1 Cor 1:22, 23

Read it.

The facts

This is one sentence. Read it several times. What is the verb? What is its object? What three ways does he say that the preaching of "Christ crucified" is received?

Take a moment and read this section several times. What three groups of people does Paul talk about? a. b. c.

and what characterizes each group?

What effect does the preaching of Christ crucified have on each group? We've already seen that the message is the same to all groups. What effects does it have on the third group that are different from the first two?

a. Jews	b. Greeks	c. Jews and Greeks

They seek	They seek	They don't seek; they are

Power/signs	Wisdom/human	chosen by God

stumbling block	foolishness	wisdom and power of God

Context:

When Paul points out these contrasts, what problem is he trying to solve? Divisions, and how does this description of his message eliminate divisions? 1:30 Get excited!!!

Why is Paul writing this to them? Some were boasting that they had more wisdom. What is it about the wisdom of God that excludes this? It couldn't have been though of by men. It is 180 degrees opposite our wisdom. Peter with Jesus in Gethsemane and before.

Why does Paul care about boasting? In what way were the Corinthians boasting unhealthily? What attitudes led to boasting? Self-sufficiency. What about the gospel excludes that? Grace! (so if we boast of anything it would be a praise of grace) What other effects did those attitudes have? What fatal result could such an attitude have? It could lead us to put our faith in man's wisdom rather than on God's power! What help will man's wisdom be in a real time of trial? GC .595-598, 655-656

Comparison:

Why did Jews seek signs? -- wanted a powerful God

Greeks wisdom?	-- wanted a wise God

Why is it that human beings can hear the same message about God's wisdom and power (the cross) and hear it as foolishness or as wisdom, a stumbling block (weakness) or power?

What is the wisdom of God? Christ crucified

Does that seem wise to you?

What is the strength of God? Christ crucified

Does that seem strong to You?

Who can summarize, then. What is the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of the world? What is the power of God versus the power of the world?

Application:

What are some examples of divisions in the Christian church today? Divisions regarding who is more wiser or more "right."

The problem is that such divisions are totally opposed to the gospel. The gospel is 180 degrees opposed to competition and one-upmanship. The whole idea of the gospel is to put everyone on equal footing, all of it is undeserved grace from God.

I often hear well back when so and so was here, then it was really good. Pastor Bob has never really measured up. I can't wait until he gets a call to somewhere else!--divisions along leadership lines? --Pr. Nel--- and Zam---

What is the root problem when we have divisions among believers?

Give me scripture! not understanding that the gospel is free, and not of human origins 1:30

Are SDAs guilty of such spiritual snobbery? What can we do to "boast in the Lord" instead of in men? /

How can we act with the wisdom of God? the crucifying Xian experience. Coreena and I. I cannot claim to be the source of all wisdom, and I cannot maintain divisions. Divisions are the sign of human wisdom.

How can we boast in the Lord?