1 Corinthians 1:21
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.
One particular phrase sticks out to me in this verse: “what was preached.” Is Paul’s emphasis here on the message or the deliver of this message? There might be a bit of both. The “what” is the gospel which transforms. The “preached” is the way we experience the gospel. Preaching does not necessarily mean a speech delivered in church on Sunday morning. This is a powerful way to deliver the gospel because of the unique gathering of the worshiping community. But “preaching” is sharing the message of Jesus in any situation or time. The delivery does not need to be polished as long as it is sincere and communicated clearly. However, delivery can also be a hindrance to people hearing the gospel. If we do not communicate in ways that speak to people’s hearts, we might as well not share at all. Those who preach regularly ought to give their best efforts to sharing the gospel in clear and relevant ways.
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