Let us ask: ‘What? How? and Why?’
- What Paul preached.
- 2:2. Obviously Paul preached more than five words in his sermons – Acts 20:27. He majored on the gospel, on the crucified King.
- Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones began his ministry by preaching on this verse in 1926, and when he died in 1981 he had it inscribed on his tombstone.
- 2 Cor.4:7. That is the first lesson – look at the central message.
- How Paul preached.
- 2:1, 3-4. Paul says that he was no natural orator; he was not like Apollos. Note 2 Cor.10:10: 11:6. There is a second century description of Paul as ‘a man small of stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness; for now he appeared like a man, and now he had the face of an angel’. As an orator, he also was lacking – Acts 20:7-9.
- Acts 18:1, 7-11. There have been a few great orators in the Church – John Chrysostom (‘John with the golden mouth’); Augustine of Hippo; George Whitefield. And the elder/overseer must be able to teach – 1 Tim.3:2. But it is the Spirit who converts (2:4; 1 Thess.1:5).
- Why Paul preached this way.
- 2:5. Henry Martyn: ‘All my clear arguments are useless; unless the Lord stretch out his hand, I speak to stones.’ God does not need our style and flair – note Ex.4:10; Jer.1:6.
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all, the Cross.
- 2:5. Henry Martyn: ‘All my clear arguments are useless; unless the Lord stretch out his hand, I speak to stones.’ God does not need our style and flair – note Ex.4:10; Jer.1:6.