You would not understand 2 Corinthians 2:10-14

You would not understand

Why did John Muir climb to the top of a pine tree during a storm? Why do men and woman push themselves the limit to climb a mountain? Why did Henry Thoreau stand nose deep in Walden pond? If you have to ask why, you will not understand the answer.

The world looks at the church and ask; why would you think Jesus would die for you sins? Why would you live a life in submission to God? Why would you deny yourself earthly pleasures because of your faith? They ask the questions because they cannot understand the answer.

The Bible says that the things of God are foolishness to men. The wisdom of God looks like folly to men. The Gospel makes no sense at all, it is so foreign to their worldview and their experience in life.
Even in the church there are those who are not understanding spiritual things.

Paul says he has the mind of Christ; the things he is going to share with them are taught by the Holy Spirit. They are the ways of God.

This little passage has so much in it but for right now I want us to focus on verse 14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

This passage explains so many things for us, and instructs us in speaking to the unbelieving world.

Between God and man there are barriers. The primary barrier is sin but there are more barriers. There is the barrier of language. We don’t speak the same words.

Yes, No, Please, Thank you, Bathroom.

Another barrier is culture. Concepts, ideas, ways of thinking are so different.

Preconceived ideas, and prejudice.

Most of the people who say they do not believe in the Bible have never read one.

With these barriers in the way, how do we talk to the people around us about Jesus?

1.       Make a list of people.

2.       Pray for the Holy Spirit to allow them to understand.

3.       Pray for the Holy Spirit to show you the barriers between them and God.

4.       Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to speak in ways they will understand.

5.       Learn the way they speak and think and use them to translate the Gospel.

We must do the work of reaching the lost,
We must remove as many barriers for them as we can.

more than we can imagine

1 Corinthians 2:1-9

I have a confession to make, I am prideful, because I think I know what will make this church grow.

I am vain because I think I can get this done.

I am arrogant because I am sure of my knowledge and experience.

But I am confronted by God, that my knowledge, hard work, experience, cannot force the church to Grow.

I get angry and blame people who do not support my ideas for the lack of growth in the church.

While cooperation would help, it will not by its self, bring success.

Only God can bring success and growth to our church.

Only God can heal the wounds you have inflicted on each other.

Only God can turn angry people into loving people.

Only God can fill each life in our church with grace and hope.

I cannot do these things. I is my pride, Vanity, and arrogance that thinks I can.

Jesus put it this way. John 15:5

The monkey in Kenya

You can get everything right but if you fail to have God behind it you will fail.

For some people Spiritual failure has become a way of life, even comfortable. Like welfare.

For some churches failure to thrive and grow….

But Paul gives us hope.

1 Corinthians 2:6-9 (ESV)
⁶  Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
⁷  But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
⁸  None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
⁹  But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

 

While our knowledge, wisdom, strength cannot make our church Grow, God can.

God creates the universe with a word. God causes great floods to cover the land.

God who makes an axe head float, a donkey talk, the sun stand still, protects his people in the fiery furnace. God heals the lame, blind and leprous. God who walked on water, took your sins to the cross and then rose from the dead, He can do what you can’t.

So what is the key to the wondrous power of God?

John 15:16 ask.

A theology lesson.

Predestination and providence. God is in control, God determines what happens, God has chosen you before you were born.

There are two groups of things,

Things pre-determined.

Things yet to be determined.

God chooses that a person will come to faith and be saved, but how that happens is not.
How many years a person suffers without Jesus is affected by our willingness to reach them.

The way you live your life matters, to your family, the people you live around, our community and our church. Your prayers matter, for while somethings have been predestined by God others have yet to be determined.

While we are powerless to accomplish anything on our own, God can do all things and even more than we can dream of or understand.

Pray for God to do amazing things, believe God to do amazing things, and then you will see God do amazing things.

1 Corinthians 1:18-30 The Foolish Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18-30 The Foolish Power of God

Our world prides it’s self on knowledge and power. Faster computers and more information. These are things that the Greeks and Romans of Corinth also valued. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. The world we live in truly has different values. Look at who we seek as leaders for our country and evaluate them with those words from Galatians 5.

You are created and accountable

Confessing your sins

A God who forgives for free

A ruler who gives the best things He has away

A king who washes feet

Valuing serving more than being served

God picking up the check

If we are going to experience the wisdom and power of God we must follow Jesus down instead of following the world up. We never achieve the things of God standing on others shoulders but by helping others stand on ours. Dare to be foolish.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 “A House Divided”

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 “A House Divided”

Chloe’s people have come to visit Paul and tell him of the situation in Corinth. People have been quarreling over who is better, whose ideas are right or wrong. They quarrel over the right way to pray; which spiritual gifts are more spiritual. Should they sing hymns or praise songs? Which translation of the Bible was the right, King James or the NIV? While they are fussing the work of God does not get done.

1.       Who is better
a. Paul
b. Apollos
c. Peter
d. Christ

2.       Everyone has a way
a. no book of order
b. no liturgy
c. some are readers, some prayer’s, some meditators and thinkers, some busy bee’s
d. all want the church to look a certain way?
e. Each ministry competes for budget money.
f. Jesus said “A house divided cannot stand”.

3.       Common goals
a. Bring people to Jesus
b. Teach people to be disciples of Jesus
c. use your gifts to serve the rest of the church.
d. not to look and act the same but to have a common goal
e. celebrate all our victories.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Memorial day. We celebrate those who have served in the military to protect us. We build memorials to them, we decorate their graves. I remember as a high schooler thinking about Vietnam, stopping in front of the county courthouse and finding my father’s name on the list of all who had served during world war 2. It is strange that with all the billons of graves of men and women who have died in this world fighting the sinfulness of people we are still fighting. The only death that can save the human soul is the death of Jesus.

Another thought comes to mind, nowhere is there a plaque or memorial to the men and women who have served Christ through the church. There is no long list of names of Sunday School Teachers, Greeters, Ushers, Elders, Pastors, Choir members, musicians, ….

The only memorial they have is your life in Jesus, Your faith today.

Paul starts his letter to the Corinthians by giving thanks for those who trust in Jesus.

1.       Corinthians
a. Paul founded the church there staying a year and a half with them.
b. written from Ephesus where he stayed 3 years.
c. written to address issues that Paul has heard about.

2.       I give thanks to God for you always.
a. for God’s grace and forgiveness given to them.
b. changes in speech and knowledge.
c. The testimony about Jesus confirmed.
d. All the gifts of the spirit given to them.
e. despite their issues.

3.       Giving thanks for one another
a. for the people who serve our church
b. those who served our church.
c. those who have donated faithfully each week.
d. a card, a letter, a word of kindness.
e. prayers for guidance, wisdom, strength, healing.
f. prayers of thanksgiving.

As you celebrate Memorial day, take time to thank God for those who have served Jesus before you. Thank God for their sacrifice that has made your own faith possible. Thank God for those who live for Jesus each and every day. Live your life in respect and honor of them.

You, your life of faith, you living each day for Jesus, is the only memorial they have.

Judges 16:28-30 “The Death of Sampson”

Judges 16:28-30 “The Death of Sampson”

Two of the recurring themes of Judges are, “Again the people did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” “God raised up a Judge to deliver the people.” Now another on “God shows up.” Today we look at the death of Sampson and will end our study of Judges.

Sampson played with the Philistines, partied with them, played around with their women, until he found himself powerless and blind. Forced to push the grindstone in the prison grain mill in an endless circle. Now he is called to entertain the Philistines at their drunken party.

1.       We find ourselves in Samson’s place
a. tricked by life
b. a victim of our self-indulgence.
c. in an endless cycle of despair.
d. blind and powerless.

2.       vs 22 “but Sampson’s hair began to grow.
a. The great strength given to Sampson returns.
b. God empowered Ehud, Deborah, Barak and Gideon.
c. God restored David. God raised Joseph from the bottom of a well.
d. God shows up.

3.       Discounted by the world
a. our church is to old
b. our Gospel out of date and out of touch
c. we are to small, we are to poor
d. But God has shown up every day.

e. you feel so weak and your problems so large
f. Your sin so great and your habits to much a part of you.
g. But God shows up every day.

4. But God delivers
a. a message for your friends, family, children, spouse, coworkers, people you meet.
b. a message for you, hope for you,
c. the message for our church
d. God can and will deliver us.
e. call out to Him, He will hear, He will heal, He will save, He will deliver.
f. God always shows up.