“ . . . it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” I Corinthians 1:21b (KJV)
Okay. The NIV probably clarifies 1 Corinthians 1:21b when it translates it as, “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” But I have always liked the good old KJV here – that preaching was foolishness! In preaching, we are speaking into eternity and inviting God to invest the Spirit into the proclamation. How foolish that I should think God would somehow use a sermon I preach to reach someone for Christ!
If the NIV is correct, it is the topic about which I preach that is foolishness! Let’s take a look at the passage in context (I Corinthians 1:20-25, NIV):
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, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
I am aware every Sunday that what I say is at odds with the wisdom of this world; indeed, it is foolishness. Only a fool spends time speaking foolishness week after week. but I believe that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man.
In some sense, preaching is a warfare of wisdom. Against what the entire world deems as wise, a pastor asserts counter-wisdom: a subversive wisdom of faith in Christ.
How can you benefit the most from a sermon? Here are some simple suggestions inviting you into this foolishness of God!
- Listening to a sermon starts well before you arrive on Sunday mornings and grab your coffee from George and Janis. Prepare your mind and spirit by asking the Holy Spirit to teach you in the Word this day. Jesus promised us regarding the Spirit: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” [i] Since this is an activity of the Father in the name of the Son, we gladly receive this empowering teaching in the Spirit.
- Earlier in the same chapter of John[ii], Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Ask the Spirit to bring forward truth in what is spoken and what is heard.
- Sermons consist of reading Scripture, comparing and contrasting Scriptures and extrapolating principles from the Scriptures. Sometimes a “practical” application concludes the teaching. This can be helpful, but it can be limiting, too. Given by a pastor, practical application is but one aspect of response to the Scripture. More importantly is the question, “What is the Spirit saying to me today?” and “To what is the Spirit calling me to do in response to this teaching?”
- This is not to say that a specific response voiced by a pastor isn’t important – it is! It is needful for community response at times because we are a family acting in life together. Move freely in this response – and continue to press in to the nuances the Spirit is bringing to you
- Every sermon is for everyone-all-at-once and just-for-you-alone event. Certainly the teachings of Scripture are true for all present, but the Spirit is intentional in parking these truths into your soul and working specifically with forming you into the image of Christ.
- Bring your Bible. I know this is old school since so many churches toss the words into a PowerPoint, but a Bible is essential. Just to show I’m cool with technology, the Bible could be on your iPad, iPhone, iTouch, iKindle, or even an old, worn and tattered iHoly Bible you got at iVacation Bible School. Many churches provide Bibles in the pews or seats – they are there for visitors and harried parents that barely got the kids out the door that morning. Bring YOUR Bible with as a means to get it off the shelf and into your heart.
- Let’s say the sermon gets boring (unlikely, but possible) – you always have a Bible in front of you to peruse and take in the context of the passage.
- Having a Bible allows you to run down cross references and make notes of specific impact verses. The more you hide the Word of God in your heart the greater your grasp of any sermon – and any points of application. Knowing Scripture is the “no-brainer” of every Believer. Let’s put it this way: If we believe God created us and redeemed us in Christ – if we believe that God sent the Spirit in the name of Christ – if we believe God leads us into eternity – how could we possibly ignore the words God has spoken to us in Scripture?
- Having a Bible with you is a purposeful statement that we recognize the authority of God in Scripture to “command belief and obedience.”[iii] With this understanding, the function of preaching is all the more clear.
- Before leaving your seat at the end of the service, take a moment to breathe a prayer. Ask the Spirit of truth to continue teaching you through this week.
- Discuss with others, your family, perhaps a small group or a co-worker – what the teaching was about and what the Spirit was teaching you. Share the commitments you have made as the Spirit has led you into responding.
What if Sunday was the height of the week, the day from which everything flowed and to which everything anticipated? Look at the chart and think about the four “R’s” of the week:
Flowing Out From Sunday (Sunday through Wednesday)
- Reflecting. Take time to think about, meditate on, pray about, turning over and over the Scripture and the teaching.
- Relaying. Begin talking to people about what you’ve been discovering in the reflection time. Talking with others not only seals your thinking, it invites others into the process.
Flowing Toward From Sunday (Thursday through Sunday )
- Responding. In thoughtful steps, begin responding to that which God’s Spirit and Word have led you. Put feet and hands to the commitments.
- Readying. Begin preparing your mind and soul for Sunday – anticipating the richness of the fellowship, worshipping together, prayer and Word.
[i] John 14:26
[ii] John 14:15-18
[iii] For a full discussion of this point, see Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998), pp 266-285
