We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise.
We're going to sing in Psalm 95 in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 95, page 357.
We're going to sing from verse 1 to 6, and the tune is Gainsborough.
O come, let us sing to the Lord.
Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 6 to God's praise.
O come, let us sing to the Lord.
Come, let us, everyone, a joyful noise make to the rock of our salvation.
Let us sing for His presence.
Come, let us sing to Him with grace and make a joyful noise.
For God, the great God and great King, above all gods He is.
He is.
the sin did me.
Let my hand also
from his hands
its form at first
dictate.
O come and let us
worship him
let us bow down
with hope
and on our knees
before the Lord
our maker
let us fall.
Let's bow our heads together
in a word of prayer
let us pray.
Lord our gracious God
as we bow before you
as we come
before you as a people
who know the sin of our hearts
we know Lord
the wickedness that there is
within us
we know unworthy
how unworthy we are
of any of your mercies
and yet we still come
before you thankful
that the way
is open for us
that the way we come
is not through our own merits
or our own worthiness
but through
the worthiness of the lamb
that was slain.
And we thank you that
the words that we
have sung remind us
of how worthy
you are of all our praise.
as you invite us
to come and sing
to the Lord
with the voices
that you have given
to us.
Lord we know
that our voices
are so often
can be used
against you
and against others
and against
your cause
in so many ways
but we thank you
for the way
that you put a new song
in our mouth
a song that
gives praise
to you
a song to magnify
and glorify
your name.
And so we pray Lord
that together
as we worship
this evening
as we give praise
to you
as we give thanks
to you
as we come
seeking forgiveness
for all our sin
as we come
seeking your help
in so many
different situations
and circumstances
going on
within us
or around us
we thank you
that you are a God
who hears
a God who is able
to answer
our prayers
and to answer them
so much
with so much more
than we can ask
or imagine
and Lord
we are dependent
upon you
even as we have
sung of the wonder
of your power
of creation
that you are the one
who made the depths
of the earth
and the strength
of the hills
the spacious seas
that belong to you
for you did make them
and even the lands
that are around us
Lord
you say
that they took their form
from your hand
at first
and although we see
the mark of mankind
in so many ways
how we have
altered the creation
and built our own kingdoms
built up things
for ourselves
we thank you
that there is no kingdom
mightier than yours
that there is no power
greater than yours
that there is no authority
over yours
and we thank you
that in all things
as we come
dependent upon you
that you are one
who is mighty
in all ways
you are the rock
of our salvation
you are the one
who is able
to give us salvation
for you are provided
for us in every way
as we have reflected
already today
on the wonder
of the death
of Jesus
and the resurrection
and the wonder
of the power
that there is
in that
and the reminder
too that there is
that he will come again
for that final resurrection
and call each of us
to himself
to give account
for all that we have done
in this life
whether for good
or for evil
we thank you
for those who are in Christ
it is a day
when we will rejoice
a day when we will see
him as he is
and it is hard
for us to imagine
what that will be like
for even as your word says
we but see
through a glass
dimly at this time
our vision is so blurred
in so many ways
but we thank you
that we look forward
to a day
when we will see clearly
we will see the lamb
the Lord Jesus
we will see him
in glory
and so Lord
we pray
to know more of you
to understand you better
to come
and to acknowledge
our dependence
and need upon you
and to
to even cry out
to you anew
to have mercy upon us
and to have mercy upon
all around us
and this world
in which we live
and all its different needs
we see the weakness
and frailty
of our being
in so many different ways
we see it in illness
we see it in wars
and conflicts
of different kinds
we see it
in famine
and natural disasters
we see it
when we are overwhelmed
by the powers
of this world
and yet we thank you
that as Jesus
came into this world
he reminded us
that he has power
over all things
even to the wind
and to the waves
to say peace
be still
and help us Lord
to at this time
call upon you
in that way
that you will help us
to be still
even at this time
to be still before you
as a holy God
to be still before you
as a people
waiting upon you
as we approach
your word Lord
may we come
prayerfully
and looking to you
to speak
that we might have ears
to hear what you would say
as again we are reminded
of your word
and its power
and yet
how many
ignore it
and belittle it
in so many ways
but we thank you
for your spirit
that is able
to convict
and to convert
we thank you
for the power
of the spirit
to apply your word
to each and every one of us
in all our different needs
to build us up
to encourage us
to rebuke us
whatever it is Lord
whatever experience
we are going through
you know our needs
for we call upon you
as our father in heaven
and as your children Lord
you know everything
nothing hidden from you
nothing that we can hide
in our hearts
for it is all revealed
to you already
even the words
that we speak Lord
they are known to you
before we open our mouths
and so Lord
we thank you
that you are near
and that you are with us
we pray your blessing
over us as a people
as we go on
in the week ahead
Lord
watch over us
be with us
be our shepherd
be our guide
lead us in the right paths
lead us according
to your word
and to your truth
and above all Lord
may we know
that wonder
of your presence
as we go on
in this life
and in its journey
for us
we do commit ourselves
and all our different needs
Lord
and giving thanks to you
for your goodness
to us
even in this past week
we thank you for
the carry night
on Friday evening
and for the joy
of being gathered together
there in fellowship
and under
the banner of your name
being gathered together
to give thanks to you
for the works
of the camps
over many years
and to hear
Hannah speaking about it
Lord
so encouraging
as a camper
and now as a leader
we see the amazing work
that has been done
over nearly 65 years
now
through the free church camps
and we give you thanks
for all who have
been so touched
by them
for the way your gospel
has gone out
to so many people
over these years
and changed
and transformed
so many lives
and we pray
your blessing
and encouragement
in the camps
for this coming year
as well
as all the preparations
are made
and as all is done
prayerfully
and practically
to make things ready
Lord
we pray for help
and encouragement
to leaders
to cooks
and to campers
as well
we thank you
for those who are going
from our own number here
both as campers
and leaders
and we ask
that you would bless
them in that time
and bless them
even as they think
about going
and look forward
to it Lord
may they be encouraged
and built up
through it
we thank you too Lord
for the ministry
of the gospel
throughout our islands
here
we thank you
for the encouragements
of communion seasons
and for the joy
of your word
being blessed
and your power
being seen
in the saving
of people
we thank you
for the encouragement
of new members
in so many different
congregations
and we pray
Lord
that even going forward
we will hear
and know more
of that joy
of salvation
thankful for the rejoicing
in heaven
over one sinner
who repents
and may we rejoice
with those who rejoice
even in these ways
we pray your blessing
on the communion
in Garibus
this coming weekend
be with Reverend Hugh Ferrier
as he ministers there
and be with the congregation
as a whole
Lord
bind them together
in the bonds
of your love
under the banner
of your truth
we pray Lord
too for
our nation
as a whole
we pray for
all the different needs
we see surrounding us
we know Lord
there are many
but none are hidden
from you
and so Lord
hear the praying
people that you have
throughout all corners
of our land
and to the far ends
of the earth
we thank you
that you have
your people
and even today
as a day
when your word
is heard
and read
and maybe
at other times
when it's
for many people
not heard
the rest of the year
apart from maybe
occasionally Christmas
and Easter
we thank you Lord
for the power
of your word
and we pray
that to all ends
of the earth today
you will bless it
in the preaching
of it
and the proclamation
of it
and even in the hearing
of it
that it will touch
hearts
and bring new life
to many people
so Lord
continue to bless us
now as we look
to you
go before us
Lord
as we commit ourselves
again into your hands
watch over us
Lord
and come
near to us
as we seek
to come near to you
and pardon us
in all our sin
as we ask all
with the forgiveness
of our sin
in Jesus precious name
and for his sake
and glory
we ask it all
Amen
Let's sing again
together
to God's praise
we're singing
in Psalm 42
in the Scottish Psalter
page 262
Psalm 42
on page 262
we're going to sing
from verse 1
down to verse 5
and the tune
is Weatherby
like as the heart
for water brooks
and thirst
of pant and bray
so pants my longing
soul O God
that come
to thee I may
Psalm 42
from verse 1
to 5
we stand
to sing
to the same
God wants to have
and pray
soatt the heart
to the next
he or LO
so grant my longing
soul O God
O God, that come to thee I live.
My soul for God, the living God,
doth thirst when shall I near.
Unto thy countenance approach,
and then God's sight appear.
My tears are hard to me be meet,
both in the night and day.
While unto me continually,
where is thy godless sin?
My soul is poured out in me,
when this I think upon.
Because that with the multitude
I neartofore had gone.
With every true God's house I went,
with voice of joy and praise.
Yea, with the multitude that kept
the solemn holy days.
O why art thou cast down, my soul?
Why in me so dismayed?
Trust God, for I shall praise him yet.
This countenance is my name.
Amen.
We can turn together to read God's word
now in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians.
Reading in chapter 1.
1 Corinthians chapter 1.
We'll take up our reading at verse 10.
Reading down to verse 25.
1 Corinthians chapter 1.
Reading at verse 10.
I appeal to you, brothers,
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind
and the same judgment.
For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people
that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
What I mean is that each of you says,
I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos,
or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ.
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gais,
so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
I did baptize also the household of Stephanas.
Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.
For Christ did not send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel,
and not with words of eloquent wisdom,
lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved,
it is the power of God.
For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.
Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God,
the world did not know God through wisdom,
it pleased God through the folly of what we preach,
to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs,
and Greeks seek wisdom.
But we preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to the Jews,
and folly to Gentiles.
But to those who are called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ is the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
And so on.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
Before we turn back to consider some of this passage,
we're going to sing once again to God's praise in Psalm 147.
Psalm 147.
Sing Psalm's version on page 192.
I'm going to sing from verse 1 to verse 7.
The tune is Creditan.
Psalm 147 at verse 1.
O praise the Lord, how good it is
to sing him songs of praise.
How pleasant to give thanks to him
for all his gracious ways.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 7.
Standing to sing.
O praise the Lord, how good it is
to sing him songs of praise.
And bless him songs of praise.
He heals his people's broken hearts,
restores the fruits and blame.
He sets the number of the stars,
and calls them each by day.
Tis our Lord, and great in power,
his wisdom is profound.
The Lord sustains the weak but cast,
the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thankfulness,
with joy his praise proclaim.
And with the music of the heart,
give glory to his name.
We can turn back to our reading in 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
We can read again at verse 17.
1 Corinthians chapter 1 at verse 17.
For Christ did not send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel,
and not with words of eloquent wisdom,
lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing.
But to us who are being saved,
it is the power of God.
Especially those words in verse 18.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing.
But to us who are being saved,
it is the power of God.
As Paul is writing here to the church at Corinth,
he's writing to a place and a people that he loved very much.
A place where he had seen the gospel blessed in the past,
and people coming to faith.
But Corinth was a large,
bustling city, an important place of commerce,
an important place of business,
strategically placed where people would be passing through it
on their journeys from north, south, east, and west.
So in that sense,
it was cosmopolitan in so many different ways,
and yet a place where the gospel at one time flourished.
But being such a place as this,
with different people coming through,
it was a place full of different ideas and different teachings.
And there was always people coming and going
who had this new kind of teaching,
something new to be listened to and heard.
And in many ways,
Paul was seen as just one of those people who had come.
And he'd come with something new.
He'd come with the gospel,
and people had listened.
But as is always the danger,
as is always the case,
there's a danger of being drawn away to something else,
to something different,
and to something new.
There was all kinds of wisdom as the people saw it.
And yet, as Paul is writing to them,
he's reminding them of the foolishness of going away
from what was central and most important to faith,
to life, to their salvation.
And that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And especially the heart of the gospel,
which is the cross of Christ.
And that is what we've been reflecting on already today,
this morning,
as we think of this Easter Sunday,
the day that reminds us so much of the power of the cross,
that Christ died for our sins,
but that on the third day,
he rose again.
And this is the word that he has preached to them,
and the word that he is encouraging them in as well.
And he gives them this challenge in verse 18,
as to what way they are living,
what way they are going.
For the word of the cross is folly,
foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved,
it is the power of God.
If there is one thing you could change in your life,
or you could add to your life,
what would it be?
If you were given an opportunity to ask for one thing,
what would that be?
In the Old Testament,
in the book of 2 Chronicles 1,
chapter 1,
there you read of someone who was given such an opportunity as this.
And that man was Solomon.
In that passage, in verse 7,
it says that in the night,
God appeared to Solomon and said to him,
ask what I shall give you.
Ask what I shall give you.
God came to him and said,
what do you want me to give to you?
How would you reply?
What would you ask for?
Well, this is what Solomon asked for.
Solomon said to God,
you have shown great and steadfast love to David,
my father,
and have made me king in his place.
Oh Lord God,
let your word to David,
my father,
now be fulfilled,
for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people.
For who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?
That opportunity that Solomon had, he asked for wisdom and knowledge.
And the Lord gave it to him in abundance along with other things because he had asked wisely.
There was a king, King Solomon being asked,
what do you want me to do for you?
But it's not just to kings and people that might be seen as important that God gives that opportunity
and asks that question of us well.
In the New Testament, in the Gospel of Mark, you read of a blind beggar, Bartimaeus.
And he's in many ways asked that same question.
Jesus is passing by and he's crying out to him and Jesus turns and says to him,
what do you want me to do for you?
Here is the blind beggar and this opportunity for asking of the Lord anything that this world has to offer.
And what does he ask for?
He says, Lord, that I might see.
Wisdom again is there.
Not just physical seeing, but seeing Jesus and following Jesus along the way.
In all the things that we could be offered in this world, is wisdom our priority?
Is that what we're looking for?
Or are we getting caught up in the foolishness of this world?
Of the foolishness that despises the cross?
That shuns the cross?
That pushes the cross out of the way as something insignificant or unimportant?
Well, Paul here is writing to the church of Corinth and to ourselves, reminding us of the importance of the wisdom, the power, and the knowledge that the cross has to give.
The church in Corinth then was a place that seemed to be full of wisdom, but so easily getting led astray.
And that's what Paul highlights for us further down in verse 20.
He says,
Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Anything the world has to offer us is foolishness before God.
God is wisdom.
And that is what we need.
And so how do we consider the word of God?
How do we consider the word of the cross as we hear today and as we hear it every time we come under the gospel, the word of God?
How do we take it?
What do we do with it?
Do we see the cross as the power of God to salvation or do we see it as just foolishness?
But foolishness, it says, for those who are perishing.
Well, as we look at this passage together this evening, we see that Paul came into Corinth, this busy city, this busy place where much ideas were being put forth,
where many teachings were being put forth, and he comes again just to remind them to keep their eyes on the cross of Christ, to keep their eyes on the gospel, to listen to the gospel, to see the gospel, not just a means among others,
to see the gospel not just as something that will get you out of a tight spot for a time and then you can go back to your previous ways,
but to see what the gospel speaks to and who it speaks to.
It speaks to us all as lost sinners in need of salvation and that the gospel speaks of salvation being found in Jesus Christ alone.
What distinguishes the Christian faith from any other?
Surely it is the cross where God gave his son to die for our sins.
No other religion has that.
Christ on the cross crucified is the heart of our salvation and our hope.
And that's what he wants the church at Corinth to see.
The cross and its power.
Its power to save.
So how do we view the cross?
There's three things from verse 18 I want us to think about together this evening.
And it's really just taking from the words of this verse.
The first thing is the word of the cross.
What does that mean?
The second thing is the foolishness of the cross as it's seen by many.
But then thirdly, we want to see the power of the cross.
So the first thing we want to look at is the word of the cross.
For the word of the cross, it says at the beginning of verse 18.
As Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, it's into the midst of this struggle.
The struggle between all the different teachers and scribes as we're seeing in verse 20.
The debaters of the age.
Many people are coming to Corinth and giving their own message.
They'll have their own gods.
They'll have their own teaching.
They'll have their own ideas.
And Paul is coming into the midst of this and saying,
Well, who are you going to listen to?
Which word are you going to listen to?
And there are those who are coming who are perhaps more able speakers, more able debaters.
They're more eloquent in their speech.
They have fancy words.
They have fancy ideas.
They're very persuasive in many different ways.
But what does Paul say about himself?
Well, in verse 17, where we read there, we see Paul came in weakness, really, and in much trembling.
He did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.
And not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
He didn't come to change anything that God had given to him.
He didn't come to try and make it more persuasive himself or more powerful or eloquent himself that it might appeal to people.
He came with the word of the cross.
Lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Nothing was to detract from the cross of Christ and the power that was already there.
Christ sent him to preach the gospel.
And that is what we have today, to this very day.
It doesn't maybe come always eloquently.
It doesn't come with words of wisdom.
But it's still the power of the cross of Christ that is able to save.
And that is what we need.
And we are not to listen to those who would seek to change it or to downplay the cross as central.
Or to see it as something gory and just to be put to one side.
The idea of Jesus Christ being crucified, having to die for our sins.
To do something that surely we could do ourselves and manage ourselves.
People want to make the message more palatable.
To make it more pleasing to the ear.
But there is no way away from it.
If we try and do that, we are emptying the cross of Christ of its power.
And it's the word of the cross that we need to hear.
Take the cross out of the gospel.
And no more is it good news.
No more is it the way to salvation.
Because there is only one way to salvation.
And that is through Christ and the cross and its power.
One preacher once said this about it.
The old bloody message of the cross is quickly being replaced by a bloodless message that lacks power and lacks hope.
Instead of hearing the devastating but life changing news that we are sinners in need of salvation through the shed blood.
People hear a message that tells them, I'm okay.
You're okay.
And that's always the danger with the gospel.
That we empty it of its power by taking the cross out of it.
By focusing on ourselves or bringing change for good from ourselves.
That is not the answer.
The resurrection on Sunday doesn't start with us.
It starts and finishes with Christ and the cross.
And how does Paul himself view the word of the cross?
He views it in his own testimony as the only way to salvation.
Because there was nothing that he could do himself.
And he knows that.
He acknowledges that now.
But he didn't always.
In the book of Philippians chapter 3.
You see that Paul once had confidence in flesh.
Confidence in himself.
And he says this in Philippians 3 verse 4.
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh.
I have more.
Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel.
The tribe of Benjamin.
A Hebrew of Hebrews.
As to the law a Pharisee.
As to seal a persecutor of the church.
As to righteousness under the law.
Blameless.
There is his list as it previously stood.
There is what he could present before God in his own eyes.
He had all of these things.
All of these things he could call on.
Confidence in the flesh.
His circumcision.
His people.
His works.
His seal.
All of these things he had.
And what changed?
His realisation of Christ and the cross.
Because he goes on to say in verse 7 there.
As to righteousness under the law.
Blameless.
But he says.
But whatever gain I had.
I counted as loss.
For the sake of Christ.
Christ.
His testimony was to the cross of Christ.
The word of the cross.
And then his preaching is all about Christ and the cross.
As he says.
But we preach Christ crucified.
That is the gospel.
He never loses that.
And he never loses the wonder of it either.
As he's preaching and teaching to so many people.
In so many different places.
It's always with the cross.
And the word of the cross at the heart of his message.
As he writes to the Romans in chapter 11.
He says.
Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God.
He's still in awe of it all.
How unsearchable are his judgments.
And how inscrutable his ways.
For who has known the mind of the Lord.
Or who has been his counsellor.
Or who has given a gift to him.
That he might be repaid.
For for him and from him.
And through him and to him.
Are all things.
To him be glory forever.
Amen.
So he has the word of the cross.
Always to the fore.
Not some new wisdom with eloquent words.
In case the cross be emptied of its power.
The cross is always to the fore.
And so it should be for ourselves too.
To always have the cross of Christ.
As all that we are doing.
All that we are seeing.
Is for the glory of God.
And what is the word of the cross to you today?
What does it say to you today?
Does it not speak of the word of victory.
Over sin and death.
If we take that cross away from the gospel.
We empty it.
Of that power.
There is no longer victory over sin.
And death.
If you take the cross away.
The word of love.
And grace.
Is gone.
Take the cross away.
And the word of power.
And salvation.
Is no more.
Because all of these things.
Are found at the cross of Christ.
That is what the word of the cross is.
Someone else put it.
He came to pay a debt.
He didn't owe.
Because we owed a debt.
We couldn't pay.
The word of the cross.
People will dismiss it.
And belittle it.
But we look to the one.
To the one.
Who hung.
On the tree.
Somebody else put it like this.
When you think of the cross.
And how.
The world tries to dismiss it.
Even conquer it.
As we might see it.
He said.
The cross.
Cannot be defeated.
For it is.
Defeat.
The cross.
Of Christ.
Is powerful.
Powerful.
And the word of the cross.
Is salvation.
And that salvation.
Cannot be defeated.
Because that is where.
The victory.
Was won.
The word.
Of the cross.
Is powerful.
But then.
Secondly.
We see.
The folly.
The foolishness.
Of the cross.
The word of the cross.
Is folly.
To those.
Who are perishing.
What does this mean?
The word.
Is being ignored.
The word.
Is being.
Put away.
As foolish.
And when you think of.
Who Paul was writing to.
You see it.
Later on.
In verse 22.
The Jews demand signs.
And the Greeks.
Seek wisdom.
These were the majority.
Of people.
That the.
The gospel.
Was coming to.
In Corinth.
Jews.
And Greeks.
And how did they.
View.
The cross.
Well they.
Viewed it as.
Folly.
As foolishness.
The cross.
For the Jews.
Was.
Something that is.
Cursed.
And.
To worship.
The cross.
In any way.
Would be.
Revolting.
Wrong.
Because.
God.
Wasn't.
Going to send.
A savior.
Into this world.
Who would die.
In such a way.
This was madness.
This was just.
Foolishness.
To them.
They just.
Couldn't.
Get their heads.
Around it.
And the same.
For the Greeks.
The cross.
Was something.
That was used.
To put murderers.
To death.
It was the.
Ultimate.
Disgrace.
The cross.
And the idea.
Of a savior.
To the Greeks.
Coming in this way.
Again.
Was foolishness.
And to them.
To worship.
The cross.
In any way.
Would be just.
Superstitious.
And so.
Here.
They are.
The debaters.
Of the age.
The scribes.
And all of.
These people.
Coming.
The words.
Of wisdom.
But as.
The Lord.
Is saying.
As Paul.
Is saying.
The world.
Of the world.
It is foolish.
To think.
Anything else.
Apart from the cross.
As the way.
To salvation.
It stands.
As a.
A sign.
For us.
The consequences.
Of sin.
Is death.
And here.
Is where death.
Is being dealt.
With.
That Jesus died.
For our sin.
And to ignore this.
To ignore this.
Is to be foolish.
And it is.
As it says here.
To perish.
Eternally.
Is what.
Behind.
These words.
We live in a world.
Where you see.
Many.
Signs.
That.
Indicate.
Danger.
You think of.
A transformer.
Behind.
A large.
Metal.
Fence.
Is a sign.
On the sides.
Probably on all sides.
Of it.
Danger.
High voltage.
Do not enter.
Danger of death.
All the signs.
Are there.
And you ignore them.
At your own risk.
You ignore them.
At your own peril.
So why would you go and climb over that fence.
When it's got these signs up.
Of the danger that exists there.
And so many people.
Have ignored these signs.
And they've perished.
And so it is with the gospel.
And the word of the cross.
It's foolishness to those.
Who are perishing.
If we listen to the wisdom of this world.
We are foolish.
And we are perishing.
It can sound eloquent.
It can sound persuasive.
It can sound as.
The wisdom of our day.
And our age.
Is just to shun the bible.
As outdated.
And old fashioned.
And all of these things.
But to deny it.
Is to deny.
The power of God.
And the power of God.
To salvation.
C.S. Lewis once wrote.
Atheists express.
Their rage against God.
Although in their view.
He does not exist.
And you see.
The way the wisdom of this world today.
Rages against God.
Anything to do with a Christian faith.
Stirs up a rage.
And a hatred.
Against God.
And as Lewis said.
In their view.
God doesn't exist.
But as we often say.
There is that God shaped void.
In us all.
And just like the high voltage sign.
Where there are warning signs.
The cross stands as a warning.
To every generation.
That apart from this.
You are perishing.
You are foolish.
And you are foolish.
To ignore it.
Take note.
Of the word.
Of the cross.
Don't let it be foolishness.
That leads to you.
Perishing.
And the cross is.
A reminder to us.
Of the love.
Of God.
We are foolish.
To ignore the love.
Of God.
The finished work.
Of God.
On that cross.
Through Christ.
When he said.
It is done.
It is finished.
And how.
Even with the thief.
Beside him.
On the cross.
Who turned to him.
And cried out to him.
Remember me Lord.
He gave him that wonderful response.
Today you will be with me.
In paradise.
Dwight Moody wrote about that.
As Christ was.
Crucified there.
With a thief.
Beside him.
He said this.
Of the thief.
Who turned to him.
In that way.
He said.
The thief.
Had nails.
Through both his hands.
So he could not work.
And a nail.
Through each foot.
So that he could not run errands.
For the Lord.
He could not lift a hand.
Or a foot.
Toward his salvation.
And yet Christ.
Offered him.
The gift of God.
And he took it.
Christ.
Threw him a passport.
And took him into.
Paradise.
The thief.
Could do nothing.
For his own salvation.
Neither.
Can we.
We are fools.
To think that we can.
Instead.
We are to come.
Saying nothing.
In my hands.
I bring.
Simply to thy cross.
I cling.
The cross.
Is foolishness.
To those.
Who are perishing.
So why.
Would we be fools.
When God.
Is calling us.
To himself.
Through the cross.
To come.
And see the way.
To salvation.
The way.
Prepared.
Right through.
The Old Testament.
Looking.
Ahead.
To the cross.
And the way.
We see the cross.
And Christ.
Crucified.
Proclaimed.
Through.
The New Testament.
It's there.
Before us.
All the time.
Even when you go back.
To the Old Testament.
Go to Ezekiel.
And you see there.
God.
Calling his people.
He says.
In Ezekiel 33.
Verse 11.
Say to them.
As I live.
Declares the Lord God.
I have no pleasure.
In the death.
Of the wicked.
But that the wicked.
Would turn.
From his way.
And live.
Turn back.
From your evil ways.
For why.
Will you die.
O house.
Of Israel.
The cross.
Cries out.
Today.
It's crying out.
With a warning.
That we are perishing.
If we ignore it.
We are to hear.
The word.
And see the cross.
As the power.
Of God.
To salvation.
And that's the last thing.
We want to see.
From this verse.
It says.
But.
To us.
Who are being saved.
It is the power.
Of God.
And isn't it great.
Isn't it wonderful.
That we have the cross.
Why would we want.
To get rid of the cross.
In any way.
Shape.
Or form.
Because.
We are reminded here.
It is.
The power.
Of God.
To salvation.
It is the only.
Way.
To salvation.
And when we see.
The cross.
And we see the salvation.
That is offered here.
It is.
A divine.
Salvation.
It's a salvation.
That can only come.
From God.
Because.
It is the power.
Of God.
To salvation.
Because.
We are.
Powerless.
We are dead.
In our sin.
We are lost.
But Jesus came.
To save us.
From our sin.
And therefore.
We can rejoice.
In the cross.
Not as.
Something.
Disgusting.
As the Jews.
Would see it.
Or.
Something.
That just.
Is so superstitious.
Would see it.
In Paul's day.
But that we would see.
The wonder of it.
That God.
Sent his son.
Into this world.
To live.
And to die.
To die.
In our place.
And when we put our faith.
In the Lord Jesus.
We know.
This power.
Of God.
For ourselves.
It is the power.
Of God.
To salvation.
The one.
Who is able.
To break.
All the chains.
Of sin.
That hold us.
The one.
Who is able.
To make us.
A new person.
A new people.
The one.
Who is able.
To bring us.
Away from condemnation.
Because now.
There is no condemnation.
For those.
Who are in Christ.
Jesus.
And that is.
Under.
The cross.
Of Christ.
And its power.
John.
Newton.
Wrote.
These words.
When he was looking.
To the cross.
He said.
Alas.
I knew not.
What I did.
But now.
My tears.
Are vain.
Where shall.
My trembling.
Soul.
Be hid.
For I.
The Lord.
Have slain.
A second.
Luke.
He gave.
I freely.
All forgive.
This blood.
Is for thy ransom.
Paid.
I die.
That thou.
Mayst.
Live.
That is the wonder.
Of the word.
Of the cross.
He died.
That we.
Might live.
And John.
In his gospel.
Expresses that.
So wonderfully.
For us as well.
In chapter 5.
Verse 24.
He says.
Truly.
I say to you.
Whoever.
Hears my word.
And believes.
Him who sent me.
Has.
Eternal.
He does not come.
Into judgment.
But has passed.
From death.
To life.
Passed from.
Perishing.
In our foolishness.
To being saved.
By the power of God.
In the cross.
What is our.
Thought.
Of the cross.
Today.
Do.
Do we see it.
As just foolishness.
And perish.
Or do we see it.
Its power.
To salvation.
All around.
The world.
Today.
The gospel.
Is heard.
And the gospel.
At its core.
Is the cross.
Of Christ.
And its power.
To transform.
form. And we don't lose heart in all that we do for the Lord. We don't lose heart as we seek the
Lord. As he calls us to himself, we see Christ as our hope for eternity. I'll leave you with a story
about John Wesley. When he was returning home one evening after being out preaching, he was robbed
and the thief came to him and stopped him in his tracks and asked him for the money that he had.
John Wesley was only able to say, well, I just have a few coins, but I also have this Christian
literature. The thief was disappointed and yet he took the little money that Wesley had. Now you or I,
we might be just terrified at that moment and just want the thief to disappear away from us.
But as the thief ran away, John Wesley called out to him and said, stop, I have something else to give
you. And the thief just stopped and turned in surprise. And John Wesley said to him, my friend,
you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember. The blood of
Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. As the thief hurried away, John Wesley prayed that his words might
bear fruit in that thief. Many years passed. And one Sunday when John Wesley had finished preaching a
Sunday service, he was greeting people at the door. And this man approached him, a stranger in his eyes,
as he thought, and introduced himself. And he was surprised to learn that this was the thief he had met that
night. And the thief. And the thief was now a Christian and a successful businessman. His life had been
transformed. And he said to John Wesley, I owe it all to you. And John Wesley's response was immediately to say,
not to me, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin.
The cross is powerful to save. It can save you. It can save me as we fix our eyes on Jesus.
It's not about eloquent words of wisdom. It's about Christ crucified. There is the power of God to
salvation. May we know more of that saving power in our own life and in our own experience and in our
lives of our community and our land and this world that Christ would be glorified and his name be praised.
Let us pray.
Lord our God, we can bring nothing to you, but we thank you that we have a cross to cling to,
that we have the power of God before our eyes as we think of Christ crucified for our sins. As we think
of all that was done for us, Lord, why would we ever want to turn away? And yet in our foolishness,
we so often neglect these things. And we just pray, Lord, for your spirit to provoke us, Lord,
to stir us up in our hearts and in our minds, to always have that cross before us, to always see
its power and Christ as our saviour and as our Lord. We thank you for the wonder of it, for your love
towards sinners such as we are. We pray, Lord, that you will make us thankful that the way to salvation
has been made plain for us. So help us, Lord, to go on in your strength and to rejoice in the hope
that is Christ our Lord as we ask it all in his name. Amen.
We're going to conclude by singing again in Psalm 147.
Psalm 147 at verse 15, the three stanzas down to verse 18, the tune is Arlington.
To all the corners of the earth, the Lord's commands proceed, for when he speaks, his word goes forth
through all the world with speed. He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land.
He hurls forth icy hail like stones who can such cold withstand. But when he sends his mighty word
and makes the warm winds blow, the frozen waters start to melt and once again to flow. We'll sing
these three stanzas to God's praise.
To all the corners of the earth, the Lord's commands proceed.
For when he speaks, his word goes forth. For when he speaks, his word goes forth.
For when he speaks, his word goes forth. Through all the world will speak.
He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land. He hurls forth icy hail like stones.
Thank you.
The warm winds flow, the frozen water start to melt, and once again to flow.
Amen.