Being A Fool For Christ

“Being A Fool for Christ”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Introduction

The story is told of a college professor who visited the Fiji Islands. Being agnostic, he critically remarked to an elderly chief, "You’re a great leader, but it’s a pity you’ve been taken in by those foreign missionaries. They only want to get rich through you. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the threadbare story of Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I’m sorry you’ve been so foolish as to accept their story." The old chief’s eyes flashed as he answered, "See that great rock over there? On it we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven we formerly roasted the bodies of our enemies. If it hadn’t been for those good missionaries and the love of Jesus that changed us from cannibals into Christians, you’d never leave this place alive! You’d better thank the Lord for the Gospel; otherwise we’d already be feasting on you. If it weren’t for the Bible, you’d now be our supper!

A child writes; “Dear God, The bad people laughed at Noah saying- "You made an ark on dry land you fool". But Noah was smart, he stuck with You. That’s what I would do.” Signed your friend Nan.

Henry Ward Beecher, the famous New England minister, entered his pulpit one Sunday morning. Awaiting him was an unmarked envelope. Opening it, he found a single sheet of paper on which was written the single word, “FOOL.” After chuckling to himself, he held the paper up to the congregation and said, “I have known many an instance of a man writing letters and forgetting to sign his name. But this is the only instance I’ve ever known of a man signing his name and forgetting to write his letter.

To often the world looks at Christianity as foolishness. Why get up early on Sunday when you can sleep in? Christian’s don’t have any fun do they? Do those of you who went to Adventureland or our church picnic enjoy yourselves? Why help those in need when you can help yourself? Why spend time reading the Bible when you can watch a little sex and violence on TV? Why be a fool for Jesus Christ?

Today I want to challenge you to become, just that, a fool for Christ.

(Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1:26ff)

I. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called…”

A. The Calling

-In the 1st century a town-crier would go around the town and call everyone out for the town meeting.

-Those who arrived were called the “ekklasia”, called out ones, or in our modern English, “the church.”

-Not only does God call people to serve in the ministry, but he invites all who will to come, to His table.

(Read Luke 14:16-24)

-What kind of people does God invite into His home? (See Luke 14:21)

B. What were you

-What kind of person were you before you became a Christian?

-What things mattered the most to you? Do they still have the same value?

1. Wise –intellectual wisdom

-Jeremiah says; (Jeremiah 1:6)

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, “I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”

-Solomon says; (1 kings 3:7)

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”

2. Influential –politically powerful

-Moses (Exodus 3:11)

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

*Billie Jo, a girl in one of my youth groups was put in charge of the school homework club. I had given her my authority. I told the other kids that they better listen to her or I would take care of them when I got back. Yet even after that she was afraid to take charge.

-God gives us His authority here on earth, but are you still afraid to do His will.

3. Noble Birth –social status

-Gideon (Judges 6:15)

“But Lord, Gideon asked, How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

-Saul when Samuel ask him to be King(1 Samuel 9:21)

“Saul answered, ‘But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”

Let us look at another example; see if you can guess who I am talking about:

-not so noble birth, son of a poor but honest carpenter