The Foolishness of God

1st Corinthians for Beginners

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1st Corinthians

Athena

1st Corinthians

Jews-Well Trained In Moral/Religious Life

Greeks- Trained In Greek Philosophy/Immoral Lifestyle

1st Corinthians

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1st Corinthians 1:10

Trained Orators & Debaters were a social phenomena of the times.

1st Corinthians

By relying on the power of persuasion and debate to

convince men to believe they took away the power of the

cross of Christ to draw men to faith.

1st Corinthians

1. The Message Itself is Foolish

1Cor. 1:18-25

3 Reasons Why God’s Way Seems Foolish

 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,    “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

1st Corinthians 1:18-19

 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1st Corinthians 1:20

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1st Corinthians 1:21

22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1st Corinthians 1:22-24

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1st Corinthians 1:25

• Faith Before Insight• Belief Precedes Understanding• Obedience First Rewards Second

1st Corinthians

1. The Message Was Foolish

2. The Messengers Were

Foolish 1Cor. 1:26-29

3 Reasons Why God’s Way Seems Foolish

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

1st Corinthians 1:26-27

28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

1st Corinthians 1:28-29

World Changers Use…- Power- Intelligence- “Religion”

1st Corinthians

Messengers Foolish

Results Powerful

1st Corinthians

1. Message2. Messenger

3.The Method was Foolish1Cor. 1:30-31

3 Reasons Why God’s Way Seems Foolish

30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

1st Corinthians 1:30-31

Dr. Spock

Playboy

1st Corinthians

The “Method” doesn’t appeal to man’s reason or feelings.

1st Corinthians

What we need to be saved is given “freely” to us because of our association with Christ through faith.

1st Corinthians

We are “foolish” because…

Our message requires belief in what is unseen.

1st Corinthians

We are “foolish” because…

Our Messengers are without influence, power or prestige.

1st Corinthians

We are “foolish” because…

Our method requires total dependence on another.

1st Corinthians

For those who believe…

-The unseen becomes real-The method removes fear-The hearers become messengers

1st Corinthians

Are You Foolish?

1st Corinthians