1 Corinthians 1 Questions

Introduction

• What is something you own? How does your interest in something change if you own it?

Lesson

Greetings (1-3)

Paul: God’s man (V1)

• What aspects of his own life does Paul choose to highlight in his greeting?

Overall Message

• God was the one who owned Paul and as property of God. Paul was doing God's bidding. The life of a Christ-follower should be marked by living as property of another, property of God.

The Corinthians: God’s church (V2)

• What characteristics of the church does Paul highlight in his introduction?

Overall Message

• God's Church should be marked by individuals submitting to God's authority as part of a corporate body who together are pursuing mutual edification toward the glory of God.

Application Question: What does God's ownership mean for you? What does God's ownership mean for our church?

Thanksgiving (4-9)

• The object of thanks: God (V4-8)

Application Question: How can you apply Paul's thankfulness in your life?

A Church Divided (10-17)

The Plea (V10)

• What plea does Paul make in verse 10?

The Problem (V11-13)

• What problem does Paul describe in verse 11?
• What specific problem is brought up in verse 12?

The Solution: The Gospel

• What general argument is outlined in verse 13?
• What does verse 16 tell us about Paul's view of himself?
• How does Paul contrast the wisdom of the gospel and the world in verse 17?

Application Question: What should Christians be on guard against if we want to preserve unity?

The Source of Unity (18-25)

• How is the gospel described in verses 18-25?

Application Question: Why is it important that we recognize the human imperfections of our spiritual leaders?

Identity (26-31)

• How does Paul describe Corinthian believers in verse 26?
• Why do you suppose God chooses to work through the foolish and weak?
• According to verse 30, what is the source of our identity?
  • In Christ who is wise, righteous, and sanctified.
• In what should we boast?
• How is this a fulfillment of Jeremiah 9:23-24

Application Question: How do we ensure that our identity is in Christ?

Application

How would we score in each of the following?

• The church is all about God, not about us.
• The message must be about the Cross, not about us.
• Our boasting must be in the Lord, not in us.