Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 14 September 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 2

Subject: “That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men” 1 Cor 2:5

Lesson #10

3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

DIFFERENT VIEWS OF PAUL

1. His detractors

a) They questioned his apostolic status

b) They did not think highly of him

2. His defenders

a) They were loyal to him

b) They loved him

PAUL’S VIEW OF HIMSELF IN HIS MINISTRY IN CORINTH

“I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling”

1 Cor 2:3

1. A self-deprecatory approach was chosen

2. Paul rejected a false put-on image

3. What this text does not mean:

a) That Paul was a weakling

b) That he was cowardly

c) That he was unsuited for ministry

4. What this text could suggest with reference to his physical state of health

a) He had been persecuted at Thessalonica

b) He had been rejected at Athens (by some)

c) He had been physically worn out

d) The words he employed could describe a person who had a traumatic experience recently

5. Personal Application

a) Paul was going to minister as he was

b) If he was perceived as weak and fearful, he would still serve as he was able

c) He would not try and put up a front of false bravado and style to impress people

d) He would minister as he had always ministered, conscious of his own weakness but drawing strength from the grace of the Lord

THE PREACHING APPROACH OF PAUL

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

1 Cor 2:4

1. Speech

a) His choice was not human eloquence

b) He refused to be like the orators/ philosophers who he met at Athens

2. Preaching

a) He did not use persuasive words of human wisdom

b) This was commonly done by orators of the day

i) They contrived ways and means to speak to move hearers

ii) They used whatever means to persuade people

3. Paul’s dependence

a) In demonstration of the Spirit

i) The Holy Spirit was deeply involved

ii) He would lead Paul and teach him what to say

iii) The Holy Spirit’s involvement would be clearly demonstrated

b) And of power

i) The Lord Jesus promised the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8)

ii) This was the power that the Apostles were given

iii) This was the power Paul sought and found

PAUL’S MAIN CONCERN

That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

1. To avert danger:

a) That the Corinthians may end up with a false faith

b) That they may end up with a faith that come from “the wisdom of men”

2. To lead to true faith

a) To possess a genuine faith

b) A genuine faith is one that will experience the power of God

i) To cleanse the heart from sin

ii) To change a sinful life into a godly one

iii) To be challenged to build up a strong life of faith