2024-12-15 Sermon Notes - Daniel Lyons' Notes

type:
  - "[[Sermon Notes|Sermon Notes]]"
speaker: "[[Archibald Allison]]"
date: 2024-12-15
location:
passage:
sermon series:
sermon link:
subjects:
title:
takeaways:
  - It is only through being weak like Christ, that I may be strong like Him.
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💡Big Idea

Takeaways and Next Steps

📖Bible Passage

2 Cor 13:3-4

seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.

Points

Context: the people in Corinth are accusing Paul of not being an apostle, and not speaking in the authority of Christ.
- Therefore, they sought a "proof of Christ" in Paul:
  - 2 Cor 13.3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.
❓: How do we know that Paul, speaks in the authority of Christ?
- The people of Corinth observed that Paul did not speak with power. They thought him weak. And so they thought, why should we follow him? In essence, they were embarrassed by Paul.
- Paul's sermons were not reliant upon man's wisdom, nor enticing manipulative words, but upon the truth and power of the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 2:2
❓: So how did Paul answer their question and accusation? What proof of Christ did Paul show in himself?
- Paul points to and relies on the life of Christ Himself.
  - 2 Cor 13.4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
- Christ Himself was crucified in weakness, yet today He continues to live in the power of God.
  - Like a weak lamb, He was led to the slaughter. Isaiah 53:7
    - He came to earth as a vulnerable human. Submitting to earthly rulers. Placing Himself under the Law of God.
    - Unlike the other men who were crucified next to Him, Christ was not crucified because of His defiance. Christ was innocent. And yet weakly, humbly chose to accept death on a cross.
    - Christ was physically weak. Beaten, whipped, humiliated, pierced, defiled.
    - Christ was forgotten by all His loved ones:
      - Even His own Heavenly Father forsook Him.
  - Yet He ruled in power:
    - He powerfully healed the sick.
    - He overcame the temptation of sin.
    - He raised Himself from death, conquering it.
      - This teaches us, that death is not the ultimate reality. Jesus Christ is the ultimate reality.
      - Christ did much more than just urge us to love one another. He was crucified in weakness, but He was raised in power.
        
        Likewise, He takes us weak sinners, and transforms us into powerful saints!
How do we know that Christ is speaking in Paul?
- Because of the authority and care with which he speaks to the people of Corinth here.

Application

The divine model is saving power, achieved by weakness.
- Our own power as Christians is serving in weakness.
  - Our service must be in weakness, so that we will rely on Him and His power. Christ is our crutch!
- ❓: Have you discovered how weak you are as a Christian? And have you discovered how, when we see Him, it is only then that we will be powerful?
Where is my power?
- Am I powerful because of my strong mind and intellect? My persuasive speech? Can I convince men with my words to bow to Christ?
  - That is not where Paul found his power. 1 Cor 2.2
  - Paul's words and speech were weak, but his message was powerful because it was the Word of God.

Further Study

💬Discussion Questions

In what ways are you weak? Is your weakness like Christ?
In what ways are you powerful? Where does your power come from? Is your power like Christ?

2024-12-15 Sermon Notes

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