Thanksgiving—1 Corinthians 1:1–9
Topics: Endurance, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Grace, Growth, Holiness, Spiritual Gifts, Thankfulness, Waiting
Open It
1. What are you most thankful for today?
2. *When was a time you were especially thankful for someone else? Why?
Explore It
1. How did Paul describe himself? (1:1)
2. What themes did Paul repeat several times? (1:1–9)
3. What specific truths did Paul affirm? (1:1–9)
4. What kind of people were the Corinthian Christians? (1:2)
5. What words of affirmation did Paul have for his readers? (1:2–3)
6. *For what traits of the Corinthians did Paul thank God? (1:4–9)
7. In what ways had the Corinthian Christians been “enriched”? Why? (1:5–6)
8. *What did the Corinthian Christians have? (1:7)
9. What spiritual gifts did the Corinthians have? (1:7)
10. Why did the Corinthians not lack for any spiritual gift? (1:7)
11. For what period of time were the Corinthians’ spiritual gifts given? (1:7)
12. For what were the Corinthians waiting? (1:7)
13. How would the Corinthians be able to live as God called them? (1:8–9)
14. What words of encouragement did Paul include in his opening? (1:8–9)
15. How are Christians able to live as God has called them? (1:8–9)
16. *To what has God called all Christians? (1:9)
Get It
1. For what can you thank God?
2. For what should we thank God?
3. Who is someone for whose faith you are thankful?
4. What does it mean that God has given us grace?
5. How is a person enriched by trusting in Christ?
6. What spiritual gifts has God given you?
7. How can your gifts be used in service to Jesus as we wait for His return?
8. In what ways does God keep a believer strong to the end?
9. What does it mean that God is faithful?
10. *In what ways is God faithful to you?
11. *How can we say thank you to God for His faithfulness?
12. For what specific reasons do you want to thank God?
Apply It
1. How can you use your spiritual gift at least once this next week?
2. What Christian do you want to affirm?
3. In what part of your daily routine this week can you take time out to thank God?
4. *How can you remind yourself to say thank you to God at least once each day this week?
Divisions in the Church—1 Corinthians 1:10–17
Topics: Arguments, Church, Disagreements, Divisions, Follow, Gospel, Power, Quarrels, Unity
Open It
1. Over what matters do families often argue?
2. When was a time you hurt someone because you were forced to take sides?
3. *When was a time you helped two people settle a dispute?
Explore It
1. On what basis did Paul appeal to the Corinthian believers? (1:10)
2. *Why did Paul ask the Corinthians to agree with one another? (1:10)
3. What kind of action did the Corinthian church need to take? (1:10–17)
4. *What specific problem were the Corinthian Christians having? (1:11–12)
5. How was Paul a part of the Corinthians’ problems? (1:13–17)
6. How did baptism cause division in the Corinthian church? (1:13–17)
7. What can result from preaching the gospel with “words of human wisdom”? (1:17)
8. What did Christ enable Paul to do? (1:17)
9. What danger is there in dividing a church? (1:17)
10. *What danger was Paul trying to avoid? (1:17)
11. What’s wrong with preaching the gospel with “words of human wisdom”? (1:17)
Get It
1. How did Paul show his concern for the Corinthians?
2. What difference does local church unity make?
3. What does it mean for Christians to be “perfectly united in mind and thought”?
4. Why is it important for Christians to be united?
5. How should we respond to arguments among Christians today?
6. What church divisions have you known or heard about?
7. What has been the outcome in church splits of which you are aware?
8. How can division among Christians empty Christ’s message of its power?
9. What witness does a unified church give to a lost world?
10. What social and cultural forces present the greatest threat to the unity of Christ’s church today?
11. *How can Christians avoid becoming distracted by petty disagreements?
12. *What can your church do to build unity and guard against division?
13. What practices can help us be more united with other Christians?
Apply It
1. *What is the first step you could take to heal a damaged relationship with another Christian?
2. How could you help your church leaders build the unity of your congregation?
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God—1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5
Topics: Call, Fear, Foolishness, God, God’s Will, Gospel, Greatness, Holy Spirit, Ignorance, Knowledge, Learning, Power, Strength, Weaknesses, Wisdom, World
Open It
1. *In what way might your life-style seem foolish to some of your friends or relatives?
2. In what ways did you depend on your parents’ wisdom when you were a child?
Explore It
1. To whom is the message of the Cross foolishness? (1:18)
2. To whom is the message of the Cross powerful? (1:18)
3. How can people hear the message of Christ differently? (1:18)
4. What does God’s message mean to the person being saved? (1:18)
5. How does the message of the Cross contrast with what most people consider wise? (1:18–19)
6. How does God get His message across? (1:19–31)
7. *How does God’s wisdom contrast with the world’s wisdom? (1:20)
8. How did the demands of the Jews and Greeks contrast with the Corinthians’ hope? (1:22–23)
9. How do God’s attributes compare with ours? (1:25–26)
10. What were the Corinthians like before they were called? (1:26–27)
11. How does God use the foolish and weak things of the world? (1:27)
12. *Why does God express His power and wisdom through “foolish,” “weak,” and “lowly” means? (1:28–29)
13. What has Jesus Christ become for us? (1:30)
14. What kind of boasting is good? (1:31)
15. *How did Paul’s regard for the world’s wisdom affect his preaching and testimony? (2:1–5)
16. Why was it good that Paul came to Corinth in weakness and fear? (2:3–5)
17. On what should our faith rest? (2:5)
Get It
1. Why do Christians and non-Christians value the message of Christ so differently?
2. *What are some examples of the world’s wisdom?
3. What common difficulties do people mention when trying to understand the gospel of Christ?
4. What are some doctrines of the Christian faith that are difficult for non-Christians to understand?
5. When have you heard non-Christians balk at the message of Christ?
6. How has God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
7. In what ways do God’s commands seem like foolishness to the non-Christians you know?
8. What difference should it make in your life to know that God chooses the weak and lowly people of the world to do His work?
9. *What unbelievers have you known who wanted miraculous signs or airtight philosophical proofs before believing in Christ?
10. Why do you think people demand signs, or proof, of God?
11. What’s wrong with demanding signs, or proof, from God?
12. How can you share the truth of the gospel with people who demand signs, or proof, of God?
13. How is it encouraging to know that Paul was weak and fearful?
14. What does it mean to preach with a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power”?
15. How can we make sure that our faith rests on God’s power and not our own wisdom?
16. Whom could you encourage with the knowledge that God’s weakness is stronger than our strength?
17. What kinds of wisdom do you depend on that could be changed by the light of God’s Word?
Apply It
1. To what area of your life now could you apply God’s “foolishness”? How?
2. From whom can you learn more of God’s wisdom? How and when?
3. *How could you seek out God’s wisdom and power this week? Where?
4. What can you do this week to witness for Christ in only God’s wisdom and not your own craftiness?
Wisdom From the Spirit—1 Corinthians 2:6–16
Topics: Discernment, Foolishness, Holy Spirit, Ignorance, Judgment, Mind, Spiritual Growth, Thinking, Wisdom
Open It
1. To what sources do people most often look for wisdom?
2. What is it like to know a secret and keep it from your friends?
3. For what reasons do we keep secrets from other people?
4. *In what ways could you learn about a secret that was hidden from you?
Explore It
1. What kinds of wisdom are there? (2:6)
2. In what way does the world’s wisdom fall short? (2:6)
3. Where does the world’s wisdom lead? (2:6)
4. *How does God’s wisdom differ from the wisdom of this age? (2:6–16)
5. *What is God’s secret wisdom that only the mature will attain? (2:7)
6. How was Jesus’ crucifixion related to the world’s lack of understanding God’s wisdom? (2:8)
7. Why do people often fail to see God’s purpose for them? (2:9)
8. Why is it possible to understand God’s wisdom only if His Spirit reveals it? (2:9–16)
9. *What characteristics will the wisdom that the Spirit teaches us have? (2:13)
10. How are spiritual and unspiritual people different? (2:15–16)
11. Who can make “judgments about all things”? Why? (2:15–16)
Get It
1. In what way are the “rulers of this age” coming to nothing?
2. *When in the past has the Spirit enabled you to understand God’s wisdom and gifts?
3. Why did God keep His wisdom a secret?
4. In what ways should your actions conform to the teaching of the Spirit who lives in you?
5. How should you respond to the Spirit’s revelation about what God has prepared for you?
6. *What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?
7. How can you know if you have the mind of Christ?
8. What benefit is there in praying for spiritual discernment?
Apply It
1. *What spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, meditation on Scripture, etc.) could you practice this week to make you sensitive to the Holy Spirit?
2. How might you approach a person you know who believes strongly in the wisdom of the world?
On Divisions in the Church—1 Corinthians 3:1–23
Topics: Church, Divisions, Foundation, Growth, Holy Spirit, Quarrels, Testing, Wisdom, World
Open It
1. How have you changed since you were a child?
2. Why is laying a strong foundation important in building a house?
3. *What foundational truths did you learn in school?
Explore It
1. Why did Paul call the Corinthians “mere infants”? (3:1–3)
2. What were the Corinthians like? (3:3–5)
3. What traits did the Corinthians have that made them worldly? (3:3–5)
4. How did Paul want his readers to view both Apollos and himself? Why? (3:5–7)
5. What is each Christian worker’s purpose in ministering to others? (3:8)
6. How is the person who plants like the person who waters? (3:8–9)
7. Who were the “fellow workers” who worked together on the Corinthian “field” or “building”? (3:9)
8. *What made Paul and Apollos equals under God? (3:9)
9. What is the foundation of the church? (3:11)
10. *What is like either gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw? How? (3:12–14)
11. *What happens to the person who builds in others’ lives? (3:13–15)
12. What important fact had the Corinthians failed to appreciate? (3:16)
13. Why should we abandon the world’s idea of wisdom? (3:19)
14. Why were the Corinthians to stop boasting about the individual leaders they followed? (3:21–23)
Get It
1. What is our role in God’s work?
2. What does it mean to plant and water God’s Word in others?
3. How do we plant and water God’s Word in others?
4. What is your particular role in God’s work?
5. In what ways are you able to plant and water God’s Word in others?
6. What opportunities do you have to plant and water God’s Word in others?
7. How is Christian teaching and discipleship like building a building?
8. *How can a person’s efforts in teaching or discipleship be like gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw?
9. In what ways can Christians be influenced by the wisdom of the world?
10. What does it mean that a Christian is God’s temple?
11. How should our attitudes and actions be influenced by the fact that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit?
12. What are some implications of the fact that God’s Spirit lives in every Christian?
13. How could a person destroy God’s temple?
14. How are Christians who are involved in discipleship similar to builders?
15. *In what ways should all Christians point others to Christ alone?
16. What responsibility do Christians not involved in formal leadership have for building up God’s church?
17. What can you do to help build up the church in some way?
Apply It
1. *What is one way you can point another person to Christ this week?
2. In whose life do you want to build God’s Word? How can you start?
3. What need could you meet in your church over the next month to build up other Christians?
Apostles of Christ—1 Corinthians 4:1–21
Topics: Conscience, Discipline, Example, Faithfulness, Judgment, Kingdom of God/Heaven, Motives, Persecution, Pride
Open It
1. *What kinds of things do people usually brag about?
2. Why would a person boast about a gift he or she had received?
3. Who is someone you look up to and try to be like? In what way?
Explore It
1. *How did Paul want the Corinthians to regard Christian leaders? (4:1)
2. What does this passage teach about the life of an apostle? (4:1–5, 8–16)
3. *What attitudes should Christian leaders have? (4:2–4)
4. Whom did Paul take pains to avoid judging? Why? (4:3–5)
5. Why should we judge “nothing before the appointed time”? (4:5)
6. How were the Corinthians going beyond the teaching of Scripture in their behavior and attitudes? (4:6)
7. *Why did Paul warn the Corinthians about pride? (4:7–13)
8. In what way had Paul become a father to the Corinthians? (4:15)
9. Why did Paul send Timothy to the Corinthians? (4:17)
10. How is the kingdom of God a “matter of power”? (4:20)
Get It
1. How does God want Christians to treat church leaders?
2. What qualities should Christian leaders have?
3. What did Paul mean when he said that he did not even judge himself?
4. Why should we not judge our own service to God or even that of other people?
5. How can we be faithful to the trust that God has given us?
6. How closely do you think our lives should conform to Paul’s own experience?
7. How should we respond to Paul’s instruction to imitate him?
8. *What exemplary qualities about Paul should we imitate? How?
9. What about Paul’s character do you want to copy?
10. What more mature Christian do you want to be like? How?
11. *What problems do Christians create when they divide into factions and elevate some leaders over others?
12. How can a church’s unity be threatened by personal disputes?
13. How can you allow the power of the kingdom to be more active in your life?
Apply It
1. *What is one way you could imitate the example or wisdom of a more mature Christian you know?
2. How can you remember to avoid a judgmental spirit toward others this week?
Expel the Immoral Brother!—1 Corinthians 5:1–13
Topics: Church, Discipline, Greed, Idolatry, Immorality, Judgment, Pride, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sin
Open It
1. *For what kinds of things were you disciplined as a child?
2. When was a time you had to stop associating with a friend because of his or her bad influence on you?
Explore It
1. *Why did the Corinthians tolerate immorality in their church? (5:2)
2. What disciplinary action should the Corinthians have taken? (5:2)
3. Under what conditions was the Corinthian church to expel their immoral member? Why? (5:4–5)
4. *Why was it necessary for the Corinthian church to expel a man from their congregation? (5:5–6)
5. To what boasting did Paul refer? (5:6)
6. What should Christians be like? How? (5:7)
7. Why was it necessary to expel an immoral Christian from his or her church? (5:7–13)
8. To what festival did Paul refer? Why? (5:7–8)
9. How should we “keep the Festival”? (5:8)
10. What kind of distinction do we need to make in dealing with immoral people? (5:9–13)
11. For what reasons were the Corinthians to expel a professing Christian? (5:11)
12. *Why is it unnecessary for Christians to judge non-Christians? (5:12–13)
Get It
1. At what point would you stop associating with a person who continued to do wrong?
2. From what harm could a church protect itself by expelling an immoral member?
3. What are the pain and problems created by sexual immorality?
4. *How should any church react to gross sin practiced by a stubborn member?
5. What is difficult and complicated about disciplining a sinning Christian?
6. To what extent should people cleanse their lives of sin before joining a church? Why?
7. What does it mean to “hand someone over to Satan”?
8. How should we treat Christians who are greedy, slanderers, or swindlers?
9. *What warnings should careless Christians take to heart?
10. How can we expel immoral Christians from our churches and at the same time have Jesus’ love for sinners?
Apply It
1. What should you do the next time you learn of a Christian friend who is unwilling to turn away from a particular sin?
2. *What habits can you cultivate to prevent yourself from becoming callous to the sins of other people?
Lawsuits Among Believers—1 Corinthians 6:1–11
Topics: Angels, Believers, Disagreements, Immorality, Judgment, Kingdom of God/Heaven, Sin, Unbelievers
Open It
1. For what reasons do people take each other to court?
2. *How does a court of law solve and not solve problems between people?
3. What do you think is the best way to settle disputes between strangers?
Explore It
1. *Why was Paul disturbed by the practice of Christians bringing their disputes before non-Christians? (6:1–6)
2. Who will judge the world? (6:2)
3. By what authority will Christians judge angels? (6:3)
4. *Who is qualified to serve as a judge for disputes among Christians? (6:4)
5. *What did the Corinthians need to do when they were wronged by other Christians? (6:7)
6. How were the Corinthian Christians settling disputes with each other? (6:7–8)
7. What did the fact that the Corinthians were suing each other prove about them? (6:7–10)
8. How were the Corinthians deceived in their beliefs? (6:9)
9. Who will not inherit the kingdom of God? (6:9–10)
10. What were some of the Corinthians before they were saved? (6:11)
11. What had changed the Corinthians’ standing before God? (6:11)
Get It
1. *What should we do whenever we are wronged by other Christians?
2. How do people in your church settle disputes?
3. What could you do differently when settling disputes to better reflect God’s priorities?
4. Why is it better to be wronged than to take a fellow Christian to court?
5. What would God say to Christians today who sue one another?
6. *What should you do if you feel you have been wronged by another Christian?
7. What should a Christian do if the person he or she accuses is unwilling to submit to the judgment of other believers?
8. What does it mean that God sanctifies His people?
9. What does it mean that God justifies His people?
10. What difference does it make that we have been sanctified and justified by the Spirit of God?
11. How should the knowledge of Jesus’ redemptive work motivate you to abandon sin in your life?
Apply It
1. *What do you want to remember the next time you are wronged by another Christian?
2. What particular action or attitude can help you forgive others when you are wronged?
Sexual Immorality—1 Corinthians 6:12–20
Topics: Adultery, Body, Desires, Holy Spirit, Immorality, Lust, Marriage, Maturity, Morality, Sex, Sin, Singleness, Slavery, Temptation, Weaknesses
Open It
1. In what ways do Americans typically mistreat their bodies?
2. *In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges to sexual purity in our society?
Explore It
1. What did Paul mean by saying, “I will not be mastered by anything”? (6:12)
2. Why should we abstain from sex outside of marriage? (6:12–20)
3. What value does God place on our bodies? (6:12–20)
4. What will God destroy? Why? (6:13)
5. *For what are our bodies meant? (6:13)
6. What promise is given to Christians because God raised Jesus from the dead? (6:14)
7. What makes our bodies special? (6:15)
8. What’s wrong with sex outside of marriage? (6:15–16)
9. Why is it not possible to be one with both Christ and a prostitute? (6:15–17)
10. *What does it mean to be one with Christ in spirit? (6:17)
11. *How is sexual immorality different from other sins? (6:18)
12. How are Christians’ bodies unique? (6:19–20)
Get It
1. How can we distinguish between what is merely permissible and what is beneficial?
2. How should we treat our bodies if they are actually temples of the Holy Spirit?
3. How do advertising and other media encourage wrong attitudes about our bodies?
4. How do friends, coworkers, and other peers encourage wrong attitudes about our bodies?
5. How does sexually uniting with someone outside of marriage affect a person?
6. *In what specific ways is it possible for you to honor God with your body?
7. What can a person do to master natural human desires that can lead to sin?
8. *What can you do to master areas of your life that could cause you to sin against your body?
9. How can we avoid compromises that lead to sexual sin?
Apply It
1. *In what way can you remind yourself this week that you were bought at a price and are God’s temple?
2. In what settings or situations should you take precautions against sexual immorality? How?
Marriage—1 Corinthians 7:1–40
Topics: Body, Freedom, Immorality, Marriage, Ministry, Morality, Prayer, Sex, Sin, Singleness, Slavery, Temptation, Unbelievers
Open It
1. *What couple have you met recently that displays the ingredients of a good marriage?
2. What to you is good and bad about remaining single?
Explore It
1. What guiding principles about marriage does God want us to know? (7:1–40)
2. Why should “each man … have his own wife”? (7:2)
3. What obligations does a Christian wife have toward her husband? (7:3)
4. To whom does a Christian’s body belong if he or she is married? (7:4)
5. Under what circumstances may married partners deprive each other’s sexual needs? (7:5)
6. Why is it important for husbands and wives not to deprive each other’s sexual needs? (7:5)
7. What instruction did Paul give to the unmarried and widowed? (7:8–9)
8. *To what has God called us? (7:15)
9. *What is more important than whether a person is married or single? (7:17–19)
10. What is more important than whether a person is a slave or free? (7:20–24)
11. What is one advantage in remaining single? (7:28)
12. Why did Paul think it best to remain single? (7:28)
13. *What perspective can help us serve God well whether married or single? (7:29–31)
14. What advantage do unmarried people have in ministry? (7:32–35)
Get It
1. *In what sense is it good not to marry?
2. In what ways might singleness keep us free from concern?
3. What are the advantages of being married?
4. *What opportunities do married people have that single people do not?
5. What unique concerns do married people have that single people do not?
6. What part of God’s instruction on marriage do you find encouraging?
7. What circumstance in your life would benefit from God’s perspective on marriage and singleness?
8. How should the fact that the time is short affect our priorities and actions?
9. What does it mean to live as if not engrossed in the things of the world?
10. What does it look like when a married person is engrossed in the things of the world?
11. What does it look like when a single person is engrossed in the things of the world?
12. How should our life-style be detached from the concerns of the world?
Apply It
1. What is one step you can take this week to free yourself from concern about a mortgage, a job, a project, or some other earthly matter?
2. *How can you use your unique experiences as a married or single person in service to God?
Food Sacrificed to Idols—1 Corinthians 8:1–13
Topics: Believers, Example, Freedom, Idolatry, Knowledge, Love, Sin, Temptation, Unity
Open It
1. *When have you refused to participate in an event that everyone else seemed to be enjoying?
2. When have you experienced conflicts with people who wanted to do something you considered bad or improper (such as social drinking or gambling)?
Explore It
1. What was troubling the Corinthians? (8:1)
2. What’s the problem with knowledge? (8:1–2)
3. What mistaken assumption does a person who thinks he knows something make? (8:2)
4. Why is it more important to be known by God than to know about God? (8:2–3)
5. *How did Paul counsel the Corinthians to regard food sacrificed to idols? (8:4–13)
6. What importance does God attach to idols? (8:5–6)
7. Why were the Corinthian Christians continuing to struggle over the matter of idols? (8:7–8)
8. *How could the exercise of a believer’s freedom hurt a weaker Christian? (8:9)
9. *What overriding principle should govern our freedom? (8:9–13)
10. How can a Christian destroy someone? (8:11)
11. How did Paul limit his freedom out of sensitivity to the weaker Christians of his day? (8:13)
Get It
1. In what way can knowledge puff up a person?
2. How can we build up others in a loving way?
3. How can a person be sure of the fact that he or she is known by God?
4. *What are some customs in our society that weaker Christians often need to avoid?
5. *How should we limit our freedom out of sensitivity to weaker Christians?
6. What should you do if you know your actions would cause another Christian to violate his or her conscience?
7. How can we make our behavior accountable to other Christians?
8. What specific things could you do to protect a new Christian’s faith in God?
Apply It
1. *What is one attitude or action in your life that you need to limit at this point? How?
2. What nurture could you give to a new Christian this week to help him or her grow stronger in the faith?
The Rights of an Apostle—1 Corinthians 9:1–27
Topics: Believers, Discipline, Example, Judgment, Law, Perseverance, Rewards, Right, Sacrifice, Salvation, Serving
Open It
1. *What training is necessary for a person in your chosen profession?
2. What emotions do athletes usually feel on the day of a big event?
3. How can you be disqualified from a game or race?
Explore It
1. What proofs did Paul use to show that he was a genuine apostle? (9:1–2)
2. *What rights did Paul waive to be an apostle? (9:3–6, 12)
3. What case could Paul make for asserting his rights as an apostle? (9:7–11, 13–14)
4. What are the rights of those who preach the gospel? (9:12)
5. Why was Paul willing to set aside his rights? (9:12)
6. Why didn’t Paul take full advantage of his rights? (9:12–18)
7. What has the Lord commanded for those who preach the gospel? (9:14)
8. How did Paul preach? Why? (9:16–17)
9. What motivated Paul to preach as he did? (9:16–17)
10. *What reward is there in preaching the gospel? (9:18)
11. Why did Paul make himself a slave to everyone? (9:19)
12. To what extent did Paul go to save people? (9:20–23)
13. *Why is it necessary to live with purpose and discipline? (9:25–27)
14. Why did Paul lead a disciplined life? (9:27)
Get It
1. *What are some of your rights and freedoms as a Christian?
2. *Under what circumstances should we take advantage of our rights, and when should we willingly waive them?
3. How can we show our love to unbelievers while refusing to participate in activity that is sinful?
4. Why is it helpful to adjust our actions for the people around us?
5. How does insisting on our rights hinder the gospel of Christ?
6. What right have you given up because it may have caused others to stumble?
7. What actions could disqualify a person from being rewarded by God for serving Him?
8. What should you do to be assured of finishing your life well?
9. How can neglecting spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, Bible study, and worship) disqualify a Christian from having an influence on unbelievers?
Apply It
1. *What specific rights could you waive for Christ’s sake? How?
2. When can you make time for prayer, Bible study, and worship this week to help you train for telling others about Christ?
Warnings From Israel’s History—1 Corinthians 10:1–13
Topics: Complaining, Example, Faithfulness, History, Idolatry, Ignorance, Immorality, Temptation, Testing
Open It
1. *What lessons can we learn from history?
2. What is one event in your own extended family history that has influenced your life?
Explore It
1. Why did Paul refer to Israel’s history? (10:1)
2. *How do the Israelites serve as examples to us? (10:1–6)
3. How were the ancient Israelites baptized? (10:2)
4. What was the Israelites’ spiritual food and drink? (10:3)
5. Who was the “rock” that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness? (10:4)
6. How was the Israelites’ rock in the wilderness significant? (10:4)
7. How did God feel about the Israelites in the wilderness? (10:5)
8. Why did God record the experiences of the Israelites? (10:6, 11)
9. *What evil actions cost many of the Israelites their lives? (10:7–10)
10. *Why should we care what happened to the ancient Israelites? (10:11)
11. What warning did Paul give the Corinthians? Why? (10:12)
12. Why is it important that all the temptations Christians face are common to everyone? (10:13)
13. How is God faithful? (10:13)
14. How does God help us when we are tempted? (10:13)
Get It
1. What have you learned about God from this history of Israel?
2. What have you learned about yourself from this history of Israel?
3. What does it mean that the Israelites were “baptized into Moses”?
4. What warning should we recall when tempted to participate in idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord, or grumbling?
5. When have you avoided doing something wrong because you recalled God’s commands?
6. *How does God help us escape temptation?
7. What difference should it make in your daily life that God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear?
8. *How can a person escape when faced with temptation?
Apply It
1. What escape route has God provided for a specific temptation you face?
2. *What promise or warning do you want to remember to help you stand up under temptation this week?
Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper—1 Corinthians 10:14–22
Topics: Demons, History, Idolatry, Jealousy, Lord’s Supper, Sacrifice, Thankfulness, Unity
Open It
1. *What kind of meals hold special significance for you? Why?
2. What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?
Explore It
1. *What importance did Paul assign to Communion? (10:14–17)
2. What is the cup of thanksgiving? (10:16)
3. *How can a Christian participate in the body of Christ? (10:16)
4. How can a diverse group of Christians remain unified? (10:17)
5. Why did Paul refer to Israel’s history? (10:18)
6. What did Paul mean when he wrote, “Those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar”? (10:18–22)
7. What was Paul’s purpose in discussing idol feasts? (10:18–22)
8. What should the Corinthians have known about sacrifices made to idols? (10:19–20)
9. *Why should we work hard to celebrate the Lord’s Supper only out of devotion to Christ? (10:20–21)
10. How can a Christian provoke the Lord to jealousy? (10:22)
Get It
1. What are today’s idols?
2. What besides God do people worship today?
3. What kinds of activities today are like the pagan temple parties in Corinth?
4. How do these words affect your attitude toward the Lord’s Supper?
5. What can we learn here about the Lord’s Supper?
6. *Why is the Lord’s Supper important?
7. *How can you renew your reverence for the Lord when you celebrate Communion?
8. What kinds of behavior provoke the Lord to jealousy?
9. Why is it important to know that the Lord is a jealous God?
Apply It
1. *What do you want to remember the next time you take Communion?
2. What can you do to prepare for the next time you celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
3. How can you encourage others to honor only the Lord when celebrating the Lord’s Supper?
4. What idols do you need to avoid in your place of work or in your community? How?
The Believer’s Freedom—1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1
Topics: Believers, Conscience, Example, Freedom, Glory, Sacrifice, Salvation, Thankfulness, Unbelievers
Open It
1. When was a time you were talked into participating in an activity that you later regretted?
2. *When have you enjoyed doing something that benefited someone else?
Explore It
1. What are we free to do? How? (10:23)
2. *What qualifications go with the adage, “Everything is permissible”? (10:23–24)
3. What is the guiding principle on our freedom? (10:24)
4. How did Paul resolve the dilemma of whether to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols? (10:25–26)
5. *What stipulations did Paul place on eating meat served in an unbeliever’s home? (10:27–30)
6. What were the Corinthian Christians to do if meat being served to them had been sacrificed to idols? (10:28–29)
7. Under what conditions were the Corinthians not to eat meat offered in sacrifice? (10:28–29)
8. In what areas of life can we glorify God? (10:31)
9. *What overriding value governs why we do what we do? (10:33)
10. Whose good should we seek? (10:33)
11. Whose example should all Christians follow? (11:1)
Get It
1. What does it mean for a person’s freedom to be judged by another person’s conscience?
2. *What principles can we learn here about making difficult ethical decisions?
3. *What do Christians today sometimes avoid buying or doing for conscience’ sake?
4. When is it good for a Christian to avoid buying or doing something because other believers are bothered by its association with sin or evil?
5. How does Christian use of freedom contrast with our society’s idea of freedom?
6. What does it mean to eat and drink for the glory of God?
7. How might you avoid a situation that would cause another believer to stumble?
8. What is one way you can follow the example of someone who is following Christ?
9. What can you learn from a fellow Christian who is following Christ?
10. How may seeking the good of other people lead to their salvation?
Apply It
1. What is one setting in which you can seek the good of other Christians over your own rights this week? How?
2. *Which of your buying or spending habits should you change because of its associations? How?
3. How could you remember to do every task or activity this week for God’s glory?
Propriety in Worship—1 Corinthians 11:2–16
Topics: Angels, Appearance, Authority, Fellowship, Image, Worship
Open It
1. How have women’s roles changed since you were a kid?
2. *When has challenging authority caused you to hurt yourself or others?
Explore It
1. For what did Paul praise the Corinthian church? (11:2)
2. *What public worship practices did Paul rebuke? (11:2–16)
3. *Who is the head of women, men, and Christ? (11:3)
4. Why were women to have a sign of authority on their head? (11:3–11)
5. Why does it dishonor a man’s head to pray or prophesy with his head covered? (11:3–4, 7)
6. Why does it dishonor a woman’s head to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered? (11:3, 5–10)
7. How seriously did Paul regard the woman who did not cover her head? (11:6)
8. How are women and men different? (11:7–8)
9. *What relationship do men and women have to each other? (11:11–12)
10. How did Paul try to head off criticism about these instructions? (11:16)
Get It
1. *What matters most to God about worship in the church?
2. *What excesses in worship does God want us to avoid?
3. How is man the image and glory of God?
4. How should women today respond to the command to cover their heads in public worship?
5. In what ways were these instructions a response to problems unique to the Corinthian church?
6. In what ways could this passage be misinterpreted or misapplied?
Apply It
1. *What can you do personally to promote a proper spirit of worship in your church?
2. What can you do next Sunday to insure a proper attitude in your worship?
The Lord’s Supper—1 Corinthians 11:17–34
Topics: Discipline, Disobedience, Divisions, Honor, Judgment, Lord’s Supper, Remembering, Respect, Sin, Witnessing
Open It
1. *For what kinds of occasions does your church sponsor meals?
2. How does your church observe the Lord’s Supper?
Explore It
1. Why did Paul have no praise for the Corinthians here? (11:17)
2. Why are there differences among believers? (11:19)
3. *What severe problem did Paul address in this passage? (11:20–22)
4. What essential truths about the Lord’s Supper and Jesus’ redemptive work are presented in this passage? (11:23–26)
5. Why should Christians celebrate Communion? (11:24)
6. What is accomplished by eating the bread and drinking the wine of the Lord’s Supper? (11:26)
7. *What role does Communion play in the task of evangelism? (11:26)
8. What is the result of partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner? (11:27)
9. *What should a person do before partaking of the Lord’s Supper? (11:28)
10. What did the illness and death suffered by the Corinthians reveal about God’s attitude toward Communion? (11:30)
11. Why does the Lord discipline His children? (11:32)
12. What additional advice did Paul give to Christians preparing for Communion? (11:33–34)
Get It
1. How important is the Lord’s Supper in your life?
2. Why is the Lord’s Supper important?
3. How should a person prepare for Communion?
4. When is the best time for you to examine yourself before Communion?
5. *What additional wisdom have you gained from these instructions on Communion?
6. How have you prepared yourself for Communion in the past?
7. How is Communion practiced in your church?
8. *Why is a spirit of reverence important when partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
9. Why should we be grateful for the Lord’s discipline?
10. How have you seen the Lord’s discipline benefit you?
11. When was a time you benefited from the Lord’s discipline?
12. What practice in your local fellowship may need to be reexamined in light of this Scripture?
Apply It
1. *How do you want to prepare for the next time you take Communion?
2. What advice would you give to a new Christian who wants to participate in Communion?
Spiritual Gifts—1 Corinthians 12:1–11
Topics: Faith, Healing, Holy Spirit, Idolatry, Ignorance, Knowledge, Prophecy, Serving, Spiritual Gifts, Wisdom
Open It
1. *What is one unique talent or ability you have (whether useful or pointless)?
2. How did you find out what your greatest interests were?
Explore It
1. *Why did Paul give the Corinthians advice about spiritual gifts? (12:1)
2. What was the condition of the Corinthians when they were pagans? (12:2)
3. Why can someone speaking by the Spirit of God not say, “Jesus be cursed”? (12:3)
4. What is the only way a person can say, “Jesus is Lord”? (12:3)
5. *What common element exists in the diversity of gifts, service, and working? (12:4–6)
6. Who works through the various gifts Christians have? (12:4–6)
7. Who is given the manifestation of the Spirit? (12:7)
8. For whose good is the manifestation of the Spirit given? (12:7)
9. *What spiritual gifts did Paul describe? (12:8–10)
10. Who determines how the gifts are distributed? (12:11)
Get It
1. How are we ignorant about spiritual gifts today?
2. *What spiritual gifts have you seen used in your local church?
3. What happens when Christians do not use their gifts?
4. *What person you know would be encouraged by the knowledge that God gives a spiritual gift to every Christian?
5. What is your spiritual gift?
6. If you do not know what your spiritual gift is, what can you do to find out?
7. How can you use your spiritual gift for the good of the people in your church?
8. What spiritual gifts have you seen in the lives of other Christians?
9. What can you learn from other Christians who faithfully use their spiritual gifts?
10. What Christian discouraged by failure can you challenge to use the gifts God has given him or her?
Apply It
1. *How can you use your spiritual gift this week for the benefit of others in your church?
2. What observation could you share with another Christian to help him or her identify or use a spiritual gift?
One Body, Many Parts—1 Corinthians 12:12–31
Topics: Holy Spirit, Honor, Humility, Spiritual Gifts, Suffering, Unity
Open It
1. When have you felt insignificant in an organization?
2. *What functions in the church do you feel are most important? Why?
Explore It
1. In what way are Christians like a human body? (12:12–13)
2. Why should outward appearances or status not matter to us? (12:13)
3. What unifies all Christians? (12:13)
4. What makes Christians unified and dependent on one another? (12:13)
5. *What lessons are there in seeing the church as a human body? (12:14–17)
6. Who arranged the parts of the body of Christ? (12:18)
7. Why shouldn’t all Christians perform the same function? (12:19)
8. Why should members of the body of Christ not say to each other, “I don’t need you”? (12:21–22)
9. *Why should the less honorable parts be treated with special attention? (12:23)
10. How has God combined the members of the body of Christ? (12:24–26)
11. Who is part of the body of Christ? (12:27)
12. What functions are necessary in the body? (12:28–29)
13. *Who appoints members of the body to their positions? Why is this significant? (12:28–29)
14. What are the greater gifts? (12:31)
Get It
1. How might you compare your place in the body of Christ to a part of the human body?
2. How well do you interact with other members in the body of Christ?
3. When have you felt like an important or insignificant part of the body?
4. What part do you serve in the body of Christ?
5. *How are you able to help other Christians?
6. What has God appointed you to be in the body of Christ?
7. Why do people often assume that certain duties in the church are more important?
8. How can you honor the contributions of others in your church?
9. *How can you treat the “weaker” members of your fellowship as indispensable?
10. What can you do to suffer with those in the church who suffer and rejoice with those who are honored?
11. What should we do when there is division among Christians in a local church?
12. What do you think are your personal responsibilities in the body of Christ?
13. What difference should it make in your life that you have been given the Holy Spirit?
14. How can you show a desire for the greater gifts?
Apply It
1. *What is one way you can show concern and love for another member of your church?
2. What would be the best way to use your unique abilities in the body of Christ this year?
Love—1 Corinthians 13:1–13
Topics: Friendship, Humility, Kindness, Kingdom of God/Heaven, Knowledge, Love, Patience, Perseverance, Relationships, Trust
Open It
1. What to you is an unmistakable demonstration of love?
2. *Who is the most loving person you know? Why do you think so?
3. What qualities do you associate with love?
Explore It
1. What makes speaking in tongues, faith, generosity, and even martyrdom worthless? (13:1–3)
2. How could a person use spiritual gifts in a useless manner? (13:1–3)
3. *What do we gain if we don’t have love? (13:3)
4. Why is love important? (13:3)
5. *What qualities does love have? (13:4–8)
6. Why will prophecy, tongues, and knowledge pass away? (13:8–9)
7. How will we be different when we see Christ? (13:10–12)
8. What is our spiritual imperfection like? (13:11)
9. How do adults and children act and reason differently? (13:11)
10. How will our knowledge of God change when we see Christ? (13:12)
11. *What is the greatest of all gifts? (13:13)
Get It
1. Why do you think Paul wrote about love to the Corinthians?
2. Why might it be easy to use a spiritual gift without love?
3. How can a person demonstrate love?
4. How should Christians demonstrate love for each other?
5. *In what practical ways can you show a love that never fails?
6. How did Jesus exemplify love?
7. Why won’t prophecy, knowledge, and tongues be necessary when Jesus returns?
8. *When have you received the love described in this passage?
9. What is difficult about loving?
10. What expectations do you have, knowing you will see Jesus face to face one day?
Apply It
1. What will help you to remember to use your gifts in a loving way?
2. *How could you show love to a difficult person this week?
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues—1 Corinthians 14:1–25
Topics: Motives, Praise, Prophecy, Spiritual Gifts, Unbelievers, Understanding, Worship
Open It
1. When have you been confused by a lack of clear instructions?
2. *What are some traditions or practices in your family that would seem strange to someone outside your family?
Explore It
1. What did God want the Corinthians to follow? (14:1)
2. What did God want the Corinthians to desire? (14:1)
3. *Why were the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy more than the gift of tongues? (14:1–5)
4. In what circumstance is speaking in tongues as good as prophesying? (14:5)
5. What must be combined with the gift of tongues to make it useful to others? (14:6)
6. Why did Paul use the example of musical instruments in talking about prophecy? (14:7–8)
7. In which gifts did Paul encourage the Corinthians to excel? (14:12)
8. *How should speaking in tongues be like praying and singing? (14:14–16)
9. Why is it crucial that a message in tongues be interpreted? (14:16–17)
10. What priority does God give to speaking in tongues? (14:19)
11. Why did Paul quote from Isaiah in instructing the Corinthians on tongues? (14:21)
12. How does the quotation from Isaiah 28:11–12 clarify the purpose of the spiritual gift of tongues? (14:21–22)
13. What is the problem with speaking in tongues in church? (14:23)
14. *Why is it beneficial for unbelievers to hear prophesying in the church? (14:24–25)
Get It
1. How would you summarize God’s priorities concerning the spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues?
2. *What practices can every local church use to ensure that spiritual gifts are used to build up people?
3. What can we do to value spiritual gifts as God does?
4. For what reasons should we desire spiritual gifts?
5. *How can you guard against desiring spiritual gifts for the wrong motives?
6. What more can your church or fellowship do to attract unbelievers?
7. In what ways does your church attract unbelievers?
Apply It
1. *How could you use one spiritual gift this week to help another Christian?
2. What personal action could you take this week to make your worship services more welcoming to visitors?
Orderly Worship—1 Corinthians 14:26–40
Topics: Church, Conflict, Divisions, Law, Peace, Prayer, Quiet, Submission, Worship
Open It
1. *What is it like to attend a disorderly meeting or gathering?
2. Why is it important to be organized when you have a task to accomplish?
Explore It
1. *What contributions were the Corinthians to make when coming together? (14:26)
2. How can Christians be involved in worship services? (14:26)
3. *What kind of order were the Corinthians to observe when speaking in tongues? (14:27–28)
4. How did Paul advise the Corinthians regarding prophesying in church? (14:29–32)
5. How is the gift of prophecy beneficial to the church? (14:31)
6. What makes order essential to worship? (14:33)
7. Why were women not allowed to speak in the Corinthian church? (14:34)
8. How were women to act during worship in the Corinthian church? (14:34–35)
9. What were Corinthian women to do if they wanted to ask something in church? (14:35)
10. What gave Paul the authority to teach the Corinthians? (14:37)
11. *What was Paul’s conclusion regarding corporate worship? (14:40)
Get It
1. *How might a church exhibit disorder in its worship?
2. What can Christians do to prepare for worship services?
3. How can you improve your preparation for church services?
4. When have you neglected to participate properly in worship?
5. How could you participate in worship so as to strengthen the church?
6. *How can you use your spiritual gift in a fitting and orderly manner?
Apply It
1. *What part of your Saturday can you use to help you prepare for the worship service you attend?
2. How could you encourage fitting and orderly worship in your church each week?
The Resurrection of Christ—1 Corinthians 15:1–11
Topics: Gospel, Grace, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Salvation
Open It
1. *How do people pass on their beliefs and traditions to others?
2. What do you think is important to pass on from one generation to the next?
3. What do you want others to remember about you?
Explore It
1. How can a Christian avoid believing the gospel in vain? (15:1–2)
2. Why is it important to “hold firmly to the word”? (15:2)
3. *Why did Paul pass on what he had received? (15:3)
4. How did Christ’s life fulfill the Scriptures? (15:3)
5. What are the key points of the gospel? (15:3–8)
6. To whom did Christ appear after His resurrection? (15:5–8)
7. *Why did Paul emphasize the facts of Christ’s resurrection? (15:5–8)
8. Why did Paul describe himself as one “abnormally born”? (15:8)
9. Why did Paul feel unworthy to be called an apostle? (15:9)
10. *For what reason was Paul able to call himself an apostle? (15:10)
11. On what did Paul’s apostleship rest? (15:10)
Get It
1. How would you describe, in your own words, the importance of the gospel to your life?
2. What has God’s grace accomplished in you?
3. In what one area of your life have you been stubborn about allowing God’s grace to work?
4. What does it mean for you to hold firmly to the gospel?
5. *What are the implications of the fact that the truth of the gospel is of first importance to God?
6. What difference does it make that Christ’s death and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecy?
7. *How does Christ appear or make Himself known to us today?
Apply It
1. *What evidence could you use to persuade others this week about the truth of the gospel?
2. How could you rely on God’s grace in your efforts to tell your friends about Christ?
The Resurrection of the Dead—1 Corinthians 15:12–34
Topics: Death, Disagreements, Faith, Hope, Resurrection, Witnessing
Open It
1. What are some beliefs about life after death that others have shared with you?
2. *What do people you know believe about the afterlife?
3. What does the promise of eternal life mean to you?
Explore It
1. *What were some Corinthians saying that troubled Paul? (15:12)
2. How was the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection relevant to the dispute in Corinth? (15:12–13)
3. *If Christ had not in fact been raised, what would be true of Christianity and Christians? (15:14–19)
4. What condition would make a Christian’s faith futile? (15:17–18)
5. Why is faith in Christ useless and pitiable if Jesus has not been raised? (15:19)
6. In what way did Christ’s resurrection lead the way for us? (15:20)
7. How does the resurrection of the dead come? (15:21)
8. What is “the end”? (15:24–25)
9. When and why will “the end” come? (15:24–25)
10. What will be the last enemy destroyed? (15:26)
11. *What will happen when Christ asserts His authority over all? (15:28)
12. What would be true if the dead were not raised? (15:32)
13. What was shameful about the Corinthians? (15:34)
Get It
1. When have you ever doubted any of the truths of the gospel?
2. What can you do when you doubt what the Bible teaches?
3. *What hope does Jesus’ resurrection provide for your daily life?
4. When is it best to reason logically with people who doubt the gospel?
5. *How can you be more effective in sharing the message of salvation with others?
6. When have you ever associated with bad company that could have corrupted your character?
7. Why is it important to avoid people who want to distract you from your commitment to the gospel?
8. What kind of discipline enables a person to face problems?
Apply It
1. How would you counsel a Christian who was falling in with the wrong crowd?
2. *How can you incorporate the truth of Christ’s resurrection into your witness to others?
The Resurrection Body—1 Corinthians 15:35–58
Topics: Body, Death, Differences, Earth, Heaven, Last Days, Power, Questions, Resurrection, Victory, Weaknesses
Open It
1. *What feelings have you experienced when a friend or relative passed away?
2. Why do you think some people feel angry at God when they lose a loved one?
Explore It
1. *Why did Paul discuss the resurrection body? (15:35)
2. What analogy did Paul use to explain the body’s death and resurrection? (15:36–38)
3. How did Paul explain the resurrection body? (15:39–41)
4. *How does the body on earth differ from the body in heaven? (15:42–44)
5. What example did Paul use to explain natural and spiritual bodies? (15:45–49)
6. Why can’t flesh and blood inherit the kingdom of God? (15:50)
7. What mystery did Paul reveal? (15:51)
8. How will all Christians be changed? When? (15:51–52)
9. Why must all physical bodies be changed, even those that have not died? (15:50, 53)
10. *What will happen after the dead are resurrected? (15:54–55)
11. How has God given Christians the victory over death? (15:56–57)
12. What difference does it make that we will be resurrected? (15:58)
Get It
1. How should Christians regard death?
2. *How could this passage encourage a person who has lost a loved one who was a believer?
3. How should we regard the future?
4. What difference does it make that death has been defeated by Christ?
5. How can a Christian grieve for someone’s death while still holding on to the hope of resurrection?
6. *How should Christ’s resurrection and the hope of your own bodily transformation affect your priorities?
7. In what area of your Christian life has it been a struggle to stand firm?
8. What encouragement can we take from the fact that the work we do for the Lord is not in vain?
9. In what specific ways do you need to be committed to the work of the Lord?
Apply It
1. *In what ways could you show this week your thankfulness to Christ for His victory over death and sin?
2. In the future, what hope could you share with a person who experiences the loss of a loved one?
The Collection for God’s People—1 Corinthians 16:1–4
Topics: Church, Generosity, Giving Up, Money, Possessions, Sacrifice, Tithing
Open It
1. *Who has been generous to you over the years?
2. What do you think of organizations that depend on donations?
Explore It
1. For whom was the collection that Paul requested? (16:1)
2. Whose example was the Corinthian church to follow? (16:1)
3. *Who was to contribute to the collection? (16:2)
4. *How were the Corinthians to know how much money to give? (16:2)
5. When were the Corinthians to set aside money for their gifts? (16:2)
6. *Why did Paul give such specific instructions to the Corinthians? (16:2)
7. What specific instructions did Paul give the Corinthians regarding the collection? (16:2–3)
8. What did Paul plan to do during his visit to the Corinthian church? (16:3)
9. Who was to deliver the gift to Jerusalem? (16:3)
10. Why would letters of introduction be important for those delivering the gift? (16:4)
Get It
1. What can we learn from the giving practices of the early church?
2. What attitudes or actions of the early Christians do you think you should imitate?
3. What characteristics of the early church should your church imitate?
4. Which of Paul’s instructions on giving were meant exclusively for the Corinthian church?
5. What principles should govern our giving to the work of the Lord?
6. *How should we decide how much to set aside for the church?
7. What kind of discernment should we show in our giving?
8. In what ways can church leaders be kept accountable in using the money given to the church?
9. *How do you think you can be a better steward of the resources God has given you?
Apply It
1. *How can you improve your attitude or practices in supporting God’s work financially?
2. What considerations should you keep in mind when planning your giving?
Personal Requests—1 Corinthians 16:5–24
Topics: Acceptance, Courage, Love, Ministry, Responsibility, Teamwork, Work
Open It
1. How much contact do you have with people in other countries?
2. *Whom would you greet in a letter addressed to all your out-of-town friends?
Explore It
1. What were Paul’s plans after going through Macedonia? (16:5–6)
2. What did Paul expect from the Corinthians during his visit with them? (16:6)
3. Why was Paul informing the Corinthian church about his plans? (16:6–9)
4. *What opportunity awaited Paul in Ephesus? (16:9)
5. What words did Paul share about Timothy’s visit? (16:10–11)
6. What did Paul’s words reveal about Timothy? (16:10–11)
7. What were Paul’s specific instructions on how to live? (16:13)
8. What service had the household of Stephanas provided? (16:15)
9. *How were the Corinthians to treat those who labored for God? (16:16)
10. *Why did Paul think some men deserve recognition? (16:18)
11. How did Paul authenticate his letter? (16:21)
12. What closing thoughts did Paul leave with the Corinthians? (16:22–24)
Get It
1. What can we learn from the circumstances of the Corinthian church?
2. *If Paul were writing a letter to your church, what would he affirm and what would he challenge?
3. How should we treat church leaders?
4. How can we actually do everything in love?
5. About what should you be on guard in your Christian walk?
6. What does it mean to be submissive to believers who are involved in the work of the Lord?
7. For what reasons should churches from all parts of the world try to work together?
8. *How do you think God wants you to support ministers of the gospel?
Apply It
1. *How can you show your support to a believer who lives in another part of the world?
2. How can you help the ministry of your local church?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. 1 Co 1:1–16:24.