Connection to the passage Paul reminds the believers at
1 Corinthians Sermon Series Supports Session 1: United in Christ Sermon Title: The Message of the Cross Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Connection to the passage Paul reminds the believers at Corinth about the message of the cross. The message of the cross demonstrates God’s power and wisdom. It is because of the message of the cross that we have been saved and our lives have been changed. Our unity as believers in Christ is rooted in the message of the cross. Introduction/Opening Looking at our past produces both joy and pain. We see the good times, but also are haunted by our failures and what could have been. Remembering the good and the bad gives us appreciation for what we are today. Paul instructed the Corinthian congregation to remember their lives before they believed the gospel. He wanted them to realize how God had called them and saved them from a life of sin. Regardless of our station in life or our past, Paul places all of the credit and praise on the Lord for our salvation. Outline 1. Remember the Lord’s power that saved us (1 Cor. 1:30a) a) None of us had any advantages when it comes to our salvation. All of us were lost and needed a Savior. b) Paul emphasized that it is because of God that we have been saved. God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. God provided the way for us to be saved. 2. Realize God’s wisdom in meeting our need (1 Cor. 1:30b) a) Our righteousness is because of Christ. By believing the message of the cross, we receive righteousness from God. It is a righteousness based on faith in Christ. We do not earn it, but receive it as a gift from God. b) Our holiness is because of Christ. Through the cross of Christ, we are made holy because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. We are now set apart to live for Him. c) Our redemption is because of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus secures our redemption. Because He has risen from the dead, so will we one day rise from the dead. 3. Rejoice in the Lord for providing salvation (1 Cor. 1:31) a) The grounds for our salvation is rooted in what Christ has done for us. b) The glory of accomplishing our salvation belongs to God alone.
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Conclusion Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians can be summarized by this one statement: we have salvation in Christ by believing the message of the cross. The letter addresses matters related to righteousness (1 Cor. 1-4), holiness (1 Cor. 5-11), and redemption (1 Cor. 15), all of which are results of the cross. Our unity as believers is grounded in the work of Christ on our behalf at the cross. The call is for people to repent of their sins and believe the message of the cross. We can learn from the past, but if our past does not include believing in the message of the cross then we are missing the greatest lesson available to humanity.
Corey Meggs is the Senior Pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, Kentucky. He has served in the ministry for over twenty years and has pastored churches in Tennessee and Kentucky. Corey is married to Nancy and has two children, Ethan and Elise.
© LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible
Connection to the passage Paul reminds the believers at Corinth about the message of the cross. The message of the cross demonstrates God’s power and wisdom. It is because of the message of the cross that we have been saved and our lives have been changed. Our unity as believers in Christ is rooted in the message of the cross. Introduction/Opening Looking at our past produces both joy and pain. We see the good times, but also are haunted by our failures and what could have been. Remembering the good and the bad gives us appreciation for what we are today. Paul instructed the Corinthian congregation to remember their lives before they believed the gospel. He wanted them to realize how God had called them and saved them from a life of sin. Regardless of our station in life or our past, Paul places all of the credit and praise on the Lord for our salvation. Outline 1. Remember the Lord’s power that saved us (1 Cor. 1:30a) a) None of us had any advantages when it comes to our salvation. All of us were lost and needed a Savior. b) Paul emphasized that it is because of God that we have been saved. God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. God provided the way for us to be saved. 2. Realize God’s wisdom in meeting our need (1 Cor. 1:30b) a) Our righteousness is because of Christ. By believing the message of the cross, we receive righteousness from God. It is a righteousness based on faith in Christ. We do not earn it, but receive it as a gift from God. b) Our holiness is because of Christ. Through the cross of Christ, we are made holy because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. We are now set apart to live for Him. c) Our redemption is because of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus secures our redemption. Because He has risen from the dead, so will we one day rise from the dead. 3. Rejoice in the Lord for providing salvation (1 Cor. 1:31) a) The grounds for our salvation is rooted in what Christ has done for us. b) The glory of accomplishing our salvation belongs to God alone.
© LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible
Conclusion Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians can be summarized by this one statement: we have salvation in Christ by believing the message of the cross. The letter addresses matters related to righteousness (1 Cor. 1-4), holiness (1 Cor. 5-11), and redemption (1 Cor. 15), all of which are results of the cross. Our unity as believers is grounded in the work of Christ on our behalf at the cross. The call is for people to repent of their sins and believe the message of the cross. We can learn from the past, but if our past does not include believing in the message of the cross then we are missing the greatest lesson available to humanity.
Corey Meggs is the Senior Pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, Kentucky. He has served in the ministry for over twenty years and has pastored churches in Tennessee and Kentucky. Corey is married to Nancy and has two children, Ethan and Elise.
© LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible
