Developing a long-term perspective

1Corinthians Chapter 3

Why are reality TV shows like American Idol so popular?

Describe the primary problems in the church of Corinth that is causing Paul to label them as immature. Why would those kinds of attitudes be considered immature? What are some ways that you act immature as a Christian? How can you improve in these areas?

What are some terms that Paul uses to describe the church in this passage? How can he have such a high view of what a church is and such a low view of this particular church? What can we do as a group to better live up to what a church should be?

What images does Paul use for the day of reckoning? Why does Paul place such an intense focus on that future judgment? What kinds of things would be combustibles on the Day? What kinds of things would survive during that crucible? What needs to change in your life and service to others now to be better prepared for that Day?

Why is it so silly for them to be involved in their partisan bickering? How does a person go about becoming the kind of fool that Paul encourages them to become? Why does he suggests they should embrace folly? How much impact does worldly wisdom have on your life? How could you reduce its effect on you?

The Counterintuitive Beauty of Real Wisdom

1Corinthians 1:17 – 2:16

What is the best piece of common sense advice you have ever received?
Who is the wisest person you have ever known? What makes a person wise?

What is the kind of power that is contained in the death of the man named Jesus?
Why in the world is this execution so incredibly powerful?
How can we go about seeing more of that power in our lives today?

Based on this passage, describe how Paul goes about communicating the good news.
Why is Paul so intentionally simplistic in his communication technique?
How should this impact the way we talk about Jesus with our friends and colleagues?

Based on what Paul says, how would you describe the people in the Corinth church?
Why would these ragamuffins be the ones who are able to receive God’s message?
In what way could those who are wise, influential, noble, and strong come to God?
How does a person go about becoming truly more humble?

Contrast the wisdom that the world values with the wisdom that God offers.
Why did God select such a disturbingly different kind of wisdom to contain his secret?
Why is Christian wisdom reserved only for those who are well advanced in their faith?
What are the benefits in life of learning to resonate with God’s real wisdom?
What sources of worldly wisdom are most appealing to you in your life?
How can we learn to be more open to the wisdom that God offers?

What does God long to transform in the way that you view the world? Will you let him?

God Wants Us to Be On the Same Page

1Corinthians 1: 1 – 17

Build a passionate case for who you think is the best public speaker in America today.

Describe the relationship between Paul and this church based simply on what you see here in this beginning of the letter. Why do you think he is so intimately connected with this group of disciples? What can we do to build deeper ministry relationships in our lives?

What are the positive things about the church that Paul lists off in this section of greeting and celebration? Why would he start by detailing the healthy attributes of this congregation? What does his list of positive characteristics show us about what the Apostle values in churches? Why does he value these particular things? How can we as a context group better mirror some of these attributes in our community?

What are the details of the primary problematic situation in the church that causes the Apostle to write this letter? Why in the world is this such an enormous concern to him? What are some ways that we act like this as Christians today? What can you do to promote Christian unity in our church this week?

What are some things that you discover about Jesus in this passage?