The Essentials Series
Reason for the Series
● Practically: Transition Us
● Theoretically: The Church in Crisis
○ Manifestation
○ Evidence
The Essentials: The Core of Christian Doctrine (5 Messages)
Why This Set of Sermons was Important
What You Will Find When You Listen to Them
1) Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone – A Statement of Its authority
2) Solus Christus – Christ Alone – A Statement of Its Nerve Center
3) Sola Gratia – Grace Alone – A Statement of Its Gospel’s Foundation
4) Sola Fide – Faith Alone – A Statement of Its Experiential Means
5) Soli Deo gloria – God’s Glory Alone – A Statement of Its Ultimate and Enduring Purpose
The Essentials: The Components of the Christian Life (11 Messages)
Why This Set of Sermons was Important
What You Will Find When You Listen to Them
A Sermon Worth Remembering – Holy Unto the Lord (19:1-2) (1 Sermon)
I. Prologue: God Calls Israel to Fidelity to Him (19:1-2)
A Real Covenant Keeper (19:3-10)
II. Expressed through Faithfulness to the Divine Covenant (19:3-10)
Seeing You in Me (19:11-18)
III. Expressed through Loyalty to the Divine Community (19:11-18)
In the World, Not of the World (19:19-31)
IV. Expressed through Adhering to the Divine Distinctions (19:19-31)
Sons of the Most High (19:32-36)
V. Expressed through Reflecting Divine Protections (19:32-36)
A Sermon Worth Remembering, Deux (19:37)
VI. Epilogue: God Reminds Israel of Her Covenant Call for Faithfulness (19:37)
The Essentials: The Center of the Christian Message (22 Messages)
Why This Set of Sermons was Important
What You Will Find When You Listen to Them
The Center of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 1-2)
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
The Nature of the Christian Message (2:6-16)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
III. The Comprehension of Our Message (2:14-16)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part h)
March 28, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 22)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 8)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
III. The Comprehension of Our Message (2:14-16)
A. The Natural Man: Rejects Our Message (2:14)
B. The Spiritual Man: Accepts the Our Message (2:15-16)
1. The Fact of His Acceptance (2:15)
a. The Believer is Spiritual (2:15a)
● Illumination is that work of the Holy Spirit whereby He unfolds both the meaning and application of the Word of God to the believer (1 Cor. 2:1-16; 1 Jn. 2:18-27), enabling him to understand without cloud or mystery and with full and absolute assurance, the spiritual message of God in the spiritual words of God that have been recorded in the Bible (1 Cor. 2:13-16; 3:1-3; Heb. 5:11-14; 2 Cor 4:1-6; Col. 2:1-2).
b. The Believer is Incomprehensible (2:15b)
2. The Reason for His Acceptance (2:16)
God’s Answer to Disunity – the Gospel
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
The Nature of the Christian Message
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
III. The Comprehension of Our Message (2:14-16)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part g)
March 21, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 21)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 7)
God has Spoken
● God Can be Known
● God Wants to be Known
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
III. The Comprehension of Our Message (2:14-16)
A. The Natural Man: Rejects Our Message (2:14)
1. The Fact of His Rejection (2:14a)
● natural (psychikos) belonging to the natural world
● accept grasp, take hold of
2. The Reason for His Reaction (2:14b-d)
a. They are Valueless (2:14b)
● foolishness (moraine) deficiency
b. They are Incomprehensible (2:14c-d)
1. Due to His Nature (2:14c)
● understand recognize, perceive
● cannot (dunamai) to be able, to have power
2. Due to Its Nature (2:14d)
● appraised investigate, interrogate, scrutinize, sift
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part f)
March 14, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 20)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 6)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
A. The Necessity of the Spirit (2:10-11)
1. Stated (2:10a)
2. Explained (2:10b-11)
a. Explanation #1: His Capacity (2:10b)
1) The Scope of the Spirit’s Capacity (2:10b1-6)
2) The Second the Extent of His Capacity (2:10b7-11)
b. Explanation #2: His Singularity (2:11)
1) Illustrated (2:11a)
2) Applied (2:11b)
B. The Methodology of the Spirit (2:12-13)
1. God Gifted the Spirit (2:12)
a. The Gifting Itself (2:12a)
b. The Reason for the Gifting (2:12b)
● freely given to grant or give graciously as a favor
2 The Spirit Granted the Revelation: Inspiration (2:13)
● the Holy Spirit superintended, that is, controlled and guided, the authors of the Scripture in such a way that when they wrote and spoke God’s message they did so without error, and in such a way that it factually communicated the message of God (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
a. The Outcome of Inspiration (2:13a-c)
b. The Methodology of Inspiration (2:13d)
● combining to unite or compound; to compare; to measure or evaluate; or to interpret.
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part e)
March 7, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 19)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 5)
The Christian Fallacy of Blessing
● Blessing Misunderstood
● Blessing Rightly Understood
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
II. The Revelation of Our Message (2:10-13)
A. The Necessity of the Spirit (2:10-11)
1. Stated (2:10a)
a. God’s Work
● revealed (apokalupto) kalupto cover, envelop, hide
apo- uncover, expose, reveal
b. The Objects of God’s Work
c. The Agent of God’s Work
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part d)
February 28, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 18)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 4)
Miscalculations
The Nature of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 2:6-16)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
A. It is Wisdom (2:6a)
B. It is Supernatural (2:6b-c)
C. It is Divine (2:7)
D. It is Misunderstood (2:8)
1. The Fact of It (2:8a)
● understood intelligent comprehension
2. The Proof of It (2:8b-c)
E. It is Unknowable (2:9a-b)
1. Through the Senses (2:9a)
2. Through Perception (2:9b)
● entered arising within
F. It is Purposed (2:9c)
1. Purposed by God (2:9c1-5)
● prepared cause to be ready, make ready
2. Purposed for Us (2:9c6-10)
● hostile hate, hatred
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part c)
February 21, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 17)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 3)
The Nature of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 2:6-16)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
A. It is Wisdom (2:6a)
B. It is Supernatural (2:6b-c)
1. Beyond the System (2:6b1-7)
2. Beyond the People of the System (2:6b 8 -c)
● passing away make
ineffective, abolish, release
C. It is Divine (2:7)
1. Hidden Away in God (2:7a)
● hidden (krypto)
secret, concealed
2. Purposed by God (2:7b)
b. The Point of the Purpose (2:7b 7-9 )
a. The Means to the Purpose (2:7b 1-6 )
● predestined
decide upon beforehand, determine
beforehand
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part b)
February 14, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 16)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 2)
The Center of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 1:18-2:5)
The Nature of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 2:6-16)
I. The Character of Our Message (2:6-9)
A. It is Wisdom (2:6a)
1. The Claim Itself: Speaking Wisdom (2:6a1-5)
2. The Objects: The Mature (2:6a6-10)
a. Their Identity
● mature arriving at the end or purpose, to be complete, perfect, or finished
b. Their Scope
1) The Demand of the Context
2) The Support of Biblical History
3. The Broader Implications of This Claim
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part a)
February 7, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 15)
The Nature of the Christian Message (Part 1)
The Center of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 1:18-2:5)
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
The Nature of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 2:6-16)
Introduction:
Paul V Apollos – The Center of the Controversy Identified
The Center of the Controversy Traced
● The Infantile Behavior of the Corinthians
● The Differing Ministries of God’s Servants
○ As Witnessed by Paul
○ As Witnessed in Acts
● The Differing Objects of Their Ministry
● The Faulty Implications Made by the Corinthians
The Consequences of the Controversy Rebuked
The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part e)
January 31, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 14)
The Gospel and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part 5)
The Center of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 1-2)
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
A. Christ: The Content of our Message (2:1-2)
B. Dependency: The Character of the Messenger (2:3-4)
1. Marked by Human Frailty (2:3)
2. Trusted Divine Efficiency (2:4)
a. Its Contrast (2:4a)
b. Its Character (2:4b)
1) The Spirit (2:4b1-6)
2) The Power (2:4b7-9)
C. God’s Glory: The Catalyst (2:5)
1. The Result to be Avoided (2:5a)
2. The Result to be Pursued (2:5b)
The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part d)
January 24, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 13)
The Gospel and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part 4)
A Humble Christ and a Humbling Message
The Center of the Christian Message (1 Cor. 1-2)
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
A. Christ: The Content of our Message (2:1-2)
B. Dependency: The Character of the Messenger (2:3-4)
1. Marked by Human Frailty (2:3)
● weakness frailty, timidity
● fear severe distress
● trembling quacking or shaking
2. Trusted Divine Efficiency (2:4)
a. Its Contrast (2:4a)
● persuasive to convince, to seduce by persuasion
The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part c)
January 17, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 12)
The Gospel and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part 3)
Parenthesis: False Views of Jesus’ Death
#1: Ransom Paid to Satan Theory
● Christ died to pay off Satan to release mankind from bondage.
#2: Satisfaction Theory
● Christ died as reparations for man’s dishonoring of God.
#3: Governmental and Example Theories
● Christ died as a deterrent to sin.
○ Governmental Theory
○ Example Theory
#4: The Moral and Mystical Theories
● Christ died to influence you to become a better you.
○ Moral Theory
○ Mystical Theory
Failures of These Positions
The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part b)
January 10, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 11)
The Gospel and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part 2)
God’s Answer to Disunity – The Gospel
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
A. Christ: The Content of our Message (2:1-2)
1. The Time of the Message (2:1a)
2. The Void within the Message (2:1b)
3. The Authority behind the Message (2:1c)
4. The Nature of the Message (2:2)
a. It is All Encompassing (2:2a)
● determine prefer, examine, decide,
deliberate
● know comprehend, understand
b. It is Christological (2:2b)
1) Jesus Christ (2:2b 1-3 )
a) Jesus, the Subject of the Bible
b) Jesus, the Way to the Father
c) Jesus, the Concern of Trinity
2) Jesus Christ, Crucified (2:2b 4-6 )
a) The Stigma of the Cross
b) The Meaning of the Cross
(1) The Penal, Substitutionary
Atonement Explained
(2) The Penal, Substitutionary
Atonement Applied
The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part a)
January 3, 2021 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 10)
The Gospel and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (Part 1)
The Essentials of Christianity
● The Core of Christian Doctrine
● The Components of the Christian Life
● The Center of the Christian Message
God’s Answer to Disunity – The Gospel
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
A. God’s Design Summarized (1:18-19)
B. God’s Design Defended (1:20-24)
C. God’s Design Grounded (1:25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
A. The Character of the Composition (1:26-29)
B. The Benefits of the Composition (1:30-31)
III. The Gospel Revealed in the Ministry of the Apostle Paul (2:1-5)
A. Christ: The Content of our Message (2:1-2)
1. The Time of the Message (2:1a)
a. When They Became Family (2:1a7)
b. When They were Introduced to Christianity (2:1a1-6)
2. The Void within the Message (2:1b)
a. Its Source (2:1b1-4)
b. Its Subject (2:1b5-11)
3. The Authority behind the Message (2:1c)
The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (Part c)
November 29, 2020 • Roger Skepple
The Center of the Christian Message
An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (Part 9)
The Gospel and the Composition of the Church (Part 3)
Christ, Our Amen
God’s Answer to Disunity – The Gospel
I. The Gospel Revealed in the Design of God (1:18-25)
II. The Gospel Revealed in the Composition of the Church (1:26-31)
A. The Character of the Composition (1:26-29)
1. The Composition Itself (1:26)
2. The Methodology Behind It (1:27-28)
3. The Reason for It (1:29)
B. The Benefits of the Composition (1:30-31)
1. The Source of the Benefits (1:30a)
● by His doing = from or out of Him
● “from or out of Him you yourself are in Christ Jesus”
2. The Benefits (1:30b)
a. Wisdom from God (1:30b1-7)
● “But out of Him you yourself are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, that is, righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1:30).
b. Made Righteous by God (1:30b8-9)
c. Set Aside for God (1:30b10-11)
● sanctified ➤ holy ➤ separation/distinction ➤ purification/consecration
d. Ransomed by God (1:30b12-13)
● redemption release, liberate, or set free
3. The Consequence (1:31)
