Determined to preach Christ crucified
Introduction
Reading
Do you find it easy to be open?
You need to be wise as some will despite you
There must be openness in the Church
To encourage others
To encourage prayer
Consider the apostle Paul – explanation
There were many things that pressed upon him
God used weak people
2 Cor 2:10
The strength of the gospel lies in the power of God and not the power of the speaker
He shows his own weakness but the greatness and majesty of God
Today we live with great technology
God’s power is not in the medium but the message
Overview:
The Man
The Manner
The Message
The Man
Paul was their father in the faith – afterwards Apollos and other preachers came
Paul came to them as a simple preacher
Paul was their spiritual father
Acts 18 – Paul goes first to the Jews and then to the Greeks
God is with us – who can be against
Paul knew God’s power
Paul stayed for 18-24 months
Paul preached the cross of Christ
His one desire was to know Christ
He was a humble man
A weak and fearful man – but one sent by God, a father in the faith, one who loved Jesus Christ above all
The Manner
Paul was a highly knowledgeable man but never showed off his intellect or knowledge
v4 – He simply declared the truth of God in the power of the Holy Spirit
He did not rely on gimmicks
He was not outwardly impressive but depended upon God
He prayed much
He loved much
Through Christ he could do all things
Have we lost our confidence in preaching?
Is the word of God central?
Paul preached sincerely with passion
v4 – he came in the demonstration of the Spirit, not with persuasive words of human wisdom
The word was received with much assurance
The Message
v2 – Focused on the person and the work of Jesus Christ
He preached the resurrection
He preached the judgment
The apex of his preaching was Christ crucified
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Have you become proud – come to the cross
This message secured people’s salvation
A message of grace
Forever and ever with the Saviour
A message that mattered for all eternity
A simple message?
1 Cor 6:20 – he addresses ethics
He addresses marital problems – by the cross
Paul reminded them of their beginning
Example of ‘great’ preachers
When the church has tried to us gimmicks – it has never been blessed
When the church prays for humble preaching – great things happen
Closing Remarks