Notes: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (for 12/04 home group)

Discussion

1. Before reading this passage in 1 Corinthians 5, what was your opinion about or experience with judging others? What is the typical public opinion on judging others? (Matthew 7:1-5)
2. From your recollection of Jesus’ encounters with people during his ministry, who did he typically spend time judging? …not judging?
3. How is the church today perceived with respect to judging people outside and inside the church?
4. What happens when a church is more concerned with judging those outside the church than evaluating and dealing with their own behavior?
5. Do you think that believers today typically give one another a “pass” when it comes to calling out sin in their lives? Why or why not?
6. What wrong attitude toward the problem in their church did the Corinthians have? (v 2)
7. What does “hand this man over to Satan” mean and how could that be good for the man? (v 5)
8. From the yeast metaphor (v 6-8) what would have been the result if the church had continued to ignore this man's behavior?
9. What are the goals of the action of expelling the immoral brother as described in this passage?
10. What two conditions should be present before you are ready to judge another believer? (v2, Matthew 7:5)
11. What is the benefit of removing the plank from your own eye before judging another believer?
12. Why are there two different standards for judging - one for Christians and one for those who are not Christians?
13. When we judge people outside the church, who are we acting like? (v 13)
14. How different would the worldview of Christianity be if we got this right?
15. As a believer, and given the understanding of the intent of the passage, do you accept that someday a brother or sister in Christ may judge you? How does that make you feel?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. Sometimes judging is the loving thing to do.
2. To refuse to judge is to fail to love.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. How does your attitude towards those outside the church need to be adjusted?
2. How does your attitude towards those inside the church need to be adjusted?
3. Who is a Christian in your life headed in the wrong direction? What is your responsibility to him or her? What will you do to help this person get back on the right track?

Biliography

1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: 1&2 Corinthians"
2. MacArthur, "1 Corinthians: Godly Solutions for Church Problems"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
5. Tyler Jones, Vintage21 Church, Sermon on same topic 11/18/07
6. Andy Stanley, North Point Community Church, “Judgment Call: Double Standard,” 10/27/07
7. Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, “Judging Like Jesus,” 2006
   

Notes: 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 (for 11/13 home group)

Men: Husband and Father

Men are:

• 5 times more likely to commit violent crimes
• More likely to be Imprisoned –90% of prisoners
• Murdered –79% of murder victims
• Commit Suicide –4 times more likely
• Illegal Drugs –3 times more likely
• Drinking problem –5 times more likely an alcoholic

40% of 25 million children grow up without a father. Fatherless homes account for:

• 90% of runaway children
• 71% of high school dropouts
• 85% of youths in prison
• More than half of teen mothers
• 70% of prisoners

Verses

1 Corinthians 4:14-17, 1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:25-33, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21, Proverbs 4, Proverbs 13:24, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Genesis 18:18-19

Discussion

1. The husband is to treat his wife in a certain way (Eph. 5: 25-31, I Pet. 3: 7).
2. There is more to fatherhood than just being responsible for conception. The father is presented in the scriptures as also the leader in the training of the children (Eph. 6: 4, 1, Prov. 4: 1-13).
3. The father should be an example regarding leadership and headship (Eph. 5: 22).
4. The father should be a disciplinarian (Eph. 6: 4, Prov. 13: 24).
5. The father should take a leadership role in teaching his children about God, the plan of salvation, the church, conviction and morals, and living the life of the Christian and general character development (cp. Deut. 6: 6-9).
6. What are the qualities of fatherhood evident in God? How can we model these to the children we care for?
7. Is it necessary to be a biological father, in order to take on the role of a father? Are there any children or young people in our community who lack fathers? How can we help them?
8. What is the role of a father in training a child? What responsibilities does a father have to a child? Do these include spiritual responsibilities? (Consider Genesis 18:18-19, Deuteronomy 6:6-7.)
9. Colossians 3:21 says ‘Fathers, do not embitter (provoke, irritate) your children, or they become discouraged.’ What do you think is meant by this? How can a father create the atmosphere in which a child will flourish into maturity?
10. Sixty-one percent of the people in churches are women. Often, wives are more spiritually engaged (church attendance, prayer, bible reading, etc) than their husbands. Why is that?
11. Women: How important is it to you to have a husband who is growing in spiritual maturity & living out God's commands?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. God wants men to be men.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. Men: Man-up
2. Women: Pray for your husbands.

Bibliography

1. “The Bible and Fatherhood,” bibletruths.net.
2. “Bible study: Fatherhood,” by Rev Joe M Kapolyo.
3. Tyler Jones, Sermon on 1 Cor 4:14-21, Nov 11, 2007

Notes: 1 Corinthians 4:1-14 (for 11/06 home group)

Discussion

1. What is the most menial job you ever had? What did you like or dislike about it?
2. How does knowing that God will “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose he motives of men’s hearts” (v 5) make you feel?
3. Corinthian factions judged one another by the reputation of the leader they followed. What does Paul mean by the saying he quotes in verse 6? (“Do not go beyond what is written?”) How does this apply today?
4. Of everything God has given you, what do you tend to take credit for yourself?
5. How does knowing that our talents are from God keep us from thinking that we are better than others?
6. Is there anything wrong with taking credit for our accomplishments?
7. How would Paul respond to the phrase “God wants you to be happy, healthy, and successful”?
8. In verses 8-13, Paul rather sarcastically compares his situation with the Corinthians’, who have a mistaken idea of wisdom and power. If there were a line between Corinthians (prideful, self-centered, power-oriented) on one end, and Paul (humble, persecuted, slandered, scum of the earth) on the other end, where on the line would you characterize your Christian life? Would you like to be in a different place than you actually are?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. Don’t judge yourself or others based on who they follow, what they do, or why they do it.
2. Paul wanted Corinthians to turn from their sin and use their talents and resources in service and obedience to Christ.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. Ask God to reveal your pride and give you a servant’s heart.

Bibliography

1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: 1&2 Corinthians"
2. MacArthur, "1 Corinthians: Godly Solutions for Church Problems"
3. Lucado, “Life Lessons with Max Lucado – Book of 1 Corinthians”
4. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
5. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
6. Tyler Jones, Vintage21, Sermon on same topic 11/4/07