Recap: Last week Cameron spoke on divisions within the church… There are many causes of division… Some divisions are good Many are harmful

The importance of the Gospel 1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.  18 For the message of the cross is 1 foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

The importance of the Gospel 22Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 2 The message 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 

The importance of the Gospel 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

The importance of the Gospel 2​:1And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

The importance of the Gospel 1Cor 2​:4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Cor 2:14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 2Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The importance of the Gospel 1/ To the unbeliever… the message of the cross (gospel) is Foolishness 1Cor:1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

The importance of the Gospel 2/ The Gospel MUST REMAIN PURE (focussed on the Cross) Paul said… 1 Cor 1:23 …. we preach Christ crucified Beware of distractions…

Gal 1:8 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

The importance of the Gospel 3/ The Gospel is THE BELIEVERS primary mission 1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel— Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation Acts 1:7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The importance of the Gospel 4/ The Gospel is Spiritual… (Supernatural MYSTICAL) The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 1Cor 2:14 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2Cor 4:3

The importance of the Gospel 4/ The Gospel is Spiritual… (Supernatural MYSTICAL) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them… John 6:44 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” John 6:65

The importance of the Gospel 5/ The Gospel is very POWERFUL 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel— not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 1Cor2​:4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

The importance of the Gospel Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.