Demonstrated the Power of the Gospel

If you remember the background of this congregation - Aquila and Priscilla were instrumental in the founding of this congregation. Paul joined together with them as a tentmaker. Even though the Jews opposed Paul and banned him from the synagogue, God still granted him great success.

Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

Toppe: The Corinthians held the eloquent speaker in high regard; in fact, they idolized him. The clever speaker, the skillful debater - they not only admired the man who had a way with words, they were ready to lay out good Greek drachmas to hire such a man to teach them rhetoric and eloquence.

How are Americans similar to the Corinthians?

How was Paul’s appearance different from the typical speakers of the day?

Was Paul capable of such eloquence?

Why didn’t he use it?

The reason Paul came in “weakness and fear” was that he had a disappointing experience and meager success in Athens, just forty miles away, and he had reason to fear that these Greeks in Corinth might be just as hard to win for the gospel. Try preaching Christ crucified to the sophisticated students and faculty of a world famous university; you will understand Paul’s anxiety.

Is this an attitude that preachers should strive for?

Yet Paul said that his preaching showed a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” What do you imagine that Paul meant by that?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-10. Up to this point Paul has been calling God’s wisdom “foolishness”, using a term of the world. How does he change gears here?

Who does he speak this wisdom to?

Who would this be referring to (remember the context!)?

For instance, how might a Sunday School Christian be wiser than a well learned scientist? The well learned feminist? Etc?

(1 Corinthians 2: Vs. 9 is a quote of the Old Testament from Isaiah - has always been that way.)

Toppe: They would not have howled for him to be crucified if they had had even an inkling that they were thereby urging a sacrifice that would save untold millions of those whom they despised and hated. (29)

UWhat is the role of the Spirit, according to Paul?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 For a more in depth look at this. What does Paul compare the Holy Spirit to?

How is the “spirit of the world” different from the Spirit who is from God?

Why can’t an unspiritual man understand the things that come from God?

1 Corinthians 2: Vs. 16 is a quote of Isaiah. It would seem absurd for someone to try and instruct the Lord, yet how does this happen every day?

An Immature View of the Ministry

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. What seems to be the accusation of the Corinthians?

What is another reason Paul preached such a simple message to them?

Answer

How do we know that even though they were weak, they were still Christians?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. Here Paul draws a simile between a field of plants and the Corinthians congregation -

What can we learn from this?

How did Paul’s view of ministry encourage unity and not division?

How does God judge a man’s ministry?

A or D: A congregation should be willing to increase a minister’s pay if he gets more people to come to church.

Toppe: Paul concludes verse 9 by noting a distinction between ministers of the gospel and those they serve: “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” The Corinthians and their pastors are not God’s in the same sense, though both belong to God. The Christian ministry has a special relationshp to God. It bears a special accountability to him and receives special rewards from him. Ths is also why God spelled out the qualifications for the ministry in Paul’s epistles to Timothy and Titus. (36)

True Ministers are Builders of God’s Temple

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. What made Paul, as he says, an “expert builder”?

What does it mean to build on this foundation with “gold, silver,” etc.?

What does it mean to build with “hay, straw, or wood?”

What would be some examples of this?

When will the truth come to light?

What is the surprising conclusion of those who build with hay and wood?

Why would that be?

Catholics use 1 Corinthians 3 vs. 14-15 to prove their idea of purgatory. How could you refute this?

How can these verses be of encouragement to faithful ministers?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. In light of the previous context - what does Paul seem to be talking about here?

Answer

How would they be different from the false teachers mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3: vs. 15?

Could this verse be applied to what kind of foods you eat and drink, etc.?

What would this verse say to you if you were a minister?

- A doctor? - An athlete? - A parent?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:18-20. What are the “standards of this age?”

Who would think he is “wise” by the standards of this age?

How could you become a “fool?”

Read 1 Corinthians 3:21-23. How did Paul change their point of view when it came to their leaders?

How does this give us a correct view of MINISTRY?

Toppe: If you feel that only your favorite pastor can offer you anything worthwhile, you deprive yourself of many blessings that the other pastors you have had could have given you. If, on the other hand, you see each of your pastors as serviceable to you, you have many more blessings. Let them all serve you, not just one special pastor. (42)

What different view does Paul give us of life?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

How do we take this view toward sickness? Death? Riches?

What statement keeps Christians from abusing their pastors and teachers?

Science or Religion

"LET ME EXPLAIN THE problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Ahh! THE BIBLE!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? "Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could... in fact most of us would if we could... God doesn't.

[No answer.]

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

[No answer]

The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?" He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. "Let's start again, young fella."

"Is God good?"

"Er... Yes."

"Is Satan good?"

"No."

"Where does Satan come from?" The student falters.

"From... God..."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking, student audience. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen." He turns back to the Christian.

"Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"

"Yes."

"Who created evil?

[No answer]

"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. All the terrible things - do they exist in this world? " The student squirms on his feet. "Yes." "Who created them? "

[No answer]

The professor suddenly shouts at his student. "WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!"The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Christian's face. In a still small voice: "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"

[No answer]

The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an aging panther. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?" The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world. "All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"

[No answer]

"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" Pause. "Don't you?" The professor leans into the student's face again and whispers, "Is God good?"

[No answer]

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?" The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor. I do."

The old man shakes his head sadly. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you? "

"No, sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir. I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus... in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"

[No answer]

"Answer me, please."

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"

"No, sir."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"...yes..."

"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling. "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"

[The student doesn't answer]

"Sit down, please."

The Christian sits...Defeated.

Another Christian raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?" The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Christian in the vanguard! Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering." The Christian looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"Is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold.

The second Christian continues. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than 458 - You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence. A pin drops somewhere in the classroom.

"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"

"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness?

What are you getting at...?"

"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes..."

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?

That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker and give me a jar of it. Can you...give me a jar of darker darkness, professor?"

Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. This will indeed be a good semester. "Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error...." The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"" "Sir, may I explain what I mean?"

The class is all ears.

"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to regain control. Suddenly he is affability itself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue. "You are working on the premise of duality," the Christian explains.

"That for example there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science cannot even explain a thought.

It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, merely the absence of it."

The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbor who has been reading it. "Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as immorality?"

"Of course there is, now look..."

"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality.

Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of justice.

Is there such a thing as evil?" The Christian pauses.

"Isn't evil the absence of good?"

The professor's face has turned an alarming color. He is so angry he is temporarily speechless.

The Christian continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil."

The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I . . . do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."

"I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going," the Christian replies.

"Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week! Tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare.

"Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a priest?"

"I'll overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical discussion. Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses. "So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?"

"I believe in what is - that's science!"

"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face splits into a grin. "Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena.

Science too is a premise which is flawed..."

"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters.

The class is in uproar.

The Christian remains standing until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?" The professor wisely keeps silent. The Christian looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out in laughter. The Christian points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain... felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?" No one appears to have done so. The Christian shakes his head sadly. "It appears no-one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science, I DECLARE that the professor has no brain."

The class is in chaos.

The Christian sits... Because that is what a chair is for.