[Intro — instrumental, 4–8 bars] [Muted guitar pulse, loose hi-hat, bass enters late] [Verse 1 — spoken, long, unbroken, rhythmic] Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints… For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent… And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. [Band stays restrained, hypnotic, almost conversational] [Instrumental Turn — 2 bars] [Drums open slightly, guitar harmonics rise] [Bridge — rising, melodic but restrained] We wanted brilliance You gave us a body Broken in public Hanging in shame We asked for wisdom You answered with scars A kingdom arriving Without applause [Drums build, guitars swell] [Chorus — sung, wide, long phrases] The cross still sounds like madness To a world that needs control But the power that saves us Is the power that lets go The strength we keep avoiding Is the strength that makes us whole The cross still sounds like madness But it’s the only power we know [Verse 2 — spoken, same cadence, slightly louder] Paul, called through the will of God, not sent to impress, not sent to divide, but to preach the gospel lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. The wisdom of this world looks for a sign, asks for proof, asks for polish, asks for power, but God chose the thing already rejected to silence every argument that boasts. [Bridge — rising, melodic but restrained] We wanted brilliance You gave us a body Broken in public Hanging in shame We asked for wisdom You answered with scars A kingdom arriving Without applause [Drums build, guitars swell] [Chorus — sung, wide, long phrases] The cross still sounds like madness To a world that needs control But the power that saves us Is the power that lets go The strength we keep avoiding Is the strength that makes us whole The cross still sounds like madness But it’s the only power we know [Outro — half-spoken / sung overlap] Not wisdom that boasts Not words that persuade But Christ crucified And a power that stays
