By Maggie Walsh
The Alabama Baptist
From one pastor to the next, there are many differences — age, church size, you name it. But all of those differences fall away in the face of “our one message,” said Greg Corbin, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, during the convention sermon that closed out the Nov. 15–16 annual meeting.
Paul understood this as he wrote a letter to the church in Corinth, telling them his philosophy of ministry in 1 Corinthians 2:1–5. These five verses describe Paul’s one message, and what should be every pastor’s one message, Corbin said.
“The culture of Corinth [at this time] valued wealth, pleasure and athletes with no law except one’s own desires. … Do those ideas sound familiar?” he asked.
“While our technology is different and times have changed, our hearts haven’t. Like the apostle Paul all those years ago, all of us … are navigating ministry in this type of culture. So what do we do?”
Look to Paul, Corbin said, pulling three key truths from Paul’s words.
4“We must have a conviction of the priority of the gospel.”
“Paul brought a radical message … that went against everything the culture believed in every way,” Corbin said. Paul went to declare “the testimony of God” (1 Cor. 2:1).
Paul’s conviction in the gospel message shaped everything he did, and it should shape everything believers do now, Corbin said.
Paul went on to say in verse 2 that he is “determined” not to know anything other than Christ. This is a statement about “the centrality of the gospel,” Corbin said.
To believe is to share
“Only the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified could save, so everything should flow from that.”
4“We must have a commitment to the sharing of the gospel.”
“For Paul, to believe the gospel was to share the gospel,” Corbin said. “He believed that robust theology should lead to robust evangelism.”
And when sharing the gospel, it must be done completely, clearly and constantly.
When Paul talks about Jesus in these verses, he speaks specifically of Jesus’ crucifixion. “It is not just talking about Jesus generic, but it is a specific message about Jesus. Paul emphasized both the person and the work of Christ.”
The “treasure of theology,” Corbin said, is a rich message that is deep and tremendous. And it’s worth sharing every day.
4“We must have a confidence in the sufficiency of the gospel.”
In verse 3, Paul describes himself as weak, fearful and trembling. “Why does he feel that way?” Corbin queried.
Maybe it was because he understood the gravity of preaching the gospel or maybe it was because he was deeply discouraged. Regardless of how he felt, however, Paul went on to say in verse 4 that he doesn’t rely on his own abilities.
“Rather he depends on the power of the gospel itself,” Corbin said, referring to verse 5. “You see, the power doesn’t reside in the messenger but in the message and the Spirit of God drawing people to Him.”
Getting job done
“The gospel will get the job done. (It’s) the only thing that will get the job done.
“I stand here today as a testimony and as a preacher of the power of God to give a spiritual life of a spiritual death,” he said.
“That, my friends, is the gospel. That is our one message. It is sufficient — and it’s the only thing that will get the job done.”
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