b) Why did He choose such humble people to be His disciples?
THE PLAN OF GOD REVEALED I
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
1. The wisdom of the world
a) It could not discover God
b) A short list of those who think highly of themselves
i) The wise
ii) The scribes
iii) The disputer
iv) The Greeks
v) The Jews
2. The wisdom of God
a) The message of the Cross
b) The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ
c) The power of God
THE PLAN OF GOD REVEALED II
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:18-23
1. God has manifested Himself to mankind
2. Man knew God but refused to glorify Him
3. They became futile in their thoughts
4. Their hearts were darkened
5. Professing themselves wise, they became fools
RESISTANCE AGAINST THE DISCIPLES
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Acts 4:13-14
1. The Sanhedrin Council noted Peter and John
a) They saw their boldness
b) They perceived that:
i) They were “uneducated”
ii) They were “untrained”
c) They knew that they had been with the Lord Jesus Christ
2. They could not deny the miracle they had seen!
CONCLUSION
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
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 2:1-5
1. Paul was a scholar
a) Educated
b) Trained
2. Paul’s choice of how he would minister
a) Not with excellence of speech and wisdom
b) Not with persuasive words of human wisdom
c) But in demonstration of the Spirit and of power