I Corinthians 2

1
I Corinthians 2

• Gods Wisdom

2
I Corinthians 21-5 Pauls Preaching a
demonstration of the power of the gospel

• What are you looking for in a sermon? What do
  your friends look for in a sermon?
• What kinds of preaching did the Corinthians
  admire?
• What characterized Pauls preaching in Corinth?
• What did each of Pauls sermons center in?
• Why was Pauls preaching successful?

3
Acts 2017-35

• 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the
  elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he
  said to them You know how I lived the whole
  time I was with you, from the first day I came
  into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord
  with great humility and with tears, although I
  was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20
  You know that I have not hesitated to preach
  anything that would be helpful to you but have
  taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I
  have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they
  must turn to God in repentance and have faith in
  our Lord Jesus.
• 22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going
  to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me
  there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy
  Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are
  facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth
  nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and
  complete the task the Lord Jesus has given methe
  task of testifying to the gospel of Gods grace.
• 25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have
  gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me
  again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that
  I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I
  have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole
  will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and
  all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made
  you overseers.?a? Be shepherds of the church of
  God,?b? which he bought with his own blood. 29 I
  know that after I leave, savage wolves will come
  in among you and will not spare the flock. 30
  Even from your own number men will arise and
  distort the truth in order to draw away disciples
  after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that
  for three years I never stopped warning each of
  you night and day with tears.
• 32 Now I commit you to God and to the word of
  his grace, which can build you up and give you an
  inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
  33 I have not coveted anyones silver or gold or
  clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands
  of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs
  of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I
  showed you that by this kind of hard work we must
  help the weak, remembering the words the Lord
  Jesus himself said It is more blessed to give
  than to receive.

4
compare

• how Paul preached in Ephesus (Acts) and he he
  described his preaching in the following slide in
  2 Corinthians, with the description of his
  preaching in 1 Corinthians 2.
• What common theme seems to runs through all his
  preaching?

5
2 Corinthians 64-10

• 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves
  in every way in great endurance in troubles,
  hardships and distresses 5 in beatings,
  imprisonments and riots in hard work, sleepless
  nights and hunger 6 in purity, understanding,
  patience and kindness in the Holy Spirit and in
  sincere love 7 in truthful speech and in the
  power of God with weapons of righteousness in
  the right hand and in the left 8 through glory
  and dishonor, bad report and good report
  genuine, yet regarded as impostors 9 known, yet
  regarded as unknown dying, and yet we live on
  beaten, and yet not killed 10 sorrowful, yet
  always rejoicing poor, yet making many rich
  having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

6
Expanding on the text

• What is the place of scholarship and of pulpit
  eloquence in the pastoral ministry?
• Why should we be thankful that our salvation does
  not rest on mens wisdom?
• What should we look for in a sermon?
• How do we grade a sermon as good or bad or
  mediocre?

7
I Corinthians 26-10

• What was the wisdom Paul preached to the
  Corinthians?
• How did the crucifixion prove the inability of
  natural man to know Gods wisdom?
• How did the hidden wisdom of God become known?
• Why is the Spirit able to reveal Gods wisdom to
  us?
• In what manner did he reveal it?
• Why cant someone who is unspiritual judge
  someone who is spiritual?

8
I Corinthians 210b-16

• How does vs 13 add to your understanding of
  verbal inspiration?
• In what section of the Small Catechism would you
  find an explanation of verses 14 15. Why?
• Show that our Christian judgment of the world is
  superior to the judgment of even the most
  intelligent and perceptive man of the world.

9
Compare the scriptures re. inspiration

• Acts 116 - and said, Brothers, the Scripture
  had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke
  long ago through the mouth of David concerning
  Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested
  Jesus
• 2 Ti 316 - 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and
  is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
  training in righteousness,
• 2 Pe 121 - For prophecy never had its origin in
  the will of man, but men spoke from God as they
  were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

10
Compare the scriptures re inspiration

• What are the main features of inspiration?
• What does 1 Corinthians 213 add to these
  presentations?
• What is meant by verbal inspiration?
• How does the Biblical teaching of inspiration
  affect the way we intrepret the Bible?

11
Expanding on the text

• How does this section demonstrate that the
  Christian religion is a divine revelation not
  only to man, but in man?
• Show that our Christian judgment of the world is
  superior to the judgment of even the most
  intelligent and perceptive people of the world.
• Many times in the book of Proverbs King Solomon
  wrote, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of
  wisdom. How does your understanding of Pauls
  words here help you to understand what King
  Solomon meant?

12
On the basis of I Corinthians 2 explain whats
wrong with each statement

• Theres a little bit of good in everyone, you
  just have to look a little harder for it in some
  than in others.
• Simple minded people are Christians.
• I like sermons that tell me how I can make a
  difference in the world.
• The secret to spiritual growth is to pray harder.