August 15th | 1 Corinthians 1

“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.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The cross changes everything. In Paul’s day, the idea that a crucified man could be the Savior of the world sounded absurd. The Greeks thought it was irrational; the Jews considered it offensive. Even today, the message of the cross doesn’t fit neatly into the wisdom of our culture. We like positive thinking, self-help slogans, and the belief that we’re “good enough” on our own. But the cross says something uncomfortable—we are sinners who desperately need a Savior.

That’s why it’s tempting for churches and Christians to sanitize the gospel: take out the blood, the sin, the judgment, and just talk about “breakthroughs” and “blessings.” But Paul reminds us that the cross is the central message of Christianity. Without it, we have no hope.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5, Paul points to three powerful truths about the cross:

1. The Message of the Cross

The cross divides humanity into two groups: those who are perishing and those who are being saved. There’s no middle ground. God’s wisdom is unlike the world’s wisdom, it doesn’t flatter our pride or play by our rules. Instead, it humbles us, confronting our sin and pointing us to Jesus as our only hope.

2. The Power of the Cross

Paul reminds the Corinthians that God delights in using the weak, the overlooked, and the ordinary to accomplish His purposes. The power of the cross transforms sinners into saints, the guilty into forgiven, and the condemned into redeemed children of God. It’s not our wisdom or ability that matters, but His power working through us.

3. The Cross in Action

Paul didn’t come to Corinth with polished speeches or clever arguments—he came with one message: Christ crucified. He knew that real faith must rest not in human wisdom, but in the power of God. Our role is simply to point others to the cross, trusting God to do the saving work.

Following Jesus will sometimes make you look foolish in the world’s eyes. But in God’s eyes, it is the wisest choice you could ever make. So here’s the question—do you have enough faith to be a fool for Christ?