We shall begin the study of First Corinthians of the New
Testament.
Theme: All is Grace
Bear in mind that Paul was compelled to write a letter full of rebukes to a church he had planted in a city that was known as one of the greatest Roman cities in Greece. It was cultured, prosperous and immoral and many of her people had become Christians. They brought with them their pagan lifestyles that had made the church almost indistinguishable from the world in many ways.
(1) Read Paul's greeting found in vv.1-3 and describe your impressions concerning the following:
a. Who Paul is
b. Who the Corinthians believers are
c. The greetings of grace and peace
(2) Although within the epistle we find rebukes concerning their prideful knowledge, why then would Paul give thanks for “all your speaking and in all your knowledge” (1:5)? In what ways can these gifts (of grace) be a cause for thanksgiving?
(3) What might the difference be when believers of a church, like
(4) Do you live eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed? What impact does such an attitude (or a lack thereof) have on the following areas of your life right now?
a. In your inner life
b. Your family life
c. Your work life
d. Your church life
(5) What does Paul remind us of concerning our calling in v.9?
(6) What have you done with this calling?
(7) What has God promised concerning this calling?
(8) What is the main message for you today?
Theme: Prideful divisions
(1) Paul clarifies that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the gospel. With these words, how would you understand the true importance of baptism?
(2) We love to say that we do not need to agree with one another in mind and thought. But Paul does insist that this be the case in v.10:
a. In what way(s) do we need to be “perfectly united in mind and thought”?
b. In what way(s) may we not need to be so?
c. What is the ultimate way to express our perfect unity?
(3) What was the issue that caused the Corinthian believers not to be of perfect unity in mind and in thought?
(4) What was the real issue or basis of their division?
(5) Paul appeared to chastise even those who said, “I follow Christ.” Why?
(6) In response to their division, Paul pointed out that he preached “the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power”.
a. Why would the cross be emptied of its power?
b. How does this statement serve as a rebuke to their division?
(7) How important is this rebuke to you and the church today?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
Theme: The Message of the Cross—the Power of God
The Corinthian Christians thought highly of themselves because of their philosophic heritage, and they tended to inject such a cultural heritage into their life in Christ. The Apostle Paul, who was very educated as well, tried hard to take away anything that the Corinthians might bring into the church which would alter the very essence of the gospel.
(1) What is the essential message of the cross? Why is it foolishness to those who do not believe?
(2) Why is it the power of God to those who believe? Is it the power of God to you? Why?
(3) How did God destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligent?
a. Why did Paul ask where “is” their wise man, the scholar or the philosopher of their age?
b. Who were those whom they revered and esteemed most in Greek philosophy?
c. When Paul asked this question, where were they?
d. By comparison with them, what was and is Jesus Christ?
e. “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (v. 20) What is your answer?
(4) Why did the preaching of "Christ crucified" have the following results?
a. The message was a stumbling block to the Jews, who demanded miracles.
b. The message was foolishness to the Gentiles (the Greek in particular), who looked for wisdom.
(5) What then might the message be that they would welcome?
(6) Paul preached the message of salvation through Christ’s crucifixion. In what way is God’s “foolishness” wiser than man’s wisdom, and God’s “weakness” stronger that man’s strength?
(7) What is the main message to you today?
Theme: Who we were
(1) The Corinthian Christians liked to think of themselves as learned and so they took pride in whom they followed (1:12). But in essence, who were they before they became Christians?
(2) Who were you before your conversion? Were you, in the eyes of the world, foolish,
weak or lowly? If you were, what then
was the reason given here for God choosing
you?
(3) Examine yourself: If you were to share your testimony with other people, how would you describe yourself before conversion?
(4) What is meant by Christ being “our righteousness, holiness and redemption”?
(5) Have you ever boasted in your right actions, your ethical values or your faith? Should you?
(6) What if Paul had come to preach the gospel with eloquence (i.e. with great rhetorical skill) and superior wisdom (high philosophy), mixing them with the message of Christ crucified?
a. What would he have done to the gospel message?
b. If the Corinthians came to Christ as a result, what might be the danger?
(7) Dr. James Houston likes to say, “How can I make a career out of the crucified Christ” to warn all would-be ministers and theologians. What do you think of his words and how can you apply it to yourself?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
Theme: No Human Wisdom, Please!
(1) Two kinds of wisdom are being compared by Paul. What are they?
(2) What proof is there that the rulers of this age do not understand “God’s secret wisdom”?
(3) What is the only way that “God’s secret wisdom” can be known and understood?
(4) Why does Paul describe our Lord of glory as what God has prepared for those who love Him? Why does he describe this gift of Christ as, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has conceived”? What kind of indictment is it to human wisdom?
(5) What advantages, therefore, do we have over the world when it comes to understanding the things and wisdom of God?
(6) How then should we respond if we are mocked that only the weak and simple of mind believe in God?
(7) What does v. 15 mean and what doesn’t it mean?
(8) How then can we maintain having “the mind of Christ” (v.16)?
(9) What is the main message to you today?
Theme: Carnal Christians
(1) What should be the mark(s) of a born-again Christian?
(2) What are the marks of a baby?
(3) What are the marks of a spiritual baby?
(4) What the marks of an adult?
(5) What are the marks of a mature spiritual Christian?
(6) Paul said that the Corinthian believers were still given milk, not solid food. What might milk be in this sense? (You may want to refer to Heb. 5:11 – 6:2.)
(7) What then are you being fed today?
(8) What are the signs, according to Paul, that they are still not ready for solid food?
(9) Apart from jealousy and quarrels, what else might be signs that we are still “worldly…acting like mere men” (v. 3)?
(10) What is the main message to you today?
Theme: The church’s only foundation
(1) Vv. 6-9—1st analogy of the church: a plant
a. How appropriate is Paul’s (and in fact, the Bible’s) use of a plant (and especially a vineyard) to speak of the church?
b. What part do we play in the growth of the church as servants of God?
c. We all know that only God can make the church grow and we are mere sowers and watermen. Yet we often find ourselves taking credit that should be God’s. What do you often take credit for and why is it so hard to really understand that it is God who makes everything happen?
d. In what sense are “the man who plants and the man who waters” one? (the original Greek simply says, “are one”)
(2) Vv. 10-15—2nd analogy of the church: A building
a. How appropriate is Paul’s use of a building project in speaking of the church?
b. In what way(s) is Paul an expert (or wise) builder and not a foolish one?
c. In admonishing us to be careful with how we participate in building, what does Paul have in mind in particular in v.11? What is the difference between laying the foundation and erecting the superstructure above it?
d. How can we know that we, or someone, might be laying a foundation other than Jesus Christ?
e. In participating in the building of the church, which kinds of our work might qualify as gold, silver and costly stones? Which kinds might be counted as wood, hay or straw? Does it have anything to do with how hard we work, how gifted we are or how great the results may be? Why or why not?
f. Since v. 15 speaks of our being ‘saved”, it appears to refer to our appearance before the throne of Christ at His second coming. How will the quality of our work be revealed on that “Day”? What is that fire being referred to?
g. If our work survives the test of fire, what will we receive? What if our work does not survive the test, what will happen to us?
(3) Vv. 16-17—3rd analogy of the church: God’s temple
a. Is it an analogy or more than an analogy to call the church as God’s temple? What do you think?
b. When the church is mentioned, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? When God’s temple is mentioned, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Why is there a difference?
c. In what way can one “destroy” God’s temple, the church? What will be the consequences for that person? Is Paul bluffing? Why or why not?
(4) What is the main message for you today?