Flashes of Divinity

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March 23, 2003 - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Open It

1. In what way might your life-style seem foolish to some of your friends or relatives?

2. In what ways did you depend on your parents' wisdom when you were a child?

Explore It

3. To whom is the message of the Cross foolishness? (1:18)

4. To whom is the message of the Cross powerful? (1:18)

5. Why is it that people hear the message of Christ differently? (1:18)

6. What does God's message mean to the person being saved? (1:18)

7. How does the message of the Cross contrast with what most people consider wise? (1:18-19)

8. How does God get his message across? (1:19)

9. How does God's wisdom contrast with the world's wisdom? (1:20)

10. How did the demands of the Jews and Greeks contrast with the Corinthians' hope? (1:22-23)

11. How do God's attributes compare with ours? (1:25)

Get It

12. Why do Christians and non-Christians value the message of Christ so differently?

13. What are some examples of the world's wisdom?

14. What common difficulties do people mention when trying to understand the gospel of Christ?

15. What are some doctrines of the Christian faith that are difficult for non-Christians to understand?

16. When have you heard non-Christians balk at the message of Christ?

17. How has God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

18. In what ways do God's commands seem like foolishness to the non-Christians you know?

19. What difference should it make in your life to know that God chooses the weak and lowly people of the world to do His work?

20. What unbelievers have you known who wanted miraculous signs or airtight philosophical proofs before believing in Christ?

21. Why do you think people demand signs, or proof, of God?

22. What's wrong with demanding signs, or proof, from God?

Apply It

23. From whom can you learn more of God's wisdom? How and when?

24. How could you seek out God's wisdom and power this week? Where?

25. What can you do this week to witness for Christ in only God's wisdom and not your own craftiness?

Notes

Paul summarizes Isaiah 29:14 to emphasize a point Jesus often made: God's way of thinking is not like the world's way (normal human wisdom). We can spend a lifetime accumulating human wisdom and yet never learn how to have a personal relationship with God.

Many Jews considered the Good News of Jesus Christ to be foolish, because they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king accompanied by signs and miracles. Jesus had not restored David's throne as they expected. Besides, he was executed as a criminal, and how could a criminal be a savior? Greeks, too, considered the gospel foolish: they did not believe in a bodily resurrection; they did not see in Jesus the powerful characteristics of their mythological gods; and they thought no reputable person would be crucified. To them, death was defeat, not victory.

The Good News of Jesus Christ still sounds foolish to many. Our society worships power, influence, and wealth. Jesus came as a humble, poor servant, and he offers his kingdom to those who have faith, not to those who do all kinds of good deeds to try to earn his gifts. This looks foolish to the world, but Christ is our power, the only way we can be saved. Knowing Christ personally is the greatest wisdom anyone could have.

The message of Christ's death for sins sounds foolish to those who don't believe. Death seems to be the end of the road, the ultimate weakness. But Jesus did not stay dead. His resurrection demonstrated his power even over death. This sounds so simple that many people won't accept it. They try other ways to obtain eternal life (being good, being wise, etc.). But all their attempts will not work. The "foolish" people who simply accept Christ's offer are actually the wisest of all, because they alone will live eternally with God.

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