Living and Moving in the Holy Spirit
Part I: Our Purpose & Power
Study Guide Week Four:
Message for Sunday May 6, 2018
This Week Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Additional Reading: Acts 2:22-39; Romans 1:16; John 3;16
Introduction
Paul and the early Apostles preached (proclaimed or heralds God's word) with powerful messages that impacted many. For an example of Peter's preaching read Acts 2:22-39. When Peter preached the first message in Acts chapter 2 about three thousand believed and were saved. The message they preached had power - the power of God. The key question is why? Perhaps it was because they were great speakers and had learned the techniques of wisdom and persuasion so popular in the Greek world of that time. That is not the source of power they demonstrated. Paul specifically says that he did not come with eloquence or human wisdom. Peter as you may remember was a fisherman who was not at educated in techniques of oratory. Perhaps it was because of who they were. Perhaps they were very talented charismatic people. Yet this is not the case either. Paul writes that he had great fear and trembling and weakness. In another verse Paul notes that people said he was unimpressive in his presence and speech (2 Corinthians 10:10 and 2 Corinthians 11:6). These verses tell us that Paul's speaking was unimpressive and amounted to nothing. In fact Paul notes that he is untrained as a speaker. The source of their power was the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified (verse 2). The good news is that this same power is available to us today in our personal lives and in our ministries.
Paul and the early Apostles preached (proclaimed or heralds God's word) with powerful messages that impacted many. For an example of Peter's preaching read Acts 2:22-39. When Peter preached the first message in Acts chapter 2 about three thousand believed and were saved. The message they preached had power - the power of God. The key question is why? Perhaps it was because they were great speakers and had learned the techniques of wisdom and persuasion so popular in the Greek world of that time. That is not the source of power they demonstrated. Paul specifically says that he did not come with eloquence or human wisdom. Peter as you may remember was a fisherman who was not at educated in techniques of oratory. Perhaps it was because of who they were. Perhaps they were very talented charismatic people. Yet this is not the case either. Paul writes that he had great fear and trembling and weakness. In another verse Paul notes that people said he was unimpressive in his presence and speech (2 Corinthians 10:10 and 2 Corinthians 11:6). These verses tell us that Paul's speaking was unimpressive and amounted to nothing. In fact Paul notes that he is untrained as a speaker. The source of their power was the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified (verse 2). The good news is that this same power is available to us today in our personal lives and in our ministries.
Some Background Information
Be sure to review the prior posts in this series for weeks one through three. It is always important in reading the Bible to read what went before and after the verses you are studying. This gives you the flow and context of what is written. Your understanding will be greatly increased if you do that. Paul's goal was that the people at Corinth's faith would be built on a strong foundation. He did not want them to build their faith on him as an Apostle or on human wisdom. This is always an issue. In fact the church in Corinth was, as you remember, divided into groups with each following a different leader (see chapter 1 verse 12). When we follow people and use them as the foundation of our faith we will be deeply affected if they fall or disappoint us. Paul wanted the people's faith faith to be built on God's power (verse 5) not upon him. Paul did not even want the people's faith to be built on eloquent speaking or human wisdom. Eloquent speaking can move us emotionally but often it is only a temporary effect. We cry in movies yet a few days later we forget moved us. Similarly human wisdom is limited since we do not have God's perspective or God's perfect wisdom. To build our lives on wisdom or emotion alone would be foolish. So Paul points the people to the message of the cross. Paul always preached and told people the message of the Cross. He was not ashamed of that message even though it was simple and basic (Romans 1:16). The verse John 3:16 has been called the gospel or message of the Cross in a nutshell. Paul's focus was the cross - the life - the death and the resurrection power of Jesus and the necessity of believing and repenting. Paul kept to this message. He did not change it or add to it. This message alone has the power to save and transform lives.
Paul notes that when he preached the message of the Cross it was accompanied with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power. This demonstration was the saving of people along with signs, wonders and miracles and the planting and growth of God's kingdom. Paul wanted to be weak so that God would be strong. He pointed people to the Cross not to himself. As Gordon Fee writes, Paul had a "single concern: the gospel proclaimed through human weakness but accompanied by the powerful work of the Spirit so that lives are changed through a divine-human encounter."
Digging Deeper Questions:
1. What is the message of the Cross ? Be specific.
6. Have you experienced a demonstration of Spirit's power? Discuss how that impacted you.
7. What are somethings we can do to keep our faith resting upon God's power?
This Week’s Victory Challenge: Spend some time together as a group praying and asking God to give you a demonstration of the Spirit's power this week so your faith would have solid foundation.
Be sure to review the prior posts in this series for weeks one through three. It is always important in reading the Bible to read what went before and after the verses you are studying. This gives you the flow and context of what is written. Your understanding will be greatly increased if you do that. Paul's goal was that the people at Corinth's faith would be built on a strong foundation. He did not want them to build their faith on him as an Apostle or on human wisdom. This is always an issue. In fact the church in Corinth was, as you remember, divided into groups with each following a different leader (see chapter 1 verse 12). When we follow people and use them as the foundation of our faith we will be deeply affected if they fall or disappoint us. Paul wanted the people's faith faith to be built on God's power (verse 5) not upon him. Paul did not even want the people's faith to be built on eloquent speaking or human wisdom. Eloquent speaking can move us emotionally but often it is only a temporary effect. We cry in movies yet a few days later we forget moved us. Similarly human wisdom is limited since we do not have God's perspective or God's perfect wisdom. To build our lives on wisdom or emotion alone would be foolish. So Paul points the people to the message of the cross. Paul always preached and told people the message of the Cross. He was not ashamed of that message even though it was simple and basic (Romans 1:16). The verse John 3:16 has been called the gospel or message of the Cross in a nutshell. Paul's focus was the cross - the life - the death and the resurrection power of Jesus and the necessity of believing and repenting. Paul kept to this message. He did not change it or add to it. This message alone has the power to save and transform lives.
Paul notes that when he preached the message of the Cross it was accompanied with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power. This demonstration was the saving of people along with signs, wonders and miracles and the planting and growth of God's kingdom. Paul wanted to be weak so that God would be strong. He pointed people to the Cross not to himself. As Gordon Fee writes, Paul had a "single concern: the gospel proclaimed through human weakness but accompanied by the powerful work of the Spirit so that lives are changed through a divine-human encounter."
Paul notes that when he preached the message of the Cross it was accompanied with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power. This demonstration was the saving of people along with signs, wonders and miracles and the planting and growth of God's kingdom. Paul wanted to be weak so that God would be strong. He pointed people to the Cross not to himself. As Gordon Fee writes, Paul had a "single concern: the gospel proclaimed through human weakness but accompanied by the powerful work of the Spirit so that lives are changed through a divine-human encounter."
6. Have you experienced a demonstration of Spirit's power? Discuss how that impacted you.
7. What are somethings we can do to keep our faith resting upon God's power?
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