Hope in Temptation
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Theme: God's faithfulness is your hope in temptation.
- If you had to choose just one of the Psalm references in the Affirmation of Faith, which one would you choose? And why?
- Trace the "faithful" God texts in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:9 and 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3
- How does the story in Job chapter 1 merge with the idea in 1 Corinthians 10:13 of God "letting" or "allowing"?
God is faithful...he will provide...you may be able to endure... ~ 1 Corinthians 10:6
The Danger of Idolatry
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Theme: Beware of the danger of idolatry
- Consider the Old Testament examples (1 Cor 10:6) given in our text. Perhaps you could study just one a day this week.
- Exodus 32:1-9, 15-28
- Numbers 25:1-9
- Numbers 21:1-9
- Numbers 14:1-12, 20-34
- Numbers 16
- Which story was most instructive for you? Why?
- What is your idolatrous tendency?
Christian Liberty & Self-Control
Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Theme: Advancing the gospel requires self-control.
- 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.
Paying the Pastor is NOT the Point
Text: 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Theme: Paying the Pastor is NOT the Point
- 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.
With Liberty and Love for All
Text: 1 Corinthians 8
- 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?
When Singleness is Better than Marriage
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
Theme: Sometimes being single is better than being married.
- 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!
The Nations
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
Approaching a New Year
Text: Psalm 18
Theme: Approaching the New Year — with its troops to run against and its walls to leap over.
This God — his way is perfect ~ Psalm 18:30
Arise; Shine
Text: Isaiah 60:1-3
Theme: Every Christian must reflect the light of Christ to a dark world.
A Savior Who is Christ the Lord
Text: Luke 2:1-14
Theme: A portrait of the Savior
- 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.
Why Shepherds?
Text: Luke 2:1-8
Theme: Treasuring the gift of Christ in the context of shepherds
- 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.
God's Greatest Work
Text: Luke 1:5-25
Theme: God's Greatest Work: The Messiah
“Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear. Suddenly the Lord descending, in his temple shall appear. Come and worship!”
Militant Thanksgiving
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
Content in Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:8-24
Theme: Content with Christ
- 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
Singleness and Marriage
Singleness and Marriage
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Theme: Singleness, Marriage, & Sex
- What element of our hyper-sexualized culture has assaulted your Biblical sensibility this week? Is there a danger in becoming accustomed to the barrage of sexual advertising & innuendo in our society?
- How does the idea of modesty factor in to this discussion about sexual immorality? Modesty of words, dress, behavior?
- How will you in your stage of life obey 1 Corinthians 7:1-9?
Get Away from Sexual Immorality
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Theme: Get away from sexual immorality
- The Corinthian church clearly should have known better. So how will YOU know if you are thinking wrongly?
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:12. Can you remember the feeling of bondage to some particular sin? Where does this passage point us to the hope of deliverance?
- What are the implications of your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit? How have you applied this?
To Be Saved Means To Be Changed
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Theme: True salvation produces real change.
- You are washed. Read Isaiah 1:1-8; then jump to v.18 — This is your story! This is the testimony of every believer!
- Regarding your sanctification — read 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Hebrews 10:10.
- You are justified: Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1
- How might you clarify the boast “Once saved, always saved”?
Conflict Between Christians
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Theme: Godly wisdom must prevail in Christian conflict.
- Do you have a church conflict “horror story”?
- Do you often have a mindset of getting what is yours? Are you defensive about being taken advantage of?
- In light of our text, how would you answer the question: “Should a Christian ever file a suit in court?”
- In what human relationship could you expect conflict this week? How can you prepare to handle it – to disarm it – to prevent it?