I appreciate a good speaker. I once spent a six weeks in a training program to develop my skills as a communicator. The tutelage helped me immensely. Since then I’ve spoken hundreds of times to student groups and churches and consider myself above average, but I’m not top shelf.

So I find it interesting to hear the Apostle Paul, who I hold as an excellent communicator, say this about his message delivery:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

In case we’re tempted to consider Paul slovenly in his message preparation, let’s hear more of his argument:

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.

No matter how beautifully a preacher delivers a message, when the topic of Jesus Christ crucified emerges people pull away. Pride causes us to gag on the idea that we need anyone, let along a savior. But Paul cuts to the core. Without Christ crucified, a Christian communicator’s message merely tickles the ears.

We need the Savior. Our friends and neighbors and the entire world needs him as well. You and I might be tongue-tied, lousy communicators, but when we speak about Christ crucified we help people discover God. Eloquence is overrated, but not the power of the Lord to use our broken words to draw men and women to himself.

1 Corinthians 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

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