A practical Sermon Outline From 1 Corinthians 1:18 for teaching salvation through the cross, with clear points and biblical application.
Key Takeaways – Salvation Through The Cross
- The Sermon Outline From 1 Corinthians 1:18 shows that salvation comes only through the cross of Christ, not human wisdom.
- Paul teaches that the cross is foolishness to the world but the power of God to everyone who believes.
- The outline highlights three truths: the message we hear, the mystery we see, and the miracle we experience in salvation.
- Believers hear God’s truth and God’s call, respond in faith, and discover life-transforming grace through the gospel.
- The cross reveals God’s wisdom and eternal plan, offering forgiveness, new life, and lasting hope in Jesus Christ.
- Applying this sermon outline helps Christians live with confidence in Christ’s finished work and proclaim the power of the cross today.
Sermon Outline From 1 Corinthians 1:18
Have you ever noticed how the world measures strength? It celebrates wealth, power, and influence, yet overlooks the greatest power of all. Paul reminds the Corinthians that the message of the cross divides people—some call it foolish, others call it life itself.
Think of the Israelites staring at the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Those who looked lived, those who refused perished. The cross works the same way today—it looks simple, but its impact is eternal.
Today, we will look at the message we hear, the mystery we see, and the miracle we experience in Christ.
1. The Message We Hear
“For the message 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 1:18)
A. We hear God’s truth
The world is full of voices telling us what matters, but only God’s truth shows us what truly saves. Paul tells us the message of the cross sounds like foolishness to those perishing, but for us who believe, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
When we hear the gospel, we’re not hearing human wisdom or philosophy. We’re hearing God’s eternal voice calling through the cross of Christ. Just as Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” we must listen with open hearts (Matthew 11:15).
B. We hear God’s call
The gospel is not just words on a page. It is God Himself calling out to us personally through His Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). That is not distant theology, that is relationship.
When we hear God’s call, He invites us to trust Christ with real faith and real obedience. This is more than belief in facts. It is surrender to a Savior who gave His life for us. The Spirit works in us, urging us to say yes to Jesus.
To All My Students: This material provides some ideas and thoughts for a message from 1 Corinthians 1:18 (Salvation Through The Cross).
2. The Mystery We See
“For the message 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 1:18)
A. We see God’s wisdom
The cross makes no sense to the proud heart. Why would God choose weakness and suffering as His means of victory? Yet Paul says, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God’s wisdom flips the world’s wisdom upside down.
When we look at the cross, we see that salvation is not about earning, but about grace. God uses what looks powerless to display His greatest power. Just as David’s sling defeated Goliath, the cross defeated sin and death. We see wisdom that no human mind could have invented.
B. We see God’s plan
From the beginning, God promised salvation through Christ. Isaiah prophesied of the Suffering Servant who would bear our sins and bring healing (Isaiah 53:5). What looked like defeat was in fact God’s eternal plan unfolding.
When we see God’s plan in the cross, our faith grows. We realize nothing happens by accident in His story of redemption. The cross was not a tragedy that God turned into good. It was His design all along to save sinners like us.
3. The Miracle We Experience
“But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18c)
A. We experience God’s power
Salvation is more than words, it is power. The cross breaks chains that nothing else can break. Paul reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is the miracle of the gospel at work in us today.
We experience the power of God when addictions lose their grip, when shame is lifted, and when peace replaces fear. What self-help cannot accomplish, Christ accomplishes through the Spirit. The gospel is not theory, it is transforming reality.
B. We experience God’s change
When Christ saves us, He does not simply forgive us and leave us the same. He changes us from the inside out. Ezekiel spoke of God giving His people a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).
That change shows up in everyday life. Our desires shift, our words soften, our priorities reorient toward God’s kingdom. Salvation through the cross is not just a moment of belief—it is the beginning of a new life lived in Christ.
Concluding Summary
The cross doesn’t just offer us a message to believe; it gives us a Savior who changes everything. We hear His call, we see His wisdom, and we experience His power.
Paul’s words remind us that salvation is never found in human effort or clever arguments but in Christ alone. The cross pulls down our pride and lifts up God’s grace.
So where do you stand today? Will you walk away, calling it foolish, or will you embrace it as the very power of God?
Source Material
Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald
The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur
Wiersbe Bible Commentaries by Warren Wiersbe
Strength in Weakness Commentary by J. Philip Arhur (Welwyn Commentary Series)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What does “the message of the cross is foolishness” mean?
A: This phrase means that from a worldly perspective the idea of salvation through a crucified Messiah seems absurd. Yet Paul shows that the cross is in fact the ultimate demonstration of God’s wisdom and power (1 Corinthians 1:18; 1:25).
Q: Who are “those who are perishing” in 1 Corinthians 1:18?
A: “Those who are perishing” refers to people who reject the gospel and remain spiritually dead in sin. They don’t accept Christ’s sacrifice, so the cross remains foolishness to them.
Q: What does “to us who are being saved” mean?
A: “To us who are being saved” indicates an ongoing process—it includes those who have placed faith in Christ and are experiencing forgiveness, sanctification, and hope of glory. Salvation is not only a moment but a journey.
Q: Why is the cross described as “the power of God”?
A: The cross is described this way because God uses Christ’s death and resurrection to break sin’s power, reconcile sinners, and bring true transformation. To believers, the cross reveals God’s saving power in action.
Q: How should believers respond to the message of the cross?
A: Believers respond by faith and obedience. That means trusting Christ’s work, turning away from pride and self-reliance, embracing humility, and allowing the Spirit to shape how we live. Also, we share the gospel even when others mock or reject it.
| Number | Main Point | Bible Verse | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Message We Hear | 1 Corinthians 1:18 | The gospel divides humanity, sounding foolish to some but life-giving to those who believe. |
| 2 | The Mystery We See | 1 Corinthians 1:18 | The cross reveals God’s wisdom and eternal plan that confounds human pride and fulfills His purpose. |
| 3 | The Miracle We Experience | 1 Corinthians 1:18c | Salvation through the cross transforms believers, displaying God’s power to forgive, renew, and change lives. |