What God Does (1 Cor. 1:26-31)

Who do you think Jesus went to first and who do you think responded to His message with the most gusto: the wise, the strong and of high station with the perfect pedigree, or the weak, foolish, good for nothing gutter rats? You guessed it, those very people here in Nashville that we are the most afraid of, those that live on that street, those whose lifestyle of abuse, drugs, crime and ignorance have dropped them on the stoop of the red light district. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 addressed this in wonderful terms and Byron nailed it with a royal illustration and three points about God in his sermon.

The message of Christ and the cross is all about God, His sovereign grace and His glory. Our response is to totally boast but not in our 'great, smart decision' but in God's gracious motivation, aim and ability.  When Christ came to the earth to seek and save the lost He started at the back of the line where the religious culture dares not tread. Sovereign grace is the great equalizer of the salvation playing field where wisdom, strength and high social position are boastable hindrances to God's glory. From this passage you see that God does it so that He alone gets all the glory. God's motivation for saving was from within Himself and not from what He saw or even hoped for in man. God's aim in salvation was for Himself, so that boasting would be reserved for Him with none going to man. God's ability to save is expressed by the "so short and undeniable" phrase, "by Him," in verse 30. How does God save? By Christ alone, which is the whole, simple point of the Gospel. So by verse 31 the boasting in the Lord alone becomes very obvious.

I believe the point that struck me the most in this particular message was the most remarkable contrast between what man loves and looks for: wisdom, strength and noble birth verses where Christ came and dwelt, with the fools, the weak and the social mutants. Byron said that God's sovereign grace is the great leveler of the playing field and that we must see everyone as an equal target for the Gospel. I think maybe I've been aiming at the clean cut wise and stepping over the dirty sinners. Christ Himself said it best: only the sick need a doctor and with that only the lost need a savior.

The View from the Tomb (Luke 24:36-53)

When the angel rolled the stone away it wasn't to let Jesus out but to let us in. The view from the empty tomb would change the world forever. Resurrection Sunday always brings out the "once a year Christians" who take a quick glance toward the tomb in a dared sort of way. This yearly ritual reminds me of  Clark Griswold gathering the family around the precipice of the Grand Canyon only to give a quick nod and then herd the family back in to the car to get on with real life. Surely the consideration of the empty tomb is supposed to be an everyday experience that changes us and motivates us, not a holiday called Easter. After the Resurrection the church exploded onto the scene as shown in the book of Acts. I thought Byron made a crucial statement:
"The resurrection created the church not the other way around."
Luke 24:36-53 was the key text for this sermon (CBC Sermons). Remember the six practical provisions the resurrection provides for us.

1. Victory in life, in witness and over sin. (Rom. 6:1-6) 
2. Hope for the future especially after we die. (Acts 17:30-32)
3. Freedom from materialism. (2 Cor. 5:15)
4. Joy in obedience (Phil. 3:10-14)
5. Confidence in the Gospel. The empty tomb proves that its true. (2 Cor. 5:14-17)
6. Forgiveness of all our failures and embarrassments. Always an encouragement and helping hand back into the battle and ministry.  (Matt. 28:10)

Well, here we are, Easter is over now what? Its the same as on the very first resurrection morning. Quickly now go tell his disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead. Who will you tell today?

Considering Ourselves (1 Corinthians 1:26)

Remember your calling. Think back to the moment you were saved! Remember how sinful, how foolish, how lame you were before Christ found you and saved you. Why did God save you? Because you were good? Because he thought of you and your merit above all? That doesn't even make sense. Good people don't need to be saved. By very definition salvation assumes that someone is in need of being rescued. Jesus Himself said He came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 People that don't think they are lost need not apply. I have talked to many that say "well that's nice for you but I don't need that Jesus stuff." Sermon audio

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

We were total wrecks when Christ saved us whether we saw it at the time or not. Being saved out of a literal ditch of our own depravity is one thing but being saved out of 'good' suburbia is perceived as another. Both, according to scripture, are train wrecked lives without hope, without Christ. The trophies of God's Grace are the nothings of this world. Its a beautiful thing thinking about God ensuring His glory is displayed by going after those who have no glory of their own to bring to the table.
So, in the Gospel I preach is there room for the train wrecks? Is there any room for those train wrecks here at the church?

God Has Spoken (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Our Doug Searle imploded an exegetical bomb of a sermon from his Sunday School class series on the book of Hebrews for the whole church. This message has nothing to do with Byron's series on 1 Corinthians and yet it has everything to do with Christ and the Gospel, so strap on your seat belts and let's do this thing. click here to listen to it

Hebrews 1:1-4 (Hebrews 1 on ESV.org)
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 Whatever our problems may be (surface level, felt), my real problem is my inadequate consideration of Jesus. Giving better attention to Jesus week after week is the point of church. We go around not noticing Jesus enough. From John 17 we learn that knowing God and Christ Jesus IS eternal life. Salvation is not only about heaven, about being saved, but about knowing God and Christ. We can only know God if we know Christ. (John 14:6)
Jesus has spoken to us. To us, wow! He is not ashamed to call us, sin and all, brothers.  Jesus is the speech of God. So what does God have to say? Jesus. "In these last days God has spoken to us by Jesus." I was recently reading a book that I thought was going to be solid. Sadly, the author strayed away from the Bible and starting talking about the 'prophetic' voice of God in your head and the voice of God in the church. No, Hebrews is clear! God has spoken, past tense, in Jesus. Jesus, as recorded in the Bible, is the final revelation of God to us. Can you think of anything else we really need? I can't.

"All theology is Christology and the school yard of theology is Calvary" That's tweetable right there. Jesus is the end of all things. He is the destination of all human history. Want to know the answer to life's most pressing issues? Jesus is the initiator, explanation, goal, conclusion, sustainer, answer and final communication of God on all things.

I think there is some new information about Jesus in this message and the book of Hebrews that a casual observer might miss over the years. I know I did. The points that gets me thinking more than any are these: Jesus, the man... Jesus the man lived a perfect life and thus not only fulfilled all righteousness but lived that life in my stead. Jesus the man brought the sacrifice and He was the sacrifice. Jesus the man sits at God's right hand because it is finished! These are powerful and heady thoughts that are joyously delightful to lift dark spirits during dark days.

So, if someone speaks to you what should you do? Listen! We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard; the whole point of Hebrews. When will you and I start to listen to Jesus? He has spoken, did I hear it? Am I distracted with all my 'other problems' and missing my main problem: not considering Jesus more? What an exciting time to be alive for Christ and carry His name to the nations.

The Centrality Of The Cross (Part 4) 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

The words from this sermon series continue to penetrate like a fine clock oil. Live it afresh brothers and sisters and if you have not listened to the message click here: Centrality of Cross (pt. 4) This was a lifesaver for me as I was able to access this site on my iPhone and listen while in San Diego this week. Technology carries the Gospel all over the globe. Praise the Lord.

Lets jump right in:

1 Corinthians 1:20-25 1 Cor. (ESV website)
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

We are the scribes, the debaters and the wise fools of this passage. Our hearts churn out idol after idol (Calvin called the human heart an endless idol factory). These self made gods we create are very ruthless despotic tyrants that demand constant sacrifice: our merit. As we feed our own self made merit god that is never appeased or satisfied we bump into others on the same treadmill of despair. Whenever I fail to tell another about the wonderful free gift of Christ, I, in essence, tell that person, "go on, continue to work your fingers of merit to the bone trying to appease a made up god of your own selfishness that will die with you, unappeased." When I think about it like this it doesn't sound like a very nice thing to do to a person.
The gracious God of the scriptures is nothing like this. We can stop working now, stop trying to appease, stop trying to be pretend we are better than we really are. As we look up at the cross our hammer and chisel of merit should drop to the ground as our open, humble hands of repentance are lifted by Christ Himself to receive grace.

What does your self made god look like? What 'food' and sacrifices do you need to provide it daily? Out of curiosity I 'googled' to see what was the meanest, nastiest god man has ever fashioned? The answer maybe: Ares, the Greek god of war, who started wars and global conflict just for kicks. The gods we fashion demand our labor just for 'fun' too! The 'so-called' wise Greeks worshiped this monster. Doesn't seem too 'wise' to me! Yet, as I feed daily my merit monster, I guess that's not too wise either. Let's venture forth to know nothing and to preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified, foolishness gone wild!

The Centrality Of The Cross (Part 3) I Cor. 1:19-20

The Centrality Of The Cross (Part 3)
Byron Yawn
Mar 7, 2010 • Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:19-20
If you missed the message grab the mp3: http://audio.cbcnashville.org/index.php/site/listen/277

I Corinthians 1:19 For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

The walls are coming down in my life like the walls of Jericho (referenced in the sermon). What an utterly foolish and laughable way to fell a city, by walking in circles seven times and blowing trumpets! The foolishness of the wise collapses like the power of God shattering those massive rocks. The preaching of the gospel is like that.

(a nice link proving those walls really did collapse outwardly: http://shar.es/mHtNB )

Paul, in Romans 1: 16, states that he is "not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." If I don't share the gospel with regularity I won't feel this temptation to be ashamed or burdened by that foolish message. In other words, if I don't ever step into the battle I won't understand all this talk about wounds, pain and the temptation to flee the battle spray.  This hit me so hard today. Where is my life going? How many people, day in and day out, do I not share with because I am afraid and ashamed. I weep at my shame. I'm ashamed of my shame even! When was the last time I shared the gospel with anyone and not just a typical 'spiritual conversation'? Asking someone where they attend church and then saying, 'oh that's so nice.' is NOT sharing the cross! Everyone wants cute spiritual conversations like this but no one wants to hear the implications of the cross upon their sinful world! Even in sharing it do I really share it? If a person doesn't leave a conversation stating in shock, "he called me bad and mentioned hell and wrath," then I probably didn't share the gospel with them.

I loved it when Byron said he "plays a one string banjo, the gospel, 'boing!'".The cross says about man what no one wants to hear and about God what no one can conceive. It reveals the problem everyone knows they have with an answer no one knew was possible. What a statement. Do I have this 'blood earnestness' to bring Christ with me into every conversation, every relationship. I will preach the gospel only to the ones I truly love. Just put the simple message of the cross in people's paths.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 The Centrality Of The Cross (Part 2)

Who would have thought the cross up as a way to save the world?

 Byron mentioned this image during his message as an illustration of the mentality of those perishing. The cross is foolishness to the lost world. {This graffitio, scratched into the plaster on the side of a building in Rome, dates from about 250 AD. The hastily made image (probably by a teenager in those days) shows a crucifix with a donkey's head, seen from behind and dressed in a short tunic. To the left stands a young man with the same clothes and his arm raised. Between the two figures are the words in Greek: "Alexamenos sebete theon" ("Alexamenos worships his god"). Apparently, the author of the drawing is making fun of a Christian, Alexamenos, who is praying to a crucified god with a donkey's head.}

 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

The cross of Christ splits mankind into two categories: fools and the wise. The fools however are the ones that are being saved and the wise are the ones perishing. The graffiti above so aptly portrays the lost world's view of the cross. I guess today it would be like walking around saying that some prophet was executed in an electric chair in some remote prison to pay for your sins. In our natural minds we would hear this and scoff with ridicule. Even though the cross is offensive and one of the most despicable visuals of the Roman world, that is not what makes the cross of Christ so offensive. The cross is offensive because it is the best, most honest assessment of the sinful condition of mankind. The evoked question should and usually is, "why would God do that to His son?" Answer: we are a brutal, savage people who kill babies calling it a mother's choice and murder people in our hearts everyday! It shows the cost required to pay for the sins of man. "The cross is the brutal truth about me."
The implications of this message:

• my mission field is populated with perishing people who hate the cross because they are quite happy with self salvation. They have it covered and don't need my help or anyone's help.
• The cross is shameful as an actual, historical image but also it's implications to the sinner. When is the last time I bore the shame of the cross for His name and glory? When is the next time I get the chance?
• When I shy away from being a shamed fool for Christ I negate the cross, denying its power alone to save.

Finally, was anyone else's heart racing at the saved prostitute story/ conclusion? Wow, that was the best ending of a sermon that I have experienced in a long time. It really made me think about grace and the power of the cross to change a life! I had no idea if he was serious or delving into the hypothetical. It was brilliant and totally arrested my attention. Hopefully I will stay arrested by God's Word all this week.

Click here to find all the sermons and join the action at Community Bible Church:
CBC sermon audio
Nice link to read the Bible online:
Online bible of 1 Cor.