The Paradox of Christ Crucified
Sermon Series
Sermon Study Guide
Scripture
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Speaker
Pastor Joey
Sermon Study Guide
Q1: Icebreaker: Share about someone you think is truly great. What is it that makes that person so great in your eyes?
Q2: The city of Corinth was a clash of of many cultures and groups of people. The Romans, the Greeks, and the Jews. The church in Corinth, then, was also divided, and Paul sought a way to bring all these groups together. The Romans represented the power of men. From that lens, how do you think the Romans would have viewed Jesus who was crucified?
Q3: The Greeks represented the wisdom of men and their higher education. They also cared a lot about nobility (e.g. being of noble birth). How do you think this elite and intellectual class or people would have viewed Jesus who was born in a manger and crucified?
Q4: The Jews represented the moral and religious teachings of the day. They were waiting for signs that the Messiah has arrived, and expected it to look like a Savior-King coming with an army to overthrow the Jewish oppressors and restore the Kingdom of Israel. How do you think they would have viewed Jesus, who claimed to be God and the Messiah, yet was crucified?Q5: The crucifixion method of execution was especially cruel and humiliating, a method only reserved for the worst of criminals. The paradox of Christ crucified is that the Messiah (the Anointed One) would be crucified (the worst kind of death possible). This made no sense to the Romans, Greeks, and Jews, in the time of Jesus’ death. In what way do we also see these two contrasting idea of 1) Christ and 2) being crucified at work in our lives today? e.g. Pastor Joey’s examples of husbands loving wives?
Q6: The fourth and final group that Paul is appealing to here is the group that boasts in Christ alone. They boast not in human power, wisdom, or even moral superiority or holiness. They boast only in Jesus Christ, our Master who was obedient to death, even death on a cross. What is your understanding of the essence of the Christian faith after today?
Q7: “We preach Christ crucified.” Which of these four words was most important to you before? Which is most important to you today? How does this affect your life, or, how would you apply this to your life and faith?
Q8: Which part of this message on Christ crucified resonated with you the most? Which part surprised you the most?
