Centering Our Lives on the Cross of Christ

In a world filled with competing voices and constant influences, it’s easy to be pulled in many directions—by personalities, preferences, and the subtle pressures of culture. The city of Corinth, much like our own context, was a place where status, eloquence, and allegiance to charismatic leaders were highly prized. Into this noisy environment, Paul writes to a young church, reminding them—and us—that the only voice that truly matters is that of Jesus Christ, and the only foundation worth building on is the cross.

Paul’s opening words to the Corinthians are saturated with the name of Jesus, emphasizing that everything about their life together must be centered on Him. The temptation to align ourselves with particular leaders, styles, or movements is not new; it was present in Corinth and remains a challenge for us today. Paul exposes the absurdity of dividing over personalities by asking, “Was Paul crucified for you?” Only Jesus was crucified, only His name saves, and only His cross holds true power.

The cross, Paul insists, is foolishness to the world but the very wisdom and power of God to those being saved. In a culture that values strength, cleverness, and prestige, God’s strategy is to redeem and unify through what appears weak and shameful. This upside-down wisdom means that no one personality or gift can be elevated above another; unity is found not in uniformity or the loudest voice, but in a shared focus on Christ crucified.

Paul further reminds the church that true understanding comes not from eloquence or intellect, but from the revelation of the Spirit. Leaders are merely servants, building on the one foundation—Jesus Christ. Arguments over style or status are as pointless as builders fighting over bricks while forgetting the foundation that holds everything together.

True leadership, Paul says, is not about prominence or celebrity, but about faithful service and humility. The church is called to be a family—one whanau—where differences are not erased but woven together by the Spirit into something beautiful. This unity, which looks foolish to the world, is the very wisdom of God. The challenge is to resist the pull of culture and keep the cross at the center, allowing the Spirit to guide us into a life together that reflects the upside-down kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Subtle Power of Influence We are constantly shaped by the voices and influences around us, often without realizing it. Even within the church, our preferences for certain leaders, styles, or movements can quietly shift our allegiance away from Christ Himself. The call is to be vigilant, recognizing when appreciation turns into division, and to intentionally re-center our lives on Jesus, the only one worthy of our devotion. [56:43]
• 2. The Cross: God’s Upside-Down Wisdom The cross stands in stark contrast to the world’s values of strength, status, and eloquence. What appears as foolishness and weakness is, in fact, the very place where God’s wisdom and power are revealed. Embracing the cross means accepting that God’s ways often overturn our assumptions and invite us into a life marked by humility, surrender, and unity. [71:10]
• 3. Unity Rooted in Christ, Not in Uniformity Paul’s vision for the church is not a bland sameness or absorption into the loudest voice, but a unity that honors diversity. Each person brings their unique story, culture, and gifts, and these are woven together by the Spirit into a family centered on Christ. True unity is not the absence of difference, but the presence of Christ at the center, holding us together in love. [82:57]
• 4. Leadership as Faithful Service, Not Celebrity Paul redefines leadership and apostleship, rejecting the pursuit of prominence or personal brand. True leaders are servants, stewards of the gospel, whose worth is measured by faithfulness to Christ, not by the size of their following or their eloquence. This challenges us to value humility and service over charisma and to resist the temptation to elevate personalities above the foundation of Jesus. [78:35]
• 5. Living the “Foolishness” of the Cross To live as God’s family means embracing practices that may seem foolish to the world—patience, generosity, forgiveness, and commitment to messy relationships. The Spirit empowers us to resist the pull of culture and to embody the upside-down wisdom of the cross, where true strength is found in weakness and true unity in sacrificial love. [83:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [56:12] - Competing Voices and Influences
• [56:43] - Influence as Background Music
• [57:27] - Preferences and Subtle Division
• [58:48] - Corinth: A City of Options
• [61:06] - Paul’s Relationship with Corinth
• [63:47] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians
• [64:39] - Jesus at the Center
• [66:33] - Divisions Over Leaders
• [68:24] - Paul’s Sarcasm and the Main Thing
• [70:19] - The Message of the Cross
• [73:58] - Unity Through the Cross
• [75:53] - Leaders as Servants, Not Celebrities
• [77:49] - The True Foundation: Jesus
• [80:05] - The Upside-Down Parade
• [82:57] - Unity in Diversity
• [83:59] - Living Out the Wisdom of the Cross
• [85:07] - Prayer and Reflection
• [87:00] - Closing Song and Blessing

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (ESV) — 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 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.
18 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.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (ESV) — 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV) — 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Observation Questions

1. What were some of the ways the church in Corinth was dividing itself, according to Paul? ([01:06:33])
2. How does Paul describe the message of the cross to those who are perishing and to those who are being saved? ([01:10:19])
3. In chapter 3, what does Paul say is the only true foundation for the church? ([01:16:55])
4. How does Paul redefine what it means to be a leader or apostle in the church? ([01:18:35])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul is so concerned about the church dividing over personalities and preferences? What does this reveal about human nature and the church? ([01:09:12])
2. What does it mean that the cross is “foolishness” to the world but “the power of God” to those being saved? How might this challenge our own assumptions about strength and success? ([01:11:10])
3. Paul says that true understanding comes from the Spirit, not from eloquence or intellect. How might this shape the way we approach learning and teaching in the church? ([01:15:04])
4. In what ways does Paul’s vision of unity differ from simply making everyone the same? How does this impact the way we view diversity in the church? ([01:22:57])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about the “subtle power of influence” and how we can be shaped by voices around us without realizing it. What are some specific voices or influences (inside or outside the church) that you notice shaping your thinking or preferences? How can you be more intentional about centering your life on Jesus? ([56:43])
2. Paul challenges the church to avoid dividing over leaders, styles, or preferences. Have you ever found yourself drawn to a particular leader, style, or movement in a way that distracted you from Jesus? What would it look like to “re-center” on Christ in those moments? ([01:09:12])
3. The cross is described as “God’s upside-down wisdom.” Are there areas in your life where following Jesus feels foolish or weak by the world’s standards? How do you respond to that tension? ([01:11:10])
4. Paul says true leadership is about faithful service, not celebrity or prominence. In your own context (work, church, family), what does it look like to lead or serve with humility? Are there ways you are tempted to seek recognition or status? ([01:18:35])
5. The sermon described unity as being “woven together by the Spirit” rather than everyone being the same. How can you contribute to unity in your church or small group, especially when there are differences in background, culture, or opinion? ([01:22:57])
6. Living out the “foolishness” of the cross might mean practicing patience, generosity, or forgiveness when it’s hard. Is there a specific relationship or situation where you sense God calling you to embody this upside-down wisdom? What step could you take this week? ([01:23:59])
7. The sermon ended with a challenge to let the Spirit guide us, not just our own cleverness or the world’s wisdom. What is one area of your life where you need to invite the Spirit’s guidance more intentionally? ([01:25:07])