Lake Region Bible Church | Sermons
GOSPEL MINISTRY IN A SELFISHLY-AMBITIOUS AND SPIRITUALLY BLIND WORLD (1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 ● Message #6/9) 03-28-10
INTRODUCTION. 1) Recent & Upcoming Sermon Topics: ● Romans 1:16-32 – Creation, Idolatry, and the Wrath of God. ● 1 Corinthians 1:17 – 2:5 – the Cross, the Foolishness of the World, and the Wisdom of God. ● Acts 1:1-11 – the Resurrection, the Spirit-empowered Church, and the Kingdom of God. 2) The city of Corinth (50’s A.D.): located in Greece, destroyed in 146 B.C., rebuilt in 46 B.C.; becomes the capital of Achaia. Population estimated at 80 thousand people. Its culture was a pluralistic mixture of subcultures, philosophies, lifestyles and religions. Corinth was a prosperous trading town, with intellectuals, star athletes, great orators, and so forth, and infamous for its sexual immorality. It had at least 12 pagan temples and was known for temple prostitution. As a newer (rebuilt) city, many lower-class people, military veterans, and freed servants moved into Corinth seeking to better themselves. *The Corinthian culture valued and was preoccupied with wealth and achievements as the marks of social status; it was driven by competitive individualism and fascinated with powerful orators who were masters of manipulation & seductive rhetoric; they relied on schmoozing & rubbing shoulders with the elite for personal gain, and enjoyed displaying their success for all to see (*taken from 1 Corinthians, by David E. Garland). 3) The Church in Corinth: Founded by the Apostle Paul on his 2nd missionary journey (c. 50-52 A.D.; Acts 18:1-18), and probably made up of several house churches. *The church was largely divided between the haves and the have nots. Some were seeking to live faithfully in Christ, but many of those in leadership or influential positions (i.e. hosts of the house churches) were driven more by the selfish-ambition & worldly wisdom of their Corinthian culture, then they were living for Christ and embracing the humility, shame, wisdom and power of God found in the cross. “In Corinth, no countercultural impact, so central to the preaching of the cross (1:18-25), is evident. Their faith appears not to have created any significant social and moral realignment of their lives. They face little or no social ostracism, and the lack of external pressure contributes to their internal dissension . . . The problem was not that the church was in Corinth but that too much of Corinth was in the church” (*taken from 1 Corinthians, by David E. Garland, pp.1-21). PREACHING CHRIST-CRUCIFIED. 1. By Embracing the Cross: as the power of God for salvation, which is foolishness to the world (vs17-25). 2. As Disciples chosen by God: amidst our own weaknesses and for His own glory (vs26-31). 3. In the Power of the Holy Spirit: not relying on human wisdom and manipulation (2:1-5). PRINCIPLES FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY. 1. Embracing the Cross: as God uses us in Our Weakness 2. Trusting in God’s Power thru the Gospel: in a selfishly-ambitious and spiritually blind world. ● Example (taken from Evangelist Ravi Zacharias): the Apostle Paul was born and raised a Hebrew, he was a missionary to the Greeks, and he was also a citizen of Rome (by birth), living within the Roman Empire. He was therefore well-versed in the Hebrew, Greek, and Roman worldview and cultures. In the 1st century Greco-Roman world, the Hebrews sought “the Light” – the Greeks sought “Knowledge” – and the Romans sought “the “Glory”. In light of this quest for light, knowledge, and glory, notice what Paul says about Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 4:6. (For more info: www.rzim.org).