rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior 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 and fear, and with much 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 men's wisdom, but on God's power (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
Paul’s arrival in Corinth is described in Acts 18. He came and met a Christian couple named Aquila and Priscilla, who were tentmakers by trade, like Paul. He ministered in Corinth for more than a year and a half, supporting himself by tent making. He didn’t come as a philosopher or a salesman; he came as a witness (declaring to you the testimony of God).
Paul was certainly a man who could reason and debate persuasively, but he didn’t use that approach in preaching of gospel. He made a conscious decision (I determined) to put the emphasis on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul was an ambassador, not a salesman.
If a preacher is not careful, he will get in the way of the gospel instead of being a servant of the gospel. They can obscure Jesus by their preaching, either in the presentation or the message.
Like the little girl, who when a smaller man was guest speaking could finally see the stained glass window of Jesus behind the pulpit said, “Where’s the man who usually stands there so we can’t see Jesus?”
Paul was not brimming with self-confidence. Knowing the need and his own limitations made him weak and afraid. Yet it kept him from the poison of self-reliance, and let God’s strength flow. He knew it is the preacher’s job to preach; it is the Holy Spirit’s job to demonstrate. Paul’s preaching may not have been impressive or persuasive on a human level, but on a spiritual level it had power.
Preaching strategies centered around the wisdom of men - around emotion, entertainment and human personality - may yield response, but not results for the kingdom of God. Many people use slick, entertaining, or even deceptive means to “lure” people into the church, and justify it by saying, “we’re drawing them in and then winning them to Jesus.” But the principle stands: what you draw them with is what you draw them to.
If someone’s faith is in the wisdom of men, and not the power of God and if someone can be persuaded into the kingdom by human wisdom, they can be persuaded out of the kingdom by human wisdom also.
Lord, I pray to always be humble, to walk in meekness with You every day being led by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be stayed on Your Wisdom and not the wisdom of men.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Paul’s arrival in Corinth is described in Acts 18. He came and met a Christian couple named Aquila and Priscilla, who were tentmakers by trade, like Paul. He ministered in Corinth for more than a year and a half, supporting himself by tent making. He didn’t come as a philosopher or a salesman; he came as a witness (declaring to you the testimony of God).
Paul was certainly a man who could reason and debate persuasively, but he didn’t use that approach in preaching of gospel. He made a conscious decision (I determined) to put the emphasis on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul was an ambassador, not a salesman.
If a preacher is not careful, he will get in the way of the gospel instead of being a servant of the gospel. They can obscure Jesus by their preaching, either in the presentation or the message.
Like the little girl, who when a smaller man was guest speaking could finally see the stained glass window of Jesus behind the pulpit said, “Where’s the man who usually stands there so we can’t see Jesus?”
Paul was not brimming with self-confidence. Knowing the need and his own limitations made him weak and afraid. Yet it kept him from the poison of self-reliance, and let God’s strength flow. He knew it is the preacher’s job to preach; it is the Holy Spirit’s job to demonstrate. Paul’s preaching may not have been impressive or persuasive on a human level, but on a spiritual level it had power.
Preaching strategies centered around the wisdom of men - around emotion, entertainment and human personality - may yield response, but not results for the kingdom of God. Many people use slick, entertaining, or even deceptive means to “lure” people into the church, and justify it by saying, “we’re drawing them in and then winning them to Jesus.” But the principle stands: what you draw them with is what you draw them to.
If someone’s faith is in the wisdom of men, and not the power of God and if someone can be persuaded into the kingdom by human wisdom, they can be persuaded out of the kingdom by human wisdom also.
Lord, I pray to always be humble, to walk in meekness with You every day being led by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be stayed on Your Wisdom and not the wisdom of men.
In Jesus name, Amen.
