Making The Gospel Work
What if the very thing the world considers foolish is actually the most powerful force in the universe?
That's not a riddle. That's the gospel.
This Sunday at Union Avenue Baptist Church, we are continuing our journey through 1 Corinthians, and the passage before us — chapter 2, verses 1 through 9 — has the power to completely reframe how we think about the message we carry, the church we are, and the God we serve. Whether you've been following Jesus for decades or you're just beginning to ask questions, this Sunday's message is for you.
The Temptation We All Face
Here's a tension every follower of Jesus feels at some point: the gospel seems too simple. In a world that prizes sophistication, intellect, and polished presentation, the message of a crucified Savior can feel like it needs some help. Some dressing up. Some rhetorical flair to make it more attractive.
The Apostle Paul felt that pressure too. He arrived in the city of Corinth — a cosmopolitan, intellectually driven city — after a rough stretch of ministry. He could have softened the message. He could have leaned into Greek philosophy and oratory to make Christianity more palatable to his audience.
He didn't.
Instead, he made a decision that defined his entire ministry: "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Four Things That Make the Gospel Work
This Sunday we'll walk through four essential commitments Paul made that allowed the gospel to do its work in Corinth — and that still hold true for us today.
1. The Method Must Be Simple. Paul wasn't interested in people walking away saying, "What a great preacher." He wanted them walking away saying, "What a great Savior." There's a difference — and it matters. The goal of every sermon, every conversation, every act of witness is to get people to see Jesus, not us.
2. The Message Must Be Clear. The gospel is not complicated. Jesus Christ died in our place. He paid the full penalty for our sin. He rose from the dead. That's it. That is the message that has the power to transform lives, restore broken people, and bring dead hearts to life. It needs no addition and no subtraction.
3. The Messenger Must Depend on God. Paul arrived in Corinth in "weakness, fear, and much trembling." He wasn't self-confident. He was scared. And that's exactly where God works best. When we stop trusting in our own ability and start trusting in the Spirit's power, something remarkable happens. This Sunday we'll talk about what it really means to rely on God — not as a spiritual cliché, but as a daily, moment-by-moment reality.
4. The Motive Must Be Sincere. This one cuts deep. Why do we share the gospel? Why do we serve, give, and show up on Sundays? If our faith rests on human persuasion, it can always be persuaded away. But faith born of God's power rests on an unshakeable foundation. We'll examine what it looks like to pursue God's glory — not our own.
A Wisdom the World Missed
The second half of the passage takes us somewhere breathtaking. Paul tells us that the cross isn't just God's power — it's God's wisdom. A wisdom so deep, so hidden, so far beyond human discovery that no eye has seen it, no ear has heard it, and no human heart could have ever conceived it.
Think about that. The rulers of this world — the most powerful, educated, and influential people of their age — looked at Jesus of Nazareth and crucified him. They thought they were silencing a problem. They had no idea they were fulfilling the plan God had predestined before the ages began.
And here's the part that should stop us in our tracks: that plan was for our glory. Not just God's glory — ours. The cross sets every believer on a trajectory of increasing glory that will not end until we are perfectly conformed to the image of Christ himself.
The world's wisdom is fading. The cross endures forever.
Join Us This Sunday
We would love for you to be with us as we open this passage together and let it do what only God's Word can do — encourage, challenge, convict, and transform.
Union Avenue Baptist Church 2181 Union Avenue Sunday Worship | 10:45am Online at unionavenue.org
Come as you are. Bring your questions. Bring your doubts. Bring a friend. The message of the cross is for everyone — and this Sunday, we can't wait to share it with you.