1. A Warning about self-deception
18 Let no one deceive himself . . . 1 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3 (ESV)
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12 (ESV)
2. The Wisdom of becoming a fool
18 . . . If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31 (ESV)
3. The Worthlessness of this world’s wisdom
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (ESV)
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. Job 5:13 (ESV)
11 the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Psalm 94:11 (ESV)
4. The Wonders that we possess.
21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 1 Corinthians 3:21 (ESV)
a. The leaders of Christ’s Church
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas . . . 1 Corinthians 3:22 (ESV)
b. The powers of this age
22 . . . or the world or life or death . . . 1 Corinthians 3:22 (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . nor things present nor things to come . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world . . .? 1 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
c. The course of events
22 . . . or the present or the future—all are yours, 1 Corinthians 3:22 (ESV)
d. The assurance from belonging to God in Christ
23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 1 Corinthians 3:23 (ESV)
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (ESV)
. . . You are not your own . . . for you were bought with a price . . . 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)