READ | SERMON NOTES
SUMMARY I There is a close relationship amongst the Cross, Wisdom and the Spirit. God’s wisdom is revealed in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This wisdom is revealed by the original witnesses through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The City of Corinth admire eloquence, philosophy and public debate. Wisdom was measured by how well one spoke and how convincing one sounded. Paul in v2 taught us how the Gospel is proclaimed shaped where our faith rests.
- Determination – Shaped By The Cross v1-2
a) Paul’s decision is to be Christ-centred, “resolved to know nothing… except Jesus Christ”. He was also Cross-centred to place this at the centre of his ministry. Christ crucified was always in sharp view. Faith that rests on God begins with daily determination to keep Jesus central. God chose the Cross to heal the human heart.
b) The Cross is the pattern for ministry: Humble, Sacrificial and God-exalting. May Jesus and the Cross always be at the centre of our speech and decision.
c) Discipleship always begins with re-centring upon God. Is Christ still at the centre of our lives? Is the cross always foundational in our conversations? - Demonstration – Empowered By The Spirit v3-5
a) Paul did not hide his weaknesses but named them so that our faith might not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God. He did not use superior speech or persuasive words of wisdom to the Corinthians, but in humility, reverence and weakness. He concentrated on the content of his message – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
b) Paul’s priority was to demonstrate the Spirit’s power which is the preaching of the Cross than the signs or wonders that people were expecting.
c) Where human effort stops, the Spirit’s power begins. No heart is too hard for God to change. No wall is too high; no distance is too far; no anger is too deep; and no past is too broken. When the Spirit of God moves, it can soften years of persuasion; enter locked rooms; and reach places where words cannot go. It can transform that one whom everyone has given up. Faith by the Spirit’s power will endure. - Declaration – Grounded In God’s Revelation v6-10
a) True spiritual understanding comes not from human wisdom but through the revelation of the Spirit who is centred on Christ crucified.
b) The key to maturity is in v9, “those who love Him”. The Spirit reveals the wisdom of God to those who love Him. To the Corinthians, knowledge mattered more than love. To Paul, the key to knowing all that God has prepared for us is through loving Him. Spiritual maturity is not about knowing more facts but receiving truth humbly. Paul made clear that wisdom is open to all and the way in is to love God.
c) Faith that rests on God submits to scripture even when it challenges us. To have God’s wisdom, do it God’s way. Human wisdom guesses, but God’s revelation reveals.
d) Christ is the hidden wisdom revealed as the Cross unmasks human pride and unveils God’s glory. Through Christ, God is forming a people who live by a different script – Grace, Humility, Sacrifice and Resurrection Hope.
e) The Spirit teaches us how to declare this wisdom. Without God’s Spirit, we are only making sounds. With God’s Spirit, truth sings to the soul. We declare God’s wisdom by sharing Christ with clarity; saturate our speech with Scripture; and speak Gospel in a way that matches the Gospel – humble, honest and hopeful. - Discernment – Sustained By Spiritual Discernment v11-16
a) Paul explained the Ministry of the Holy Spirit in revealing to us that Jesus is the wisdom of God. Without the Spirit, we cannot understand the thoughts of God. The Spirit searches all things and enables all believers to know, impart and interpret all that God has been given to us in Christ Jesus. The inspiration of the Spirit is necessary for us to hear. In v12-14, Paul described the Ministry of the Spirit to those who teach and to those who hear the gospel.
b) Discernment is Spirit-Enabled Sight. Man can admire or reject religion, only the Spirit grants reception and comprehension of God’s wisdom. Without the Spirit, the Gospel seems foolish and obedience seems optional. With the Spirit, the truth becomes clear and obedience becomes joyful. Discipleship requires daily discernment, not one-time decision. Does this choice that I make reflect the Cross? Faith that rests on God prays continuously.
c) To have the mind of Christ is to have a Corporate Experience – think, value, choose along the grain of the Cross. We choose humility over pride, service over status and holiness over hype. The Spirit’s discernment removes the glare so that we can see what God is doing beneath the surface. God invites us to a life of consecration by God’s teachings, anchored in Christ and guided by the Spirit.
Let us be sourced in God, centred on Christ and empowered by the Spirit. We trust in God, but we still want to be in control. Let us willingly let God take over. Faith that rests in God must eventually sit down. Release control to God, rest fully on Christ and let the Spirit work in our lives.
(Sermon notes by Honey Vreugdewater)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. What does Paul say about: the message he preached, the role of God’s wisdom and the work of the Holy Spirit?
b. What does it mean to “have the mind of Christ”? - Recall Sermon
a. The sermon highlighted four movements: Determination, Demonstration, Declaration, Discernment. Which of these stood out to you most, and why?
b. How does the image of faith resting on God rather than human wisdom help you understand this passage more clearly? - Relate Personally
a. What makes it difficult for you to truly rest your faith on God rather than trying to stay in control?
b. How open are you to the Holy Spirit shaping your thinking, attitudes, and decisions daily? - Commit to Action
a. What is one practical step you can take this week to practice dependence on God (e.g., prayer, surrendering a decision, seeking spiritual guidance, slowing down to listen)?
b. Who can you declare the gospel to – clearly and humbly – this week?
