Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12

Theme: Beware of the danger of idolatry

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• Consider the Old Testament examples (1 Cor 10:6) given in our text. Perhaps you could study just one a day this week.
  1. Exodus 32:1-9, 15-28
  2. Numbers 25:1-9
  3. Numbers 21:1-9
  4. Numbers 14:1-12, 20-34
  5. Numbers 16
• Which story was most instructive for you? Why?
• What is your idolatrous tendency?

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Theme: Advancing the gospel requires self-control.

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• Read our text from Sunday (1 Cor 9:24-27) and then link it to 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
• Consider more thoughts on “the prize” in Philippians 3:12-15. How would you define this prize?
• Allow 2 Peter to help you understand the thought of being disqualified. Read 2 Peter 1:10, and then go back and read about “these qualities” in v.4-8.

Text: 1 Corinthians 15-23

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:1-14

Theme: Paying the Pastor is NOT the Point

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• Making the point of Paul’s example of having and surrendering his right in love compare 1 Corinthians 9:4 to 8:6.
• Read 1 Corinthians 9:14 and trace this idea through the New Testament: Matthew 10:8-10; Luke 10:7; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18
• Look over the concluding points on your outline. Now trace these points in Philippians 2:5-11 in the story of redemption unfolding in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Love sets aside rights.

Starting with an overview of what will be discussed in the book. Then moving into Chapter 1 to discuss the question: What is conscience?

Text: 1 Corinthians 8

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• Review 1 Corinthians 8. Is knowledge a bad thing?
• Can you think of a time when you have been right in your position on an issue, but wrong in your disposition?
• What conviction do you have that causes you alarm when someone else does not hold the same conviction?
• What is the hope for unity with so many differences?

Introduction to the study of the conscience using the book Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ.

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Theme: Sometimes being single is better than being married.

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• As we get back into 1 Corinthians, review some of the internal issues the church faced: divisions in 1:10 and 3:1-9; church discipline in 5:1-7; lawsuits in 6:1-8; sexual immorality in 6:18-20; and marriage/singleness in 7:17.
• Look at each topic so far, and ask yourself, “How does my life display the solution/alternative to each of these problems?”
• Look ahead by reading 1 Corinthians 8 — a short chapter!

Text: Matthew 28:16-20

The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
~ Isaiah 52:10

Text: Psalm 18

Theme: Approaching the New Year — with its troops to run against and its walls to leap over.

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This God — his way is perfect ~ Psalm 18:30

Text: Isaiah 60:1-3

Theme: Every Christian must reflect the light of Christ to a dark world.

Text: Luke 2:1-14

Theme: A portrait of the Savior

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• Read Luke 2:11 and try to remember how each word/ phrase adds to the beautiful portrait of the Savior.
• Remember what Micah said about the coming Messiah in chapter 5:2-5. What key words in the ancient text can speak truth into your life today?
• How is “Immanuel” still true today for the believer?
• In preparation for next week, read Isaiah 9:1-7 and Isaiah 60:1-3.

Text: Luke 2:1-8

Theme: Treasuring the gift of Christ in the context of shepherds

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• Consider the four groups of passages that correspond to the four main sermon points:
• Pt 1: Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
• Pt 2: the extended ‘bread’ passage of John 6:1-58
• Pt 3: the Shepherd Psalm — Psalm 23
• Pt 4: Isaiah 53:3-11; John 10:11
• Consider how each passage points to Christ AND calls us to conform our lives to him.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Text: Luke 1:5-25

Theme: God's Greatest Work: The Messiah

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“Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear. Suddenly the Lord descending, in his temple shall appear. Come and worship!”

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Theme: Faith that fights with thanksgiving.

One: Faith in the midst of fear
Two: Faith anchored to God's faithfulness
Three: Faith in the face of the unknown
Four: Faith in God's kingdom agenda
Five: Faith in God's words
Six: Faith to fight with thanksgiving
Seven: Faith that produces triumphant joy

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Text: 1 Corinthians 7:8-24

Theme: Content with Christ

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• What circumstance in your life currently temps you to be discontent? Can you see how discontent can easily digress into a lack of faith in God’s goodness?
• What step of obedience can you take this week to be more godly in the situation God has put you in?
• Consider several contentment passages as we approach Thanksgiving Day:
  • 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
  • Philippians 2:4-20
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-12
  • Hebrews 13:5

“There should be a parallel between our supplications and our thanksgivings. We ought not to leap in prayer and limp in praise.”
— Charles Spurgeon, mid 1800’s