1 Corinthians 2
August Memory Verse: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Read: 1 Corinthians 2
When reading the letters of Paul, it is super important to understand the logical argument that Paul is making throughout. Here is how the ESV Study Bible outlines the first 2 major sections of the book.
Read: 1 Corinthians 2
When reading the letters of Paul, it is super important to understand the logical argument that Paul is making throughout. Here is how the ESV Study Bible outlines the first 2 major sections of the book.
Chapter 2, then, could be summarized accordingly: The nature of God’s wisdom answering the problem of divisions over Christian preachers.
There is a divisive problem that is so serious that it has caused Paul to lead his letter off with it! Paul is actually caught up in the drama himself (1:12). His answer to this problem of division? Taking the focus off himself and the other people in question, and instead focusing on the cross, which is the power of God.
Chapter 2 is a continuation of this argument, with the main thrust being that the gospel and the wisdom of God are far too powerful to be watered down by human wisdom and eloquence. Paul wanted to make sure that the church in Corinth understood that it is not built upon the leadership or rhetoric of a person, but on God’s Spirit and Word.
Instead of focusing the attention on himself or other people’s giftings, he instead points people to the work of the Holy Spirit, who’s main purpose is to direct our attention to Christ.
Some ways to apply the principles in this passage to us are in how we think about the spiritual influences on us. A lot of us have our favorite people to listen to or read; but even in our own church this can be true: we prefer a specific style of preaching, a particular Jumpstart write over another, a particular Connect Group or discipler over another. The point is that it can be super easy for us to focus on the person that God uses more than God himself. We must remember that faithful spiritual leaders are more concerned with your love for God than your love for them. We must seek to balance an appreciation and honoring of spiritual leaders in our lives without putting them in a place that they don’t belong.
Allow the faithful ministry of people in your life to grow your love for God and obedience to His Word. Celebrate them, encourage them, but remember that they exist to point you to Christ and His Word above all.
What are some examples of times that spiritual leaders in your life have pointed you to Christ?
By: Graham Withers
There is a divisive problem that is so serious that it has caused Paul to lead his letter off with it! Paul is actually caught up in the drama himself (1:12). His answer to this problem of division? Taking the focus off himself and the other people in question, and instead focusing on the cross, which is the power of God.
Chapter 2 is a continuation of this argument, with the main thrust being that the gospel and the wisdom of God are far too powerful to be watered down by human wisdom and eloquence. Paul wanted to make sure that the church in Corinth understood that it is not built upon the leadership or rhetoric of a person, but on God’s Spirit and Word.
Instead of focusing the attention on himself or other people’s giftings, he instead points people to the work of the Holy Spirit, who’s main purpose is to direct our attention to Christ.
Some ways to apply the principles in this passage to us are in how we think about the spiritual influences on us. A lot of us have our favorite people to listen to or read; but even in our own church this can be true: we prefer a specific style of preaching, a particular Jumpstart write over another, a particular Connect Group or discipler over another. The point is that it can be super easy for us to focus on the person that God uses more than God himself. We must remember that faithful spiritual leaders are more concerned with your love for God than your love for them. We must seek to balance an appreciation and honoring of spiritual leaders in our lives without putting them in a place that they don’t belong.
Allow the faithful ministry of people in your life to grow your love for God and obedience to His Word. Celebrate them, encourage them, but remember that they exist to point you to Christ and His Word above all.
What are some examples of times that spiritual leaders in your life have pointed you to Christ?
By: Graham Withers
5 Comments
4) Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5) I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
Good word today Graham. I love the simplicity of these two verses. God's word is powerful and speaks for itself. My prayer today is that I point people to Jesus and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do the rest of the work.
Good word G-Money!
Good word today, Graham. It's so easy to idolize people like John Piper, Bob Goff, Jennie Allen, Lysa Terkeurst, you name it - and hold them to these figures in our minds that Christ alone should hold. They are great and are being used by God in our lives. But they're only meant to be pointers pointing us to Jesus.
Such a great breakdown and explanation of this chapter, Graham! This message is so important because there is a constant risk of looking at the human you admire and taking the focus off God and what He did through Christ. The staff at CPC is always pointing to Jesus....I love that about them.
"it is not built upon the leadership or rhetoric of a person, but on God's Spirit and Word."
That's good!!