Dumb Wisdom and Weak Power

The world thinks backwards a lot of the time. What the world sees as wisdom is actually foolishness as God looks at it. So often we try to do what the world says we should do… and we come up still feeling like something is missing. It’s because we aren’t using true wisdom, living in true power. These come only from God.

So remember what we saw in verses 1-17, that the focus of the Corinthians was not on Jesus but on worldly things. They were trying to attach themselves to the preacher they thought was the best so that they could feel superior to others. Operating in the wisdom of the world.

pray and read 1 Cor 1:18-2:5

Sin has caused the world to be upside down in what it considers wise and powerful, but God has revealed true wisdom and power in Jesus.

Go with God’s foolishness

We must understand that the things the world holds up as wise are often different from true, Godly wisdom.

What are some things the world sees as wise today but go against godly wisdom?

Has anyone ever pushed a pull door?

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

The Gospel is God’s wisdom.

A Savior who was killed?

The wisdom of the world is upside down! The way our world wants to get things done is backwards!

The world says to grab as much power over others as you can. God says don’t seek power but seek to serve and that will make others want to follow you.

What are some things our world sees as problems in humanity? What are things you’ve heard about how to fix these things? Does that line up with what God says or not?

Our culture is trying to solve racism with more racism.

The Gospel is God’s power.

Followers who are meh?

So God would receive all the glory!

So have y’all seen this in the world? Your school? How?

What is it about the Gospel and a Savior who was crucified that seems foolish to the world?

We have got to grow in the wisdom of God so that we understand it and believe it when the fake wisdom of the world comes at us.

What does growing in godly wisdom prepare us for?

When we have doubts.

When we are presented with backwards ways of thinking.

We grow in godly wisdom by being in his Word ourselves and being led in his Word by those who love God and truly seek to glorify Him.

Paul wasn’t a “funny preacher”

Good preaching should leave people impressed with God, not the preacher.

The Greeks only cared about how someone spoke, not what they said. It didn’t matter if a message was good or bad. Have you ever heard a great speaker who was saying some dumb stuff?

Let’s try something! Give me a topic… Give me something to help/fix it…

Give a ridiculous but energetic speech.

Paul didn’t want to be another impressive speaker or debater among the Greeks, he wanted the attention to be on his message.

Who is a preacher you’ve heard that you have really enjoyed? Why did you enjoy them so much? What do you remember most from their sermon?

It’s not bad if a preacher is funny or if they tell good stories, but hopefully they make you love God more than anything.

There’s another side to Paul’s point here for us. We are all called to share the Gospel.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When you do so, I hope you will want to do it well and prepare yourself to do it well.

How can you share the Gospel well?

By explaining how God has made salvation available through Jesus and letting that be the focus.

That’s exactly what the focus should be on. It’s the most impressive and wise and powerful thing in history, what God did for us in his Son Jesus!

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

righteousness

sanctification

redemption