Joshua 6-7, Psalm 74, Mark 1:21-34, 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:

In this passage Paul first explains his evangelistic strategy, and then his discipleship philosophy.

First, his evangelistic strategy. Paul deliberately voided himself of superior eloquence of “Sophia” (Greek for wisdom) that was so well-known of the “Sophists” of his day. He did not use their techniques of persuasion. They were the marketing gurus of their day, figuring out how to generate a felt-need in the consumer for which their product would be the perfect solution—at a price. Instead, Paul presented simply the cross of Jesus Christ. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” By this means—focusing all around the cross of Jesus Christ—Paul achieved the goal of their faith being in God, not in himself. What does that mean for our evangelistic strategies? It means that the content of our message must be the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified. That may sometimes seem foolish, but it is the power of God.

Second, his discipleship philosophy. Paul did not, though, think that Christians should be fed only milquetoast. He did proclaim among Christians a more mature message. As he put it, “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” This essentially means that Paul’s discipleship philosophy was based on the premise that God’s Word, as revealed in the Bible and as taught by those who exposit the Bible, is the Spirit-directed way for Christians to grow in knowledge and understanding, love and character. He explains spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. That means for our discipleship strategy and philosophy that we seek always to have God’s Word taught and explained. In this way we will increasingly have even the mind of Christ.