Selling the Church: Paul’s Methods

1. Selling the Church:Paul’s Methods 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

2. Modern Methods • Advertising • God’s Power is our advertisement • Love is our advertisement • Appearance management • Focusing on people’s perceptions not spiritual reality • Strategy • Target group, brand name • Programs

3. Human Methods • Creating Coolness – this is the place to be

4. Human Methods • Creating Coolness – this is the place to be • “Cheers” Where everybody knows your name

5. Human Methods • Creating Coolness – this is the place to be • “Cheers” Where everybody knows your name • Scratching the Itch – giving people what they want, physically, emotionally, spiritually

6. Gospel Methods 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

7. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 • And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

8. Passage Structure • Two statements – each with a positive and negative • Verses 1 and 2 • Verses 3 and 4 • A statement of purpose: This is why I did what I did

9. Passage Structure • Statement One: Paul’s Method • I did not use human wisdom • I knew only Christ crucified • Statement Two: Paul’s Manner • I was weak • I came in the demonstration of the Spirit’s Power • The Reason: that your faith may rest in God’s power not man’s wisdom

10. Paul’s Motive • … that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (2:5) • He wanted the foundation of their faith to be the Power of God • He did not want their faith to be founded in human wisdom/works

11. Other Verses • 1 Corinthians 1:18 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 1:23-24 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.

12. And… • Romans 1:16-17 For I am 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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

13. “The Power of God” • The ability to transform lives that is rooted in the Cross and is accomplished in those who respond in faith to Christ

14. Paul’s Purpose and Methods • Paul’s goal was that our faith would be founded on the Power of God in the Cross • Paul chose his methods and his manner based on that goal

15. Our Purposes and Methods • Certain methods will lead toward Cross-centered purposes • Other methods will not! • If our goal is what Paul’s was, our methods and manner must be what Paul’s was • Our means are as important as our ends

16. Paul’s Methods • 2:1-2 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. • Everything Paul did was based on the message of Christ crucified

17. Paul based everything he did on the gospel, not human effort • Our methods must be Cross-centered • Proclamation of the gospel, not politics or social change • Call to death and sacrifice, not self-centered living (not consumerism)

18. Paul’s Manner • And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. • Paul sought to demonstrate the power of God in all he did

19. Our Manner • Christian ministry is energized by human weakness • And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling • 2 Corinthians 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

20. Weakness is Good? • Why? • 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” • Christ works in and through those who realize their weakness

21. Our Manner • Paul did not base his ministry style on his personality or abilities • The CEO/Pastor • The Celebrity Pastor • He relied on the power of the message of the cross to accomplish the work of God

22. Our Manner Must: • Demonstrate the Spirit’s power • “Demonstration” - irrefutable evidence” • They can argue with our doctrine and our practices • They have no answer for a life changed by power of the Holy Spirit

23. The Spirit’s Power: HOW? • Intentionally refuse to rely on our own power • Dig deep in the Word! • Spirit uses the Word • Yield your live to Christ and to the Spirit’s control • Walk in obedience to Him!

24. Points to Ponder • Our human wisdom and abilities cannot accomplish the work of God and must not be relied on • Our weakness and frailty do not prevent God from using us; in fact, they are essential! • The gospel is powerful, proclaim it

25. http://www.gccsatx.com/