Check here each week for information to prepare your heart for the upcoming sermon and follow-up questions you can use after the sermon to dig deeper and disciple your family!
Participating in the Gospel
Participating in the Gospel – 1 Corinthians 16:1-11
Preparing your heart for the sermon:
- -What is the Gospel? How are we to respond to the Gospel?
- -How did the Corinthians’ giving to the Jews serve as a picture of the Gospel?
- -How does the Gospel advance? In what ways can you help with the progress of the Gospel?
Other passages to consider: Mal 1:11; Acts 4:32-5:11; Rom 15:22-33; 1 Cor 4:17; 2 Cor 8-9; Eph 2:11-22; 4:32-5:2; Col 1:3-13; 4:2-4;
Digging Deeper:
- -How might God be calling you to provide for Gospel ministry?
- -How do you respond when someone brings a biblical word of correction?
- -What principles of financial giving do we learn from this passage?
- -What opportunities around you do you have to live out the Gospel?
Gatherings that Build up the Church
Gatherings that Build up the Church –
1 Corinthians 14:6-19
Preparing your heart for the sermon:
- Why was the gift of tongues not edifying the church in Corinth?
- How is the gift of prophecy much more valuable than tongues in building up the church?
- How is God glorified by the church being built up?
Other passages to consider: Ps 34:1-10; 96; 105:1-6; 118:1-4; Eph 4:7-16; Col 3:12-17; 1 Pet 2:9-10; Rev 7:9-12.
Digging Deeper:
- What could we do to make our worship services more understandable?
- What would help you stay focused during our gatherings?
- How can you build up others in their faith?
- What can you be doing to prepare and seek to build up the church?
Growing Together into Christ
Growing Together into Christ
Ephesians 4:11-16
Preparing your heart for the sermon:
- What picture does Paul give for the church in this passage? What parts of the body are identified?
- How many times does the text speak of the body growing or being built up? Why would God mention it so often?
- What does growth in the church look like? What is it contrasted with?
Other passages to consider: Matt 16:13-18; John 15:1-17; Acts 20:28-32; 1 Cor 12:12-13:7; Eph 2:11-22; 3:20-4:16; Col 1:15-20; 1 Pet 4:7-11
Digging Deeper:
- How does God intend the church to grow?
- How does the text emphasize corporate growth rather than just individual? What does this say about the importance of involvement in the life of the church?
- What does it mean to grow up into Christ?
- Does your current commitment to the church match God’s intention? How can you be more connected to the body?
Singleness Commended, but not Commanded
Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 – Singleness Commended, but not Commanded
Preparing my heart for the sermon:
- What reasons does Paul give in this passage for a believer remaining single?
- How does a spouse and children help in glorifying the Lord? How could they be a hindrance to serving Christ?
- Does marriage and family make it harder or easier to endure calamities and persecution? Explain.
Other passages to consider – Ps 145:13; Matt 6:19-33; 22:30; 24:36-51; Jn 16:33; Philippians 3:12-4:1; 1 Jn 2:15-17
Digging Deeper:
- What are the right reasons to get married? What should a believer look for in a spouse?
- What temporary things of this world often distract me from investing in Christ’s eternal kingdom?
- Do I have the right balance between family time and serving the Lord? How could we serve as a family?
- Where might God be calling me to serve during this season of my life? Am I willing?
Remember God's Blessing to Us in Christ
Sermon – Remember God’s Blessings to Us in Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Preparing your heart for the sermon:
- Compare 1:1-9 with the introductions to Paul’s other letters. What is similar and different about this one to the Corinthians?
- Three times in this passage, Paul speaks about “called by God”. What is significant about this verb?
- What do you learn about the church from this text?
Other passages to consider: John 10:1-10; Acts 9:1-19; 18:1-17; Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:1-14; 3:10, 21; 5:25-27; Phil 1:6
Digging Deeper:
- How does remembering God’s blessings help us not sin?
- To whom does the church belong? Why does the church exist?
- What does this passage teach us about what the Christian life entails?
- How do God’s blessings come to us? Explain.