Sermons on 1 Corinthians 1:27

1 Corinthians 1:27 Interpretation:

Embracing Our Calling: Glory in Weakness and Humility (Integrity Church) offers a notably fresh interpretation of 1 Corinthians 1:27 by embracing the label of "loser" as a badge of honor, not in the derogatory sense, but as a sign of having lost oneself for the sake of something greater—namely, Christ. The preacher uses the analogy of being called a "religion for losers" (referencing Ted Turner's famous quote) and flips it, arguing that Christians are "losers" because they have lost their own ambitions, pride, and self-sufficiency to gain Christ. The sermon also humorously introduces Greek and Hebrew words ("baloney" and "hogwash") to dismiss the idea that only the most qualified or impressive people are used by God, reinforcing the passage's message that God intentionally chooses the unimpressive by worldly standards. The preacher's use of biblical character studies (Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Peter, Matthew, Paul) as "nobodies" or "flawed" people whom God used, further illustrates the passage's intent. This approach is distinct in its self-deprecating humor and its direct engagement with the cultural insult, transforming it into a theological strength.

Strength in Weakness: Embracing God's Empowering Grace (Encounter Church NZ) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 through the lens of the "opposites" of the kingdom of God versus the world, emphasizing that God's strategy is to use the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong. The preacher draws a direct line from Paul's experience of weakness and spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 12) to the principle in 1 Corinthians 1:27, arguing that God's power is only perfected in human weakness. The sermon uses the metaphor of stepping out of the "boxing ring"—ceasing to fight in one's own strength—so that Jesus can step in and demonstrate his power. This analogy is unique in its vividness and practical application, encouraging believers to "pull back" their natural strength and allow Christ's strength to operate. The preacher also challenges the common religious definition of "grace" as merely "unmerited favor," instead defining it as "God's supernatural ability that comes when you're weak," which shapes the understanding of the passage as a call to radical dependence.

God's Glory: Strength in Weakness and Humanity's Calling (David Guzik) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 by connecting it to Psalm 8, focusing on the theme that God uses "otherwise weak things to display his glory and strength." The preacher highlights the linguistic detail that the Septuagint (ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) renders "strength" as "praise," and that Jesus himself quotes this passage in Matthew 21:16, linking the praise of children to the silencing of God's enemies. The sermon uniquely frames the passage as a cosmic reversal: the God who displays his glory in the heavens also chooses to display it through the weakest and most insignificant, such as babes and nursing infants, and by extension, through us in our weakness. This interpretation is distinguished by its integration of Old Testament poetry, New Testament fulfillment, and linguistic nuance.

Transformative Power of the Risen Christ (Alistair Begg) provides a unique interpretive angle by focusing on the resurrection narrative and the role of women as the first witnesses. The preacher notes that in first-century Palestine, the testimony of women was inadmissible in court, yet God chose them as the initial bearers of the resurrection message. This is presented as a living illustration of 1 Corinthians 1:27—God choosing the lowly and despised to nullify the things that are. The sermon uses the metaphor of a "company in crisis" (the disciples) and the "weak things" (the women and the doubting, failed disciples) to show that God's power is displayed not in the impressive, but in the unlikely and overlooked. This approach is notable for its historical-cultural specificity and its application to the resurrection event.

Divine Wisdom: Strength in Weakness and the Cross (Desiring God) offers a distinctive interpretation of 1 Corinthians 1:27 by emphasizing that God’s choice to use the “foolish” and “weak” is not merely a pragmatic strategy but is essential to the very definition of Christianity. The sermon argues that if God had chosen the wise, powerful, or culturally elite to spread the gospel, it would have undermined the message of the cross, which is fundamentally about the end of human boasting and the exaltation of Christ alone. The preacher highlights that the “foolishness” and “weakness” of the cross are not accidental but are the deliberate means by which God overturns worldly values, ensuring that faith rests on divine power rather than human achievement. The analogy of the cross as “the weakest and most despicable death imaginable” is used to reinforce the radical nature of God’s wisdom, which subverts all human expectations.

Embracing Your Divine Purpose in Challenging Times (SermonIndex.net) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 through the metaphor of a sports team running through a paper wall before entering the game. The preacher uses this vivid analogy to illustrate how believers often face psychological and spiritual barriers—depicted as a flimsy paper wall covered in accusations and doubts—that prevent them from stepping into their divine calling. The sermon insists that God’s choice of the weak and foolish is not about their inherent ability but about their willingness to accept God’s supernatural empowerment. The “paper wall” becomes a symbol of the lies and fears that must be broken through so that each believer can “get in the game” and fulfill their unique role in God’s plan.

Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace (Desiring God) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 as a doctrinal safeguard against human pride, especially in the context of Calvinistic theology. The preacher notes that the verse is a divine design to “destroy human boasting” by ensuring that salvation and election are not based on human merit, wisdom, or strength. The sermon uniquely applies the passage to the dangers of spiritual pride even among those who hold to doctrines of grace, warning that the heart can twist even the most humbling truths into grounds for self-exaltation. The preacher’s use of the phrase “the heart can make even the most humbling doctrines a stepping stone to boasting” is a notable insight, highlighting the subtlety of pride.

Embracing the Transformative Power of Jesus Today (SermonIndex.net) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 by connecting it to the nativity story, emphasizing that God’s choice of shepherds and a manger for Christ’s birth exemplifies the principle of using the “least likely” to accomplish great things. The preacher applies the verse to encourage listeners that God delights in elevating the humble and overlooked, suggesting that anyone—regardless of status or ability—can be used profoundly by God. The analogy of the shepherds as “the least likely of us” and the manger as a symbol of divine paradox is central to this interpretation.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) offers a detailed and unique interpretation of 1 Corinthians 1:27 by focusing on the deliberate and primary nature of God's choice. The preacher emphasizes that God does not choose the weak, foolish, or despised as a last resort, but as His master plan and first option. He unpacks the Greek word for "foolish" (moros), explaining it as "moronic," "absurd," or "nonsensical" from the world's perspective, and stresses that God's choices often appear ridiculous or incomprehensible to human wisdom. The sermon distinguishes between being a fool and being seen as foolish, highlighting that God's selection is not accidental but a purposeful act to confound worldly wisdom. The preacher also draws out the meaning of "weak" as "strengthless" or "feeble," and "base" as "without kin or genealogy," showing that God intentionally seeks out those with no social standing or family background. The analogy of being a "not"—non-existent or absolutely negated—further illustrates the radical nature of God's choices. The sermon uses the metaphor of God searching for "little things" and "not" as a qualified negation, driving home the point that God's power is made perfect in what the world considers nothing.

Redeeming Regret: Embracing God's Purpose in Our Past (SermonIndex.net) interprets 1 Corinthians 1:27 as a principle that God intentionally uses the least likely, the weak, and the foolish to accomplish His purposes, so that human power, might, or success cannot claim the credit. The preacher applies this to personal experience, describing how his own lack of academic credentials, dyslexia, and blue-collar background became the very means by which God could display His power and grace. The sermon uses the analogy of a baseball coach positioning players to catch the ball, paralleling the need to "position yourself to receive from God" by embracing weakness and humility. The preacher also contrasts reliance on education or credentials with reliance on God's power, warning against pride and self-sufficiency.

1 Corinthians 1:27 Theological Themes:

Embracing Our Calling: Glory in Weakness and Humility (Integrity Church) introduces the theme that Christian identity is found in "losing" oneself—abandoning worldly measures of success, wisdom, and strength—in order to gain Christ. The sermon adds the facet that God's calling is not about being a "10" (the best by human standards), but about being available and surrendered, regardless of perceived inadequacy. The preacher's use of humor and self-deprecation reframes weakness as the very qualification for God's use, challenging the church's tendency to idolize talent or status.

Strength in Weakness: Embracing God's Empowering Grace (Encounter Church NZ) presents the theological theme that the kingdom of God operates on a system of reversals: what the world calls foolish or weak, God calls powerful and wise. The sermon adds the angle that grace is not merely unmerited favor but is God's supernatural ability given in our weakness, and that true spiritual power is only accessed through surrender and dependence, not through self-assertion or control. The preacher's practical steps—crying "help," abandonment, seeking God's strategy, and asking "what would Jesus do?"—offer a lived theology of weakness as the pathway to divine strength.

God's Glory: Strength in Weakness and Humanity's Calling (David Guzik) develops the theme that God's glory is most clearly seen not only in the grandeur of creation but in his choice to work through the weak and insignificant. The sermon adds the facet that human destiny is to be crowned with glory and honor, not because of inherent greatness, but because of God's gracious elevation of the lowly. The preacher's emphasis on the Septuagint's rendering of "strength" as "praise" introduces the idea that worship itself is a form of spiritual strength that silences the enemy, a nuanced theological insight.

Transformative Power of the Risen Christ (Alistair Begg) highlights the theme that God's redemptive power is displayed through the most unlikely vessels—those considered weak, despised, or unqualified by societal standards. The sermon adds the facet that the resurrection narrative itself is structured to subvert human expectations of credibility and authority, making the "weak things" (women, failed disciples) the primary witnesses to the greatest event in history. This theme is applied pastorally to encourage those who feel disqualified or defeated.

Divine Wisdom: Strength in Weakness and the Cross (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the very structure of Christianity is built on the paradox of divine foolishness and weakness, which are in fact superior to human wisdom and strength. The sermon develops the idea that the gospel’s power is found not in outward impressiveness but in the counterintuitive reality of the cross, which redefines what it means to be wise or strong. This theme is further nuanced by the assertion that the gospel advances not despite suffering and weakness but precisely through them, making suffering and humility integral to Christian mission.

Embracing Your Divine Purpose in Challenging Times (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme that every believer is called to a supernatural purpose, regardless of their perceived inadequacy. The sermon adds a new facet by insisting that the acceptance of one’s calling—despite feelings of weakness or failure—is itself an act of faith that brings glory to God. The preacher’s focus on “accepting” rather than merely “knowing” one’s calling, and the idea that God’s plan is to bring His name to reputation through ordinary, flawed people, is a distinct theological contribution.

Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace (Desiring God) explores the theme that doctrines intended to humble (like unconditional election) can paradoxically become sources of pride if not guarded by continual self-examination and dependence on grace. The sermon’s nuanced warning that “no doctrine…can provide an infallible protection against the pride and boasting of the human heart” adds a layer of complexity to the usual application of 1 Corinthians 1:27, making humility a continual, miraculous work rather than a one-time achievement.

Embracing the Transformative Power of Jesus Today (SermonIndex.net) develops the theme that God’s pattern is to use the “least likely” for His greatest works, and that this should inspire both gratitude and boldness in believers. The preacher’s application that procrastination and fear are enemies of faith, and that immediate response to God’s call is necessary, adds a practical dimension to the theological theme of divine reversal.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theological theme that God's deliberate choice of the weak, foolish, and despised is not a fallback but a revelation of His character and plan. The sermon explores the idea that God's glory is maximized when He works through those who have nothing to offer, so that no flesh can boast in His presence. It adds the nuanced theme that God's choice is a "qualified negation"—He chooses those who are "not," who have been absolutely negated by the world, to demonstrate that His creative and redemptive power does not depend on human potential. The preacher also develops the theme that obedience, confirmation, guidance, miracles, and healing often come through "little things," reinforcing the centrality of humility and smallness in God's economy.

Redeeming Regret: Embracing God's Purpose in Our Past (SermonIndex.net) adds a fresh application by connecting 1 Corinthians 1:27 to the process of overcoming regret and shame. The preacher argues that God redeems even the most painful and humiliating aspects of our past, using them as platforms for His grace and power. The sermon uniquely applies the verse to the context of personal failure, addiction, and brokenness, teaching that embracing one's weakness and history of regret is the very means by which God can use a person most powerfully. The preacher also introduces the idea that the greater the pain and failure, the greater the potential for deep love and gratitude toward Christ, referencing Jesus' words about those who are forgiven much loving much.

1 Corinthians 1:27 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing Our Calling: Glory in Weakness and Humility (Integrity Church) provides historical context about Corinth as a cosmopolitan, idea-saturated city akin to "modern-day Las Vegas," where the church was tempted to adopt worldly standards of wisdom, power, and status. The preacher explains that the Corinthians' divisions over preachers (Paul, Peter, Apollos) reflected the infiltration of secular values into the church, making Paul's message of God's preference for the foolish and weak especially countercultural.

Transformative Power of the Risen Christ (Alistair Begg) offers a detailed historical insight into the status of women in first-century Palestine, noting that their testimony was inadmissible in court. The preacher emphasizes that God's choice to make women the first witnesses of the resurrection was a deliberate subversion of cultural norms, embodying the principle of 1 Corinthians 1:27 in the very structure of the gospel narrative.

Divine Wisdom: Strength in Weakness and the Cross (Desiring God) provides detailed historical context about the city of Corinth, noting its cultural admiration for oratory and intellect. The sermon explains that the Corinthian church was tempted to boast in their association with eloquent teachers, which Paul confronts by emphasizing the scandal and foolishness of the cross. The preacher highlights that crucifixion was considered the most shameful and degrading form of death in the ancient world, making God’s choice of this method for redemption a deliberate affront to worldly values. This context deepens the understanding of why Paul insists that Christianity cannot be defined by human excellence.

Embracing Your Divine Purpose in Challenging Times (SermonIndex.net) references the historical experience of the Israelites leaving Egypt and their struggle to accept their calling as God’s chosen people. The preacher draws a parallel between the Israelites’ reluctance to enter the Promised Land due to fear of giants and the modern believer’s hesitation to embrace their divine purpose. This contextual insight connects the Old Testament narrative to the New Testament principle of God choosing the weak, illustrating the continuity of God’s methods across redemptive history.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) provides historical and cultural context by explaining the social implications of being "base" (without kin or genealogy) and "despised" in the ancient world. The preacher notes that being base meant lacking family connections or social standing, which in the honor-shame culture of the first-century Mediterranean world would have rendered a person insignificant and unworthy of leadership or influence. The sermon also references the cultural expectation that God would choose the powerful, wealthy, or well-connected, and contrasts this with God's actual pattern of choosing the least likely, as seen in biblical examples like Abraham, Sarah, David, and Gideon. The preacher further explains that the term "not" refers to those who are considered non-existent or utterly negated by society, highlighting the radical nature of God's reversal of worldly values.

1 Corinthians 1:27 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Our Calling: Glory in Weakness and Humility (Integrity Church) references Luke 18:9-14, the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, to illustrate the principle that God exalts the humble and humbles the proud, reinforcing the message of 1 Corinthians 1:27. The sermon also alludes to various Old Testament figures (Abraham, Moses, Jacob) and New Testament disciples (Peter, Matthew, Paul) as examples of God using the weak and flawed.

Strength in Weakness: Embracing God's Empowering Grace (Encounter Church NZ) cross-references several passages: 2 Corinthians 12 (Paul's thorn and God's power perfected in weakness), 1 Corinthians 3:19 (the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God), Luke 9:48 (the least among you is the greatest), Colossians 2:15 (Christ's triumph over demonic powers through apparent weakness), 1 Corinthians 6:7 (the call to be wronged rather than seek power through lawsuits), and Romans 12:1 (presenting oneself as a living sacrifice). Each reference is used to build the case that the kingdom of God operates on principles opposite to the world, and that surrender and weakness are the means to true strength.

God's Glory: Strength in Weakness and Humanity's Calling (David Guzik) references Psalm 8 as the primary text, but explicitly connects it to 1 Corinthians 1:27, Matthew 21:16 (Jesus quoting Psalm 8 about the praise of children), Job (as an example of God sustaining the weak), Hebrews 2:5-9 (Jesus made lower than the angels), 1 Corinthians 6:3 (believers judging angels), Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 (believers as kings and priests), Genesis 1 and 9 (mandate of dominion), and 1 Corinthians 15:27 (Paul quoting Psalm 8 about dominion). Each cross-reference is used to show the biblical consistency of God's pattern of exalting the lowly and working through weakness.

Transformative Power of the Risen Christ (Alistair Begg) references Luke 24 (the resurrection narrative), John 20:12 (the presence of angels at the tomb), the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31, emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture over miracles), and 1 Corinthians 1:27 (God choosing the lowly and despised). The preacher uses these references to show that the resurrection event itself is a fulfillment of God's pattern of using the weak and overlooked.

Divine Wisdom: Strength in Weakness and the Cross (Desiring God) cross-references several passages in 1 Corinthians, especially chapters 1–3, to show Paul’s sustained argument against boasting in human leaders or abilities. The sermon also cites Galatians 2:20 (“I am crucified with Christ”) to reinforce the idea that the cross is not only Christ’s death but the believer’s death to self-exaltation. Additionally, 1 Corinthians 1:18 (“the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing”) and 1 Corinthians 2:1,5 (“not with lofty speech or wisdom…so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God”) are used to support the claim that God’s method is intentionally countercultural.

Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace (Desiring God) references Ephesians 1:4–6 and Ephesians 2:8–9 to support the doctrine of unconditional election and salvation by grace, connecting these to the theme of humility in 1 Corinthians 1:27. The sermon also cites Romans 7:24 (“Wretched man that I am”), James 3:14, James 4:13–16, and Luke 18:14 (the Pharisee and the tax collector) to illustrate the pervasive danger of pride and the necessity of humility. Philippians 1:6 is mentioned as a promise of God’s ongoing work in the believer, and Jeremiah 17:9 and Mark 7:21 are used to describe the deceitfulness of the human heart.

Embracing Your Divine Purpose in Challenging Times (SermonIndex.net) references 2 Timothy 1:7 (“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”) to encourage believers to overcome fear and embrace their calling. The sermon also cites Ephesians 4:7–8 (“he gave gifts unto men”) to emphasize the supernatural empowerment given to every believer. Philippians 3:12–15 is used to illustrate the apostle Paul’s forward-looking faith, and Revelation’s message to the church in Philadelphia (“I have set before you an open door”) is applied to the idea of divine opportunity for those who feel weak.

Embracing the Transformative Power of Jesus Today (SermonIndex.net) references Luke 2 (the nativity story), Isaiah 9:6 (prophecy of the Messiah), and Matthew 7 (the warning about false professions of faith) to reinforce the message that God’s ways defy human expectations and that true transformation comes through humble faith and obedience.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) references several biblical passages to expand on 1 Corinthians 1:27. The preacher cites Romans 4:17, where God "calls those things that are not as though they are," to illustrate how God brings something out of nothing when He chooses the weak and insignificant. Matthew 11 is also referenced, where Jesus thanks the Father for hiding spiritual truths from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes, reinforcing the theme of divine revelation to the humble and unlearned. The sermon draws on multiple Old Testament stories—such as Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17), Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), Elijah's encounter with God in the still small voice (1 Kings 19), the Shunammite woman and Elisha (2 Kings 4), and Naaman's healing through the little maid (2 Kings 5)—to demonstrate the principle of God working through "little things" and unlikely people. The preacher also references the story of Gideon, who was the least in his family and tribe, to show God's pattern of choosing the weak.

Redeeming Regret: Embracing God's Purpose in Our Past (SermonIndex.net) references Romans 8:28 ("all things work together for good for those who love God"), using it to support the idea that God redeems past failures and uses them for His purposes. The sermon also alludes to Philippians 3, where Paul speaks of forgetting what is behind and pressing forward, as a model for moving beyond regret. The preacher mentions the story of Paul's conversion in Acts 9, using it as an example of God transforming a persecutor into an apostle. Additionally, the sermon references Jesus' words about those who are forgiven much loving much (Luke 7:47), applying it to the theme of deep gratitude arising from great failure and forgiveness.

1 Corinthians 1:27 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Humility Through Unconditional Election and Grace (Desiring God) explicitly references Jonathan Edwards, quoting him on the nature of “gracious affections” as “brokenhearted affections” and describing true Christian joy, hope, and love as humble and poor in spirit. The sermon also cites James Denney, who said, “No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save,” to reinforce the incompatibility of self-exaltation and Christ-exalting faith.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references Andrew Bonar, a 19th-century Scottish preacher, recounting a story where Bonar prayed for witnesses to preach at the market cross in Jedburgh, Scotland. The preacher describes how reading Bonar's prayer 150 years later confirmed his own sense of calling to minister in that small town, illustrating the continuity of God's work through "little things" and seemingly insignificant places. The sermon also mentions John Wesley in an anecdote about a woman who attributed her salvation to the "letter M" in 1 Corinthians 1, highlighting the phrase "not many wise" rather than "not any wise," and showing Wesley's engagement with the text.

Redeeming Regret: Embracing God's Purpose in Our Past (SermonIndex.net) references a wide range of Christian authors and theologians when discussing theological education and church history, including Augustine, Pelagius, Martin Luther, Erasmus, John Calvin, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, John MacArthur, Wayne Grudem, Norman Geisler, Jack Hayford, and others. The preacher explains that he has read extensively from these figures to form a broad theological perspective, though these references are not directly tied to the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 1:27 but rather to the broader theme of God using the uncredentialed and self-taught.

1 Corinthians 1:27 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing Our Calling: Glory in Weakness and Humility (Integrity Church) uses the example of Ted Turner, the media mogul and owner of the Atlanta Braves, who famously called Christianity "a religion for losers." The preacher recounts Turner's background as a symbol of worldly success and influence, and then reclaims the insult by arguing that Christians are "losers" in the sense of having lost their self-sufficiency and pride for the sake of Christ. The illustration is detailed, explaining Turner's cultural status and the context of his statement, and is used to frame the entire sermon as a response to the world's misunderstanding of Christian identity.

Strength in Weakness: Embracing God's Empowering Grace (Encounter Church NZ) uses the analogy of a "boxing ring" to illustrate the difference between fighting in one's own strength and allowing Jesus to fight on one's behalf. The preacher describes how, as long as we are in the ring trying to win by our own power, Jesus will not intervene; only when we step out in weakness does Christ step in and demonstrate his strength. The sermon also humorously critiques long, wordy prayers in favor of the simple, desperate cry of "help," suggesting that authenticity and dependence are more effective than religious performance. Additionally, the preacher references the experience of working with "idiot bosses" in the workplace to illustrate the world's approach to power and control, contrasting it with the kingdom's ethic of service and humility.

Embracing Your Divine Purpose in Challenging Times (SermonIndex.net) uses the detailed analogy of a sports team running through a paper wall before entering the field. The preacher describes how the devil “draws imitation bricks” and writes accusations on the paper wall to intimidate believers, but insists that these barriers are ultimately insubstantial. The illustration is extended to include the idea of wearing a jersey with one’s own name, rather than someone else’s, to symbolize personal participation in God’s mission rather than mere spectatorship. The preacher also references the experience of being a “season ticket holder” who always sits in the same seat, contrasting this with the call to active engagement.

Embracing the Transformative Power of Jesus Today (SermonIndex.net) references the historical anecdote of Voltaire’s prediction that the Bible would disappear within a hundred years, only for his house to become a Bible printing center, and the philosopher Nietzsche’s declaration that “God is dead,” noting that Nietzsche is dead but God lives on. These stories are used to illustrate the futility of human opposition to God’s purposes and the enduring power of divine “foolishness.” The preacher also recounts the story of a British general during the Revolutionary War who procrastinated reading an urgent letter, leading to a missed opportunity when Washington crossed the Delaware, as an illustration of the dangers of procrastination in responding to God’s call.

God's Power in the Weak and Insignificant (SermonIndex.net) provides a detailed secular illustration from the preacher's own experience ministering in the small Scottish town of Jedburgh. He recounts how, despite feeling discouraged by the insignificance of the place and the small number of people, he discovered a historical prayer by Andrew Bonar for witnesses at the market cross, which confirmed God's purpose in using "little things." The preacher also shares a story about a small evangelistic meeting in Jedburgh where no one showed up, and how God's question, "What are you going to do now?" became a defining moment in his ministry, teaching him the value of obedience in small and seemingly fruitless tasks. These stories serve as powerful analogies for the principle of 1 Corinthians 1:27, illustrating how God works through the overlooked and insignificant.

Redeeming Regret: Embracing God's Purpose in Our Past (SermonIndex.net) uses the analogy of a baseball coach positioning players to catch the ball, illustrating the need to "position yourself to receive from God" by embracing weakness and humility. The preacher also shares personal stories of struggling with dyslexia, academic failure, and blue-collar work, showing how these perceived weaknesses became the very means by which God could display His power. Additionally, the sermon concludes with a poem about a little boy who keeps falling in a race but rises each time, receiving greater applause for finishing despite his failures. This poem serves as a metaphor for the Christian life, emphasizing perseverance, humility, and the value of rising after each fall—directly tying into the message of 1 Corinthians 1:27.