Just Preach Christ - 2:1-5

Introduction

Priorities matter.

The difficulty lies in arranging our priorities correctly.

The proper arrangement of our priorities has two factors.

1 - You must understand the goal.

2 - You must plan the steps to achieve the goal.

Once upon a time, Jon and Jessica moved from Burney, CA to Lockeford, CA.

Family and friends helped us move all of our stuff and unload it.

Jon Jessica then proceed to unpack.

For reasons that will forever remain a mystery to my bride, the first thing I unpacked and set up was our TV, DVD player, and Wii gaming system.

After doing so, I learned this was a mistake.

Why was this a mistake?

Because my bride and I had different priorities.

We had different priorities because we had not discussed the goal nor agreed on the steps to attain that goal.

Now, we laugh about the absurdity of me setting up completely unnecessary things before our kitchen was even unpacked!

However, we learned a valuable lesson through all of that. We need to work together to understand the goal and then make a plan to achieve it.

This is what lies at the heart of our passage today.

Paul has a goal and he knows exactly how he needs to achieve it.

What Paul pictures for us in these verses is a single-minded purpose.

He wants to preach Christ and have people trust in Him.

That’s it.

The call for us in this passage is to preach Christ.

Only through preaching Christ alone can people be saved and grow.

If we are going to preach Christ we need two qualities.

Quality #1…

1. The Focus To Preach Christ vv. 1-2

If we are going to preach Christ, and that’s what we are commanded to do, we must do so with the proper focus.

Here’s what I mean.

Have you ever tried to tell a story, only to get lost in your own details?

It’s like our mind starts to play tricks on us and we start thinking every little detail is important.

Before we know it we are bogged down telling people about little things that really have no bearing on the larger story we first began to tell.

For example: When I was 10 years old I caught a 2lb rainbow trout in Burney Creek.

I caught it using my burgundy fishing pole that I got for my birthday and some power bait.

Power bait is this foul smelling synthetic substance that you smash together on a hook to catch fish.

I had bought the power bait at Ben Franklin's there in Burney.

Ben Franklin’s was a craft store that for some random reason sold fishing stuff and other outdoor goods.

The store used to be right next door to Safeway but the roof caved in when there was a huge snowstorm about 5 years ago.

The owner didn’t get enough insurance money to rebuild, so they tore it down instead.

Now there is a dollar store there.

In fact one time when we were up visiting my folks I had to buy some t-shirts from the dollar store because we had rushed up there and I didn’t have enough.

Do you see what we’ve done?

I said i was going to tell you the story of catching a fish, but now we’re talking about t-shirts from the dollar store.

Why? I got lost in my story. Lost giving unnecessary detail.

This can happen when we try to share the gospel.

To avoid that, we must maintain two areas of focus.

Area #1…

a. Focus on content v. 1

READ v. 1

1 Corinthians 2:1 NKJV

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

Paul reminded them in the end of ch. 1 that they are called, chosen, and equipped. He has challenged them to glory in the Lord.

Now he reminds them of his own behavior when he was with them.

He wants them to learn from his own gospel presentation.

To that end he reminds them of what He didn’t do when he was in Corinth.

In doing that Paul again refers to them as brethren.

This Greek word refers to brothers and sisters in a family.

No matter what failures and shortcomings they may have, Paul repeatedly drives this point home. They are family! They are part of the body of Christ. As such they are loved, accepted, and valued.

This is how the body of Christ is to function.

More than any other, this should be the place people come when they are down and struggling.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we should provide support and help for one another.

In our friendships, we should be the safe place for others. They should know that we are people they can share their brokenness with and receive encouragement and strength.

In our parenting, our children need to know that they can share with us. That we will not judge, we will care.

In our marriages, we should be the safest person our spouse knows. There shouldn’t be anything we do not share with one another.

Paul calls the Corinthians family because he wants them to know that even in the midst of their struggles, he has their back. They are still brothers and sisters in Christ.

When Paul came to them, he didn’t come with excellent speech or wisdom.

Excellence - ὑπεροχή (hyperochē) superiority; authority. preeminence n. — high status or importance owing to marked superiority. Noun (prepositional object), accusative, singular, feminine.

Excellence - ὑπεροχή (hyperochē)

Paul didn’t come with superior speech or wisdom.

He didn’t come and persuade them with fancy words. He didn’t try to use eloquence.

He didn’t attempt to persuade them through the brilliance of his arguments.

When he declared thy testimony of God to them, He did it without the use of human embellishment.

What did Paul do? He proclaimed the gospel. Simply and clearly.

He focused on the content, not the delivery.

This is what we too are called to do.

Focus on the content.

We are not preaching Christ so that we can impress people with our speaking ability or our intellect.

We preach Christ so that people can trust in Him and be saved eternally!

Paul is declaring to them the testimony of God.

What is that?

Go with me to 1 John 5:11-13.

1 John 5:11-13

1 John 5:11–13 NKJV

11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

This is what we want people to hear. This is what we want them to know.

How do we maintain our focus on the content of a gospel presentation?

By remembering an all important fact.

The gospel is not about you.

It isn’t about our ability to speak persuasively. It isn’t about our wisdom.

The gospel is not about me!

What is the gospel about?

What is it that Paul is declaring?

What is the testimony of God? He gets into that in the next verse.

If we are going to preach Christ we must have the proper focus.

Paul gives us two areas of focus.

Area #1. Focus on the content.

Area #2…

b. Focus on Christ v. 2

READ v. 2

1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV

2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

In Corinth, Paul did not use fancy speech or wise words. Why not?

Because he wanted to make sure the gospel was about Christ and not him!

Paul says he was determined.

Determined - κρίνω (krinō) judge; pass judgment on. to resolve (action) v. — to reach a decision toward some course of action. Finite verb, aorist, active, indicative, first person, singular.

Determined - κρίνω (krinō)

Paul made a judgment call. He resolved to make Christ known.

There is an important qualifier here, “among you.”

Paul wasn’t resolving to be ignorant.

He was resolving to be gospel-centered.

He wasn’t there to educate. He wasn’t there to impress.

Paul came to Corinth to preach Christ!

This was his single-minded purpose.

Paul wanted to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

What is Paul talking about? He is talking about the gospel.

We too are called to have a single-minded purpose.

We cannot preach Christ if we do not know Christ. Once we know Him, we know what to proclaim.

Paul wrote this to his young son in the faith and pastor Timothy. 1 Timothy 1:15.

1 Timothy 1:15

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners! This is good news indeed!

The reason this is good news is we are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

But God is merciful! And in His mercy, He saves those who believe. Look at Titus 3:4-7.

Titus 3:4-7

Titus 3:4–7 NKJV

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Salvation doesn’t come by works of righteousness.

If it did, it would not be good news because Is. 64:6 says our righteousness is like filthy rags.

We are not saved by our righteousness because we don’t have any.

We are saved by His mercy! We are saved as the Holy Spirit washes, regenerates, and renews!

The Holy Spirit comes only through faith in Jesus Christ!

When we believe in Him we are justified by His grace. We are declared righteous, how? By receiving the righteousness of Christ!

Ephesians 2:8-9 declares

Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

This is what Paul is declaring!

He speaks and preaches to them Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

In Matthew 1:21 when Gabriel speaks to Joseph about the birth of Christ, this is the reason he gives for naming him Jesus.

Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 NKJV

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

When we see the name Jesus, this is what it is supposed to call to mind. The Savior.

The one born to deliver His people from their sins!

The name Christ is referencing the anointed one, the Messiah.

The one prophesied from Genesis 3 all the way through the old Testament.

This name is to bring to mind the promised one. The One who would come and bless all nations. We would rule and reign supreme over all!

This is who Paul wanted to know. This is who Paul proclaims.

Jesus the Christ.

But there is a catch.

Paul is proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified.

Already he has told us that to the Jews this crucified Messiah is a stumblingblock. Why? Because “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”

To the Greeks a crucified Savior is foolishness. Crucifixion was reserved for the lowest of the low. How could such a one save? How could someone tortured and put to death be a king?

To us believers. He is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.

It is through His death, burial, and resurrection that the wrath of God is satisfied and we are able to be saved!

Jesus becomes our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption and it is only through faith in Him that we come to the Father.

Paul came to Corinth, not with human wisdom, not with eloquent and persuasive speech; Paul came to Corinth with Jesus Christ.

This is the focus that we need.

The gospel is all about Jesus Christ.

If we are going to preach Christ, He must be the central theme of our message.

Warren Wiersbe writes

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Be Wise about … the Christian Message (1 Corinthians 2)

Too many preachers of the Word so magnify themselves and their gifts that they fail to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ.

There are many, many things people try to add to the gospel, but we must be about Jesus Christ alone.

The gospel I preach is faith in Jesus Christ alone.

If we are going to preach Christ we must have the proper focus. This means we focus on the content of our message which is Jesus Christ. Crucified, buried, risen, and coming again.

There are two qualities we need to preach Jesus:

We have looked at quality #1. The Focus To Preach Christ.

Look with me now at quality #2…

2. The Power To Preach Christ vv. 3-5

In order for things to function they need power of some kind.

Even our bodies need food and water as fuel for our systems.

Without fuel, and the power it provides, we are unable to be effective.

The other day Jess and the kids had our van out doing something I wanted to run an errand.

I hope in our blue car, put in the key, and when I turn it, nothing happens. No click, no tick, no nothing.

It was completely dead.

With a dead battery, the car is useless.

The other night I set my phone on my nightstand and forgot to plug it in.

In the morning it was dead. Making it useless.

Here’s the point.

To be useful for their intended purpose cars and cell phones need power.

We are no different.

God created you and me with purpose.

In order to carry out that purpose, we need power.

In order to have power, we must be connected to the source.

This leads us to the all-important question.

What is the source of our power?

Paul answers that question and more in the next few verses.

Paul makes three revelations about power that, when understood, will enable us to be effective as we seek to proclaim Christ.

Revelation #1…

a. Where power isn’t v. 3

READ v. 3

1 Corinthians 2:3 NKJV

3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

If we want to know where the power isn’t, all we have to do is look in the mirror.

We are filled with weakness fear and trembling.

Paul says that when he was in Corinth, that was his state.

If you want to read what happened while Paul was in Corinth, read Acts 18.

Let me sum it up.

Paul spent somewhere around 2 years in Corinth.

He taught weekly in their synagogue and when opposition started, he simply moved next door.

He was brought before the proconsul, kind of like a governor, and was prepared to declare his testimony.

Do any of these events sound like Paul had weakness, fear, and trembling?

No. Why not?

Because weakness, fear, and trembling are internal.

Paul did not let his internal battles limit his work for Christ!

Why not? Because he isn’t the source of power!

How do we know that?

Because Paul just told us that he was in Corinth with weakness, fear, and trembling.

Let’s examine these words.

Weakness - ἀσθένεια (astheneia) weakness; sickness; disease. weakness (physical) n. — a lack of strength or vigor. Noun (prepositional object), dative, singular, feminine.

Weakness - ἀσθένεια (astheneia)

Paul worked as a tentmaker while in Corinth. So whatever form his sickness took, he endured it while continuing to support himself and teach on a weekly basis.

This is how we know the power is not of us.

The ability to endure despite physical weakness is something given to us by God.

Fear - φόβος (phobos) fear. An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger; usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight. Noun (prepositional object), dative, singular, masculine.

Fear - φόβος (phobos)

This is where we get our English word phobia from. It is a fear of something.

Paul is admitting to fear during his time in Corinth.

We do get a hint of this in Acts 18:9-10. Look at those verses with me.

Acts 18:9-10

Acts 18:9–10 NKJV

9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

This word from God to Paul comes after the conversion of the ruler of the synagogue.

I am certain the the conversion of Crispus ramped up the persecution against Paul and the church there.

God’s message to Paul gives us some clear implications.

Paul, having repeatedly faced persecution, imprisonment, and abuse, was a little fearful to speak out in Corinth.

Throughout Acts when God says don’t be afraid, it’s because there is reason to fear.

Yet Paul is commanded to not be afraid, but to speak and not keep silent.

He is also given three promises.

1 - I am with you.

It is the presence of God that strengthens us.

2 - No one will attack or hurt you.

Fear of bodily harm can paralyze, yet God is in control!

3 - Many people will come to Christ.

When we are faithful in preaching the gospel, people will be saved.

The word “trembling” means exactly what it sounds like. It is a quivering and shaking.

Paul says he had much trembling.

It seems best to understand this reference metaphorically since he has just mentioned fear.

The idea is that Paul was very concerned about what would take place with so many people and leaders coming to Christ.

There was physical sickness, fear, and much trembling.

Paul’s openness and honesty make it clear that the power to preach Christ did not come from himself!

We often use this as an excuse. We say that some people are just gifted to share the gospel, and that is true.

However, our lack of ability or fear are not an excuse!

God used Paul to reach people for Christ over a two-year period.

Yet Paul reveals here he was afraid, sick, and trembling during that time.

I have no power.

The power to preach Christ does not reside in you and me.

When we think and act like it does, we get into trouble.

Plug power strip into itself?

That’s Paul’s first revelation, where the power isn’t.

Revelation #2…

b. Where power is v. 4

READ v. 4

1 Corinthians 2:4 NKJV

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

Paul was weak, fearful, and trembling.

And yet, he preached with the Spirit and power!

How is that possible? Because the power to preach Christ comes from the Holy Spirit.

Paul sets up a contrast in this verse.

In context, the difference between speech and preaching seems to be that speech was private conversations, and preaching was public declaration.

Paul’s point is that whether in public or in private he never communicated using human wisdom.

Paul mentions a specific type of human wisdom here.

Paul didn’t come to Corinth and use persuasive speech to entreat or argue them into the faith.

This connects back to v. 1 where Paul mentions that he didn’t come with excellent speech or wisdom.

Why is he repeating himself?

He wants them to get this!

The gospel isn’t about our ability to persuade!

The gospel is about presenting who Jesus is and what He has done and inviting people into a relationship with Him!

Paul didn’t come with an elegantly crafted speech. He came with something better.

He came with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power.

Demonstration – ἀπόδειξις (apodeixis) proof; demonstration. The act of presenting something to sight or view to establish the validity of something. Noun (prepositional object), dative, singular, feminine.

Demonstration – ἀπόδειξις (apodeixis)

We will learn later in Corinthians that Paul had the ability to speak in any language.

The book of Acts records Paul casting out demons, striking a man blind, and healing people.

As an apostle, Paul was used by God to establish the early church. Through the Holy Spirit, he had the ability to do miracles.

When Paul spoke with people, when he preached, there was miraculous evidence that the Holy Spirit indwelt him.

He also spoke and preached with power.

What does this mean?

Did Paul get all red in the face and yell a lot? No!

The point is that not only could people see miraculous evidence of the Holy Spirit, they could feel His power.

When people came to Christ it wasn’t because of Paul’s eloquent words!

It wasn’t because he was so convincing, or appealed to their intellect.

Paul spoke and preached and people came to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Thomas Constable puts it this way,

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible The folly of Paul’s preaching 2:1–5

Conviction came as a result of the Holy Spirit’s power, not the “wisdom” of the preacher.

This isn’t saying we shouldn’t be persuasive.

The point is that our words don’t save anyone.

Our persuasion doesn’t save anyone.

People are saved as the Holy Spirit draws them and they place their faith in Christ!

When we preach Christ, the power that saves people is the Holy Spirit’s power!

The gospel isn’t about me!

The gospel is about Christ!

When the gospel is preached correctly, people are pointed to Christ, not to me.

This lesson is framed as a commitment.

I will speak the gospel with Holy Spirit power.

What does that mean? It means we are commited to living in submission to God and obedience to the Spirit.

We live by the Word.

We confess our sin.

And with those disciplines in place…

We proclaim Jesus Christ.

Three revelations about power.

Revelation #1. Where the power isn’t. It isn’t in you and me.

Revelation #2. Where the power is. It comes through the Holy Spirit.

Revelation #3…

c. What power does v. 5

READ v. 5

1 Corinthians 2:5 NKJV

5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

This is the whole point.

Power doesn’t come from us.

Power comes from the Holy Spirit.

When we speak and preach in the power of the Holy Spirit, people put their faith in the right place.

When we win people to Christ how we win them matters.

We do not want to make people followers of us.

We want their faith to be in Christ. Why? Because we will always let them down.

To preach Christ effectively we need the proper goal.

The goal is to see people come to Christ.

The goal is for them to have faith in the power of God!

We are not making followers of ourselves. We make followers of Jesus.

And so we preach and speak in the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we do that it is evident to all that God is the one doing this.

When God’s power flows through us and communicates the gospel, people place their faith in God and His power.

This is why Paul doesn’t speak in human wisdom.

Human wisdom is deficient. We don’t want people to put their trust in it.

We want their faith to be in the power of God!

Faith in human wisdom cannot save.

It cannot give the strength necessary to fight the good fight.

Only faith that is rooted in Christ is going to stand in the storms of life!

We don’t trust in human teachers.

We are dependent upon Christ.

Human teachers are going to let us down.

But when our faith is in the power of God, we will never be disappointed.

The word “power” here could also be translated ability.

My faith is in the ability of God.

We don’t trust in what men think. We trust in what God can do!

How do we know what God can do?

We get into His Word and see what it tells us.

To preach Christ effectively we need the right power source.

Power does not come form us.

Power comes from the Holy Spirit.

When our faith is in Christ, we have all the power we need.

Conclusion

We have been called by God to preach Christ.

The gospel is the only way for people to be saved.

To preach Christ with simplicity, clarity, and boldness, we must focus on Christ and live in His power.

Personal: Where is our focus in our personal lives? On Christ or self? Are we depending on His power, or on our own wisdom? Commitment: For victory in personal struggles, live by what Scripture reveals. Put a Biblical truth into practice this week.

Friendships: Are we givers or takers? Are our friends better for our friendship, or worse? Commitment: Spend time talking about the cares and concerns of your friends.

Parenting: Are we focusing on survival or training? As we raising our children with a Biblical worldview? Commitment: Teach your children a truth from Scripture this week.

Marriage: What is the center of our marriages? Christ or personal fulfillment? Commitment: Ask my spouse how I can relate to them better this week.

COMMITMENT: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have four exhortations for you as we wrap this up.

Be determined to know Christ better than anything else.

This may require changes in lifestyle. Is Christ worth it?

When weakness, fear, and trembling hit, keep on serving.

This will require dependence on the Lord. Good.

Serve Chris in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This means keeping our lives clean of sin, and filled with good Spiritual habits.

Faithfully, clearly, and boldly preach Christ.

This means getting uncomfortable and having hard conversations. Let’s do it!