Podcasts about boast in the lord

Introduction: Why Is Self-Promotion So Foolish (1 Corinthians 1:18–31) Because it misses the power of THE CROSS. (1 Cor 1:18–25) Because it misses the strength of a WEAK CHURCH. (1 Cor 1:26–28) Because it misses the glory of BOASTING IN CHRIST. (1 Cor 1:29–31) 1 Cor 4:7 - “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 1:18-31What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is self-promotion? Where do you see self-promotion at play in this culture and in the church world?How do you struggle with exalting/promoting yourself?Why is being weak your greatest strength?What does it mean to “boast in the Lord?” List practical ways that you can boast in the Lord/promote Christ on a daily basis. BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Alright, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 18 through 31.1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 18 through 31.As a teenager, I was the last of my friends to create a Facebook account.For years I held strong against the peer pressure,but do you want to know what finally led me to get a Facebook account?The desire to boast in myself and self-promote.See, back in the summer of 2009, my family and I went to Hilton Head, South Carolina for vacation.And on that vacation, we went shark fishing.And during that expedition, I caught a baby hammerhead shark.Pretty impressive, right?My one friend who was on the trip took a picture of me holding up that hammerhead shark,and I thought it looked so cool.And as soon as I got back to the condo, I fired up Facebook, I created an account,and I made that picture my profile picture.I'm not going to show that picture on the screens because I don't want to selflessly promote myself yet again,although I already see Jamie Kendrew looking up Facebook right now.And I'm sure that many of you will do the same after service,so happy hunting trying to find that picture.But I went back and looked at this cringy 16-year-old postto see how many likes and comments it received.How many likes do you think that picture got?A hundred?Wow, Jeff, you have a lot of confidence in me.Six.Talk about going viral.I think I might have missed my calling as a social media influencer.But as I was looking at this old post, I also saw the comment of my friend who took that picture.He wrote this on the post.I'm just going to point out that this picture is the only reason you even got a Facebook.You just wanted the world to know about the shark.My friend saw right through my motivations, and he knew why I created that account.Self-promotion.But I'm not the only one who has utilized social media for self-promotion, right?That's the main drive for most people who have an Instagram, a Facebook, or a TalkTix,as Pastor Jeff often calls it.On social media, you put your best foot forward.You curate an image of yourself that isn't exactly accurate or realistic,but you don't really care because that's how you want other people to view you.This past week, I did a deep dive into self-promotion,and I came across a lot of interesting content.I came across really buff dudes who lectured not so buff dudesabout the importance of being a perfect physical specimen,the art of destroying the competition and manifesting your dreams into reality.I also came across inspirational coaches who pamper with self-help talk,like, "Whenever you succeed, tell yourself, 'I'm so proud of myself.'I'm my own personal hero."I saw this one last week.I'm becoming a person that the younger version of me would have looked up to.Oh, gag. That was really hard to hear.Here's one quote that I haven't been able to stop thinking about as soon as I read it."If you don't promote yourself, nobody will."Do you want to know what I thought when I read that?That's exactly right.If you don't promote yourself, nobody will, because they are too busy promoting themselves.We live in such a me-centered society.Focus on me. Pay attention to me, because I'm so special and unique.Don't be unfair to me. Don't tell me what to do.Listen, self-promotion isn't just a problem out there.Self-promotion is a problem in here that we need to deal with.And don't think to yourself, "You know what, Pastor Taylor, you're right.There's a lot of prideful people in this room, and I'll do my part in calling them out. Don't worry."Hold on a minute. Self-promotion isn't just a problem out there.And in here, vaguely and generally, self-promotion is a problem within you that you need to deal with.Self-promotion is a problem within me that I need to deal with.This is the third week in a year-long study of 1 Corinthians, church unified and purified.Last week, Pastor Jeff challenged you to protect the unity of the church by nixing the clicksand refusing to divide over pointless preferences and particular personalities.This morning, you will be challenged to protect the unity of the churchby resisting the temptation to pridefully promote yourself and elevate your importance.Because obsessing over me hurts the we. It hurts everyone around you.And self-promotion isn't just a new problem that started with the Internet.It is an ancient problem that the Corinthians had to deal with as well.And this ancient problem can only be solved with the timeless truths of God's Word.And you cannot deal with the prideful promotion within your own heartuntil you realize how destructive and foolish it really is.So I want us to ask and answer one question this morning, just one.Why is self-promotion so foolish?Why is self-promotion so foolish?Before we seek to answer that question, let's go to the Lord and ask for His help.Please pray for me that I will faithfully proclaim God's Wordas I pray for you that you will faithfully receive it.Father, we come to you and we admit our temptation to self-glorify, to self-promote.Lord, I admit to you that I have been dealing with that this morning already.Father, I pray that we wouldn't push aside the conviction that your spirit brings,that we wouldn't think, "Oh, this sermon is for somebody else.Lord, help every single person in this room to think, 'No, this is for me.'"This is God's Word for me.And may we walk out of here different people with a different attitude and a different focus.We ask all this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.So why is self-promotion so foolish?Reason number one, because it misses the power of the cross.Because it misses the power of the cross.Last week's text ended with the cross, and this morning's passage begins with the cross.Let's read 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 together.The apostle Paul writes, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."According to Paul, there are only two ways to view the cross.There are only two ways to view the news of Jesus Christ, God himself who came to suffer and die,to save anyone and everyone who believes in Him.There are only two ways to view the gospel.Foolish or powerful?Those are the only two options. There is no riding the fence.There is no middle ground.You either hear the gospel and think, "That is so dumb."Or you think, "That is so awesome."Which is your view of the cross?Foolish or powerful?Dumb or awesome?Your view of the cross isn't a minor footnote in the story of your life.Your view of the cross isn't a small aspect of your worldview.Note is the defining characteristic of who you are.Your view of the cross reveals where you stand right nowand where you will end up in eternity.If you reject the cross of Christ in this life,you will be rejected by Christ when you exit this life.But if you have embraced the cross of Christ, Paul says you are being saved.Does that sound kind of weird to you? Being saved?We usually just talk about salvation in the past tense, right?But Scripture talks about salvation in three tenses.The past, the present, and the future.If you have trusted in Christ, you have experienced salvation.You are experiencing salvation and you will experience salvation.You have been justified.You are being sanctified and you will be glorified.You were made right by the blood of Christ before the presence of God.You are being made more and more into the image of Christ.And one day you'll be fully perfect in the presence of Christ.The cross has the transformative power to change your past, your present, and your future.But you can only experience the power of the cross if you humble yourself before it.You will not experience the power of the cross if you live to promote yourself.You will not experience the power of the cross if you think you're wiser than God.You will not experience the power of the cross if you think you can save yourselfand figure out the meaning of life on your own.Paul talks about the foolishness of trusting in your own wisdom in verses 19 through 20."For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe?Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?So Paul quotes Isaiah 29 and 14 and then throws down the gauntlet to challenge all the great thinkers of his day.The philosophers, the teachers of the Old Testament law, and the polished public speakers.If Paul was speaking directly at 2025, he'd be talking about the most celebrated politicians.Enlightened spiritual gurus.And the most influential influencers on social media who get way more than six likes on their posts.Paul is saying, "You think you're so clever? Fine. Try to step up and impress God. Try to beat him in a debate."Let's see how that goes.Spoiler alert, he's going to wipe the floor with you. So who's up next to challenge him?As I read this verse this past week, I thought back to playing board games with my dad growing up.You know how some parents let you win or make a concession to, you know, go easy on you?That wasn't my dad's strategy right then.Every time you played a game, he would just demolish me in sorry, monopoly, clue.I have a different opinion, but for some reason, no loss hurt quite as bad as risk.When I was six, seven, some of you get that, some of you don't.When I was six, seven, I kept thinking that my day of victory had finally come.The day had finally arrived when I thought I was wiser than my dad. I was smarter than my dad.I would beat him at a game of risk. And time and time again, I would make a foolish move towards the end of the game.And my dad would ask the question that I could still hear in my mind right now."Son, you sure you want to do that?"And sure enough, I did. And then my dad would totally destroy my wisdom and thwart my discernment.Every single time we got out the risk board.And God does the same exact thing to everyone who opposes Him on the risk board of life.Every single time we put forth a new religion, a new philosophy, a new ideology,I just imagine God asking, "Are you sure you want to do that?"And sure enough, we do. And then sure enough, God totally destroys our wisdom and thwarts our discernment.And Paul goes into even greater detail about why and how God does this in verses 21 through 25."For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom,it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified,a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called,both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God,for the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men."It gives God great joy, great pleasure to expose the so-called wisdom of the worldby saving sinners in a seemingly foolish way, the brutal death of His Son.We lose sight of how foolish the cross would have seemed to Jews and Gentiles alike2,000 years ago because we see crosses everywhere, don't we,T-shirts, bumper stickers on church steeples.Let me ask you, when was the last time you saw someone wearing a T-shirt with the graphic of a gas chamber on it?When was the last time you saw someone wearing a lethal injection or electric chair necklace?These are serious symbols of death and capital punishment.Wearing something like that in public would be so off-putting and reprehensible, right?Well, now you understand why so many Jews and Gentiles were totally put off by the cross 2,000 years ago.Back in Jesus' day, criminals weren't put to death by a firing squad, an electric chair, lethal injection.No, the Romans would nail them to a wooden cross and leave them to ex-fixiate to death.For the unbelieving Jews, the cross was a stumbling block because a crucified Messiah was an oxymoron.It was like saying that someone is a brilliant idiot, a murderous humanitarian, or a lying truth teller.Those words don't naturally belong together in describing the same person.Under the Old Testament law, being hung on a tree was a sign of divine curse.It was a sign that you were being punished by God Himself.So to the Jews, how could the Messiah that chosen one be punished and cursed by God?That seemed insane. It was beyond belief.For the Gentiles, the philosophical Greeks, the cross was folly, from which we get our word "moronic."To them, the cross was stupid.Why would the Creator of everything lower Himself enough to die a death that was reserved for the worst criminals?But for the believing Jew, for the believing Gentile, Christ crucified isn't a stumbling block or moronic.To those who accept the divine call Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God,for the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.Your own way of thinking may seem wise to you, but I can assure you it is foolish.God's method of salvation may seem foolish, but it is infinitely wise than anything you could possibly brainstorm.Your "I got this on my own" attitude may seem strong to you, but it is nothing but worldly weakness.Christ dying on the cross may make Him seem weak, but that was the strongest act of love we could possibly imagine,totally stronger than anything you could ever hope to accomplish.The wisest one who created all things chose to hang on that cross all those years ago.The strongest one who will uphold this universe by the word of His power chose to take the full wrath of His Father.The source of life chose to lay down his own life so that you could live forever and ever.So if you have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, I want you to look at me and act like your life depends on what I'm about to say because it does.You do not have the power in and of yourself to please God. You don't.You do not have the power to rid yourself of the guilt and shame that you feel deep down.And you know exactly what I'm talking about, those feelings of regret and conviction that you feel.Those oppressive thoughts about your past mistakes that you can't seem to let go of.You do not have the power to erase the stain of sin off of your soul.You don't have the power to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and save yourself.You do not have any wisdom or power of your own.For the very first time, look to the only source of heavenly wisdom and power, the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.If you submit to Him, He will save you. He will forgive you if you ask Him to. Christ will have you if you will have Him.Why is self-promotion so foolish?Because it misses the power of the cross.Second reason, because it misses the strength of a weak church.Because it misses the strength of a weak church.Does the wording of that point seem somewhat strange to you? Does that seem disrespectful?Taylor, do you really think the church is weak?Yeah, I do. And that's its greatest strength.If you don't believe me, believe Paul because he says the same exact thing in verses 26 to 28.For consider your calling, brothers. Not many of you are wise according to worldly standards.Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth.But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are.We just saw that God shows Himself wise to the foolishness of the cross.Now we see that God shows Himself strong through the weakness of His people.Travel back in time with me to recess whenever those teams were picked for dodgeball, kickball, basketball, pick your sport.Was that nerve-wracking for any of you?And some of you are like, "No, actually it was a lot of fun. It wasn't nerve-wracking at all."That's because you were the ringers who were chosen first. Must have been nice to be you.The rest of us were in the middle of the pack or chosen dead last.Why and how are kids chosen in a pickup game of recess?There are two qualifiers, skill and popularity.The best of the best and the coolest of the cool are snatched up first.Is that how it works in the family of God?Does God jump at recruiting the best of the best and the coolest of the cool?No, it's actually the exact opposite.Paul calls the Corinthians to consider who they were and where they came from.Not many of them were Brainiac philosophers, influential leaders and rich aristocrats.No, in the eyes of the world they were stupid, worthless, obscure and poor.But none of that matters.They have been chosen last in a game of kickball, but they were chosen by God himself.And if God chooses you, you are no longer defined by who rejects you.And the pages of the Old Testament and the New Testament are filled with examples of God choosing the weak and the most unexpected.God chose Abraham to father a son and jumpstart the people of Israel when he was as good as dead as the author of Hebrews lovingly describes him.God chose Jacob over Esau, even though Jacob was a slimy liar.God chose Moses to deliver the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt even though Moses was a stuttering murderer.God chose Gideon to defeat the invading Midianites even though Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when he was called by the angel.God chose 12 ordinary men to be the followers of Christ.These men had ordinary and even hateful jobs.The apostle Paul started as a religious Pharisees who held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen.Why does God do this? Why is this God's recruiting strategy?Well, Paul tells us why in verses 27 to 28. Let's read those verses again."But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are."That is so counterintuitive, isn't it? That's so different than what we would do if we were God."Worldly reasoning dictates that the church should recruit the most famous athletes, the most polished politicians."Have you ever heard someone say, "Man, that person would make a great Christian?"Wouldn't everybody make a great Christian? Or, "Man, so many people would get saved if that person got saved."That view promotes human wisdom, not God's wisdom. That view promotes human strength, not God's strength.That view acts like God's up in heaven looking over his draft picks like, "Man, I made a lot of mistakes in the first few rounds.""I need some more stars to round out my roster and boost my stats."Now, God is not like you and me. God does not think like you and me.If God needed the biggest "somebodies" of this world, then He would not be somebody worthy of your devotion and worship.God wants to use "nobodies" to show that He needs nobody.God wants to use the most unexpected to bring Himself the most glory.God wants to use the weak to expose those who think they are strong apart from Christ.And I personally believe that's why the Lord called me to be a preacher of His Word and to be a pastor, because I was the most unexpected choice.As a kid, I was terrified to talk in front of people. I had a stuttering problem which I still had to deal with at some level to this day.No one looked at the teenage tailor and thought, "Man, get that guy behind a pulpit ASAP. He is so charismatic. He is so magnetic. He is a shoe-in for ministry."God chose me to be a messenger of the Word to show that all the glory belongs to Him and not to me.If God can use me for His kingdom, then He can use anybody.If God can use someone like me, I guarantee He can use someone like you.Do you feel inadequate to follow Jesus?Do you feel insufficient for the task that He has given to you?Do you feel unqualified for ministry?If you feel that way, then you are the perfect man or woman for the job. Congratulations, you are hired.Thinking that you are unqualified for ministry makes you qualified for ministry.On the other hand, believing that you are qualified for ministry makes you unqualified for ministry.If you think you are strong, you are going to depend on no one else besides yourself.If you think you are strong, I have to warn you, you are not going to like the mission and priorities of this church.We are not interested in teaching self-help nonsense. We are not interested in puffing up your ego.We are not interested in making you a self-reliant person, but we are in the business of training you to be a weak servant of Christ who recognizes your weakness.Are you willing to get on board with that mission? Are you willing to have those priorities?Stop promoting your strength. Stop trying to impress people. Begin to find comfort in your weakness.Stop putting others down so you can feel better about yourself.Stop thinking, "Well, this church can never survive without me. This church can survive without any of us."Stop thinking, "I'm the MVP on God's team." Stop thinking that your opinions and preferences are the most important.Begin to focus on the "we" instead of "me."Why is self-promotion so foolish? Because it misses the power of the cross.Because it misses the strength of a weak church. And finally, because it misses the glory of boasting in Christ.Because it misses the glory of boasting in Christ.In verses 29 through 30, Paul continues to offer another explanation for why God fills his church with weak people.Paul writes that no human being might boast in the presence of God.And because of him, because of God, you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.Self-promotion doesn't just hurt other people. Most importantly, self-promotion offends God.When you boast before other people, you are actually boasting before God.It's a very bad plan to brag about yourself in the presence of the most important person in all of existence.You know, boasting in yourself is kind of lame, right?Do you know what makes boasting in yourself even lame-er?Boasting about something that you didn't even earn in the first place.Imagine with me that next week I drive up in a brand new Lamborghini.I don't really know what the cool cars are now, so I said Lamborghini, alright?So just fill in the blank, whatever car you want it to be, I guess.I park the car, the door slides open, and I step out with cool sunglasses, driving gloves, a cool leather jacket.And I'm like swinging my keys around, hoping that you'll say something about my car.And as soon as you say, "Pats are Taylor, that's a nice ride."I jump on the opportunity to bask in your glory.Yep, I've won a car like this for 35 years, and it's finally mine.I mean, sure, it costs a fortune, but why not treat yourself?Why not enjoy the fruits of your labor?And then I proudly saunter away, and you come across my dad in the lobby, and you say, "Man, Taylor has such a nice new car."He must have worked so hard to be able to afford that.And my dad looks at you with shock in his eyes, and he says, "What are you talking about?I bought him that car."Doesn't that piece of information kind of change what I presented to you?Doesn't it make my ridiculous outfit and my prideful speech seem even worse to you?But why? Because you can't really boast about something that you received free of charge.And that's what Paul is saying in these verses.If you were a born-again believer, you were in Christ because of the undeserved grace of God.Period, no other reason.You did nothing to earn it.You have received all that Christ has, and you have received all of who Christ is.You have been given everything.You have received so much from Him.Listen to what Paul has to say about this in a few chapters from now in chapter 4 verse 7.What do you have that you did not receive?If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?You have received grace. You have received salvation.Why would you boast like you didn't receive it and like you earned it?Look again at chapter 1 verse 30."And because of Him, because of God, you were in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."This first presents so many important truths that you cannot forget if you're a true Christian.You are not wise all by your lonesome.You were not born with a sense of righteousness.You cannot be sanctified, set apart, and made holy by your own efforts.You cannot redeem yourself.You could not purchase yourself from slavery to Satan, sin, and death.But according to Paul, someone came to this earth to be your source of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.Who is that one person?Jesus Christ.In Christ, your foolish thinking has been replaced with the very wisdom of God.In Christ, your gross unrighteousness has been exchanged for Christ's perfect righteousness.In Christ, your slavery to sin has been ended so that you can belong to the kindest master imaginable.In Christ, your godly immaturity has been put aside so that you can finally pursue after godly maturity.All of these things are a gift from God, so do not take an ounce of credit for a single gift that He has given to you.So what should you do instead of taking the credit and boasting in yourself?Well, Paul makes it very simple by referencing the prophet Jeremiah in verse 31.He says, "So that as it is written, let the one who boasts, boasts in the Lord."You are to replace self-promotion with Christ's promotion.What is Christ's promotion?Christ's promotion is being on the lookout for opportunities to point every single person in your life to the person and work of the Lord Jesus.Because everyone in your life needs what Jesus has to offer Christians and non-Christians alike.Even those people you don't like very much.Christ's promotion is redirecting all the praise that you receive to Him because He alone deserves it.Christ's promotion looks like being freed from the horrible hobby of trying to fish for other people's compliments.Your meaning no longer hinges on how your boss and your coworkers evaluate your performance.Your identity no longer hangs on what your neighbor thinks about your house, your car, or your lawn.Guys in the room, nobody really cares besides you.Moms, your meaning no longer depends on what other moms think about your kids.You no longer exist to impress people.Life is no longer about you and your boasting is no longer about you.Because here's the hidden secret according to Paul and Jeremiah.You're going to boast.It's going to happen.It's not a question of will you boast.It's a question of who will you boast in.I have a nine-year-old goal retriever named Murdoch and he's still a puppy at heart.One minute he'll be sleeping on the couch and then he'll be running zoomies around the house.Do you all know what zoomies are when you explain that?When dogs run like they're in Kentucky Derby, right? Running in circles around the house.In those moments, I don't try to make Murdoch stop running zoomies because he's going to give energy out in some way.Instead, I open the front door and say, "If you're going to run zoomies, at least run them outside."That's what Paul is saying in these verses.He's saying, "If you're going to boast, boast in the Lord."My dog's crazy playing belongs in the right setting outside.Your bragging, your boasting belongs in the right setting as well.The person and work of Jesus Christ.So what's the big takeaway from this passage?What's the big takeaway from this sermon?I want you to brag as much as you possibly can.I want you to boast until you're blue in the face.I want you to promote from sun up to sun down.You've probably never heard a pastor tell you that before.But never forget this really important detail.You cannot be the focus of your promotion.You cannot be the focus of your bragging and your boasting.If you're the focus of your promotion, you'll miss the power of the cross of Christ.You'll miss the strength of being weak in Christ.You'll miss the glory of boasting in Christ.If you promote Christ and not yourself, you'll find yourself becoming more like Him.If you promote Christ and not yourself, the church will be strengthened.If you promote Christ and not yourself, you'll begin to feel that burden of being the center of existenceand stop your shoulders because you were never meant to bear that.If you promote in Christ, you'll feel stupider,but you'll be wisest in the most important way.If you promote Christ, you'll feel weaker, but you'll actually be stronger.The worship team can make their way forward.You know, boasting in the Lord all by yourself is great.You can boast in the Lord during your personal quiet time,but you know what's even better?When others join in and boast in the Lord with you.Singing as a body of believers is a biblically commanded way to boast in the Lord.As we sing, our unity is on full display in a physical and tangible way.When we sing, our voices come together to form a corporate praise.Our voices come together to promote the one who has given us all that we have.When God's people lay aside all distractions and fear of embarrassment to sing,it's made clear that we boast in Christ and not ourselves.I know what some of you are thinking, "Pastor Taylor, I don't like to sing."Well, too bad because God wants you to sing.So we're going to do that.So let's stand and sing to the one who deserves our praises.Please stand and give all of your passion to promoting God's strength,His wisdom, and His power.

1 Corinthians • Week 5 • 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ephesians 2:4-10, Jeremiah 9:23-24

It’s natural to feel proud when we accomplish something—whether at work, school, or in our relationships. But Paul’s reminder to the church in Corinth, and in today's devotional and prayer, shifts our perspective: our successes are not our own, but the work of God through us. The Corinthians struggled with division and pride, boasting about their leaders and achievements. Paul called them back to the heart of the gospel—Christ alone. Our gifts, victories, and opportunities are not for our own glory but for God’s. When we boast in the Lord, we redirect praise where it belongs. This doesn’t mean ignoring our blessings, but rather using them as opportunities to magnify the grace, mercy, and love of God. True joy comes when we celebrate His work in us and through us. Your Daily Bible Reading: "Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'” – 1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV) Key Takeaways Everything good in us comes from God; our boasting should point to Him. Pride divides, but humility unites us as one body in Christ. Celebrating victories is good, but let’s shine the spotlight on God’s faithfulness. Boasting in the Lord helps us resist self-promotion and practice gratitude. Let’s Pray Together Heavenly Father, thank You for every blessing and gift You’ve given me. Forgive me when I let pride take the place of gratitude. Teach me to boast only in You, pointing others to Your goodness and mercy. May all I do bring glory and honor to Your name alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Related Resources & Articles How to Humble Yourself Before God – Crosswalk.com What It Really Means to Boast in the Lord – Christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

AM Worship Service, 21 September 2025, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

7 You are judging by appearances.[a] If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. 12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b] 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faith-love-trust--3493635/support.

e introduced our Concert of Prayer content blog. In our Worship focus today, we look at God's Wisdom, Immutability, and Compassion. Wisdom:"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."1 Corinthians 1:30-31And 2 Corinthians 2:6-16Immutability:Hebrews 1:10-12"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever…"Hebrews 13:8-14Compassion:Isaiah 54:10"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you.Psalm 103:4, Psalm 103:8Psalm 103:13-14"Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust."Our So What?Meditate on our majestic Creator, Savior, and Sustainer, who is wise, immutable, and compassionate. " What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'Cheynee Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 InstagramSeason 007Episode 065

What makes a great church? Dr. Neufeld examines the Corinthian church to discover that effective churches aren't built on impressive credentials or programs. Instead, God chooses the "foolish," weak, and lowly to showcase His power. Using Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians, he shows that great churches are made of people who boast only in the Lord, carrying the message of the cross that provides wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.The Power of Christ in a Pagan World: Join Dr. John Neufeld for this 20-message series as he focuses on the book of 1 Corinthians. Covering chapters 1-4, The Power of Christ in a Pagan World looks at the many issues that confronted the church in Corinth; Problems that seemed to find their place within the church at every turn! This series helps us unpack the different conflicts and struggles of this early church in a relevant and practical way. Even though the church in Corinth existed a long time ago, they went through trials that might sound familiar to us in the 21st Century!

Sunday Morning Message | 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 | June 1st, 2025

May 17, 2025 Is. 2:1-22; Ps. 53:1-5; Prov. 15:15-17; 2 Cor. 10:13-18

Big Idea:Reflecting on God's work in my life reminds me to boast in Him alone.This Sunday, we walked through 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, where Paul reminds us that not many were wise, powerful, or of noble birth — yet God chose what is foolish and weak to shame the strong.We saw that our salvation, our story, and even our growth are not reasons to boast in ourselves but reasons to boast in Christ alone.God's plan highlights His power, not ours. Our past is redeemed, our lives are changed, and all the glory belongs to Him.

Do you boast in yourself, or in the Lord? Message from 2 Corinthians 10:8-18 urging Christians to seek commendation from God first, above all other human accolades. Watch or listen here on sermons.logos.com The post Boast in the Lord appeared first on Trinity Community Church.

In this sermon, Pastor Philip commends us to boast only in the Lord and seek only His approval.We hope you enjoyed this sermon! To learn more about our ministry, you can visit us at the Harvest Plains website.Harvest Plains Church is a small church plant located in Mapleton, North Dakota. Our heart is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our local communities, and to build disciples with Bible-centered preaching. If you're near Mapleton or the Fargo/Moorhead area, we'd love to have you join us!

When the Bible tells of God's glory, it refers to His ultimate dignity, importance, and significance. Today, R.C. Sproul explores our privileged purpose as God's creatures to glorify His name. Get R.C. Sproul's teaching series God Alone on DVD, lifetime digital access to the messages and study guide, and a copy of the book The Heart of the Reformation for your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3942/donate Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was known for his ability to winsomely and clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God's Word. He was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, host of the Ask Ligonier podcast, and a graduate of Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. Nathan joined Ligonier in 2012 and lives in Central Florida with his wife and four children. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Guest preacher, Pastor Bill Myers, encourages us in boasting in the Lord as we look at 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. We boast in the Lord because of His calling, choosing, and crediting.

Welcome to Bible Bedtime. Tonight I will read 2 Cor 10. After that, I will read from the Psalms and finish with the Lord's Prayer and my own prayer of dedication.Our email is BibleBedtimePodcast@gmail.com, or you can join us on Facebook! You can send a small donation to us on Venmo @Biblebedtime.  Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/biblebedtime. While there is no expectation of your support, if you feel led to bless me with a small contribution in any amount, it would mean the world to me. Your gift will help offset the costs of producing and distributing Bible Bedtime worldwide. You can leave a love offering at https://plus.acast.com/s/biblebedtime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your words were found and I ate them

Welcome back to the Mowing in the Dark LAWN CARE Podcast! In today's Faith Friday episode Aaron gets into 2 Corinthians chapter 10. In this chapter Paul defends his ministry and the way he and the apostles lead the church.  **Please give the podcast a 5 star rating and review in Apple Podcasts.** Give Me Your Feedback: http://www.linktr.ee/lansinglawnservice     GREEN FROG WEB DESIGN SPECIFICALLY FOR LAWN CARE *Your First Month is ONLY $1.00* https://greenfrogwebdesign.com/ Buy Me A Coffee: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mowinginthedark    Michigan Maple Coffee: https://amzn.to/4eQZzSR Check out my business websites: www.lansinglawnservice.com www.gravelblasters.com , www.sutterbrotherslawncare.com   Check out My Favorite Lawn Care Gear: Werner, AC78, Quickclick Stabilizer, Aluminum https://amzn.to/2OTOfMf Wonder Grip WG318L Liquid-Proof Double-Coated/Dipped Natural Latex Rubber Work Gloves 13-Gauge Seamless Nylon, Large, Large https://amzn.to/2Ytjml6 Hodenn Zero Turn Lawn Mower Hitch - Fits Ariens & Gravely ZT-X: https://amzn.to/3jJmEua ECHO Black Diamond Trimmer Line: https://amzn.to/2GBEL7d    

1/5/2025 - Chad Lewis

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. Our encouragement today comes from Abel. He still speaks. How? He's dead. And what message does he speak? Before answering these questions, let's notice that the word translated “obtained the testimony” and “testifying” in this verse is the same word translated in vs. 2 “gained approval.” That's why I interpreted “gained approval” in vs 2 as having an enduring testimony because of the faith God gave them. Who's doing the testifying? God is! Notice it says, “God testifying.” It's not saying that Cain testified of his faith by offering a sacrifice. Abel obtained or received something from God that Cain did not receive. Abel received a testimony from God that he was righteous before Him. He was given faith, an assurance or proof that his offering would be accepted by God. So he offered a better sacrifice than Cain because he was moved by God's gift of faith. God testified to Abel that he was righteous through the faith He gave to him.  Let's now connect some dots. Abel's righteousness didn't come from Abel. Abel's sacrifice wasn't better because he was a good man. His righteousness came from His union with Jesus, which was God's doing before the foundation of the world. Paul taught this good news explicitly in 1 Cor. 1:30-31.  But by His (God's) doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” Abel's faith, which motivated his sacrifice, was a testimony of God to Abel that God put him into Jesus Christ when He died on the cross and was risen from the dead. Jesus was delivered over because of Abel's transgressions and was raised as a testimony of Abel's justification or being made righteous. When God gave Abel faith to offer the sacrifice he did, God was testifying to Abel that he would be accepted by Him. The testimony or witness that Abel received from God, the Father, through Jesus Christ, still speaks to us who have also received the same kind of faith as Abel. We know, like Abel, that if we draw near to God through the blood and intercession of Jesus, we will be accepted and will receive whatever grace we need to glorify God. That's the author's point in all of these testimonies in chapter 11 of Hebrews. When we live to love with Jesus, we are offering ourselves to God as a sacrifice like Abel offering the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions (Gen. 4:4). Listen to Paul's calling the church of Ephesus (and you) to live to love with Jesus. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Through faith you have obtained a testimony from God that you are righteous through Jesus Christ, who offered Himself to God as a pleasing aroma to Him. The best way to celebrate Christmas is to walk in love. It's the best gift we can give to God and everyone else because we love through Jesus Christ. We do so by the very faith He has given us. Abel says your offering will be received and accepted by God. Wow! What good news on this Christmas Day! Do you hear what I hear?

By Nicholas K. Lamoureux - This sermon emphasizes the importance of boasting not in ourselves or others, but in God, as taught in 1 Corinthians 3. Paul contrasts a carnal mindset with a spiritual one, urging believers to rely on God's strength and wisdom, rather than worldly pride, to build a strong foundation in Christ

Hebrews 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. “By this will,” what will? The will of God that Jesus came to do, namely offer His body as a pleasing sacrifice to His Father for the purpose of making all of those the Father gave to His Son, holy and righteous. That's what sanctification entails. Once and for all, for all time, we were completely set apart for God's glory through Jesus Christ. When Jesus died, with you united with Him, God once and for all sanctified you. The work was done, completed, finished. That's the verb tense used by the author. God did something through Jesus Christ once for all to everyone the Father put in Him. He set us apart to Himself for His glory. The apostle Paul understood this great reality. 1 Cor. 1:30-31. “By His, [God's] doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.'”  I want to encourage you today that the way we glorify God through Christ Jesus is by living to love with Him. Jesus said in John 15 that the Father is glorified by our displaying His fruit of love in our lives. It's how we prove we are His disciples. We have been set apart for this purpose in Jesus as He did God's will by offering His body once and for all. We receive God's wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption so we will boast in Jesus.  Let us live to love with Jesus, and as His love flows through us, let us be sure to boast in Jesus. Let's give Him glory. We couldn't love without His resurrection life in us, and we couldn't have His resurrection life in us if He had not died in our stead to make us holy vessels. God cannot dwell where sin abides. So, through His death, it was God's will to be merciful to our iniquities, forgive our sin, and cleanse us once for all for all time.  “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” We worship You and offer ourselves to You as holy vessels through whom Your love may flow for Your glory.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 | Andy Sabaka

In this episode we look at the importance of not taking credit for what the Lord has done, but rather giving Him the glory.Other episodes mentioned in this one:Episode 4: Brief overview of the Old TestamentScriptures referenced:Jeremiah 22:8-9Daniel 1:6-7Daniel 4:4-37Romans 3:23Jonah 3:4-10Matthew 28:18Philippians 2:10-11Deuteronomy 8:3, 11-18Matthew 5:3Romans 6:23bJohn 15:2Galatians 5:22-23Philippians 2:12-13Luke 14:11Matthew 23:12James 4:61 Peter 5:5Proverbs 3:34Proverbs 18:12Matthew 18:1-4James 4:10Hebrews 5:121 Corinthians 1:26-31Jeremiah 9:23-24I WANT TO BE DISCIPLEDI am on staff with another ministry called Mentoring Men for the Master (M3). M3 is a discipleship ministry; so, if you are interested in being discipled and having someone come alongside you to invest in you and your walk with Jesus, feel free to email us at info@mentoringmen.net. You can also check out M3's website by clicking "I want to be discipled" above. Please also note that despite the ministry's name, M3 disciples both men and women; so, the offer is open to all!I WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTERIf you would like to sign up to receive newsletter updates, simply click "I want to sign up for the newsletter" above and fill out the form. Also, feel free to check out our most recent newsletter.I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTIf you feel so led, you can support the podcast by clicking "I want to support the podcast" above. I Just Want to Talk about the Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that any donations made are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for giving as the Lord leads!Take care!

Rusty Milton's sermon on "Boasting in the Lord" from 2 Corinthians 10: 8-16

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.” What a wonderful encouragement we have today from verse 8 of Hebrews 1. Remember the author was contrasting what God has said about the angels with what He has said about His Son, Jesus Christ. This verse shows us the union of the Father and the Son which is the source of our confidence in Him. Let's not miss this is God speaking of His Son. The Father, God, calls Jesus His God when He declares that His throne is forever and ever. Let me remind you of where Jesus is right now, ever since He ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. We learn here that the “right hand” and the “throne” are one in the same. This means we are living to love with God when we are loving with Jesus. Stunning truth! What is a scepter? It is a staff or rod, held by a sovereign as an emblem of authority. A king or ruler rules with it. Perhaps you remember that the king of Persia extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter” (Esther 5:2). Esther recognized the king's authority. We learn from Psalm. 45:6, quoted here, that Jesus rules in righteousness. It is the overarching foundation of His kingdom or rule. Psalms 89:14 states, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. Jeremiah 33:15 “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.” Now for the encouragement from these Scriptures. Jesus rules His kingdom in righteousness. God has made us righteous in Christ so that we would live our lives boasting in Him, giving Him glory. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.'” We live to love with Jesus because He is righteous and rules our lives by righteousness, which is another way of saying He always loves. He always does the right thing before God. Our unrighteous deeds have been washed away by His blood, and the only deeds left standing before God are Jesus' deeds of righteousness. As we love others, let's remember that His love is His righteousness working through our lives. To Jesus be the glory forever and ever.

Episode #228 of 15 Minutes and a Big Idea. A Podcast by The Mended Collective. In this episode, we examine 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. Big Idea: Boast in the Lord 3 Supporting Ideas: 1) Being in Christ is Due to God 2) Christ Became Wisdom 3) We Have Cause to Boast Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/15bigidea/?view_public_for=110691360592088 The Mended Collective: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSlUSkU2N0UEy4Bq1HgpFEQ Email: 15bigideapodcast@gmail.com Theme Music: "Advertime" by Rafael Krux

Matthew Delaughter // 06.02.2024 // 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

We boast in the Lord because he's not only exposed the foolishness of our wisdom and power, but wonderfully, he's also given us true wisdom and power by giving us Jesus.

Ever find yourself bragging about the wrong things? In this message, we dive into 1 Corinthians to explore what it means to boast in the Lord. It's not about dropping names, flexing on social media, or showcasing our talents. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our true source of pride should be Jesus.Join us as we unpack the messy realities of the Corinthian church. This series "Messy Church" challenges us to lay down our need for attention and refocus on what really matters: humility, unity, and the power of the Holy Spirit.Grab a notebook and a pen, and let's discuss what it means to hold our heads high about the right things. If you've ever struggled with what it means to be a real follower of Jesus, or if you're curious about what the Bible says about pride, this one's for you. Hit play, and let's find out how to clean up the mess and boast in what really counts.

The perfect person to answer questions regarding a book, is the author of that book. Listen to Ask The Author, as the Author of our lives – The Holy Spirit – answers questions on Ask The Author: How To Boast In The Lord, Wearing Trousers,...

On This Week at Charlestown Road, Jason and Roger revisit Sunday morning's sermon, Boasting in the Best, digging deeper into “the word of the cross” as God's power to turn human boasting right side up and reshape us to boast in the best.

In all we do we must boast in the Lord.

Occidental scholarship is a fraud. It comes with its own knowledge, the way a guest comes to a potluck meal with his own communion bread. By definition, if you bring it, it is not the Eucharist—it is a McDonald's Happy Meal. It feels good—like a cheap date—but after you are done, all that's left are empty calories, with a portion of your proceeds donated to the military-industrial complex.  It does not matter what you know or where you studied. It does not matter what religion you are. Your titles, degrees, institutions, fields, backgrounds, religions, and affiliations are all useless and pointless. Harvard is not your reference. Shake them off, habibti, and recite Genesis 11:4 in Hebrew. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Still, you are not getting the point. Why? Because you “love God,” so you say, as long as he leaves some room on his throne (with all due respect) for you and your impressive body of human knowledge. No thanks, O “son of man,” says everything else that has breath “under the sun.” All that matters is what is found in the text—and guess what, anyone can find what is found, with no need whatsoever of your wide-ranging liberal arts, your think tanks (the imaginary ones, and the ones that come pre-loaded with projectiles), your humanities,  your thought leaders, your thought followers, your influencers, your systems of thought, your sophistries, your pundits, and your corrupt apologists. The so-called “gray area” of Western self-infatuation is a trap set by those foolish enough to seat themselves on the dread throne of the Judge, as though they have the authority, let alone the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Alas, they do not, and they cannot. Thus, Paul condemns their sophistry to the dustbin of congressional hearings in 1 Corinthians. “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”Do not answer that question. Not even to yourself. As disciples, we have but one task. Not to answer human questions but to deal solely with what is written: the commandments of God and to do them. Those who supplant God—not only to examine  but to relish the supposed gray area—lapse into something far worse than self-righteousness:Inaction. In the end, they may do something, but whatever it is, it has nothing to do with the artifacts found in the text. Their “doings” pertain to what they “bring” from their “body” of “human knowledge.” In other words, such fools sit themselves on their own throne, issuing their own commands according to their own preferences, ignoring what has been commanded by God in the text. I know, I know. This is the point in the homily where someone incapable of hearing will raise their hand on behalf of Descartes to ask, what do you mean by “what is found,” as if upon seeing five dollars on the sidewalk, they would not pick it up. The only thing worse than a liar is the one who lies to himself. For, indeed, the New York Times looks for excuses, and universities search for complexity, but we preach unvocalized consonants. To the New York Times, a stumbling block; and to academics foolishness, but to those who are called, Christ the power of God: Under a Bedouin tent. Christ the wisdom of God: A cup of Turkish coffee and sweets, far away from the stupidity of institutional cruelty and the insanity of human boasting. For, “as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.'” Richard and I discuss Luke 5:19-20. (Episode 514) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When the Bible tells of God's glory, it refers to His ultimate dignity, importance, and significance. Today, R.C. Sproul explores our privileged purpose as God's creatures to glorify His name. Get R.C. Sproul's Teaching Series 'God Alone' on DVD and the Digital Study Guide for Your Gift of Any Amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/2639/god-alone Don't forget to make RenewingYourMind.org your home for daily in-depth Bible study and Christian resources.