Preaching the Gospel - 1 Corinthians 1-2

 1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

I have read this passages for years in my yearly reading through the Bible.  Up until today I did not see the many references to how God’s Word is to be preached.  There are some wonderful truths that those to preach/teach God’s Word should observe.  Those who listen each Sunday to God’s Word being preached out to pray these verses over the teaching ministry of their Church:

MONDAY - Preaching the Gospel is the speaking the Power of God:

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

TUESDAY - Preaching the Gospel folly to the world 

1 Corinthians 1:21-23 (ESV)

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

WEDNESDAY - Preaching the Gospel is out of weakness of self

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (ESV)

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

THURSDAY - Preaching the Gospel requires a humble heart

1 Corinthians 1:28-29 (ESV)

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

FRIDAY - Preaching the Gospel is not enhanced by fancy talk

1 Corinthians 2:3-4 (ESV)

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

SATURDAY - Preaching the Gospel is not done in human wisdom but in the wisdom of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (ESV)

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

SUNDAY - Preaching of the Gospel based upon eloquent speech will hinder the power of God

1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.