Overview:
Not many people are powerful, not many are rich, not many are famous—though many wish they were. No one wants to appear foolish or weak, which is why the allure of worldly ways is so enticing. The world has built a better mousetrap, so it seems, coaxing Christians onto its spring-loaded trap of humanism and intellectual pride. But Paul would have none of it.
Message Summary:
In this message centering on 1 Corinthians 1–2, Chuck Swindoll addresses the danger of becoming a “wrong-way Christian.” Using the famous sports story of Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels—who ran nearly 70 yards in the wrong direction during the Rose Bowl—Swindoll illustrates how the Corinthian church had lost its bearings. Instead of focusing on Christ, they were consumed by carnality, infighting, and personality cults, claiming allegiance to human leaders like Paul, Apollos, or Peter rather than the Savior [10–15].
Swindoll argues that the only cure for this spiritual confusion is a return to the Cross. He explains that the message of the Cross is offensive to the world’s sensibilities: it is a stumbling block to those seeking miraculous signs and “foolishness” (or moronic) to those seeking high-minded philosophy. However, to those being saved, it is the very power of God. Swindoll emphasizes that God deliberately chooses the “foolish,” “weak,” and “base” things of the world—people from humble backgrounds—to shame the wise, ensuring that no human can boast in His presence [24–25, 36–37, 41].
The message concludes with a look at the Apostle Paul’s personal approach to ministry. Unlike the impressive orators of his day, Paul came in “weakness, fear, and trembling,” determined to know nothing among the people except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Swindoll leaves listeners with three life-changing exhortations to keep them running in the right direction: Remember the pit (your humble origins), Refuse the praise (reject arrogance), and Rely on the power (God’s strength, not your own) [47–48, 52–53].
Message Key Facts:
- “Wrong Way” Riegels: Swindoll uses the 1929 Rose Bowl incident where Roy Riegels ran the wrong way as a metaphor for the “Wrong Way Corinthians”—carnal Christians who are busy and active but moving in the wrong direction spiritually [10–13].
- The Four Factions: The Corinthian church was split into cliques:
- Paul: The founder.
- Apollos: The eloquent speaker from Alexandria.
- Cephas (Peter): The original disciple.
- “Jesus Only”: The ultra-pious group who claimed no earthly leader but often possessed a judgmental spirit [14–16].
- The Definition of “Foolishness”: Swindoll notes that the Greek word Paul uses to describe how the world views the Cross is moria, from which we get the English word “moron.” To the perishing, the gospel appears moronic [24–25].
- God’s Chosen Demographics: Paul states that “not many” wise, mighty, or noble are called. Swindoll humorously illustrates this by listing obscure American towns like Booger Hollow, Arkansas; Lizard Lick, North Carolina; and Nameless, Tennessee, proving that God calls “catfish” rather than “rainbow trout” to humble the world [36–39].
- Sacrificing the Prophet to the Artist: Quoting G. Campbell Morgan, Swindoll warns preachers against becoming so concerned with eloquence, style, and beauty that they lose the impact of the truth, effectively sacrificing the prophetic message for artistic performance.
- Liquor into Furniture: Swindoll shares the testimony of John Hutton, a converted alcoholic. When coworkers mocked him about Jesus turning water into wine, Hutton replied, “I don’t know about that, but in my own house, I saw him turn liquor into furniture,” illustrating the transforming power of the Cross.
- Three Guideposts for Life: Swindoll offers three commands to prevent believers from running the wrong way:
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- Remember the pit: Never forget the depravity from which you were dug.
- Refuse the praise: Reject conceit and self-promotion.
- Rely on the power: Depend wholly on the Holy Spirit.
Message References:
- 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:11–13: Paul’s admonition regarding the quarrels and factions within the church (“I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos”).
- 1 Corinthians 1:22–23: “Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:26–29: The description of God choosing the foolish, weak, and base things of the world to nullify the things that are.
- 1 Corinthians 2:1–5: Paul’s testimony that he did not come with superiority of speech, but in “weakness and in fear and in much trembling,” so faith would rest on God’s power.
- Isaiah 29:14 (Quoted in 1 Cor 1:19): “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside” [25–26].
- John 15:5: “Without Me, you can do nothing” (Referenced in the call to rely on God’s power).
