God Makes It Grow
"Jesus Christ and Him crucified"
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What does it say?
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The whole letter, in shortThe main points of the whole letter, in a few sentences.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that he came to them in weakness and fear, resolved to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and him crucified, so their faith would rest on God's power. God reveals by his Spirit what no eye has seen and no ear has heard. The church was quarreling over leaders, but Paul said, "I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." Jesus Christ is the only foundation, the church is God's temple, and leaders are servants who must be found faithful.
Where it is in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 2:1 to 4:5
All the sections at a glanceA map of the letter, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Letter
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jesus Christ and Him Crucified | 2:1-5 | Paul came in weakness, not clever words |
| 2. What No Eye Has Seen | 2:6-16 | God reveals his wisdom by his Spirit |
| 3. God Made It Grow | 3:1-9 | Leaders are servants, God gives the growth |
| 4. The Only Foundation | 3:10-23 | Jesus is the foundation, and you are God's temple |
| 5. Servants of Christ | 4:1-5 | Leave the judging to the Lord |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Paul, writing around AD 54 to the church he started in Corinth (Acts 18:1-11).
What came before. In chapter 1, Paul said the church was splitting into fan clubs: "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos." And he said the message of the cross looks foolish but is the power of God.
What these chapters are. Paul keeps going. He came to them weak and trembling, preaching only Jesus crucified. Church leaders are just servants. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow.
How to read it. Notice the pictures Paul uses: milk for babies, a field, a building, a temple.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 5Jesus Christ and Him Crucified
Paul didn't come to Corinth with fancy speeches.
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (2:2).
"I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling" (2:3).
His preaching came with the Spirit's power, "so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (2:5).
Section 2 of 5What No Eye Has Seen
There is a wisdom Paul teaches, but not the world's wisdom.
It's God's hidden wisdom. If the world's rulers had understood it, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (2:8).
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" (2:9).
"But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit" (2:10).
The Spirit helps us understand what God has freely given us.
"But we have the mind of Christ" (2:16).
Section 3 of 5God Made It Grow
Paul couldn't give the Corinthians deep teaching yet. They were like babies who needed milk.
They proved it with their jealousy and quarreling. "I follow Paul!" "I follow Apollos!"
"What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed" (3:5).
"I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (3:6).
"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (3:7).
"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building" (3:9).
Section 4 of 5The Only Foundation
Paul laid the foundation, and others are building on it.
"For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (3:11).
On the last day, God will test everyone's work, like fire tests building materials.
"Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (3:16).
The world's wisdom is foolishness to God.
So stop bragging about leaders. Everything belongs to you, "and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God" (3:23).
Section 5 of 5Servants of Christ
"So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (4:1).
A steward manages someone else's household. "Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful" (4:2).
Paul doesn't worry about being judged by people, or even by himself. "It is the Lord who judges me" (4:4).
So don't judge before the time. When the Lord comes, "each will receive his praise from God" (4:5).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (2:2) | The cross is the center of the message. |
| "In weakness and fear" (2:3) | God works through weak people. |
| "No eye has seen" (2:9) | What God has ready for us is beyond imagining. |
| "We have the mind of Christ" (2:16) | The Spirit helps us think like Jesus. |
| "God made it grow" (3:6) | Only God gives faith and growth. |
| "No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid" (3:11) | Jesus is the only foundation. |
| "You yourselves are God's temple" (3:16) | God's Spirit lives in his people. |
| "Stewards of the mysteries of God" (4:1) | Pastors take care of God's word and sacraments. |
Back Then
Apollos was a gifted speaker from Alexandria in Egypt who taught in Corinth after Paul left (Acts 18:24-28).
Paul came to Corinth after a discouraging time in Athens (Acts 17:32 to 18:1).
Buildings in Corinth were made of everything from marble to wood and straw. Fire was a constant danger.
Literal Reader Alert
Is "No eye has seen" only about heaven? It includes heaven, but Paul is talking about God's whole plan of salvation in Jesus, which the Spirit reveals to us now.
Does "you are God's temple" mean my body? Here Paul means the church together. In 6:19, he says each believer's body is a temple of the Spirit too.
Does God judge church leaders? Yes, but by faithfulness, not popularity. And the Lord's judgment ends in praise for his faithful servants.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paul | Weak and afraid | He came trembling (2:3) |
| The Corinthians | Jealous | They quarreled over leaders (3:3) |
| Paul | At peace | The Lord is his judge (4:4) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this say to you? Tap one.
I don't feel gifted enough to share my faith
Paul came in weakness and trembling too.
I'm worried my work won't matter
You plant and water. God makes it grow.
I'm tired of church fights
We all belong to Christ. Leaders are just servants.
People are judging me
The Lord is your judge, and he gives praise.
You Might Have Heard
"A church grows because of a great pastor."
What's true: God uses faithful pastors and teachers.
What the passage is mainly about: "I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (3:6). Leaders are servants. God alone gives faith and growth.
Where Jesus is: Crucified, and the only foundation for his church.
Good News
It doesn't all depend on you.
"I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow" (3:6).
The foundation is already laid: Jesus Christ. God's Spirit lives in his people. And what God has prepared for those who love him is more than you can imagine.
Paul preached only Jesus Christ and him crucified. Leaders plant and water, but God makes it grow, and Jesus is the only foundation of his church.
Big Idea
Paul preached only Jesus Christ and him crucified. Leaders are servants who plant and water, but God makes it grow, and Jesus is the only foundation.
If this letter brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther said that while he drank beer with his friends, God's word did the work. He meant that the gospel has its own power. Preachers speak it, but God makes it grow.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, 3:1-9, 3:10-23 and 4:1-5 on the Sundays after the Epiphany.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
How did that feel?
You finished God Makes It Grow.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Year ASecond reading, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]
- Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Year ASecond reading, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
- Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany Year ASecond reading, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
- Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany Year ASecond reading, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
- Lectionary 8 Year ASecond reading, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
For a newsletter or sermon notes
God Makes It Grow, explained in plain words. Paul came weak and trembling. Leaders plant and water, but only God gives the growth. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/god-makes-it-grow/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church