1 Corinthians 2

Bible Passage:  1 Corinthians 2

Next weekend will be our mid year Evangelistic Services.  And this weekend we will be going out distributing the invitation flyers.

Sometimes we worry too much about how and what we are going to say when we go out tracting.  We are worried we do not have an answer.  We are worried we will say the wrong things.  We are worried that we would sound silly when challenged.  We worry … we worry about so many things that in the end, we simply just choose not to go out preaching.  Instead… we remain behind in the comforts of our church compound and let others go.

But reading today’s passage reminds me that it is not about me… it is about Christ.  Let’s see what Paul says…

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

~ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul was very clear about the way he proclaimed the Gospel to the Corinthians.  He clearly said that it was not with lofty speech or wisdom (v 1).

Indeed, when Paul spoke – it was a demonstration of the Spirit and of the power of God (v 4).

This tells us one thing – evangelism is NOT something that is done by one’s own power and wisdom.  Yes, we can plan what we want to say or may even practice it.  But it is not so much as coming up with the perfect speech (despite years of doing door to door, I still fumble every single time in my opening speech), or coming up with the perfect door knocking strategy.

It remains, and always will be, about the power of the Holy Spirit, working in the hearts of man, convicting them and bringing them to the Church.

When you read this chapter, it is hardly the image of Paul that one would normally have.  Instead of someone very bold and outspoken, Paul admitted that he was weak, fearful and was with much trembling.  But despite all these inadequacies, Paul still continued to minister to the Corinthians.  And God was with him, using him to proclaim the mysteries of God and demonstrating God’s power and authority to the people.

This is something we should remember as we join in the work of giving out the invitations this weekend.

Do join us for this work.  After all, with God for us, who can stand before Him?