Not About Me: Proclaiming Christ, Following God's Call

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Weakness and Trembling

Paul stood in Corinth’s dust-choked streets, his hands empty. No Athenian philosophy, no polished rhetoric. Just a man shaking as he said, “Christ crucified.” After Athens’ failure, he traded eloquence for vulnerability. The Spirit’s fire fell not on human wisdom, but on trembling lips declaring raw truth. [34:26]

Weakness became the channel for God’s power. Paul’s fear mirrored Christ’s agony in Gethsemane—both surrendering strength to fulfill heaven’s mission. When we hide our inadequacies, we block the Spirit’s work. God’s kingdom advances through cracked vessels, not curated perfection.

Where do you mask weakness to appear competent? Jesus didn’t heal the sick from a throne but a cross. What task, relationship, or struggle have you been facing in your own strength?

“I came to you in weakness and with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”
(1 Corinthians 2:3–4, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area where He wants your weakness to showcase His strength.
Challenge: Text a trusted friend today: “I’m struggling with ______. Pray for me?”

Day 2: Faith Built on Power

The Corinthians once gasped as shackles of addiction broke. They wept as enemies embraced. These miracles didn’t hinge on Paul’s charisma but on the Spirit’s raw authority. Years later, Paul reminded them: “Your faith rests on God’s power, not human wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:5). [34:45]

Miracles fade. Emotions cool. But the Spirit’s foundational work—forgiveness, adoption, resurrection hope—endures. The Corinthians had forgotten their first awe. Like them, we often trade the supernatural for the safe, reducing faith to moralism or sentiment.

When did you last sense the Spirit’s tangible power—in worship, conviction, or healed relationships? Recall that moment. Jesus still demonstrates His lordship, not just teaches it. What dry doctrine needs reigniting by His fire?

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
(1 Corinthians 2:4–5, ESV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve relied on logic over the Spirit’s presence.
Challenge: Write in a journal: “One time God’s power shocked me: ______.”

Day 3: Nothing But Christ Crucified

Paul’s Athens sermon quoted poets and debated philosophers. In Corinth, he scraped everything down to splinters and a nail-pierced body. “I decided to know nothing but Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). No frills. No footnotes. Just the scandal of a God who let Rome execute Him. [49:17]

The cross confounds then and now. Success-driven cultures recoil from a martyred Messiah. Yet this paradox disarms pride. Only the desperate—those who’ve hit rock bottom—grasp a salvation earned entirely by Another. The cross isn’t a starting point; it’s the only point.

What complications have you added to the gospel? Jesus’ death and resurrection alone save. Who needs to hear this stripped-down truth from you this week?

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
(1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for the cross’ sufficiency. Repent of adding human requirements to His grace.
Challenge: Share “Jesus loves you” with one person today—no qualifiers.

Day 4: Spirit’s Demonstration, Not Persuasion

Corinth’s marketplace buzzed with silver-smiths and traveling orators. Paul bypassed both. His “demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4) wasn’t pyrotechnics but transformed lives. A temple prostitute baptized. A Roman soldier sharing bread with a Jewish slave. [52:41]

The Spirit’s proof is unity, not eloquence. Today, He still answers with reconciled marriages, addicts finding freedom, and lonely hearts discovering family. We chase relevance, but God seeks faithfulness. His power shines brightest in ordinary people loving stubbornly.

Where have you sought human approval over Spirit-led obedience? What mundane act of love might God use to astound someone?

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”
(1 Corinthians 2:4, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to orchestrate one “demonstration” through you this week.
Challenge: Invite someone estranged from the church to June’s Good News event.

Day 5: Gathered in One Spirit

Paul founded Corinth’s church; now he pleaded for unity. Their squabbles forgot the miracle: diverse souls made family by the Spirit. Like them, we’re tempted to fracture over preferences. Yet the same Spirit who birthed the church sustains it—through pastors, transitions, and shared worship. [01:01:16]

Jesus’ body isn’t built on personalities but His presence. As Paul left Corinth, and as pastors move now, the church’s foundation holds: Christ alone. Our gatherings, whether for golf or worship, are Spirit-glued rehearsals for eternity.

How has Christian community shaped your faith? What step will you take to deepen your “family ties” with believers different from you?

“So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
(1 Corinthians 2:5, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific people who’ve exemplified Christ to you.
Challenge: Commit to attending June’s Good News event—and bring one guest.

Sermon Summary

We gather to worship and to center our lives on the gospel that changes everything. We read Psalm 63 and joined in songs of praise, thanksgiving, and mutual care. We practiced ordinary Christian life through announcements, shared meals, and invitations to larger gatherings so that relationship with God and with one another deepens in tangible ways. We paused to pray the Lord’s Prayer together and to ask the Spirit to keep speaking and guiding us.

We turned to Paul’s words to the Corinthians and heard a clear, urgent reminder about how the gospel must come to people. Paul refused human eloquence and philosophical trickery and instead proclaimed one simple truth: Jesus Christ and him crucified, accompanied by witness to the resurrection. That plain proclamation came not from persuasive rhetoric but from the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, and that power produced real conversions, changed lives, and a faith rooted in God rather than human cleverness.

We also heard a personal announcement about accepting a new call, which prompted reflection on God’s surprising movements in our lives. God calls us at times out of comfort, asking us to trust and to go where the Spirit leads. Our response must be prayerful, communal, and obedient so that God’s work continues through us, whether in stability or in transition.

We received an invitation to a special Good News for Life weekend where testimony, worship, and fellowship will focus attention on Christ crucified and risen. We were urged to invite others, to be present, and to let worship and testimony be vehicles for the Spirit’s persuasive power. The overarching word returned again and again: the gospel’s authority rests in God’s Spirit and in the cross and resurrection of Jesus, and our task is to proclaim that faithfully, simply, and boldly so that faith rests on God’s power, not human wisdom. May we leave shaped by that conviction, ready to witness, ready to follow unexpected callings, and committed to community that reflects the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Proclaim Jesus Christ crucified alone We must strip the gospel to its essential claim that Jesus is Messiah and that his cross is the pivot of redemption. We avoid persuasive ornamentation so the weight of the cross and resurrection can carry souls rather than slick argumentation. When we reduce the message to its core, people encounter the scandal and the grace that demand a response. [49:02]
2. Rely on Spirit not on rhetoric We should expect the Holy Spirit to do the convincing work that words cannot accomplish on their own. Clever speech may sway opinions for a moment, but only Spirit-breathed witness births abiding faith and new life. We practice humility in preaching and testimony, inviting the Spirit to demonstrate God’s presence rather than leaning on human talent. [52:20]
3. Let faith rest on God’s power We anchor our trust in God’s transforming work rather than in human insight or emotional peaks. Lasting change shows God at work in forgiveness, freedom from bondage, and reconciled relationships, not merely in good ideas. We cultivate eyes to see such evidence so our convictions deepen and do not dissolve with time or counter-arguments. [54:13]
4. Obey promptings of the Holy Spirit We expect God to call us away from comfort into new mission and service at surprising moments. We respond with prayer, communal counsel, and courage, trusting that obedience often reshapes where and how we serve. When we follow such promptings, God expands ministry beyond our plans and sustains us through transition. [44:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:16] - Psalm 63 and Praise
[23:38] - Church Announcements
[25:06] - Pentecost and Celebrations
[28:50] - Corporate Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
[33:26] - Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 2
[38:33] - Announcement of Accepted Call
[40:20] - Reflecting on God’s Leading
[47:26] - Paul’s Focus: Christ Crucified
[52:20] - Spirit’s Power over Eloquence
[60:08] - Good News for Life Weekend Invite
[63:23] - Brunch and Worship Details
[75:59] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Observation questions

In 1 Corinthians 2:3, Paul says he came to the Corinthians “in weakness and in fear and much trembling.” How does this contrast with his earlier approach in Athens (Acts 17:16-34)? [47:42]
What does Paul mean by a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (v. 4)? What examples of this power are mentioned in the sermon? [52:41]
The sermon included a personal announcement about responding to God’s call. What practical steps were emphasized for discerning and obeying such promptings? [40:20]

Interpretation questions

Why does Paul insist on stripping the gospel message down to “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (v. 2)? How might adding “eloquence or human wisdom” (v. 1) undermine the gospel’s purpose?
How does relying on the Spirit’s power instead of human rhetoric change the way we share our faith or testify to God’s work in our lives? [52:20]
The sermon mentioned that “God calls us at times out of comfort.” Why might obedience to unexpected callings be a necessary part of anchoring faith in God’s power rather than human plans? [46:17]

Application questions

When sharing your faith, do you ever feel pressure to make the gospel sound more “persuasive” or culturally appealing? What would it look like to focus instead on simply proclaiming Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection? [49:02]
Reflect on a time when you experienced the Spirit’s power—such as answered prayer, freedom from a struggle, or reconciliation. How does that memory strengthen your faith when doubts or counter-arguments arise? [56:10]
Are there areas of your life where God might be nudging you to step out of comfort or familiarity? What would it look like to seek communal discernment (e.g., prayer with others) before responding? [44:33]
The sermon urged inviting others to a weekend focused on Christ’s work. Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus’ scandalous grace, and how could you extend a simple, bold invitation this week? [01:00:48]
How can you cultivate “eyes to see” God’s transforming work in everyday moments (e.g., forgiveness, healing, unity) rather than relying on emotional experiences or human logic? [54:13]

Sermon Clips

27s

#RisenAndUnited

“``How glorious is this that he rose from the dead. How glorious is this that he invites me to be his child, that he invites me to welcome his holy spirit into my heart and into my life? How wonderful is this that these other people from other faith backgrounds and and religious traditions and languages and cultures, They are now my brothers and sisters in Christ. How amazing is this God?”

43s

#FaithOnGodsPower

“I did this so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power. If someone has simply persuaded us of something, if your doctor tells you, you need to start eating better, you need to start exercising, And you say, yeah, that sounds wise. And you begin to do those things, there's a chance that after a while you may taper off the healthy eating, taper off the exercising. You think, oh, what does the doctor know? He doesn't realize I've got a bad ankle. He doesn't realize how much I like sugar.”

33s

#HolySpiritAtWork

“You have responded to the holy spirit at work in your life. You are experiencing the power and the presence of God. You are experiencing what it is to be in Christian community. And you realize this is not our own doing. This is God. The power of the holy spirit at work in us and through us and as I often say, despite us. And we cannot deny it. We cannot deny him.”

39s

#CalledBeyondComfort

“But sometimes the Lord has other plans. I could have easily stayed here for, you know, another eleven years till I was 65 and retired, and we would have been very comfortable. But we have to acknowledge that when we read scripture, we realize the Lord doesn't always call us to be comfortable. He call us calls us to be, dedicated and to be, willing to go when the call arises. And so before I move on with with the sermon for today, I'm just wondering if there are any questions that I would be able to answer.”

45s

#InviteAndWorship

“Be here. That is how you can, express to me your gratitude and your appreciation for our years together is to make that weekend a beautiful success. Not for our sake, but so that God the father, son and holy spirit will receive the glory. So that you will be deepened in your relationship with him, your relationship with one another. So that those who don't yet know him and his love and his peace may experience him that weekend. So, yes, use those postcards to invite neighbors, friends, relatives. And let's fill this bread place that he might receive all the praise and all the glory.”

47s

#SpiritOpensHearts

“The holy spirit, when Paul spoke this good news of Jesus Christ in very simple and plain, language, the holy spirit touched people's hearts. The Holy Spirit opened their minds that they, by faith, could simply say, hallelujah. How amazing is this that God sent his son into the world? How amazing is is this that the son of God willingly died on a Roman cross, the most brutal and and shameful execution known at that time throughout the Roman empire.”

50s

#TransformedByTheSpirit

“If we are relying on human wisdom, that can come and go. Just the same as our emotions or our own thoughts. But if we have received the holy spirit, if our lives have been turned inside out by the love and the power of God, If we have suddenly experienced the joy of forgiveness of sins, that cannot be easily forgotten. If we've suddenly experienced a release from addictions, that cannot be easily forgotten. If we have experienced a unity and a peace from others, a forgiveness from others who were long our enemies.”

33s

#StandFirmInGospel

“if we are only persuaded by human wisdom, we can over time unpersuade ourselves or someone else might persuade us of something else. And we've seen that in some of the other letters that Paul is addressing where where after he had left a certain place and the Christians there were were strong and and understood, exactly who Jesus was and and this good news, others arrived and had different messages for them. And they began to wonder, well, what is the gospel? We looked at that just a few weeks ago.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Byron United Church, London, Ontario This sermon · AI assistant

Why prioritize Jesus crucified over eloquence?

How does the Spirit make faith endure?

What grounds faith beyond human wisdom?