Monday Apr 27, 2026
“A Stumbling Block” Sermon. Sunday, 4/26/2026.
The Lifeboat Provided by God
Human wisdom
Titanic
Scripture Series: I CORINTHIAN SERIES
Scripture Title: A Stumbling Block
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NIV
“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. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? 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 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 human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.””
Scripture Summary:
Our Scripture passage says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” Popular culture has a way of portraying Christians as simple minded, unsophisticated, and narrow minded because of our singular focus on Jesus as the truth about life, death and eternity. The teachings of Christ are often country to the wisdom of this world. Human produced wisdom and knowledge will often collide with the word of God and the wisdom of God.
Paul says the the Gospel of Christ which says that Jesus died not the cross for your sins so that you can be saved from the judgement of God, is an actual stumbling block to those who think they are wise. Many people do not believe that they are all that bad. That they really aren’t guilty before a righteous God and deserving of judgement and punishment. Many believe that they can save themselves by good works. And so they don’t really need Christ dying on the cross for their sins. So they either refuse God’s forgiveness in Christ or they are overly confident that they will be just fine with their own personal philosophy. One of the hardest things in coming to the Gospel is admitting that we can’t earn God’s favor on our own and that we are helpless and in need of forgiveness. Admitting that I’m fallen and in desperate need of help. The world’s wisdom says be strong and pull yourself up by the bootstraps. This is tough for those who are strong and accomplished in the world. This is why God often is able to reach people who are not much by the standards of this world. The poor, those broken by life, those who haven’t been big achievers, don’t have to get over themselves like those who haven’t accomplished something in life. This may be why most people who come to faith in Jesus before the age of 18. When you are young, you come before the Lord with empty hands and nothing to offer.
God can use anyone poor or rich, with a PhD or no degree at all. But we’ve got to come to the cross empty handed. We’ve got to leave behind all of our preconceptions of how the world is supposed to work and how we think God ought to act. We simply come to the Lord and say Jesus, I accept you as you have revealed yourself to me in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit. I accept your forgiveness purchased for me on the cross and I will follow you. I surrender my will to yours. If you fully give your heart to Christ, he will save you and give you eternal life. And he will do great things through you for His kingdom.
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