Transcript God Chose “The Foolishness of Preaching” 1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not.

God Chose “The Foolishness of Preaching”
1 Cor 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
KJV
1 Cor 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring
to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of
this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did
not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe.
1 Cor 1:18-25
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and
to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Cor 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring
to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of
this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did
not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe.
1 Cor 1:18-25
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and
to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.
Why Is Preaching Called “Foolishness”?
• Not the proclamation of it (KJV, ASV)
• The message that is preached (NKJV)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom
knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe. (KJV)
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom
did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of
the message preached to save those who believe. (NKJV)
Viewed as foolish / ridiculous to some
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to
those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of
the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God
made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world
through wisdom did not know God, it pleased
God through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after
wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a
stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom
of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men, and the weakness of God is stronger than
men.
1 Cor. 1
I. Introduction (vv. 1-9)
II. Divisions (vv. 10-17)
III. Wisdom of God -vs- Wisdom
of men (vv. 18-31)
A. Gospel is foolishness to
man, but to God it is the
power to save (vv. 18-25).
B. The nature of those who
accept the gospel (vv. 2631).
Who Views The Gospel As
“Foolish”?
• Those who are “perishing” (v. 18)
• “The significance of the present tense in this
verse is that it denotes continuous action or
linear action. Thus the usage describes the
wicked as in a way of life which is destroying
them, here and now and, ultimately and finally,
will lead to everlasting destruction. It is like
contracting a fatal disease that is in the
process of ultimately destroying the body”
(Willis, 34)
1 Cor 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Those
Are Perishing
Those
Being Saved
“Foolishness”
“Power of God”
More than “wisdom”
More than Conviction
Power – To Save!
God Will Destroy The Wisdom of Men
1 Cor 1:19
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring
to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
• Quote from Isa. 29:14
• Context: “Wise” men told Judah that deliverance
would come through political alliances.
 Alliances caused nothing but trouble.
 Sennacherib invaded the land – siege on Jer.
 God caused the siege to be lifted.
• Fled the presence of God (1 Cor. 1:20)
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
A. Does not fit what thinks
1. Thought Messiah would not die (John 12:33-34)
2. Thought couldn’t be saved by crucified man (1 Cor.
1:18-25)
3. Prov. 16:25 – way seems right – lead to death
4. Often run truth through human reasoning to
determine if they will accept it or not
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
A. Does not fit what thinks
B. Does not fit what been taught
1. Base acceptance with what always heard
2. 2 Thess. 2:10-12 – possible to be deceived
3. Could be taught wrong (1 John 4:1-6)
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
A. Does not fit what thinks
B. Does not fit what been taught
C. Unpopular (Matt. 7:13-14)
D. Too Simple (2 Kings 5:10-ff)
E. Don’t Like the Consequences (Matt. 19:9-12)
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
II. The Message That is Thought Foolish
Examples Of Messages
That Seemed “Foolish”




Dip 7 times in Jordan to cure leprosy (2
Kings 5:10-14)
March around a city 7 days and walls fall
down (Josh. 6)
Look at a brass serpent and be healed
(Num. 21)
Dip in pool and be cured of blindness
(John 9)
II. The Message That is Thought Foolish
A. Salvation by crucified savior (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
B. Baptism – “Water salvation (Mark 16:16)
C. Divorce & Remarriage (Matt. 19:4-9)
1. Divorce for only one cause (Matt. 19:9)
2. Can’t remarry unless put away mate for fornication
(Matt. 19:9)
II. The Message That is Thought Foolish
A. Salvation by crucified savior (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
B. Baptism – “Water salvation (Mark 16:16)
C. Divorce & Remarriage (Matt. 19:4-9)
D. Six Day Creation – Young Earth (Gen. 1; Exo. 31)
E. One Church (Eph. 4:5)
F. Need Authority (Col. 3:17)
G. Obey Civil Law (Rom. 13:1-ff)
H. Attendance Important (Heb. 10:25)
I. Modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10)
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
II. The Message That is Thought Foolish
III. Our Reaction
III. Our Reaction
A. Lean that God’s message does not fit
human reasoning
1. Prov. 14:12; 16:25
2. Isa. 55:8-9
3. Jer. 10:23
B. Preach it anyway (2 Tim. 4:1-5)
I. Why The Message is Thought Foolish
II. The Message That is Thought Foolish
III. Our Reaction