Is your spiritual pride keeping you from needing a Savior?

Dr. Lewis walks listeners through 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 and 6:9–11, exposing our pride and self-sufficiency. He highlights how God intentionally chooses “the foolish, weak, and despised” to shame the world’s strong and proud. Using vivid biblical examples (Corinthian slaves, thieves, adulterers, homosexuals) and contemporary illustrations (a homecoming queen realizing a humble girl has what money can’t buy), he challenges us to consider: What blocks us from embracing God on His terms? Pride or self-righteousness?

Then, through 1 Corinthians 1:30, Dr. Lewis shows how Christ becomes wisdom from God—giving us:

1. Righteousness – our legal standing before God

2. Sanctification – spiritual transformation

3. Redemption – ultimate hope beyond death

He contrasts the inadequacy of philosophy (“wishology”) and psychology with the life-changing wisdom of Christ.

Finally, quoting Jeremiah 9:23–24, he ties it all together: true boasting is not in our wealth, wisdom, or power—but in knowing and understanding God.

1. The Paradox of God’s Choice (1 Cor. 1:26–31)

   • God chooses the weak and foolish to shame the strong

   • Illustrations from Corinth and modern life

2. Breaking Spiritual Pride

   • Matthew’s Beatitudes: “poor in spirit”

   • William Barclay: “can do nothing” -> real Christianity begins

3. God’s Methods to Reach Us

   • Crisis

   • Emptiness

   • Holy Spirit’s quiet tug

4. Christ: God’s Wisdom in Us (1 Cor. 1:30)

   • Righteousness

   • Sanctification

   • Redemption (eternal perspective)

5. Why We Should Boast in God

   • The emptiness of philosophy and psychology

   • Jeremiah’s command: boast only in knowing God

6. Invitation & Response

   • Personal challenge: Is pride keeping you from Christ?

   • Prayer invitation for forgiveness and new life

• Pride blocks access to God; spiritual poverty opens the door.

• God’s “foolish” servants highlight His power, not ours.

• True wisdom comes from embracing Christ’s righteousness, transformation, and hope.

• Philosophy and psychology may analyze life—they cannot redeem.

• Real boasting is in knowing God’s character and pursuing relationship, not achievements.

• 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 – God chooses the weak and foolish

• 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 – “And such were some of you…”

• Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit

• 1 Corinthians 1:30 – Christ as our wisdom

• Jeremiah 9:23–24 – Boast only in knowing the Lord

Recorded 5/17/81

Guided Question

In what ways do I view the message of the cross as "foolish"—and how might God be inviting me to experience its transforming power instead?

Summary

Dr. Robert Lewis explores the paradox of the Christian faith: the message of the cross—foolishness to the world but power to those being saved. Using Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians and a story from Isaiah, he shows how human wisdom repeatedly fails to answer life’s deepest questions. Only through Christ's death and resurrection do we find forgiveness, purpose, and power to live differently. The message is not just theoretical—it changes lives.

Outline

1. Introduction

   • Prayer and welcome to visitors

   • Reflections on the presence of God

2. Two Responses to the Cross

   • Story: restaurant encounter shows contrasting reactions to the gospel

   • 1 Corinthians 1:18—"The word of the cross is foolishness to the perishing"

   • Greek word mōria (foolishness, absurdity)

3. God’s Plan for Man

   • Humanity was created for relationship with God

   • Sin as rebellion and separation

   • Only Christ’s sacrifice restores us to God

   • This gift must be personally received

4. Israel’s Mistake: Trusting Egypt, Not God

   • Isaiah 29–30: Historical context—Assyria threatens Jerusalem

   • Israel turns to Egypt instead of repenting

   • God rebukes their reliance on human power

   • Miraculous deliverance follows Hezekiah’s surrender to God

5. Application: When You’re Out of Options

   • We, like Israel, often exhaust all options before turning to God

   • C.S. Lewis: God is not proud—He stoops to conquer

6. The Failure of Human Wisdom

   • Paul asks, “Where is the wise man?”

   • Human wisdom has not improved the human condition

   • Churchill quote: knowledge grows, but virtue does not

7. Real Power: The Gospel Transforms Lives

   • Augustine: from sinful living to radical transformation

   • Gospel isn’t just a theory; it brings power

   • God’s kingdom is about transformation, not just words

Key Takeaways

1. The Cross Offends Human Pride The message of a crucified Savior seems absurd to the self-sufficient and proud.

2. God’s Plan Inverts Human Expectations Salvation comes not through strength, but through what appears weak and foolish.

3. There Is Only One Way Back to God The cross is God's exclusive and sufficient plan for reconciliation.

4. Transformation Is the Evidence Faith in Christ results in real life change, not just new beliefs.

5. God Waits for Our Desperation God often allows us to run out of options so we can finally turn to Him.

6. Skepticism Is Real—But So Is the Evidence From personal stories to archaeology, the gospel is rooted in both power and truth.

Scriptural References

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 – The contrast between the foolishness of the cross and God’s power

• Isaiah 29:14 – “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise...”

• Isaiah 30:1–3 – Rebuke of Israel’s alliance with Egypt

• Isaiah 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray...”

• Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death...”

• Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else...”

• 1 Corinthians 4:20 – “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

Recorded 4/19/81

Guided Question

Which of the four "Christian parties" do I naturally lean toward—and how might that strength become a weakness if not balanced by the full truth of Christ?

Summary

In 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, Paul addresses divisions in the Corinthian church, where members aligned themselves with various Christian leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and even Christ. The sermon explores how each group represented a legitimate spiritual emphasis but became distorted when isolated. The Paul group overemphasized grace (libertarianism), Apollos’s group prioritized intellect (intellectualism), Cephas's followers clung to rules (legalism), and those claiming Christ alone often became overly spiritual (spiritual elitism).

The key message is that each party held a portion of truth, but apart from one another, those truths became exaggerated and divisive. Unity in the body of Christ requires humility, mutual submission, and a cross-centered life where self-interest is surrendered to Christ.

Outline

1. The Context of Division (1 Corinthians 1:10–13)

• Paul appeals for unity, calling out the division caused by loyalty to different leaders.

• Central question: “Has Christ been divided?”

2. The Four "Parties" in Corinth

a. Pauline Party – Libertarians

• Emphasis: Grace and freedom.

• Strength: Trust in God’s forgiveness.

• Weakness: Abusing freedom and excusing sin.

b. Apollos Party – Intellectuals

• Emphasis: Wisdom, eloquence, and theology.

• Strength: Serious study and reflection.

• Weakness: Pride, indecision, and superiority.

c. Cephas (Peter) Party – Legalists

• Emphasis: Action, tradition, and decisiveness.

• Strength: Moral clarity and conviction.

• Weakness: Simplistic solutions, rigidity, legalism.

d. Christ Party – Spiritualists

• Emphasis: Direct spiritual revelation.

• Strength: Deep devotion and divine dependence.

• Weakness: Lack of accountability, subjectivism.

3. Application to Practical Issues in the Church

• Each group interprets key issues differently based on its core lens:

  • Speaking in tongues

  • Church discipline

  • Eating and drinking

  • Role of women

• These interpretations reveal how imbalance fosters division.

4. The Call to the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:17)

• Paul reminds the church that he came to preach the gospel, not to gain followers.

• The gospel is centered on the cross—self-denial, unity, and Christ-centered living.

• The cross should draw believers together, not push them apart.

Key Takeaways

1. Every group held part of the truth—but partial truth, when isolated, becomes distortion.

2. Unity in the church does not mean uniformity, but mutual submission and love.

3. The cross is the ultimate model of self-denial—it unites, humbles, and transforms.

4. Mature believers listen, reflect, and respect others before reacting.

5. Divisions in the church often arise from personal pride, not pure theology.

6. Real spiritual maturity is marked by a willingness to die to self and live for others.

Scriptural References

• 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 – Paul addresses divisions and calls for unity.

• Philippians 2:3–5 – Consider others more important than yourself.

• Galatians 2:11–14 – Paul confronts Peter about falling into legalism.

• Philippians 3:4–9 – Paul counts all accomplishments as loss for Christ.

• John 17:20–23 – Jesus prays for the unity of His followers.

• Romans 14:1–13 – Do not judge each other in matters of personal conviction.

• Ephesians 4:1–6 – Maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• Luke 9:23–24 – Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.

Recorded 4/5/81