Scripture

My message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observation

When Paul came to the Corinthians, he did not convince them with clever speeches. He had resolved to speak only of Christ and the cross.

Paul came in weakness an trembling. He relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit, so that they would also trust in the power of God.

Application

It is so easy to put our reliance on human wisdom, human technology, and so on. As followers of Jesus, we should only put our trust in God.

I have no objection to using technology. It is easier to have my voice amplified than to project it across the room. Likewise, I make use of graphics, videos and presentations to help people focus on my message.

I don’t pin my ministry to multi-sensory productions because that puts the focus on the production not on Jesus.

For me, it’s all about Jesus. This is what Paul is saying also. Sure, we can use rhetorical methods and marketing techniques, but in the end it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people about sin and brings them to salvation.

Whatever part of life we are thinking about, our trust and our attention must be on Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, may I never get caught up in my own cleverness and abilities when I seek to serve you. Please help me to put you front and centre in all I do. Amen.

Scripture

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Observation

If God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent (v.19), where does this leave the so-called wise people? God saw to it that the world cannot know Him through human wisdom. The cross, then, is foolish to the Greek and offensive to the Jews. It does not make sense through human reasoning.

To those of us who are being saved, Christ is God’s wisdom and God’s power. God does things the world considers powerless, and uses them to bring glory to his name, and to destroy all the pretentious arguments of the world.

Application

Ever since I was a new baby in Christ, a teenager in a Youth Group, people have thought, “How wonderful it would be if this pop star/ movie icon/ celebrity became a christian! They would have such an influence.” People have been thinking this way for centuries, but it turns out to be wrong.

It is not the conversion of famous people that impresses the world. God’s secret weapon for His Kingdom is the ordinary people, those who are despised by the elites and influencers.

Revivals, awakenings, and other moves of the Holy Spirit are not led by celebrities and the cool crowd. Very few people would seriously check out the gospel just because some mega-star claims to be a christian.

You and I are God’s ambassadors. It is up to us to celebrate God’s gift of salvation and share it with our family and friends. As we do that, God will “bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for saving me through Christ’s death on the cross. This seems to be nonsense to the wise of the world, but it is your power and your wisdom. Amen