Sermon Tone Analysis

What Is the Message of the Cross?

Crucicentrism: a focus on the atoning work of Christ on the cross.

Cross-centered theology basically declares that everything that we are called to do as Christians is directly related to the cross.

1 Corinthians was written in AD 55

“THE GOSPEL REQUIRES …”

The one theme that drives everything Paul writes in 1 Corinthians is the gospel.

To define the gospel narrowly in a single sentence, we could say that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for sinners, and God will save anyone who turns from his sins and trusts Jesus.

This is good news not just for non-Christians.

Paul uses the noun for “gospel” (Gk.

euangelion) eight times and the verb for “proclaim the gospel” (euangelizō) six times in this letter:

1:17: Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel [euangelizō], and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.•

4:15b: I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel [euangelion].•

9:12b: We endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel [euangelion] of Christ.•

9:14: In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel [euangelion] should get their living by the gospel [euangelion].

9:16: If I preach the gospel [euangelizō], that gives me no ground for boasting.

For necessity is laid upon me.

Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel [euangelizō]!

9:18: What then is my reward?

That in my preaching [euangelizō] I may present the gospel [euangelion] free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel [euangelion].

“We owe all to Jesus crucified.

What is your life, my brethren, but the cross?

Whence comes the bread of your soul but from the cross?

What is your joy but the cross?

What is your delight, what is your heaven, but the Blessed One, once crucified for you, who ever lives to make intercession for you?

Cling to the cross, then.

Put both arms around it!

Hold to the Crucified, and never let Him go.

Come afresh to the cross at this moment, and rest there now and forever!

Then, with the power of God resting upon you, go forth and preach the cross!

Tell out the story of the bleeding Lamb.

Repeat the wondrous tale, and nothing else.

Only proclaim that Jesus died for sinners.

The cross held up by a babe’s hand is just as powerful as if a giant held it up.

The power lies in the Word itself, or rather in the Holy Spirit who works by it and with it…Believe in Christ crucified and preach boldly in His name, and you shall see great and gladsome things.

His reward shall parallel His sorrows.

Let no man’s heart fail him!

Christ has died!

Atonement is complete!

God is satisfied!

Peace is proclaimed!

Heaven glitters with proofs of mercy already bestowed upon ten thousand times ten thousand!

Hell is trembling, heaven adoring, earth waiting.

Advance, ye saints, to certain victory!

You shall overcome through the blood of the Lamb.”

– Charles H. Spurgeon

No One Is Righteous

Everyone...

Raise A Hallelujah!

The Message of the Cross signifies our victory!

Paul’s Message Was the Cross!

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV - And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.