Real Hope

1Corinthians 15

How would a real tour of Europe be superior to a virtual tour of Europe?

Read verses 1 – 11.
Based on this passage what descriptions would you give to the creeds of the early church?
Why did they consider these facts about Jesus to be so vitally important?
Why does Paul list off the witnesses of the resurrection to the Corinthians?
Why do you think Paul mentions his witness of the resurrection even though it is abnormal?
Why is Paul even bothering with rehashing the Christian creed with them?
How would the application of this creed alter your basic ways of thinking?

Read verses 12 – 33.
Describe the error the Corinthians are making in their thinking. Why would this be such a tempting perspective for them?
What are some of the reasons Paul gives as to why bodily resurrection is such an important teaching?
How can Jesus be “made subject” to the Father and still be his equal as the text also teaches?
What in the world is Paul talking about when he is discussing baptism for the dead?
How might an emphasis on immortality without a concept of resurrection negatively effect the ideas, actions, attitudes, etc. of disciples?
What aspects of your world view need to change based on the implications of the gospel?
How do you go about changing worldview?

Read verses 34 – 58.
Compare and contrast our resurrection bodies and our current bodies.
What illustrations does Paul use to describe these realities? How are these particularly good illustrations? What other contemporary illustrations can we think of comparing these?
Why will we need transformed bodies? Why is Paul so excited about these prospects?
Based on this end-times hope, how does Paul say our lives should be different?
How would having a more eternal perspective improve your life for Jesus now?

The Most Excellent Way

1Corinthians Chapter 13

What is your favorite romantic fairy-tale couple and why?

Describe the kinds of things Paul says are worthless without love.
Why does he consider love necessary in order to give these good things value?

How would you summarize, according to Paul, what true love really is?
Compare and contrast Paul’s definition of love with the definitions common in our world.
Why are these definitions so different? How do we know that Paul’s definition is right?

What illustrations does Paul use to give a contrast of the eternal perspective to the temporal?
Why are these illustrations particularly appropriate for his content and audience?
What are some other illustrations you could think of to make the same point?
In what way is love more eternal than the other things he describes in the passage?

How do you need to change your perspective on what love really is? How can you do that?
What are ways that you fail to act in a loving way towards others? How do you change?
What are some ways that you can show more love to those in your family, community, church?

Our Great Gift Registry

1 Corinthians Chapter 12

What is the most meaningful gift that anyone has ever given you?
What is the coolest gift that you ever gave to someone else?

Why does Paul start out his discussion of spiritual gifts by discussing how to determine the source of a spiritual power?
How would you describe the litmus test that Paul defines for spiritual powers?
What are some spiritual influences you see in your everyday life?
How can you discern if those forces are from God, yourself, the world, or from the enemy?

Into what categories would you sort the different gifts mentioned in this passage?
Why would God be so intent to give these particular gifts to his church?
Why would Paul discuss these particular gifts with the church of Corinth?
Which of these or other gifts do you see present in your life?
How could you go about practicing these gifts in our Context Group? In our church?

Based on our medical knowledge, how is the local church similar to a human body?
Why is it so important to Jesus (and Paul) that the church function as a unified body?
Why is this truth particularly vital for the church in Corinth to understand?
What obstacles tend to keep you from being united together with those in your local church?
Why is unity in the church such a difficult goal to obtain?
What steps can you take this week to increase the reality of church unity?

Stuff that doesn’t belong in a disciple’s life

1Corinthians Chapter 6

Why is corruption so loathed in public officials?
Why is doping so hated in sports celebrities?
Why is embezzlement so strictly punished for business moguls?

Read verses 1 – 8.
Describe Paul’s attitude towards Christians in Corinth who are getting all litigious.
Why is Paul so vehemently against suing other disciples?
When would be some examples that it would be appropriate for a Christian to go to court?
How should your attitude towards other disciples change based on the principles in this text?
Why is it so difficult to treat others the way we should?

Read verses 9 – 11.
Describe the other kinds of behavior that should not be character defining for a disciple.
What is it about these behaviors that demonstrate a lack of commitment to Kingdom values?
What does Paul’s list tell us about the church in Corinth?
How can we know that it is possible for Christians to have victory over these behaviors?
Which of these behaviors are most tempting to you?
What are you going to do to embrace victory in that area this week?

Read verses 12 – 20.
Based on Paul’s answers, reconstruct the questions the Corinthians must have been asking.
According to Paul, why is sexual immorality a sin that has particularly steep consequences?
What about our reality as disciples makes sexual sin incredibly nauseating to God?
What are some strategies you have found effective in running from immoral behavior?

Dealing with Grievous Public Sin in the Church

1Corinthians Chapter 5

Describe Paul’s attitude towards this church at this point. Why is he so incredibly upset?
How would you describe the kind of sin for which Paul is insisting on banishment?
Why does Paul insist that this person be separated from the community?
If all sin is eternally serious before God, what makes one sin more “grievous?”
What are some serious sins in your life that you need help and accountability in overcoming?
What does this chapter tell us about how to go about helping those trapped in grievous sins?

Why does Paul use the leaven analogy? How is sin similar to yeast or to a virus?
Compare Jesus with the Passover sacrifice in Exodus chapter 12.
What is the reason it is so important for us to remove sin from our lives as Christians?
How can we more effectively remove sin from our lives?

Why does Paul have a different set of expectations for Christians and non-Christians?
What are some things for which you tend to judge the world around you?
What are some sins in the church that we tend to ignore or excuse?
Why is it OK to be judicious in the church based on Jesus says in Matthew 7:1?
Why is it so much easier for us to judge the world that for us to judge ourselves?

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?