The Foolishness of God
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
- Why is the cross scandalous to the Jews and foolish to the Gentiles (specifically the Greeks)? What culturally or historically contributes to this being so?
- What are some contemporary forms of the “wisdom of the world?” In what ways are they made foolish by the wisdom of God?
- What is the power in the cross? Think this through thoroughly and deeply. Try to have your answers evidenced by Scripture. Consider the four points relating to this that were mentioned in the sermon.
- Look at vs. 21. Why did God plan it this way?
- The cross is powerful. With this truth from 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 in mind read Ephesians 3:7-21. Relate what this says about power to the cross as the source and beginning of a Christian’s power. How might this passage show that “the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength?”
- Pray for people who you know are lost to have a clear understanding of the Gospel and pray that they might be enlightened by the power of the cross. Pray that each of you would be obedient to share the foolishness of God with others.
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Is Christ Divided? Keeping the Cross of Christ as the Crux of the Church
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
- Have you ever been part of a church situation where quarrels and divisions ran rampant? What happened? How was it handled? What were the results?
- Think about the four names mentioned in vs. 12. There is much debate over whether these represent four groups of people that aligned themselves with leaders or whether Paul is utilizing these name/identifications as a means of exposing their lack of concern for the body and their primary concern for self-interest. If hypothetically they were aligning themselves with individuals why do you think these four names are mentioned and what do you think may have been unique about each group?
- Paul
- Apollos (you might want to read Acts 18:24-28)
- Peter
- Christ
- Recall how vs. 10 was explained in the sermon. What does it mean and what does it look like practically to be a body of people who are saying the same thing and are refurbished or reset in mind and thought with one another?
- Discuss the cross and its role in corporate unity. How do the two relate? (A text that has some relation to this, albeit focused on the Jew Gentile distinction, is Eph. 2:14-18 [note the “cross” in vs. 16]).
- What do you make of vs. 17? Talk about the phrase “words with human wisdom.” What is Paul trying to steer clear of here? How would it “empty the cross of its power?”
- Pray for the unity of Lifeline. Pray for our church to keep the cross of Christ at the center of its ministry.
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The Church in the Kingdom: Set Apart and Strengthened
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
- What did you learn about the setting in Corinth? How does the context of Corinth shed light onto the content of Paul’s letter?
- Read Acts 18:1-17. What do you learn about Paul, Corinth and his relationship to the culture and community there?
- Read through 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and note every time that Christ is referenced. What is attributed to or associated with Christ in this section? Why do you think Christ so dominates the beginning portion of this particular letter?
- What should be your response when you recognize sin in your own life? What would be inappropriate ways to react after you have realized the presence of sin? Why would these ways be counterproductive?
- Grace certainly deals with sin and the guilt that stems from it but how does grace deal with more than guilt? Respond to this idea, “if you had never sinned, you would still need grace.” What are the practical implications of this idea?
- What is the biblical doctrine known as the “perseverance of the saints”? How does the doctrine of eternal security relate to the perseverance of the saints? What is the personal and practical impact of this doctrine? What other scriptures teach this doctrine?
- Ask the God to have His Holy Spirit direct your prayer time. Pray for things like:
- the growth in holiness of our church and its attendees
- the continued equipping of our body with the tools and gifts necessary to be the kind of church that moves the kingdom forward
- hearts that rest and work with knowledge that God is faithful to preserve us and make our lives perseverant
- restraint to keep our church from being swept up in our culture like Corinth was theirs
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