WHAT SINNERS WANT AND WHAT PREACHERS MUST DO: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

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WHAT SINNERS WANT AND WHAT PREACHERS MUST DO: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

1 Corinthians 1:22-25

August 29, 2021 • Brett Baggett • 1 Corinthians 1:22–25

OUTLINE
I. SINNERS WANT EITHER A SHOW OR SOMETHING NEW (v. 22)

II. FAITHFUL PREACHERS PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED (v. 23a)

III. FAITHFUL PREACHERS PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE WHAT THEY TRULY NEED (vv. 23b-24)
I) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because this is how God gives sinners the gifts of repentance and faith.
II) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because this is how God reminds His people that the sins they still battle are truly forgiven for Christ’s sake.
III) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because this is how God continually works a hatred for sin and desire for holiness in believers.
IV) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because this is how God assures His saints of His big-hearted love for them!
V) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because in this message God strengthens believers in the fact that He has paid far too high a price for them to ever kick them out of His family.
VI) Faithful preachers preach Christ crucified because this is how God comforts His people by reminding them that just as He forgave them by Christ’s death, He will also raise them to eternal life in glory though His resurrection.

IV. FAITHFUL SAINTS NOW SEE CHRIST CRUCIFIED AS THE WISDOM OF GOD AND THE POWER OF GOD (v. 24b-25)

EXHORTATION (sinners)
You who still reject Christ: you need something to happen to you that you cannot control. Cry out to God and ask Him to call you to Himself. Then trust in Christ crucified and you will be saved.

EXHORTATION (saints)
You who are “the called”—who embrace Christ crucified through faith,
I) Worship God as you consider His wisdom and power in saving you.
II) Fill your thoughts with Christ Jesus and Him crucified and you will be assured of His tender love and affection for you.
III) Thank the Holy Spirit who caused even you to be born again to a living hope.
IV) Depend on the same Spirit that brought you to life to strengthen your life to serve and obey the Lord.
V) Make it your aim in all of your life to say with Paul, “We preach Christ crucified."

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION
1. What do Jews demand according to verse 22? How does Matthew 16:1-4 help clarify what Paul means here? How does Jesus rebuke those who demand signs? What do Greeks demand according to verse 22? How does Acts 17:21 help clarify what Paul was getting at?

2. Read verse 23. Rather than giving signs to the Jews or worldly wisdom to the Greeks, what do Paul and other faithful ministers of Christ do? How should this direct the way you engage in evangelism and apologetics? Why do you think the preaching of “Christ crucified” was a stumbling block to the Jew? Why do you think the preaching of “Christ crucified” was folly to Gentiles?

3. According to verse 24, how does the preaching of “Christ crucified” become the power of God and the wisdom of God to those who once stumbled over it and called it folly? What does Paul mean by “called”? What is God saying about the way He saves sinners? How does 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 help clarify?

4. What is Paul getting at in verse 25?

CHRIST LOVES HIS MESSY BRIDE: Acts 18:1-11

July 4, 2021 • Brett Baggett

OUTLINE I. Because Christ loves His people, He got the gospel to Corinth (v. 1) II. Because Christ loves His people, He gave Paul new friends so that he would not grow discouraged as he preached the gospel (vv. 2-4) III. Because Christ loves His people, He made it so that Paul could preach the gospel everyday (v. 5) IV. Because Christ loves His people, though many opposed and reviled Paul at first, God overcame their hard hearts and saved them (vv. 6-8) V. Because Christ loves His people, He protected, commanded, & encouraged Paul so that His people would hear the gospel & be saved (vv. 9-11) PERSONAL APPLICATION I) If you are one of His people, the Lord Jesus Christ will never give up on you. II) Christians grow more slowly than we would like. III) When God reproves, rebukes, and exhorts you through His word, do not be surprised—He is doing it for your good, so that you may be holy and happy. EVANGELISTIC APPLICATION I) Though sinners may oppose and revile you at first, God can overcome their animosity in an instant II) Nothing can happen to hurt us without the Lord Jesus’ permission III) You must not give up preaching the gospel, for God surely has many of His people in our cities also QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION 1. Read verses 1-4. Where did Paul come from and where did he end up? What happened when he arrived at Corinth and how was this a kindness of God toward Paul? What kind of activity did Paul engage in once he arrived at Corinth? When did he engage in it and what, therefore, is Luke trying to tell us? What can we learn from Paul’s example here? 2. In verse 4, what two verbs are used to describe Paul’s method of evangelization to these Bible-believing Jews? 3. The NASB translation says, in verse 5, “But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word…” How does this help us understand what Silas and Timothy brought with them when they came to Corinth from Macedonia? How do Philippians 4:15 and 2 Corinthians 11:9 help clarify? What does this teach us concerning the importance of supporting pastors, church planters, and missionaries? 4. According to verse 6, how did the Corinthians initially respond to the preaching of the gospel? How does 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 shine light on why they initially responded in this way? How did Paul then respond to their opposition and reviling? What does Paul mean by, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent”? How does 1 Kings 2:37 help clarify? 5. What happened immediately following Paul saying, “From now on I will go to the Gentiles” according to verses 7-8? How does this highlight the sovereignty of God in saving sinners? How do 1 Corinthians 1:24 and 1 Corinthians 3:7 help clarify what happened here? 6. Read verses 9-11. Why did Jesus appear to Paul in a vision? What can we learn in these verses concerning the Lord Jesus’ love for His people? According to verse 11, how well did Paul know this church that he writes the letter of 1 Corinthians to?

SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

July 11, 2021 • Brett Baggett

OUTLINE I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN? (v. 2b) I) To be a Christian means that you have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” If you are a Christian, you have been sanctified through being made holy by God with the righteousness of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:2). If you are a Christian, you have been sanctified by being set apart by God Himself for holy service to Him (John 17:19). If you are a Christian, you are being sanctified through being transformed by God the Holy Spirit to be more holy in your thoughts, affections, and actions (1 Pet. 1:2; Phil. 2:12-13) II) Therefore, to be a Christian means you have received a new identity and are now a “saint.” II. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM A CHRISTIAN? (v. 2c) I) A Christian calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy (1 Cor. 1:2c; Luke 18:11-13) II) A Christian submits to Jesus as Lord (1 Cor. 1:2c; John 14:15) III. WHAT IS PROMISED TO ME IF I AM A CHRISTIAN? (v. 3) I) If you are in Christ, you are promised "http://grace...from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 3) II) If you are in Christ, you are promised "peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 3) STUDY AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. According to verse 1, who wrote this letter? What is Paul, and why should these Christians listen to him? How does 1 Thessalonians 2:13 help clarify? Do you accept the word of Jesus’ Prophets and Apostles as the word of men or the word of God? 2. Who is Paul writing to, according to verse 2? Who does the church belong to? What has God done to the church? What has God effectually called the church to be? Who does the church submit to as Lord? 3. In verse 3, what does Paul pronounce upon the saints at Corinth? What does grace mean? What does peace mean? According to verse 3, who does grace and peace come from?

SAINTS ARE ENRICHED IN CHRIST JESUS: 1 Corinthians 1:4-7

July 18, 2021 • Brett Baggett

OUTLINE I. IN CHRIST, YOUR PAST LIFE IS PAID FOR BY THE GRACE OF GOD (v. 4) II. IN CHRIST, YOUR PRESENT LIFE IS PROVIDED FOR BY THE GRACE OF GOD (v. 5-7a) I) As a saint, you are richly provided for in every way (v. 5a) II) As a saint, you are enriched in all speech to speak the truth, especially the gospel (v. 5b) III) As a saint, you are enriched in all knowledge to understand the gospel (v. 5c-6) IV) As a saint, you are enriched in every gift you need to build up the body of Christ (v. 7a) III. IN CHRIST, YOUR FUTURE LIFE IS PROMISED BY THE GRACE OF GOD (v. 7b) QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION 1. According to verse 4, why does Paul give thanks to God? How frequently does Paul give thanks for the Corinthians? How did the Corinthians receive grace? Who did this grace come through? 2. According to verse 5, in how many ways were the Corinthians enriched in Christ? Was does it mean to be “enriched…in all speech and all knowledge”? 3. Read verse 6. What is “confirmed among” the Corinthians? What is “the testimony about Christ”? Do you personally confirm the testimony about Christ and trust in Him alone or do you still rely on your own works or the works of someone else? 4. For what reason are the saints “enriched…in all speech and knowledge” according to verse 7? What does Paul remind these believers of at the end of verse 7? How should this both sober and encourage you as you use the gifts God has given you to serve Him and His church?