Uncool

1 Corinthians 1.18-2.5

Everyone wants to be cool. Cool is normally thought to be good. But cool is bad when it leads to style over substance, compromise of moral principles to be like the group, arrogance, self-centeredness, groupspeak, etc.

Paul started a church in a town called Corinth. They were big into cool. This led to divisions, hostilities, and lots of people thinking they were wiser, better, and cooler than the others.

Sounds like high school. Sounds like work. Sounds like family.

Paul didn't think cool was all that important. In fact, he debunked this whole way of thinking by reminding the Corinthians of three things.

1. They themselves were not cool (1 Corinthians 1.26-31) There were not many rich, powerful, influential people in the Corinthian church. There's not many in your church either.

2. He was not cool (1 Corinthians 2.1-5) Paul was not a world class orator like some of the public speaking superstars of his time. He was a simple preacher who relied on the Spirit's empowerment.

3. The message he was preaching was not cool (1 Corinthinas 1.18-25) The cross was a hard concept for Jewish people to embrace. And the Greek world considered the idea of the cross total foolishness.

The world will never understand a savior who dies a humiliating death. The world is all about self-enhancement and getting to the top. The message of the cross is radically uncool.

It is also the most powerful message the world has ever heard.

Related scriptures: Galatians 6.14, Ephesians 5.15-16, James 3.13-18, 1 Corinthinas 3.18-25