Encounter the Truth

The wisdom of God displayed in the cross of Christ is not something that we can understand on our own. We need the Spirit of God to open our eyes and to give us insight. This means we should be unsurprised if the message of the cross makes little sense to others. And it means that if you are struggling to make sense of the gospel, you should ask God to help you by his Spirit to see and understand.

Many people assume that a powerful ministry will be based on powerful rhetoric. Paul says “no”. A powerful ministry is based on a powerful message – the proclamation of Jesus Christ and him crucified. If we would see God’s power released and people come to true and saving faith, we need to be devoted to proclaiming and hearing the clear, exclusive, and faithful proclamation of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Many people assume that a powerful ministry will be based on powerful rhetoric. Paul says “no”. A powerful ministry is based on a powerful message – the proclamation of Jesus Christ and him crucified. If we would see God’s power released and people come to true and saving faith, we need to be devoted to proclaiming and hearing the clear, exclusive, and faithful proclamation of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Most of us Christians are not impressive people in the eyes of the world. That is true today; it was true in Paul’s day. But this is not some failure on the part of the gospel or the church. This is, in fact, God’s plan and design. God chose ordinary people to display his salvation so that none of us could brag about our achievements – and so that all eyes would be drawn to Jesus.

Most of us Christians are not impressive people in the eyes of the world. That is true today; it was true in Paul’s day. But this is not some failure on the part of the gospel or the church. This is, in fact, God’s plan and design. God chose ordinary people to display his salvation so that none of us could brag about our achievements – and so that all eyes would be drawn to Jesus.

The preaching of the gospel is not impressive to the world. Quite the opposite. But the wisdom of the message of the cross is greater than the wisdom of any worldly philosophy – and the power of the message is unmatched. The world may think us fools for our devotion to this message, but Paul wants us to know that this message is the message that saves and transforms lives.

The preaching of the gospel is not impressive to the world. Quite the opposite. But the wisdom of the message of the cross is greater than the wisdom of any worldly philosophy – and the power of the message is unmatched. The world may think us fools for our devotion to this message, but Paul wants us to know that this message is the message that saves and transforms lives.

It is so easy for us to become fixated on a particular Christian leader and teacher that we end up divided from other believers who choose another leader to follow or listen to. Personality cults can easily form, and divisions grow. It happens today – and it happened in the ancient church. Paul points us back to basics. Jesus cannot be divided, and so nor can his church. Faithful Christian leaders will be devoted to preaching the gospel so that the power of the cross of Christ will be at work in hearts and lives.

It is so easy for us to become fixated on a particular Christian leader and teacher that we end up divided from other believers who choose another leader to follow or listen to. Personality cults can easily form, and divisions grow. It happens today – and it happened in the ancient church. Paul points us back to basics. Jesus cannot be divided, and so nor can his church. Faithful Christian leaders will be devoted to preaching the gospel so that the power of the cross of Christ will be at work in hearts and lives.

These opening verses are stunning and remarkable in what they say about flawed and failing Christians. The church at Corinth is a mess, and ungodliness abounds. But the believers there are “sanctified” and will be sustained guiltless until the end. There is deep comfort here for flawed and failing disciples.