Christ Crucified Series

I. Introduction

A. The weaknesses in the church at Corinth

-There can be no doubt that the church in the city of Corinth had issues.

-They were quite the dysfunctional church.

-Paul spent the first chapter laying a foundation for all that he is going to say.

1. All we have and all we are is by the grace of God. (powerpoint)

-We have done nothing to earn our salvation.

2. For a church to be strong it must be unified. (powerpoint)

-Fellowship based on our relationship with Christ.

-Fellowship based upon an agreement in doctrine.

3. Man’s wisdom sees the message of the cross as foolishness. (powerpoint)

-Don’t prioritize what man has to say that is in contrast to the word of God.

-Corinth, as a Greek city, was immersed in philosophy.

-Filled with those who prided themselves in waxing eloquently.

-A city of wordsmiths and thinkers, if you will.

-Paul was well aware of the culture in Corinth.

-He had spent eighteen months starting and strengthening the church just a few years prior to the writing of this letter.

-Paul could have competed with the greatest thinkers Corinth had to offer.

-However, he chose a different route.

-One we ought to consider when proclaiming the gospel to a world that still considers the message of the cross foolishness.

`-Who still doubts God. (title powerpoint)

PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Please turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter 2

II. Paul’s Method of Preaching (V.1,2)

A. Different types/styles of preaching

1. Expository preaching (powerpoint)

-Preaching through a book of the Bible verse-by-verse

2. Topical preaching (powerpoint)

-Most common form of preaching

-Uses scripture from various passages to expound upon a particular topic.

3. Textual preaching (powerpoint)

-Falls between expository and topical messages.

-This is what you would call a sermon series

-Ex. “Veni, Vidi, Vici: The Life of Christ”

-Three week series

-Ex. “Seven Signs of a Sanctified Saint”

-Seven week series on what ought to be noticeable in a faithful follower of Christ.

4. Narrative preaching (powerpoint)

-Storytelling is the main aspect of this style.

B. Within these styles there are various forms of delivery in any setting

1. Extemporaneous Delivery (powerpoint)

-Speakers do not prepare the exact wording of the entire speech ahead of time.

-prepares the ideas that he wants to present and then decides the exact way to present them during the speech.

2. Impromptu Delivery (powerpoint)

-Speakers do not prepare any material in advance.

3. Manuscript Delivery (powerpoint)

-Speaker writes an entire speech in advance.

4. Memorized Delivery (powerpoint)

-The speaker writes out a complete speech manuscript and then commits it to memory word for word.

C. Paul was not concerned with any of the nuances of public speaking

-1 Corinthians 2:1 – “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.”

(powerpoint)

-Paul did not preach to persuade listeners to come to Christ through his oratory skills and vast knowledge.

-According to Acts 2:23 he sat under the teaching of Gamaliel.

-Leader of the Sanhedrin and regarded as one of the greatest Jewish teachers of all time.

-He was originally from Tarsus

-A cultural and intellectual center in ancient Greece.

-Paul was a very learned man.

-Quoted the Greek poet Aratus in Acts 17:28

- Greek poet Epimenides in Titus 1:12.

-Quoted the Greek playwright, Menander, in 1 Cor 15:33.

-Paul knew that just as redemption cannot be obtained through human wisdom,

-It also was not to be presented through human wisdom or tactics.

D. Paul preached only Christ

-Paul reminds the church in Corinth then when he was there starting the church just a few years before that the words, which they believed and received, are not the same as the words that they were longing for now.

-1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (powerpoint)

-Paul knew that his calling was to preach the gospel.

-Isn’t this what he said in 1:17

-1 Corinthians 1:17-18 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 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.” (powerpoint)

-This is what a preacher is called to do.

-Preach the message of the cross.

-Though many consider it foolishness.

-In what is believed to be Paul’s final letter we find his words to a young preacher named Timothy.

***** -2 Timothy 4:1-5

-Paul told Timothy to preach the word!

-To convince, rebuke, exhort, and teach from it.

-Even when the people won’t listen, preach the word.