Unashamed Reading Plan – W1D5
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 1 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Read these verses three times slowly.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Reflection & Questions
As we read through Romans during our Unashamed series, we will also be drawing on other scriptures to help us understand and apply what we are learning even more. Today’s verses are from another letter that Paul wrote to a church in the city of Corinth. Paul is writing about different people’s responses to the gospel. Yesterday, we read that Paul is “not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” But that doesn’t mean everyone will believe.
Paul sees among the Gentiles that they are looking for something more complicated. The gospel is far too simple. It is “foolishness” to those who think they are wise. How could a man dying on the cross wipe away my sin and give me eternal life? It sounds so foolish. It can’t be that simple. They are looking for wisdom.
Among the religious who don’t believe, the Jews in Paul’s case, they want more evidence. They are not content to trust in a crucified savior. If they are going to give up their traditions and man-made ways, they are going to need more than that. They are looking for power.
But Paul says for those who receive the message, they see in “Christ the power and wisdom of God.” They see the glorious evidence in His resurrection and transforming power in their own lives. They see the incredible wisdom of God in the simplicity and yet infinite depths of this amazing good news which continually sparks praise and wonder. Jesus is the answer for everyone, and for everyone who believes in Him, he gives the gift of salvation.
- If you can remember a time before you believed, were you more like the Gentiles (thinking the gospel is too simple and so can’t be true)or the Jews (thinking they need more evidence to believe)?
- Would you say your ONE right now is more like the Gentiles or like the Jews? How does that affect the way you pray for and talk with them?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Read these verses three times slowly.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Reflection & Questions
As we read through Romans during our Unashamed series, we will also be reading other scriptures to help us understand this letter to the Romans better. Today’s verses are from another letter that Paul wrote to a church in the City of Corinth. He is writing about different people’s responses to the gospel (the good news from the Bible).
Yesterday, we read that Paul is “not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” That’s the big way of saying that God forgives our sins when we ask Him to and believe that He can do it. But that doesn’t mean that everyone will believe.
One group of people called the Gentiles think it is too simple to believe that Jesus died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven.
Another group of people called the Jews want more evidence than just the gospel that Paul is sharing. If they are going to give up their traditions and man-made ways of life, they are going to need more proof than just Jesus dying on the cross.
But Paul says that for anyone who DOES believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, they can see the proof in their own lives: their lives are changed because God has filled their hearts and they can feel it when He gives them wisdom to make good decisions and they want to praise Him for the gift of being saved from their sins!
- Can you imagine having all of your sins, the bad choices you have made, being washed away leaving you clean and feeling brand new? How does that make you feel?
Prayer
Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to fill your heart with Him. Thank Him for the gift of salvation, the gift of being saved from all your sins.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
