The Word First (HS part 13) Killen 8/3/2025

1 Corinthians 2:1-5)  nkjvAnd I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 ❓How much time do you spend reading the Bible each day vs reading books about the Bible?  How different do you think our children would be if they studied the Scripture as much as they studied their school subjects? Harvard and Princeton were created to teach the Bible!➡️💥  (Hard)  I’ve said it many times, I’m a NOT a book burner, but I do take issue about how many people tend to spend more of their time reading books about the Bible than they do actually reading the Bible itself.    ➤   I run into people all the time that ask what spiritual books I’ve been reading.

• They ask if I have read the latest book by some well-known author?
• Or what do I feel about something controversial being said in a book by some Christian author.
• Or the latest book on healing, spiritual growth, church growth, etc,.

💥   It was several books written by progressive authors that fueled the split in the UMC.

• When I asked the progressives how their points aligned with Scripture, I was shocked that many didn’t argue what the Bible said, but said that the Bible was outdated, needed to evolve and come up to date for our present time. 
• They often pointed out that what some author said in a book had more truth than the Scripture!!  That beyond the Bible people were being enlightened to new truths!

Problems   💥The Christian book business is a billion dollar business.  Books about the Bible. 1.   We can’t grow spiritually from the excellency of speech or the wisdom of man. (books) And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  They didn’t have books in those days.  Authors had to go around and give verbal teachings about their ideas and subjects.

• They wrote letters and sent them to be read to whole groups of people about their ideas and theological beliefs.

⭐ So that our faith wouldn’t rest in the wisdom of man but in the wisdom of God.

2.  We can’t mature spiritually.   

• Growing in knowledge and wisdom can cause us to grow in knowledge and being smart.  But it doesn’t make us wise.

v6) However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

• Without knowing the latest books or what is being taught, it makes us look weak and ignorant of the latest ideas. 

v3) I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, 

• Books on healing, prosperity, tongues, prayers,  Fads that excellent and consumed the church.
  • Prayer of Jabez… Angels …Prosperity
  • Progressive thinking and topics.  
  • Every meeting I go to now our leaders give us a new book to read.  

Education and books make us smarter but NOT more Spiritually mature! v6) However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 3.   We can’t experience the power that the Holy Spirit brings to life. 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.➤  The Holy Spirit uses the words of JESUS to bring the powerful truth that sets us free.  John 8:31- 32 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ➤   The Holy Spirit uses the Word to guide us to the truth. What Jesus (The Word) has spoken. vJohn 14:25-26) 25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

➤   I came to you as someone who knew nothing but the gospel!  The Word of God!  2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

⭐ 💥We want to know more!  Paul wanted them to know the Word for it was through the Word that God brings His salvation, healing and freedom to the life of believers.   

• God doesn’t have to use books to teach the deep things of God!!!

➤   When I share the Scripture with people that struggle with faith and healing, they often ask why don’t we hear more of this in the church?

I.   Spend time reading the Bible!!!! 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ➤   If you know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, you stand in the doorway of receiving great power from God!➤   Less time reading books, devotionals and articles about the Bible and spending more time reading the Bible itself.   Difference?   Spending time with God vs spending time with an author.

II.   Let the Holy Spirit guide you to truth you need to know. v5)  5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.➤ John 16:13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.➤  You will learn to hear God speak to your heart. Just being here today shows you have listened to God’s voice or you wouldn’t be here at all.  vJohn 16:13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.( make it known to you) Declare it.

III.   Determine to know the Word first and foremost!!!!! 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ➤   Read the Bible!  Scripture first.

• Chapter a day.  Just listen and don’t worry about what you don’t understand.
  • The Holy Spirit will show you what you need to know.
  • You can read other stuff, but don’t read other stuff more than you read the Scripture.

John 1:1  The word is God.John 1:14   That word became flesh.  Jesus ChristHebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.John 14: 17)  When you put the word in you, you put Christ in your life. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

⭐ Power comes through knowing nothing except the Scripture!  Strong faith is built on the simplicity of the Scripture, not on the wisdom of humanity.