Christ Crucified – Pt 2

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 (NLT)

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

1. Elevate God’s word over public opinion.

Matthew 27:3-5 (NLT)

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

2. Rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus.

John 15:26-27 (NLT)

26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.

3. Examine all things and apply what the Holy Spirit reveals about Jesus.

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: You can have the mind of Christ because God reveals Jesus by the power of his word and his Spirit

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. What are some things that get in the way of our relying on the Holy Spirit?

▶ Read John 15:26-27. How has the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, revealed Jesus in your life?

▶ Read 1 Corinthians. 2:13-16. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. In your life, which of these areas (thoughts, opinions, memories, practices, feelings and emotions, and discernment to make decisions) are being guided by the mind of Christ and which area is the Holy Spirit wanting to reveal Jesus?

Prayer:

Thank God  for the highs and lift up the lows.

Pray that our desire for God’s word, the written word of God that reveals Jesus, would continue to grow in our lives.