Gateway Church of Visalia
Kingdom Math
Mission over maintenance Pastor Lance Ainsworth July 11th and 14th, 2024 Foolish shame the wise.
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Mission over Maintenance.
Introduction:
43°38'42.3"N 115°59'35.1"W
43°38'42.3"N 115°59'35.1"W
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NASB
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.”
Through the cross, we are saved and are being saved.
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.”
Through the cross, we are saved and are being saved.
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? 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.
Two views of Wisdom:
World’s wisdom – I am wise. Jesus is foolish
God’s wisdom – God is wise. Without Jesus, I am foolish.
World’s wisdom – I am wise. Jesus is foolish
God’s wisdom – God is wise. Without Jesus, I am foolish.
Godly wisdom is the capacity to see things from God’s viewpoint and respond according to the principles of scripture.
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. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
We preach Christ crucified.
To the unbelieving Jews, a stumbling block - Jesus doesn’t fit my agenda.
To the unbelieving Gentile foolishness - Jesus doesn’t fit my understanding. (Alexamenos worships his God)
The greatest form of ignorance is to believe we don’t need God. (Psalms 14:1)
The other 95%. – Albert Einstein
To the believing Jew and Greek, Jesus crucified is the power for salvation.
To the unbelieving Jews, a stumbling block - Jesus doesn’t fit my agenda.
To the unbelieving Gentile foolishness - Jesus doesn’t fit my understanding. (Alexamenos worships his God)
The greatest form of ignorance is to believe we don’t need God. (Psalms 14:1)
The other 95%. – Albert Einstein
To the believing Jew and Greek, Jesus crucified is the power for salvation.
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,
Application:
Do we live our lives according to God’s wisdom or the world’s?
God uses what the world calls foolish.
Jesus, power to save or stumbling block.
Do we live our lives according to God’s wisdom or the world’s?
God uses what the world calls foolish.
Jesus, power to save or stumbling block.
Kingdom Math
1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
July 11th & 14th, 2024
Foolish shame the wise.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: When do we need wisdom the most?
Read Aloud: 1 Cor. 1:18-31
1. v.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.” The word of the cross would be equivalent to saying, in modern terms, “the word of the electric chair.” How does that change the way you read this verse? Do you believe that we are saved and are being saved through the word of the cross?
2. v.22-25 “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. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Jesus did not fit into the Jews' agenda and the Greeks' understanding. Can you relate? How so? Why is it essential to never stop preaching “Christ crucified?”
3. v.26-27 “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,” How does God use the foolish things of the world to shame the wise? What does the world consider wisdom compared to what God calls wisdom? What does the world call strength compare to what God calls strength?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
July 11th & 14th, 2024
Foolish shame the wise.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: When do we need wisdom the most?
Read Aloud: 1 Cor. 1:18-31
1. v.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.” The word of the cross would be equivalent to saying, in modern terms, “the word of the electric chair.” How does that change the way you read this verse? Do you believe that we are saved and are being saved through the word of the cross?
2. v.22-25 “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. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Jesus did not fit into the Jews' agenda and the Greeks' understanding. Can you relate? How so? Why is it essential to never stop preaching “Christ crucified?”
3. v.26-27 “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,” How does God use the foolish things of the world to shame the wise? What does the world consider wisdom compared to what God calls wisdom? What does the world call strength compare to what God calls strength?