1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God… God frequently employs instrumentality in the accomplishment of His purposes so inadequate, as to make it manifest that the excellency of the power is of Himself. It was before the blast of rams' horns that the walls of Jericho fell down, &c.; and it is by the foolishness of preaching that souls are saved. Note — I. THE APPARENT FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING. 1. How inadequate is the means itself to accomplish much! How little has human eloquence been able in other fields to achieve? True; once an orator's audience, wrought up by his invective, exclaimed, "Let us march against our foe!" But that effect soon passed away. And in the ordinary intercourse of mankind; look at the effect of mere persuasion, when it comes in collision with men's passions, interests, and tastes. 2. But the inadequacy of the instrumentality will be still more apparent when we remember that the first preachers of the gospel were not highly gifted, and had no advantage of rank, or influence. They were unlettered fishermen, who had no excellency of speech; and taking the mass of ministers in all ages, how few have had any pretensions to transcendant powers of persuasion! 3. But if we pass on to regard the grand theme of preaching the foolishness of preaching will be still more obvious. The Cross of Christ has ever been to the Jew a stumbling-block and to the Greek foolishness. 4. And yet more will the foolishness of preaching strike us if we regard how contrary to the natural bias is that effect at which preaching aims. It aims at getting men to "deny themselves," to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts; to live for eternity and not for time. II. ITS REAL WISDOM AND EXCELLENCY. 1. It is an ordinance of Almighty God. Judaism was propagated by ceremonies and types; false religions have usually been propagated by the sword; but it is the preeminent peculiarity of the religion of Jesus, that by the simple appeal of truth to the conscience and the heart, it has its potency and its triumph. Omniscience could only devise, and infinite grace must have prompted the best of all machinery. 2. It is the ministration of the Spirit of God. We are under the dispensation of the Spirit, and the Spirit communicates Himself mainly and most frequently through preaching. 3. The theme at which the Jews stumbled, and which the Greeks esteemed foolishness is to them that are called "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 4. It is attended with great and gracious results. Why are we not gathered, as our forefathers were, under the oak-tree, to go through our dark orgies of impiety and blood? Why have we the arts, and sciences, and literature, and all that marks out a civilised people? These are the external triumphs of Christianity. But they are nothing compared with its internal, its everlasting triumphs. What multitudes has it made to pass from death to life, from darkness to light, from the bondage of Satan, to the glorious liberty of the Son of God.Conclusion: If, on the one hand, preaching appears so foolish, and, on the other, it is so wise and powerful — 1. Do not fall into the false notion of the day, that education is to be the grand regenerator of mankind. 2. How faulty must many of you be when you go to hear the preaching of the Word much as the world goes to the theatre; when you go to hear the words of man instead of the Word of God. 3. How much does it behove the Christians of this country to multiply that machinery which is God's great ordinance, to promote that righteousness which exalteth a nation. (Canon Stowell.) Parallel Verses KJV: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. |
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