God's Church: Preach Christ Crucified
This is the second sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘Preach Christ Crucified’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5
Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church · The Rev'd Michael Calder
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Show Notes
Sermon & Small Group Resources
This is the second sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘Preach Christ Crucified’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5
DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).
Next Steps this Week
BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
CONNECT:How would others recognise that your identity is shaped by your relationship with Jesus?
WARM-UP
How would the world define wisdom? Where do the people on your frontlines search for wisdom?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-25 - God’s Power
What does it look like for God’s church to be unified? What is it that ultimately unites us?
Can we ever be tempted to follow church leaders? How can we avoid this temptation?
How does the world react to the message of the cross?
How does God’s wisdom make the wisdom of this world foolish? What does this tell us about the type of wisdom we should pursue?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - God’s People
How does Paul describe the Corinthians in these verses? How is this a source of great comfort for us?
Throughout the whole of God’s story, what type of people does God work through and choose?
Is there anything that we can boast in when it comes to our salvation?
What does it look like to boast in the Lord? How could you demonstrate and show your confidence in the gospel on your frontlines?
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - God’s Messengers
In what way did Paul come to the Corinthians? What was the centre of his message? How did he communicate this?
What should be our constant message as a church? How should we communicate this?
How can we ensure that our faith relies on the power of God and not the wisdom of people?
APPLY: How can we keep the cross central to all that we do?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your phenomenal grace, love, mercy, and power shown to us in Jesus’ death. Please keep us from resting in worldly wisdom but only in you. Help us to keep the cross firmly in our sights and minds all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GOING DEEPER
On Your Frontline This Week: Amongst holidays, what new opportunities do you have to visit, love, or listen to someone?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
Series Resources:
Some helpful resources for our Series:
WITH CHILDREN
Grow as Families
Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.
Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray
High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions
Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk
eBook: Watch the eBook