Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Helpful thoughts:

• Civil lawsuits between Christians are a poor testimony for two reasons:
  • Christians ought to be treating one another in love.
  • Christians ought to be able to biblically discern resolution of disagreement.
• It is better to take the hit when another believer has wronged you than to take him/her to secular courts.
  • The cause of Christ is more valuable.
  • This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take that wrong to the church for mediation.  Remember, the context of this passage is tied to church discipline from chapter 5.
• People who are remaining in sin give evidence they are not converted.  The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  • Tied to the previous verses, this should encourage anyone defrauding his brother to repent and make things right!
  • “And such were some of you.”  – This reminds us to be humble.  We were saved from our sin.  Others need saving just like we did.

Questions to consider:

1. How many reasons can you think of why it would be better to resolve a conflict between two believers in the church as opposed to the courts?
2. In what ways can you see the need for church discipline continuing to have an impact in this passage?  If a man were to be disciplined by the church (No longer being counted among the fellowship), having refused to repent of defrauding his brother, what would the brother who was defrauded now have the freedom to do?
3. How could verses 9-11 be heeded as a warning for unbelievers?  As a warning for a church goer who is caught up in sin?  A believer who has become proud and looks down on the world?  How do these verses remind us that anyone we share the gospel with could be saved?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Helpful thoughts:

• In the end of chapter 4, Paul spoke of the need of discipline/correction in the church.  In chapter 5, he gives a specific example and instructions.
• Preoccupation with personal advancement and pleasure (Or more simply put, preoccupation with self) results in an aversion to speaking the truth in love to brothers and sisters who need our help.
  • The sad irony is that omitting our call to lovingly rebuke our brothers and sisters does end up hurting us as well (“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”).
• We should expect people outside the church to be sinful.  They need Christ!
  • We should expect people inside the church to be growing in righteousness.  They have Christ!

Questions to consider:

1. Why does confronting the sins of others make us feel “icky?”  Why does feeling icky prevent us from trying to snatch our fellow Christians out of disaster?  Where would true repentance start in this situation?
2. How can you tell if a person is inside the church or outside the church?  If there is no such thing as church membership in the Bible, how can a person be removed from the church?
3. What is Paul’s final instruction to the church concerning this man who is living in sin (End of verse 12)?  What does Paul tell the church to do once the man repents (2 Corinthians 2:6-7)?  What is the purpose then of church discipline?  Is it a permanent public humiliation or is it meant to bring about repentance and restoration?  How can this truth guide us when church discipline is required?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 4:8-21

Helpful thoughts:

• The way Paul speaks of the church in these verses conveys a very worldly set of values.  As if the church had wanted to hear amazing speeches, get saved, and then live a life no different than what the lost would consider to be a “good” life.
• This worldly view of life made the church think the same of the apostles as the world did.  The apostles looked like foolish, weak, disreputable men (“The scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”).
  • Yet, Paul tells the church, “be imitators of me.” (Verse 16)
• Paul intends to bring to Corinth the truth of God’s Word.  There is more power in the clear communication of God’s Word than in an eloquent (Though errant) speech.
  • In verse 21, Paul wonders whether his teaching of God’s Word will result in appreciation and commendation or in the need for discipline (Which will be addressed in the beginning of chapter 5).

Questions to consider:

1. How does this passage appear to line up with Paul’s warning for Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3?  What is the world calling the truth in our day and culture?
2. In what ways do we see what was happening in the church at Corinth happening in the western church today?  How is this concerning?  How could it also encourage us to press on (There is nothing new under the sun…)?
3. Even though there were members of the church that apparently didn’t like Paul, what was he still committed to do for them?  What can spiritual leaders (Pastors in the church, parents in the home, etc.) learn from Paul’s example so we can imitate him as he imitates Christ?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• In contrast to the way many of the Christians in Corinth were regarding their preachers, Paul knew they were simply servants of Jesus and stewards of the content of God’s Word (The “mysteries” of God).
• Celebrities (Or pastors preoccupied with maintaining “celebrity status”) are tasked with pleasing their fans.  Servants and stewards answer to their Master.
  • “It is the Lord who judges me.” (Verse 4)
• God knows all things, including the motives behind our actions.  And, He alone has the authority to judge.

Questions to consider:

1. Whoever we obey is truly functioning as our master.  How are you doing in your fight against the fear of man?  In what situations do you find it the hardest to overcome the opinions of people in order to serve the Lord?
2. What is the word which begins with “c” near the end of verse 5?  Why does this say “commendation” instead of “condemnation?”  What is true for every Christian concerning judgment (Romans 8:1)?
3. What is God’s unit of measurement for his servants and stewards (Verse 2)?  If Paul or Apollos had gotten to heaven wearing a badge that said, “Corinthian church’s favorite preacher,” why wouldn’t that have been a direct correlation with what God is looking for?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23

Helpful thoughts:

• We are God’s temple and we have been tasked with contributing to its construction.
  • That which is done in obedience to and in the name of Christ, will endure and be rewarded.
  • That which is done in disobedience and in the flesh, will not endure.
• Jesus Christ is the foundation of this temple.
• This temple is God’s and is being built according to God’s design.  Everyone who builds must take care to contribute according to the Master’s plan.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the temple of God under the New Covenant?  Who is the temple?  Where does the Spirit of God dwell?
2. How does this truth add to the significance of the gathering of the church in worship?  Why do we gather?  Who is with us in our gathering?  Who is the audience in our gathering?
3. If the people of God are the temple of God, how does that influence how we view the illustration of building materials such as gold, silver and precious stones?  What exactly are we building and what makes our building of the temple excellent?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• There is a time to feed the people of God spiritual milk and then, as they grow, move on to solid food.
  • Paul informs the church at Corinth they are not yet ready for solid food.
• The immaturity of the people was not evidenced in their ability (Or lack thereof) to articulate biblical concepts, but in their tendency toward jealousy and strife.
  • Maturity is not equal to a large theological vocabulary.
  • Maturity is equal to growth in Christ-likeness.  Joyful obedience and spiritual fruit.
• As an example, Paul reminds the church that he is nothing, only a servant.  He and Apollos were not competing with one another for attention or acclaim.  They were serving their Lord by sewing seed in the field (Verses 5-9).

Questions to consider:

1. What would be the response of a member of the church at Corinth if they were humbly receiving this information from Paul?  What if they were being prideful?  If a person refuses milk when they still need it, when will they become ready for solid food?  How could they even discern what solid food actually is?
2. What types of biblical concepts and truths would you consider to be “solid food?”  What truths are “milk?”  How would Paul’s example of immaturity in verse 3 help us to define those differently than what we might expect?
3. Who is the giver of growth (Verses 6-7)?  How should this truth affect our prayer?  How should this truth affect our view of other people?  How should this truth affect how and what we teach and preach?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Helpful thoughts:

• Those who were prone to be enamored with the celebrity and gifting of Paul were considered, “immature.”  Those who were ready to dig deep into God’s word and be more impressed by God than by Paul were considered, “mature.”
• We are able to understand the Word of God and how it applies to our lives today because the Spirit of God is in us!  God Himself, who knows exactly what He has been doing throughout the history He created and shaped, is in us, giving us understanding and relationship with Him.
• People who do not have God (Who are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit), do not understand.  The work of the Spirit is required to bring life (And therefore, understanding) to a new believer (John 3:6-8).

Questions to consider:

1. What are the implications of verse 8?  What had to be true in order for Jesus to be crucified and die in our place?  How does this bring into account what we read in Romans 9:21?  In what way is Paul an example of a man who was used by God to scatter the church (Thereby fanning the flame of the spread of the gospel – Acts 8:1-4) but then also being converted and spreading the gospel willingly?
2. Why isn’t intelligence a substitute for spiritual maturity?  What does a person need if they are going to understand the Word of God, believe, and grow?
3. Unless the Spirit of God intervenes, what will anyone you share the gospel with think about it and about you (Verse 14)?  In whom MUST you place your confidence when you share the gospel with them and hope for fruit?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• The Greeks loved rhetoric.  The art of making a case and speaking intelligently, presenting an argument was highly sought after and respected.
  • Because this was true, Paul purposefully kept his presentation of the gospel simple and to the point.
• As tempting as it might have been for Paul to gain a following, Paul could be nobody’s savior.  They didn’t need Paul!  They needed Paul to point them to Jesus!
• Power does not proceed from eloquence.  The Spirit of God does not need fluidity of speech to supplement His strength.
  • God is the possessor and creator of all power.
  • Therefore, the simple proclamation of the gospel conveys the power of God.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the gospel?  How does the gospel reveal the power of God (Romans 1:16-17)?
2. If the gospel reveals the power of God, if proclaiming the gospel demonstrates God’s power, what wrong thinking causes us to fear other people’s responses?  Can the response of man ever overwhelm the power of God?
3. Who would you like to share the gospel with next?

Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18-30

Helpful thoughts:

• The power of God is communicated to the people of God when the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.
• Paul calls on the members of this church to remember who they were in society (In the world’s eyes) when they became Christians.
  • God did not value them more highly (Or lowly) because of their social status.  We have no reason to be respecters of persons in the church.
• We have no reason to boast in ourselves or on any man.  We have every reason to boast in the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. Why would the crucifixion of Jesus look so foolish and weak in the world’s eyes?  What kind of leader and champion would they be looking for?
2. Why is the crucifixion of Jesus so wonderful and powerful?  What was accomplished at the cross?
3. In keeping with the “solas” of the reformation:  Our salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone.  How does the Gospel message level the playing field for all people and their “prospects” of being saved?  Why can we confidently share the Gospel with anyone and everyone?  How does the Gospel message resound to the praise of our Lord alone?