Counter Culture
April 21, 2024
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 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? 21 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.
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 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. 27 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. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-21
1. Discuss the various ways that the gospel, the message of the cross, is counterintuitive, countercultural, and in Paul’s words: foolishness.
2. What are some things God asks us to do, and some ways God asks us to be, that just do not make sense in the eyes of those who do not believe the gospel?
3. Do you ever struggle with being misunderstood by the world? By other Christians?
4. Is Paul presenting a message that is anti-wisdom, anti-intelligence, anti-reason? How would you describe the way Paul views the interaction of faith and reason?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
5. Discuss why ‘Christ crucified’ was a stumbling block for Jews. What kind of sign were the Jews demanding?
6. Discuss why ‘Christ crucified’ was a stumbling block for Greeks. What were they, in all of their wisdom, looking for?
7. Paul calls Christ ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God,’ suggesting that in reality He is exactly what both the Jews and the Greeks were looking for! How did/does Christ demonstrate the power of God? How did/does Christ demonstrate the wisdom of God?
8. See if you can find some other passages in the Bible that reinforce the idea that God’s way of doing things are better than man’s natural way of doing things.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
9. Why do you think the gospel appeals to those who are not ‘wise, influential or noble’? Why do those whose life provides them a platform of strength, resource and privilege sometimes struggle to embrace the gospel?
10. What does this passage suggest about the way we view whose circumstances seem lowlier and humbler than our own?
11. What does verse 30 reveal about how much of our salvation and relationship with God depends on our own effort and performance?
12. Reread vs. 28-30. Despite Paul’s words, the world says Christians often seem to think/believe they are better than other people. In your opinion, how does this happen? What can be done to reverse this opinion and align ourselves more closely with Paul’s words?