The Wisdom of God and the Scandal of the Cross

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION

“Now it is not sufficient for anyone, and does him no good to recognize God in his glory and majesty, unless he recognizes him in the shame and humility of the cross.”

~Martin Luther, 16th century German theologian and reformer

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

~1 Corinthians 2:2

“If thou hast but a spark of true faith in Jesus Christ, it is better than a whole volcano full of worldly wisdom.”

~Charles Spurgeon, 19th century British Preacher

“O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.”

~“The Old Rugged Cross” by George Bennard

SERMON PASSAGE

Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 16:2, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV)

Proverbs 3

7  Be not wise in your own eyes;

   fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 16

2  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

   but the Lord weighs the spirit.

1 Corinthians 1

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”