Paul's Determination

[Charlie24]

1 Cor. 2:1-5

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

1 Cor. 1:22-23

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"


It's the preaching of a crucified Christ that brings "Good News" and changes lives in this world.

 

[Charlie24]

1 Cor. 2:1-5

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

1 Cor. 1:22-23

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"


It's the preaching of a crucified Christ that brings "Good News" and changes lives in this world.

The Gospel according to the apostle Paul.

1 Cor. 15:1-4

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"


Maybe I'm old fashioned in believing that all sermons should contain a reference to the Gospel in some form.

I'm not saying every sermon should be on the Gospel, but that the Gospel should be incorporated in some form.

This is one area of the modern Church where I believe there is failure.

 

[Van]

Excellent point, the Church acting as Ambassadors of Christ should focus on the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18.

We are to beg, implore, plead with the lost to "be reconciled to God." God treated Christ as sin for our benefit, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Obviously, Christ's gospel presents the opportunity for reconciliation to all people rather than the lack of an opportunity for everyone.