The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary Week 3
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
1. They Lacked Spiritual Understanding
They were slow to hear and slow to understand.
2. They Lacked Humility
They were self-absorbed, self-centered, self-promoting, and proud.
Mark 4:40
Mark 4:40 NKJV
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
Mark 16:14
Mark 16:14 ESV
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
4. They Lacked Commitment
When the soldiers came to arrest Him, they all forsook Him and fled.
5. They Lacked Power
They were weak and helpless, especially when confronted with the enemy.
Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8 NIV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 4:13
Acts 4:13 NIV
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:18-20
Acts 4:18-20 NIV
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:28-29
Acts 5:28-29 NIV
"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings!
Acts 17:6
Acts 17:6 NIV
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.