Weekly Sermon Insights: 1Corinthians 1:18–31

sunsetbiblechapel
Mar 29
3 min read

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!

March 29, 2026

Greg Johnson

Message Notes

Main Theme

Trust in the Lord, not in man — Human wisdom, strength, and knowledge ultimately disappoint and lead to curse; trusting God brings blessing, stability, and true wisdom/power through the cross.
Modern context: Rapid increase in travel (“run to and fro”) and knowledge (Daniel 12:4) highlights humanity’s false confidence in itself, yet the cross remains the true power and wisdom of God.

Key Old Testament Connection: Jeremiah 17:5–8

Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength (heart turns from the Lord).→ Like a shrub in the desert: dry, fruitless, no good comes.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.→ Like a tree planted by water: deep roots, green leaves even in drought, continues to bear fruit (echoes Psalm 1).
Application: Society trains us to trust human experts (“I’ll tell you what you need to know”), science, technology, and self. This always disappoints. The preacher has never been disappointed by God in 60+ years of walking with Him.

Exposition of 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

The Power & Wisdom of the Cross (vv. 18–25)

The message of the cross is:
- Folly (foolishness) to those who are perishing.
- Power of God to us who are being saved (ongoing sanctification — saved from penalty of sin, now being saved from power of sin).
God destroys the wisdom of the wise and thwarts the discernment of the discerning (v. 19).
Human categories fail:
- Jews demand signs.
- Greeks seek wisdom.
But we preach Christ crucified — a stumbling block to Jews, folly to Gentiles.
To those who are called: Christ = power of God and wisdom of God.
“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (v. 25).→ Even if God had any foolishness/weakness (He doesn’t), it would surpass all human wisdom/strength.

God’s Choice of the Weak & Foolish (vv. 26–29)

Consider your calling: Not many were wise, powerful, or of noble birth by worldly standards.
God deliberately chose:
- What is foolish in the world to shame the wise.
- What is weak to shame the strong.
- What is low and despised (even things that are not) to bring to nothing things that are.
Purpose: No human being might boast in God’s presence.

Christ as Our Everything (vv. 30–31)

Because of God, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us:
- Wisdom from God
- Righteousness
- Sanctification
- Redemption
Therefore: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (v. 31).

Practical Applications & Illustrations

Human knowledge explosion (phones, space travel, Mars rovers, life-extension research) creates illusion of self-sufficiency → yet the Bible already tells us the origin and destiny of mankind.
Trusting flesh (youthful strength, human experts, self) fails; trusting God never does.
The cross demonstrates God’s love and desire for relationship — mankind repeatedly rejects it and turns to self.
Signs at the crucifixion (3 hours of darkness, earthquake, torn veil from top to bottom, resurrections) showed outward power; the real power is forgiveness and access to God.
Boasting in the Lord: Praise His attributes, sufficiency, and share through witnessing and obedient living (not self-promotion).

Closing Prayer Emphasis

Thanks for salvation, sanctification, and imputed righteousness.
Help us boast in the Lord (overflow with thankfulness) rather than trust in man or self.
Gratitude that God chooses weak sinners — we qualify because Christ came to save sinners.

Message highlights the contrast between cursed self-reliance (Jeremiah) and blessed cross-centered trust (1 Corinthians), emphasizing ongoing sanctification, God’s deliberate choice of the weak, and the call to boast only in the Lord. Useful for reflection on pride vs. humility, or the foolishness/wisdom of the gospel.