1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Here in this verse, Paul calls the Corinth believers to understand that the Cross is the power of the gospel that saves. It is not baptism, wisdom or eloquence that saves but the Cross alone. Paul redirects the minds of the believers to look to the Cross for unification and reconciliation. The problems of disunity and confusion in the Corinthian Church was the misplacement of the true power and wisdom of God. Christ and His cross was misplaced by human eloquence and power. Therefore, Paul had to remind the Corinthians that God send him to preach Christ and not of human works.
The calling of every Christian minister is to display the Cross, not one's own achievements in human's power or wisdom. When ministers of the gospel fail to preach Christ, the 'power of God that saves people' is totally vanquished. The Church, then, has to find some other means and ways to keep the crowd entertained. That's where we find eloquence and charisma of preachers ramping the pulpits, yet no true transformation within the hearts of people is noticed. What the Church needs today is the power of God in pulpits and that doesn't necessarily imply clever articulation or charisma of the preacher, but the bare presentation of the gospel of Christ's power and ability to save people from death and hell.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gospel of Christ that gives true freedom and power, amen.
