'Message of the Cross' Tagged Posts

'Message of the Cross' Tagged Posts

Daily Devotions

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” vs. 25 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 When Jesus was crucified, as far as the Jewish leaders were concerned, that was the end of his claim to be the messiah. But they hadn’t reckoned with the resurrection! As far as the disciples were concerned, his crucifixion was all part of the divine plan, and the cross became their rallying cry. They gloried in the message of…

Daily Devotions

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” vs. 2 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Corinth was the San Francisco of its day, a bustling seaport full of immigrants from all over the Mediterranean area, and new religions were popping up about every other day. People were jaded, sophisticated, and wise in the ways of the world. When Paul showed up and connected with the fledgling Christian community, he decided to put the crucified Jesus Christ…

Daily Devotions

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” vs. 18 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Some years ago, a new kind of evangelism strategy evolved in an effort to attract the large numbers of people who had come to be known as “searchers.” There was little concern about liturgy or creeds in worship. Instead there was a focus on music, not the old chorales,…

Daily Devotions

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” vs. 18 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Paul quickly discovered that both Jews and Gentiles had a tough time wrapping their minds around the cross as the central image in the message he was proclaiming. They simply couldn’t believe that the path to salvation ran through excruciating suffering and death. Messiahs were supposed to triumph over…

Daily Devotions: October 15, 2018

October 15, 2018 Isaiah 53:4-9  …“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs. 5 The prophet was speaking in the context of the greatest disaster that the people of Israel had ever experienced. The temple had been destroyed and large numbers of them were now living in exile. Trying to make sense of what had happened the prophet paints an…