“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
It has been almost two weeks since I attended the Moody Bible Institute's Tuesday evening Founder’s Week session featuring Alistair Begg as the keynote speaker. Founder’s Week brings back a lot of memories. I attended my first one with my sister, Beth, in 1991. As I sat under the teaching of gifted teachers of God’s word, worshipped the Lord with other Moody students’ the week impacted me. It was so great I quit my job, moved from Lancaster County Pennsylvania to Chicago and began Moody Grad School in August 1992.Alistair Begg, the preacher from Scotland, pastors Parkside Church in the Cleveland, OH suburbs. He opened the word to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5. Begg, as he always does, clearly communicates God’s word with passion, conviction, and authority.
A high-level summary of what Alistair Begg preached Tuesday night, February 3:
Historic fact declared: something happened sometime to someone and it is the most pivotal event in ALL of human history. Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for mans’ sins! The world views this as silliness.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those whoa are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Begg asked, “Do people within the church know and under the gospel and its power?” Begg says, “No!” People in the church must be totally immersed in the gospel!
My note…”The gospel,” writes Jerry Bridges, “is not only the most important message of all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history. Yet we allow thousands of professing Christians to live their entire lives without clearly understanding it and experiencing the joy of living by it.” (p. 15, The Cross Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney)The heart of man is desperately wicked and rebelliously denies the claims of God.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
(Jeremiah 17:7)
“People don’t need less preaching…they need more! Calvin preached every day and even at lunch!”
God has made foolishness the wisdom of the world.
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).
There are two types of people and the reason they don’t believe.
• The person thinks he/she is so bad that there is no hope.
• The person who thinks I am “good enough” that I need NO Savior!
‘Foolishness of God’ is Wiser than Man’s Wisdom.
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
What human wisdom claims for itself it cannot deliver BUT the gospel can! Christ crucified is the message we proclaim!
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).
“People don’t need less preaching…they need more! Calvin preached every day and even at lunch!”
God has made foolishness the wisdom of the world.
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).
There are two types of people and the reason they don’t believe.
• The person thinks he/she is so bad that there is no hope.
• The person who thinks I am “good enough” that I need NO Savior!
‘Foolishness of God’ is Wiser than Man’s Wisdom.
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
What human wisdom claims for itself it cannot deliver BUT the gospel can! Christ crucified is the message we proclaim!
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).
