is also noteworthy, that Paul was not expressing his ignorance in the area of rhetorical skill. Paul was describing a conscious decision he made.
“I did not come to proclaim the testimony of God, with the skill of a rhetorician. Instead, I chose to simply preach Christ and Him crucified.”
The content of this Apostle of the Lord’s message, when he went to Corinth, was the message he was commissioned to preach, without any additives or alterations, and without being decorated in a way intended to make it easier for the crowds to receive.
Remember, gives us the description of Paul’s first visit there. In that account, after Paul had been there for some time, Silas and Timothy come to join him. We read this in .
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Paul was occupied with God’s Word....and what did that look like? What was the content of “the Word?” “Testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”
THE CONTENT OF PAUL’S PREACHING....WAS CHRIST.
Nothing more or less. Only the testimony of God. Only that which he was commissioned to preach. Only God’s Word, which is all connected to the revealing of the Christ.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
This was not to just be true of him. Paul taught Timothy to do the same
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The early church had modeled it as well, even before Paul’s conversion to Christ
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Apply
Christian preaching has always been, and is still today, at its core.....preaching Christ and Him crucified.
There will always be the skeptics that will cry out (either unbelievers or immature believers), “We must have something more.”
We need a children’s program that is entertaining and engaging…and we can sneak the gospel in from time to time
We need a musical performance on Sundays that will draw in the crowds, then we’ll sneak a gospel presentation in somewhere
When those people keep returning…we assume they’ve said yes to Christ....but really all they’ve said yes to, is our “lofty speech or words of man’s wisdom.”
In fact, the children and teenagers we entertained in youth group, have now grown up to be adults demanding entertainment in “big church.” We’ve created the monster we now cry out against
What’s the answer? How do we fix it? Where do we go? What do we do?
WE PREACH CHRIST
Parents, preach Christ to your children
Church members, preach Christ to your fellow church members and demand that Christ be preached by your elders
David Platt asks a challenging question for examination: “What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned chairs? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? Would his Word still be enough for his people to come together?”
I pray....it would be enough for us.
Paul preached Christ....but how? We considered the content of Paul’s preaching. Our second point in considering Paul’s preaching...
2. Its Presentation
2. Its Presentation
Paul reminds the Corinthians of both his personal appearance before them, and his actual presentation style in preaching.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
There is much speculation over the specifics of Paul’s meaning on “weakness.” Was this a physical ailment? Was it in reference to the fact that he had to work with his hands to earn income? Was it in reference to his vulnerability to persecution? It could be some of these, all of these, or none of these.
What we are clear on, is that his weakness made, either him or the Corinthians, wonder whether or not this poor little man was sufficient for the task to which he had been called. While in Corinth, it would seem that Paul himself needed re-assurance from God.
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:9-
Paul’s personal appearance was not a man with chin held high in the air, and his chest poking out in a display of his pride and self-confidence. Paul is not confident in Paul, at all. In fact, what Paul comes to learn, is what he tells the Corinthians in his next letter to them.....
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul wasn’t complaining to the Corinthians here about his personal appearance before them. Paul’s personal appearance was in weakness, fear, trembling....which was perfectly fitting, since he did not want the Corinthians to trust in Paul (which is further reason for his rebuke, of anyone creating a Paul party).
Paul was ok with the appearance of personal weakness, because he was convinced of the reality of God’s power!
That’s why it was not only his personal appearance that could be deemed weak by the world…it was also the actual presentation of the message.
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
My speech and message, were not with the persuasiveness of human wisdom. I did not seek to convince you, or persuade you, by the human skill of rhetoric.
- It should be noted, Paul is not calling rhetoric sinful…nor is he saying he did not seek to persuade them.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
But notice what Paul is saying
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
I am not seeking to persuade you, by self-confidently, or self-reliantly, leaning upon the power of the rhetorician to simply win over your affirmation in the moment....Paul knew their problem was much deeper than simply getting them to respond, “Yes!” to him in his preaching.
Paul sought to persuade them, by giving the simple message of the gospel, without anything added or taken away, so that the HOLY SPIRIT would work through that message, to persuade them of its truth, in the demonstration of HIS power.
Paul is contrasting, presenting the testimony of God with the persuasiveness of human reasoning and wisdom....seeking to get them to simply say yes to it based upon his skills or presentation
with
The Holy Spirit persuading them internally, after Paul proclaims it plainly and simply.
It is the role of the Holy Spirit, to take the truth of God’s Word, and convince us of it.
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
That will become even clearer in next week’s passage, but we see it being introduced here in this verse. It’s a reminder of what Jesus said to His disciples in
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
So, Paul said: I determined to only preach Christ crucified. Not with lofty speech…not by relying upon the wisdom of men and persuading you through man’s wisdom....but by the demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power, causing you to believe this simple message of the cross, and thereby seeing the evidence of the Spirit’s power in the transformed lives of you Corinthians.
Paul’s preaching, did not draw attention to Paul....Paul’s preaching was the avenue through which the Holy Spirit demonstrated His power in Corinth....by transforming lives.
Sometimes, in Scripture, the Holy Spirit’s power is attributed to signs and wonders. Here, it is singular and not plural, and is attributed not to signs and wonders, but to transformed lives. Which is the greatest miracle imaginable.
David Garland: “The proof of this power is not the audience’s round of applause for the preacher’s oratorical art but their changed lives and the formation of a new community.”
Gordon Fee: “Even though he was weak and his preaching lacked ‘rhetoric’ and ‘wisdom,’ their very coming to faith demonstrated that it did not lack power.”
And why would we ever think Gospel ministry, or Christian preaching, would be anything different?
As we noted last week, God has consistently throughout redemptive history, revealed His power through human means that would be considered weak and foolish by the standards of the world.
Gideon with his small army; David and his little sling....or how about the Jordan River as the place for Naaman’s cleansing from leprosy, just to name a few.
But the epitome of events, and persons, deemed foolish by the standards of the world, yet being God’s power to save…is Christ Himself.
So if the message of the cross is the foolishness and weakness of God, that is wiser and stronger than men;
And if those saved from God’s wrath, are called by God to this salvation, because they are deemed the foolish and weak of the world in order that God alone receives the glory;
Why would we ever think the message would be delivered, according to the standards of man’s wisdom?
The foolish message, saves foolish people, through the foolish method, of a monologue presentation of historical facts, with a call to trust in the One being proclaimed, not the one proclaiming. The power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in the miraculous transforming of the people who hear and believe.
We cannot manipulate the miracle…that would make it quite obviously, less miraculous. Less of a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, and more of a demonstration of our own cunningness.
Apply
I know, that we KNOW this truth, at least intellectually. I wonder sometimes, whether or not we are truly, convictionally convinced.
One quick test would be this: Did you pray this week, for the Spirit’s power to work in all hearts gathered on this Lord’s Day to hear God’s Word....including your own?
If we’re convinced of His power, and our need of His power, then we certainly did pray that way....right?
From the youngest child able to understand me and trust in Christ for salvation, to the oldest here who has served God for decades.....from those with obvious gifts everyone can recognize, and those with gifts that often operate when the spotlight is turned off.
WE CAN ALL PRAY!
Our lack of prayer, is the most obvious indicator, we don’t trust God nearly enough.
Yet, prayer is the means of grace most often neglected in the Christian’s life.
Our lack of prayer, is the most obvious indicator, we don’t trust God nearly enough.
"All hell is vanquished when the believer bows his knee in importunate supplication. Beloved brethren, let us pray. We cannot all argue, but we can all pray; we cannot all be leaders, but we can all be pleaders; we cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer. I would sooner see you eloquent with God than with men. Prayer links us with the Eternal, the Omnipotent, the Infinite, and hence it is our chief resort. . . Be sure that you are with God, and then you may be sure that God is with you." ~Spurgeon
Brothers…sisters....pray to God for the Spirit’s convicting work to take place through the preaching of the gospel.
Now, sometimes, God in His providence doesn’t send revival and save many souls in an area all at once, even if the church is praying and preaching properly. But one thing is for sure, when God does move in a community in a large scale manner, it will be through those seemingly foolish means of prayer and preaching this message of the cross.
Paul preached Christ
He preached in a manner dependent not upon himself, but upon God’s power.
Finally....in reference to Paul’s preaching, we consider...
3. Its Goal
3. Its Goal
Notice what Paul says in verse 5
But notice what Paul says in verse 5
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
So that..... meaning, this was Paul’s goal. The goal of his preaching, was that they would rest in God’s power.
“This is why I didn’t give you the testimony of God in lofty speech or man’s wisdom. This is why I proclaimed Christ crucified, and without the persuasiveness of man’s wisdom. I did not want your confident, resting, trust…to be in the wisdom of men.”
“I didn’t seek to change my appearance as one who is weak and fearful…I desired your confidence to not rest in me, or any man…but I sought to settle your confidence, and provide you restful trust....in GOD’S POWER!”
What is also clear from our context, the reason this was Paul’s intentional goal, was because this was GOD’S intentional goal.
God worked through the event of the cross of Christ, and the proclamation of this event to others, in such ways that their rest would only be in His power.
Gordon Fee: The goal of all the divine activity, both in the cross and in choosing them, and now in Paul’s preaching that brought the cross and them together, has been to disarm the wise and powerful so that those who believe must trust God alone and completely. Thus, as v. 31 concludes vv. 26–31, so v. 5 concludes this paragraph: “so that your faith might not rest on [human] wisdom, but on God’s power.”
The goal of all the divine activity, both in the cross and in choosing them, and now in Paul’s preaching that brought the cross and them together, has been to disarm the wise and powerful so that those who believe must trust God alone and completely. Thus, as v. 31 concludes vv. 26–31, so v. 5 concludes this paragraph: “so that your faith might not rest on [human] wisdom, but on God’s power.”
Gospel
And for any here, who doesn’t know Christ truly, that is our prayer for you. Our heart’s desire is to see you rest in God’s power, revealed in the cross of Christ.
Without Christ, you have no true rest, and you have nothing to trust in.
It is sad to see the atheist describe how grateful they are for their blessings, without having anyone to thank for them.
It is equally sad to see you, as God’s created being, designed to worship God and enjoy God who is good and wonderful....to see you living your life without Him.
It is sadder to still to realize that God has providing a way of escape from the coming judgment, and His future wrath and anger against your rebellion against Him, yet you not accepting that way of escape.
Dear fellow sinner and rebel against God, hear this call today....turn from your sins, and trust your life to God’s promise, that Jesus lived perfectly, died truly, and rose from the dead, all in the place of sinners who turn from their sins and trust in Him.
GOD WILL SAVE YOU by His power!
This is not only our hope for the unbeliever, it is our hope for the immature believer…or the mature believer. Do not try to rest your confidence in what you can do, or what your pastors can do, or what your favorite preacher can do.
We have lived through a long period of church life wherein we see clearly the dangers of Christian celebrity-ism. Men and women, will fail us.
If you stay up on anything from within evangelicalism, you have heard recently of the “big named Christians,” who have now abandoned, or for some are questioning, the faith. This should come as no surprise to us. It’s going to happen.
What did come as a great surprise to me, whether or that’s right or wrong I was shocked, was the response from the singer from the Christian rock-group, “Skillet.”
In response to the apostasy taking place in Christianity, he had this to say:
“It is time for the church to rediscover the preeminence of the Word. And to value the teaching of the Word. We need to value truth over feeling. Truth over emotion. And what we are seeing now is the result of the church raising up influencers who did not supremely value truth who have led a generation who also do not believe in the supremacy of truth. And now those disavowed leaders are proudly still leading and influencing boldly AWAY from the truth.”
“It is time for the church to rediscover the preeminence of the Word. And to value the teaching of the Word. We need to value truth over feeling. Truth over emotion. And what we are seeing now is the result of the church raising up influencers who did not supremely value truth who have led a generation who also do not believe in the supremacy of truth. And now those disavowed leaders are proudly still leading and influencing boldly AWAY from the truth.”
How right he is. We’ve given into the pressure to present God’s testimony with lofty speech and human wisdom.....so that the people hearing rest in the wisdom of men instead of the power of God. It’s no wonder, that we are then driven by the culture, instead of invading it.
It was R.C. Sproul who said:
“As soon as we are slaves to human opinion, the message of Christ has been compromised.”
Scripture teaches us:
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
For Paul, the answer to division in the Corinthian church, was not to find a new message, but to remind them of THE message. The gospel is always the answer to every problem within the church.
The simple message of the cross delivered plainly, with the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit, is not only what we need we we’re entering the church....it’s what we need consistently throughout our sanctification process.
It’s what we need to hear, to stay anchored in Christ; to grow in grace; to walk in the Spirit.
We NEED the gospel. We need to studying it on our own, discuss it with other, and we NEED to hear it preached.
We must have the simple gospel, that the Holy Spirit will use to transform our lives, so that our faith rests not in men and women, but in the power of God!
Conclusion
500 years ago, men and women, by God’s grace, began to see the errors of the church at that time. They began to notice, that what was called preaching, was not preaching. What was called the gospel, was not the gospel. What was called truth, was not truth.
God used men like Martin Luther, to turn the ship around. There was a rescue, by God’s grace, of God’s gospel within the church.
So how did they do it? What schemes of men were employed? What persuasiveness of wisdom or lofty speech did he use in order to convince and persuade people to leave behind a belief system they had grown up with? That their parents grew up with? That their parents before them grew up with?
Hear his own words, that I know I’ve shared a few times before, but they fit so well here I’d like to share them again:
"Take me, for example. I opposed indulgences and all papists, but never by force. I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip of Amsdorf the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing: the Word did it all. Had I wanted to start trouble.... I could have started such a little game at Worms that even the emperor wouldn't have been safe. But what would it have been? A mug's game. I did nothing: I left it to the Word." ~Luther
We need not schemes of men. We need not persuasive speech according to the world’s standards. We need the simple Word of God!
May our focus remain on Christ, and Him crucified.
May our focus remain on Christ, and Him crucified.
Prayer
Father, allow your Holy Spirit to work the truths of this passage deep within our hearts. Cause us to be transformed into the image of Christ through it. Hear our cry now, for not only an immediate affirmation of words, but a real conviction of truth.
We ask this, in our Savior’s name, Amen.