WEEK 2 - MOTIVATION FOR SEXUAL INTEGRITY

Wednesday

1 CORINTHIANS 6:1–11 (NASB95)

1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

HANDLING DISPUTES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

Paul passionately calls the Corinthians to see themselves as transformed individuals now living within the divine community. He reminds them of the sinful behavior of their past but then affirms them in the present reality--they are “washed, sanctified, and justified” through the work of Jesus. They should therefore think and live differently in this community. Paul explains that a proper understanding of the role and authority of the community will cause them to rely on its wise members to settle their civil disputes rather than on the courts of Rome. More important than any private property is the unity of the church.

QUESTIONS

Do you think it’s better to be wronged or defrauded than to take out a lawsuit against another believer? Why or why not?

Why did Paul think it was?

What are some things that are destructive to the unity of a community? Do you participate in those things? Do you challenge when others participate in those things in order to protect the unity of the community?

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WEEK 2 - MOTIVATION FOR SEXUAL INTEGRITY

Tuesday

1 CORINTHIANS 5:9–13 (NASB95)

9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

BEING A COVENANT COMMUNITY

Paul is calling the Corinthians to see themselves as a community in covenant with God AND with one another. The covenant community responds differently to the immorality of a covenant member than to that of those outside. It’s an important distinction Paul makes and highlights the responsibilities each have towards one another.

So with whom is the community not to associate?

Those so- called members who are practicing sin without repentance, and those who will not yield to the grace of God and to His transformation.

QUESTIONS

Have you ever tried to hold a person who isn’t in covenant with God accountable for some moral decision?

How’d that go?

What if someone owned a business and came to church every Sunday and claimed to be a Christian, but they regularly cheated people out of money. Wouldn’t it be remarkable if the Church community confronted them and made them pay everyone back, or they’d have to leave the church?

How would you feel if you got paid back what they stole from you?

How do you think you would feel if you were the business owner and the actions of the church caused you to repent and change?

Would you be grateful?

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

Saturday

1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-21

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers [and sisters], that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

A MODEL FOR MINISTRY

After spending the first part of their letter encouraging their audience and proclaiming how God’s wisdom is made known through Christ and the cross, the authors now begin to directly address the real problems of the Corinthian believers – especially their contempt of Paul, and their pride in their own wisdom and status. There are times when people need to be confronted directly – and this was one of those times! Using irony, Paul uncovers the presumption and arrogance of those who are causing friction and division in Corinth. While taking pride in themselves, they failed to realize that true authority comes from living like Christ. Paul’s

defense of his ministry is of his humility, willingness to suffer, and readiness to give of himself. He wraps up with a warm, fatherly appeal – but without backing off in the seriousness of his tone.

QUESTIONS

It is easy to be fixated on the scrutiny and assessment of others, to obsess over “What do they think of me?” How does this change when we realize that the only one who has authority to judge us is God?

How do you feel about confrontation?

Do you surround yourself with people who agree with you, or do you seek out those who will challenge you in your pride and help you see your blind spots?

How could you open yourself up to more honest and healthy confrontation, in order to help you grow? What would it look like for you to grow in the kind of humility and self-sacrifice described in this passage?

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

Friday

1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-23

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled [or wise] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

GOD’S BUILDING PROJECT

When other people make a difference in our lives, it is easy to get our focus in the wrong place. While it is good to be thankful for the people who God uses, it’s important to realize that everything good we receive ultimately comes from Him – and is for Him. We can benefit from the unique gifts and strengths of various other people, if we receive what they bring as coming from God, and use what we receive to honor Him. As we do this, we are built up into a community that brings God’s character into the world around us. He cares deeply about this building project, and expects us to approach it the same way.

QUESTIONS

Who are the leaders, family members and friends who pursued you and influenced you in your early days as a follower of Jesus?

According to this passage, how should you view them?

The “you” in verses 16 and 17 is plural, not singular. And the building being described in verses 10-15 is not an individual life, but the church (as the context in the preceding and following verses describes). Does this surprise you? What are the implications of this?

What’s one opportunity you have today to plant a seed or help someone else’s faith grow?

The end of this chapter says that “all things are yours... and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Speak and/or write a prayer thanking God for the abundance of the gifts He has given us, and acknowledging that everything we have – and everything in creation – is His, and is for Him.

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

Thursday

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-3:4

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 But I, brothers [and sisters], could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

WISDOM FROM THE SPIRIT

People in Corinth were influenced by popular mystery religions, which taught that wisdom was secret and only accessible to those who went through the religion’s initiation process and rituals. You had to be in the right group or go through a particular process to be “in the know” and live beyond the limitations of more ordinary people. In contrast, Paul and Sosthenes write that God’s wisdom is “freely given.” When the way of the cross is revealed to us – and when we respond - not only our thoughts and attitudes, but also our relationships are transformed.

QUESTIONS

How do we gain wisdom?

Paul says that believers “have the mind of Christ” (2:16). What do you think this means? Is it difficult for you to believe this? If you have experienced this, what has it looked like?

If we are growing in maturity, what will our lives look like? (3:1-4)

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

Wednesday

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-2:5

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

THE HIDDEN WISDOM OF THE CROSS

The first sentence in this section divides the world into two types of people: those who are perishing, and those who are being saved. This is different than the types of divisions we and the Corinthians tend to make, such as those between people of different religious affiliations, social groups, ethnic backgrounds, cultures, or loyalties to certain teachers. People aren’t ultimately described here in static terms (such as their religious or cultural group, or even as saved or unsaved), but in light of which direction they are currently moving. What determines whether we are perishing or being saved, whether we are experiencing and demonstrating less or more of God’s life? It is not our background or how intelligent, strong, or accomplished we are. Instead, it has everything to do with how much we grasp and are gripped by Christ and the upside-down message of the cross.

QUESTIONS

In your own words, what is “the message of the cross?” (v. 18)

Has there been a time when you first trusted Jesus to be the Savior and Leader of your life? If not, you can begin centering your life in Him today! Pray and confess to Him that you are a sinner who has been trusting in your own efforts, and place your faith in Him and what He did on the cross to die for your sin and exchange His life for yours.

What would it look like for you to place your confidence in Christ and the cross today?

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

Tuesday

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

FINDING UNITY

Since the beginning, people have been arguing and competing with one another. Our unity fractured, we have formed groups and sub-groups that stand in opposition to one another. Unfortunately, we carry this habit of divided relationships even into the church.

If we look at why we are divided, it often stems from our feeling of inadequacy. We try to deal with this by joining the best group, and by putting others down. But when (and only when!) we align ourselves with Christ, we find our adequacy from Him - and also unity with one another.

QUESTIONS

Can you think of any places where you see division or competition in the church?

Where do you seek to find your identity and value from your status, your reputation, your membership in a group, or anyone besides Jesus?

What is one area of your life where you need to shift from being a quarreler to an encourager?
Is there anyone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness in order for the church to move forward in unity?

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WEEK 1 - A REASON FOR UNITY

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9

Monday

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

YOU ARE ENRICHED IN HIM

This letter to the church in Corinth addresses many practical problems, questions and divisions they were facing. Interestingly, when Paul and Sosthenes begin writing they do not talk about any of these issues. On one hand, their approach does not seem very “practical.” Instead, they bring the readers’ attention to what God has given us through Christ Jesus, and the kind of life He is bringing us into.

QUESTIONS

According to these words, what has God given us through Christ? How are you experiencing this in your life?

What are two things God has called us to?

How would you like to experience this more?

Say and/or write a prayer of thanks for what God has given you through Christ Jesus, and ask Him to help you understand and live this out more fully.

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