So, turn in your Bibles, please, to 1 Corinthians, chapter 2.
1 Corinthians, chapter 2. I'm going to read the first five verses.
This is the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth.
And this is what he writes. And it's a word for us today as well.
1 Corinthians 2.
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come with eloquence
or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness, with great fear and trembling.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.
Let's pray before we look at this word together.
Father, you've given us food to eat today.
You've given us drink.
You nourish us.
And you sustain us physically.
But how much more are we desperately in need for your Spirit?
And so we pray that as we look at these words together and think about them,
that it would be a demonstration of your Spirit's power at work amongst us today,
so that you would cause us to lean upon you,
to trust you,
depend upon you,
so that you would do an effective and eternal work
in the lives of people causing them to trust in you too.
So help us now.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, I'm sure you're all familiar with the TV show, The Apprentice.
The host, Mr. Lord Sugar himself,
invites 15 or so people to compete against each other
in a series of business tasks.
And the winner gets to receive, in case you're interested,
£250,000
and becomes Lord Sugar's apprentice.
But I wonder if you've also noticed that the winners of this show
are always charming and clever.
They're already very successful in their own little businesses
and very wealthy.
It seems to be that they are the best and the brightest.
And above all, they have an extraordinary self-confidence
in themselves and in their message.
They don't just sell snow to the Eskimos,
they can sell rain to the Irish.
Now, in many ways, that just reflects the values of our society
and it mirrors our culture.
You see, we live in a world
where the weak are disregarded
and the foolish are despised.
There's only room for the best and the brightest.
We want winners and not losers.
But when it comes to God's plan and purpose,
as we've been thinking about this morning,
to create a kingdom from every nation,
to love him,
well, those values of the world
are turned completely upside down.
Because what we're going to see from the text that we read today
is this.
And I've just suddenly thought,
I always get mixed up how to spell chooses and chose.
So if I've got that wrong anywhere,
please forgive me.
God chooses weak people,
sends them with a foolish message,
fills them with extraordinary power,
so that lives are changed.
How different that is
to the standards of the world.
Weak people,
with a foolish message,
give an extraordinary power,
so that lives are changed.
That's what we're thinking about today.
So let's take each part in turn.
God chooses weak people.
Look at chapter 2, verse 1.
So it was with me,
says Paul, brothers and sisters,
when I came to you,
I didn't come with eloquence or human wisdom,
as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
When I came to your town and city
and I preached to you,
I was nothing special.
In fact, he's saying,
I was just like you.
Beginning of verse 1,
so it was with me,
brothers and sisters,
I was just like you.
So what were the church like?
Well, we're told in the previous section,
go back to chapter 1, verse 26.
Brothers and sisters,
think of what you were when you were called.
Think about, for a moment,
what you were when you became a Christian.
Not many of you were wise by human standards.
Some, but not many,
were leading professors in the world of academics.
Not many of you were influential.
A few,
but not many were powerful politicians
influencing the nation's economy.
And not many of you were noble birth.
One of two,
one or two of you,
but not many of you were born with great wealth
and status and privilege.
He's reminding them that,
well,
they were a bunch of nobodies.
And that's really a picture of us.
It's a picture of Amy.
As far as the world's elite and the standards go,
well,
we're nothing.
We have an education
and we may have a few qualifications
and letters after our name,
but we're not being chased up
to have our thoughts published
to the world.
You see,
when God looked at us,
we weren't standing out in a crowd.
We weren't spotted by God on Instagram
because we had so many followers.
We were people who had nothing to offer.
In the eyes of the world,
nothing special.
Now,
isn't that incredibly humbling?
Because we all like to think
we are somebody special,
or at the very least,
that we're somehow better
than the person sitting next to me.
So,
if we're nothing special,
how did we ever become a Christian
in the first place?
Well,
look at verse 27,
chapter 1,
verse 27.
We're told that God chose
the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise.
God chose the weak things of the world
to shame the strong.
God chose the lowly things of this world
and the despised things
and the things that are not
to nullify or cancel
the things that are.
You see,
God didn't choose us
because we were special.
Maybe you can remember
back to your school days,
standing in the playground,
being lined up,
being picked for a particular football team
or a game of tag
or whatever it was.
Always the sporty and the fastest.
They always got chosen first.
And then the rest were ignored or rejected.
You can go and play on your own,
do your own thing.
Well,
it's no different today,
is it?
The world picks the beautiful,
the wealthy,
the clever.
But God doesn't choose
by the standards of this world.
God isn't influenced
about anything about our exterior
or anything good we do
or anything bad that we do.
God is driven by his grace
because he loves us.
Verse 27,
God chose the foolish,
the weak,
the lowly,
the despised.
God chose nobodies
just like us.
You see,
he seeks a people
who know
they are not qualified.
People like Amy
who have come to see that,
well,
Amy knows that she has nothing
to offer God
except for her failure
and her brokenness.
One author puts it like this.
Here we go.
In the kingdom of God,
the one thing that qualifies you
is knowing that you don't qualify
and the one thing that disqualifies you
is thinking that you do.
God chooses weak people.
So why?
But why does God choose those
who are weak?
Now I've gone and messed up a bit here.
Oh dear.
Never mind.
Why does God choose those who are weak?
Well, look at verse 29.
So that no one
may boast before him.
If ever I could say
I'm a Christian
or Amy,
you could say
I'm a Christian
because
because I
obeyed
because
I went to Sheffield
because
well
we have reason for boasting,
don't we?
It's something I've done
that qualifies me.
No, we're only qualified
because of
Christ.
Verse 30.
It is because of
God
that you are
in Christ Jesus
who's become for us
wisdom from God
that is our righteousness,
holiness
and redemption.
Christ
took your
unrighteousness, Amy
and gave you
his righteousness
so that you are
acceptable to God.
He took your
unholiness
and gave you
his holiness
so that you are
treated as
blameless.
He's redeemed us
from a life of
slavery,
setting us free
so that we can
live a new life
to please him.
All this
has been given
to us
freely
because God
loves us.
None of us
on our own
qualify.
He makes us
his people
righteous,
holy
and redeemed.
He qualifies
you, Amy.
He qualifies
us
for the task.
Verse 31.
Therefore,
as it is written,
let the one
who boasts
boast
in the Lord.
Amy,
as you go,
always remember
that you are
weak
and your
boasting
is in
Christ
because he
qualifies you
to do
what you
could never
do
on your
own.
So,
God chooses
weak people.
Second,
God
sends
with a
foolish
message.
Paul's
message was
very simple,
wasn't it?
He explains it
like this,
chapter 2,
verse 2.
For I
resolved to
know nothing
while I was
with you
except Jesus
Christ
and him
crucified.
Imagine,
he was sent
with a
message
about a
person
called
Jesus
who was
put to
death
as a
criminal.
That's the
message.
And the
problem is
people
don't
always
like it.
For
some,
it's a
nonsense.
Look at
chapter 1,
verse 18.
Do you
see it
there?
Chapter 1,
verse 18.
The message
of the
cross
is
foolishness
to those
who are
perishing.
Professor
Richard Dawkins,
who's a
leading scientist
and atheist,
said this,
you cannot
be an
intelligent
scientific
thinker
and still
hold
to
religious
beliefs.
Don't
know if
you agree
with that,
but what
he's saying
is you
can't be
an educated
person,
an intelligent
person,
and still
believe in
the cross
of Jesus
Christ.
You see,
for many,
the cross
is foolish.
We don't
need anyone
to save
us.
We save
ourselves.
Salvation
for humanity
is found in
the wisdom
that we
have and
that we
can learn.
And Amy
is being
sent to
Sheffield
with a
foolish
message.
A message
that some
people will
think is
completely
daft,
and some
of your
friends will
think you're
daft.
But listen
to what God
says.
Verse 18.
Let's read
it all.
For the
message of
the cross
is foolishness
to those
who are
perishing,
but to
us who
are being
saved,
it's the
power of
God.
For it
is written,
I will
destroy the
wisdom of
the wise,
the
intelligence
of the
intelligent,
I will
frustrate.
The very
thing that
the world
counts as
foolish and
nonsense,
God says,
I will show
the world
that this
is actually
the means
of salvation.
The world's
wisdom says,
we can go
it alone,
we don't
need God,
we don't
need a
cross,
but God
in his
wisdom used
the very
thing that
was foolish
to save
the world.
Look at
the end
of verse
21,
chapter 1,
end of
verse 21.
God was
pleased
through the
foolishness
of what
was preached
to save
those who
believe.
You see,
the wisdom
of the
world has
achieved great
things.
We can do
amazing things.
We can send
rockets to the
moon.
India did
that recently
to see if
there was
ice.
I don't
know what
they'll do
with the
ice if
they find
ice there,
but maybe
there is.
We can
write books
and plays
and I've
even discovered
you can
write sermons
using the
use of
artificial
intelligence.
This sermon
wasn't AI,
don't worry.
We can
slow down
and cure
degenerative
diseases
and prolong
life.
We've done
amazing things
through our
wisdom,
but the
world is
still broken.
The human
heart is
still selfish
and it's
still sinful
beyond our
ability to
fix or
cure or
heal.
And God's
answer to
this is the
good news of
Jesus Christ
crucified.
A loving
God who
comes to
us in the
person of
Jesus Christ
to reach
us where
we're at.
Verse 22,
we're still
in chapter
1.
Jews demand
signs or
if you like
religious people,
well they want
miracles and
all the
razzmatazz
and wonderful
things.
Greeks look
for wisdom,
for knock
down arguments
and philosophy.
But we
preach Christ
crucified,
a stumbling
block to
religious folk
and foolishness
to those who
are not
religious.
amy, your
task, your
calling is
to bring
people to
the foolishness
of the
cross,
to see the
broken body
of Jesus
beaten,
crushed
and naked,
to see nails
driven into
his hands and
feet, ripping
and tearing
flesh,
to see
crown of
thorns
crushed
into his
skull,
blood
blinding
his eyes
and dripping
down his
side,
hearing the
agony and
the pain,
the grasping
for breath
as life
edges away.
Watch at the
cross as
crowds jeer
and taunt
and spit
and laugh.
the cross
of Christ
is a picture
of weakness,
it's a
bloody mess,
foolish,
stupid,
pathetic,
but look
at verse
24,
to those
whom God
has called,
whether Jews
or Greeks
or from
wherever they
come from,
Christ,
the power
of God
and the
wisdom of
God.
Amy,
we're sending
you to
proclaim a
foolish message
that has
the power
to save
anyone.
So tell
the good
news of
the cross.
Let the
women see
that Christ
has died
for all
of their
sin,
past,
present and
future.
Show them
that they
can be
forgiven
and no
longer have
to live
with fear,
guilt or
shame.
declare that
they are
loved and
treasured
by God,
that they
can be
beautiful
daughters of
Father God
who is not
just great
but good
and personal
and gracious.
Teach them
nothing less
and nothing
more than
this simple
message of
Jesus Christ
and him
crucified.
again as
one writer
put it
on the
cross
the one
person who
ever truly
qualified
allowed
himself to
be
disqualified
so that
you and
I who are
naturally
disqualified
can qualify
free
of charge.
so why
does God
use such
a foolish
message?
Well to
humble the
proud.
Look at
verse 25.
For the
foolishness of
God is
wiser
than the
human
wisdom
and the
weakness
of God
is stronger
than human
strength.
You see
God is not
seeking those
who rely on
their own
wisdom
or their
own
strength.
The saying
we all
know it
God helps
those who
help
themselves.
It's not
a Bible
verse.
It's false
teaching.
If we are
to experience
God's work
in us and
his salvation
we come in
humility.
We admit
that my
wisdom
my wisdom
from myself
is foolish
and my
strength is
complete
weakness.
Amy
preach the
cross to
others
but preach
the cross
to yourself
every day.
It will
keep you
humble.
So
weak
people
with a
foolish
message
equipped
with
extraordinary
power.
Paul came
in weakness
didn't he?
He was sent
with a foolish
message.
But look
in verses
chapter 2
verses 3
and 4
he was
equipped
by God's
power.
Do you see
it there
verse 3?
I came
to you
in weakness
with great
fear
and trembling.
Did you
write those
words Amy?
My message
and my
preaching
were not
with wise
and persuasive
words
but with
a demonstration
of the
Spirit's
power.
The people
God uses
are weak.
The message
we have
is foolish.
But it's
the means
by which
God works.
Amy if
you're to
lead someone
to Christ
it's not
because of
your ability
it's a
demonstration
of the
Spirit's
power.
If
Carigaline or
Christ Church
Central were
to plant
a church
it's not
our
greatness
it's a
demonstration
of the
Spirit's
power.
If any
good were
to come
from us
or from
our church
it's all
down to
the power
of God
working
through a
simple
people
with a
simple
message.
It doesn't
happen by
our wisdom
or our
persuasive
words.
It's not
our method
or our
technology
our slick
presentation
the dynamic
speaker
the strength
of our
faith
or the
length
of our
prayers.
It's all
down to
God's
power.
Later on
in the
letter Paul
speaks of
God's
power like
this.
He says
God's
power
raised the
Lord Jesus
from the
dead and
he will
also raise
us also.
That is
the power
at work
in Amy
and through
Amy
and in
us
and through
us.
It's
supernatural.
It's
extraordinary.
And so
as we
go
we depend
on
God.
Look at
verse 5.
We need
the Spirit's
power,
verse 5,
so that
your faith
might not
rest on
human wisdom
but on
God's
power.
We don't
want people
trusting in
Carigoline
Baptist
Church.
We don't
want followers
of Johnny
Grant or
any program.
We want
people who
will follow
Jesus and
people who
will proclaim
the cross.
You see,
if we depend
on our
strength,
we make
followers of
us.
People will
become dependent
on you if
you are the
strength.
Their faith
will be in
you.
In
Johnny
Grant we
trust.
No,
don't trust
me and
don't trust
yourself.
When we
are weak,
we depend
on God
and people
become followers
of him.
People will
become dependent
on him.
Their faith
will be in
Jesus.
So Amy,
depend on
God and
you will
experience the
Spirit's
power.
Which brings
us right
the way
through to
the end.
God
chooses
weak people,
sending them
with a
foolish message,
giving them
extraordinary
power so
that lives
are changed.
This is how
the church
in Corinth
came into
being.
It's how
Carragaline
came into
being.
It's how
Christ Church
Central came
into being.
This is the
way God
works.
It's the
way of
ministry for
all of
God's
people.
God
chooses
weak people
like you
and me.
He sends
us with a
foolish message,
equips us
with extraordinary
power so
that lives
are changed
for God's
glory.
Let's pray
together.
Let's pray.
as we pray,
I'm going to
read a
couple of
lines from
an old
hymn.
amen.
Amen.
We rest
on thee,
our shield
and our
defender.
We go
not forth
alone
against the
foe,
strong in
thy strength,
safe in
thy keeping
tender.
We rest
on thee,
and in
thy name
we go.
we go
in faith,
our own
great weakness
feeling,
and needing
more each
day thy
grace to
know.
Yet from
our hearts
a song of
triumph
pealing,
we rest
on thee,
and in
thy name
we go.
Father,
thank you
that you
have reached
people like
us as
weak as
we are.
Thank you
for the
wonderful
message of
Jesus Christ.
Thank you
that you
have given
us your
spirit's
power so
that we
might go
as your
people so
that others
are changed
for their
good and
for your
glory.
And it's
in Jesus'
name we
all pray.
Amen.
We are
going to
sing together.
Let your
kingdom come,
let your
will be
done so
that everyone
might know
your name.
As we
conclude
this
chapter 20
Hebrews
chapter 21
chapter 20
Charlie
Andrew