Pastor's Blog

Love Doesn’t Give Up: Loving in light of the power and promise of God  -1 Corinthians 13:7

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What does it look like to love according to v7?
• How could v7 be misunderstood or misapplied?
• How can I possibly love like this?

Other passages to consider: Ps 103; Rom 5:1-8; 8:22-39; 1 Cor 13:1-7; Phil 1:9-11; 2 Tim 2:8-10; 1 Pet 1:3-9; 1 John 4:7-12  

Digging Deeper:

• How does God’s providence help you patiently love those around you?
• As a believer in Christ, what is your inheritance?  How does this living hope empower you to take risks in loving others?
• Who in your life are you tempted to give up loving?  What can you do to help you persevere in love?
• How does this kind of love in v7 bring glory to God?

Love Doesn’t Do That – 1 Corinthians 13:4b-6

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• How have the Corinthians acted in the unloving ways described in vv4b-6?
• What do these unloving actions do to the health of a church and its ability to glorify God?
• How do these unloving actions manifest themselves in congregations today?  How can a church put off these actions?

Other passages to consider: Mark 10:45; John 3:30; Rom 12:21; 1 Cor 1:26-31; 3:1-4; 4:6-7; 5:6-8; 6:6-8; 10:23-24; 11:21-22; 12:14-27; 2 Cor 5:19; Gal 2:20; 1 Tim 2:5-6

Digging Deeper:

• How would you summarize these negative actions?
• How could love help prevent you from sinning in these areas?
• Are you acting in any of these unloving ways?  If so, what do you need to do?
• What would be the effect of a church that didn’t treat each other this way, but instead truly served one another in love?

Love Exercises Patience and Kindness – 1 Corinthians 13:4

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What is love?  How does the world’s definition of love differ from the Bible’s?
• How does Paul portray love in vv4-7?  What do you observe about his description?
• Has/is God patient and kind with you?  In what ways?

Other passages to consider: Ex 34:5-8; Ps 103; Matt 18:21-35; Luke 10:25-27; Rom 2:4; 8:31-39; Eph 4:31-5:2; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Pet 2:20-25; 2 Pet 3:8-10

Digging Deeper:

• How do we see Jesus model patience and kindness?
• What opportunities have you had today to exercise patience and kindness?
• How are we able to show patience and kindness?  What can I do to help me grow in this area?
• Think of people around you who exercise patience and kindness.  How does their behavior bring glory to God?

An Essential Element of our Church – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What are the essential elements of a church?
• How does Chapter 13 relate to Chapters 12 and 14?
• What examples have we seen so far of the Corinthians being unloving toward each other?

Other passages to consider: Matt 22:34-40; John 13:31-35; 15:1-17; Rom 5:1-8; 8:31-39; 1 Cor 13; Gal 2:20; Eph 3:14-21; 4:11-17; 4:30-5:2; Col 3:12-14; 2 Thess 1:3; 1 Tim 1:5; 1 Jn 4:7-21

Digging Deeper:

• Can service be given without love?
• Which is more important: giftedness or love?  Why?
• What are signs of a lack of love in a church?
• Where does love come from?  How can I grow in love?

Every Member of Christ’s Body is Needed –

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What wrong views of fellow believers was happening at Corinth?
• What are some small, unnoticeable parts of your body that are very important?
• How is the church hindered when its members aren’t present or participating?

Other passages to consider: Isa 32:15; 44:3; Ezek 39:29; Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17; 1 Cor 10:17; Gal 3:27-28; Eph 2:13-22; 4:1-16

Digging Deeper:

• How are you affected when one of your body parts is injured or missing?
• What might be your function in the Body of Christ?
• How do the truths of this passage relate to committing to church membership?
• How can we exercise care for one another in the Body of Christ?

Sermon – What is a spiritual person? –

1 Corinthians 12:1-3

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• What is true spirituality?  How does the world miss the mark on this?
• In what ways is Christianity confused about true spirituality?
• How is the ministry of the Holy Spirit related to Christ?

Other passages to consider:     Deut 11:13-21; Ps 115:1-11; Isa 41:22-42:9; Matt 7:21-27; John 15:26-16:15; Acts 2:36-41; 9:1-5; Rom 1:1-4; 1 Cor 8:4-6; 12:1-14:40; Eph 2:1-5; Titus 3:1-7; 1 John 4

Digging Deeper:

• Why does the Bible say that no one can confess that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit?
• Apart from Christ, we were all ignorant about spiritual things.  In what ways was your ignorance manifested?
• How do vv1-3 prepare us for a discussion about spiritual gifts?
• What does it look like to follow Jesus as Lord?  Can Jesus be your Savior without being your Lord?

Communion Calamity - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• How was the Corinthian church sinning in their celebration of the Lord’s Table?
• What does Paul mean in v20 that the Corinthians are not eating the Lord’s Table?
• Why did Christ institute the Lord’s Table?

Other passages to consider – Ex 12:1-28; 24:7-8; Ps 133; Isa 53; Jer 31:31-34; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 22:7-30; 1 Cor 10:14-22; Phil 2:1-11; Rev 19:6-10

Digging Deeper:

• Why is the Lord’s Table meant to be a corporate celebration?
• How did the Corinthians’ behavior strike at the very heart of the intended purpose for the Lord’s Supper?
• We are told to examine ourselves before we take the Lord’s Supper.  What should we be looking for?
• What steps can we take to ensure that God is glorified and the Body strengthened through our celebration of the Lord’s Table?

Embrace God's Design for Gender Distinctions & Roles

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What does the Trinity teach us about roles?
• How does Creation point to God's design for authority in the church and home?
• What happens when churches and homes do not follow God's design for gender roles?

Other passages to consider - Gen 1:26-27; 2:18-23; Gen 3:16; Ps 8; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 15:28,49; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 1:22-23; 4:15-16; 5:23; Col 1:18; 2:19; 1 Tim 2:11-14

Digging Deeper:

• How does Creation point to men and women's interdependence?
• In what ways might a church fail to maintain gender distinctions & roles?
• How does embracing God's design for gender bring glory to his name?
• What unique gifts and strengths do women bring to a church and home? 

Sermon – Seeking the Good of Others to the Glory of God - 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• Why does Paul quote Psalm 24:1 as support for eating meat?
• How do Paul’s instructions on when not to eat meat illustrate seeking the good of others?
• How did Jesus seek the good of others to the glory of God?

Other passages to consider – Ps 24:1-2; Isa 53:3-12; Mark 10:45; Rom 14:13-15:7; 1 Cor 6:12-13; 8:1-13; 9:19-23; 13:4-5; 2 Cor 8:9; Gal 5:13-14; Phil 2:3-11; 1 Tim 4:1-5

Digging Deeper:

• In what ways can I regularly seek the good of others and not my own?
• How is God glorified by me seeking the good of others?
• How can I find the ability to daily die to self and serve others?
• Who are some Christ-like examples around me that I could pattern my life after?

Sermon - Singular Devotion - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• How is Paul’s command to flee from idolatry different that what the Corinthians were currently doing?
• What is God jealous for?  Why is this right and good?
• What happens when we take the Lord’s Supper?

Other passages to consider – Ex 20:1-6; Deut 32:15-24; Joshua 24:12-24; Ps 86:8-13; Matt 22:34-40; 1 Cor 8-10; Eph 6:10-20; 2 Cor 4:3-6; 6:14-7:1; James 4:1-10; 1 Jn 2: 15-17

Digging Deeper:

• Am I worshipping Christ alone or have I tried to blend in other beliefs and practices?
• What in my life is hindering my devotion to Christ?  What changes do I need to make?
• How should the reality of demonic activity affect how I live?
• The Corinthians learned that eating idol food was serious and dangerous.  Am I participating in anything that is evil or unwise?

Sermon – Control Your Desires or Face Spiritual Ruin – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• What do Christians have in common with the Israelites who were brought out of Egypt?
• What was the fate of the Israelites who came out of Egypt?  Why did that happen?
• How does Israel serve as an example to the Corinthians and to us?

Other passages to consider – Ex 13:17-14:31; 16:1-17:7; 32:1-6; Num 14:1-35; 16:41-50; 20:2-13; 21:4-9; Ps 78:1-43; 106; Heb 3:7-4:13; 1 Pet 1:10-12

Digging Deeper:

• How does God use examples in our lives?
• What was the root issue with the Israelites?  How are the Corinthians showing they are in the same danger?
• In what areas do I need to exercise more self-control?  How can I grow in self-control?
• How does v13 encourage us as we seek to be self-controlled?

Sermon – Run to Win - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• Why did Paul use the picture of a runner and boxer with the Corinthians?
• What can we learn from athletes to help us in our Christian life?
• What contributed to the failure of the Israelites that Paul discusses in the next chapter?

Other passages to consider – Gen 39:1-12; Dan 1:8-20; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Phil 3:8-21; 1 Tim 4:7-9; 6:6-12; 2 Tim 4:6-8; Heb 12:1-16

Digging Deeper:

• Are you living with a singular focus in life?  What is it?  What should it be?  How could you be more intentional in how you live?
• What areas of self-denial and self-restraint will help you the most in your Christian life?
• How can you glorify God in your body?  How could discipline would help you do that?
• How do our actions and pattern of life relate to our salvation?

Sermon – Laying Aside My Rights for the Good of Others - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• What right is Paul explaining that he has?
• Why did Paul not exercise this right?
• Why does Paul discuss this here?  How does this relate to the context in the letter?

Other passages to consider – Matt 20:20-28; Luke 10:1-12; John 13:1-15; Eph 4:1-3; Phil 2:1-11; 2 Cor 4:1-15; 1 Tim 5:17-20; 1 Pet 5:5-7.

Digging Deeper:

• Why do we often feel like we must demand our rights?  What will help us be willing to let go of them?
• How did Jesus model laying aside rights for the good of others?
• What does it look like to become all things to all people (v22) for the sake of the gospel?
• What “rights” could I currently set aside to help bring the gospel to others?

Sermon – Loving my Brother More than my Rights – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• What is more important: theological knowledge or love?  Why?
• Some believers in Corinth were exercising their right to eat food that had been offered to idols.  What was the result?
• What value did Paul place on his brother in Christ?  How do we know from this text?

Other passages to consider – Deut 6:4-5; Matt 18:1-6; Acts 15:19-29; Rom 14:13-23; 1 Cor 13; Gal 5:13-15; Phil 2:1-11.

Digging Deeper:

• How can I grow in knowledge without becoming filled with pride?
• What responsibilities do I have to my brother for his spiritual growth?
• How does getting to know my brother (including his background), help me to love him better?
• What are some rights that I may be free to do as a Christian, but should be willing to give up if they cause my brother to sin?

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?

Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – Serve Christ Where God Has Placed You

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• Why does Paul bring up circumcision and slavery in a chapter on marriage?  How does the point of this passage relate to what Paul has been saying about marriage and singleness?
• Think about how radical a statement v19 was for Paul, a Jew and former Pharisee, to make. (see also Gal 5:6)
• How should God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness impact my attitude about my current situation?

Other passages to consider – Acts 17:24-26; Rom 8:28-29; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 9:17-23; 12:1-20; 2 Cor 4:5-6; Gal 3:27-29; Titus 2:11-1; 1 Pet 2:9-10;

Digging Deeper:

• How can I serve Christ right now where God has placed me?
• What particular experiences or qualities has God given me that could be used to bring Him glory?
• Why does God make up the church with diverse people?
• How do I know when I should seek to change my situation?

Sermon – 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 – Trusting/Obeying/Serving God Whether Single or Married

Preparing my heart for the sermon:

• What is marriage?  Why did God design marriage to be life-long?
• How would a change in marital status affect your service to the Lord?
• Why might an unbeliever leave his/her Christian spouse?

Other passages to consider – Gen 2:18-25; Ps 37; Prov 3:5-6; Matt 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Eph 5:22-33; 1 Pet 3:1-12

Digging Deeper:

• What are the right reasons to get married?  What are the wrong ones?
• Describe the impact Christians can have on the rest of the family.
• If I am single and long to be married, what should I focus on right now?
• How can I trust God and be a blessing in my marriage?

Sermon – 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 – Thinking Biblically about Pastors & Teachers

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What is servant-leadership?  Give some biblical examples.
• What are some wrong views or expectations of pastors?
• How can we guard against being people-pleasers?

Other passages to consider – Ps 17:3; 26:2; 44:21; 139:23; Jn 5:44; 1 Cor 3:5-15; 2 Cor 1:14; 2:17-3:4; 5:1-10; Phil 2:16; 1 Th 2:19-20; James 3:1

Digging Deeper:

• How should we view pastors & teachers?
• How does this text help us define a “successful ministry”?
• Why should we fear God and not man?
• What does this passage teach about the Judgment Seat of Christ?

Sermon – God’s Church, God’s Glory – 1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What is the Church?  What makes up the Church?
• What metaphors does Paul use in this text to describe the Church?
• Why does God point out that the Holy Spirit dwells in them corporately?

Other passages to consider – 1 Chron 29; Matt 16:13-20; 1 Cor 1:10-18; Eph 4:1-16; Col 3:5-17; 1 Tim 3:14-15; 1 Pet 2:4-12

Digging Deeper:

• Why should we not put Christian leaders on “a pedestal”?
• What standard will God use in judging how His Church was built?
• What does this passage have to do with divisions in the church?
• How does this text impact your view of Gospel ministry & the church?

Sermon – Time to Grow Up – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• Why do we not feed babies steak?  Why is it inappropriate for adults to live on baby formula?
• Does Christian growth happen automatically over the passage of time?  Why or why not?
• What does Christian growth look like?  What things get mistaken for growth?

Other passages to consider – Ps 51; Rom 8:1-9; Gal 5:16-26; Eph 4:11-16; Col 1:28; 2:6-7; Titus 2:11-13; 3:3-9; Heb 5:11-6:1a; Jam 1:19-22; 1 Pet 1:23-2:3

Digging Deeper:

• Am I growing in spiritual maturity?  How can I tell?
• What is the Holy Spirit’s role in our Christian growth?  What is our role?
• What in my life is hindering my Christian growth?
• How is God glorified when His people grow?

Sermon – The Wisdom of God – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What has Paul been teaching the wisdom of God is?
• How is God’s wisdom secret?
• Who are the spiritual in this passage?

Other passages to consider – Dan 2:19-23; John 3:1-8; 15:18-27; Rom 8:1-9; 11:33-36; 16:25-27; 1 Cor 1:18-25; 2 Cor 4:3-6; Eph 1:8-10; Phil 3:17-21; 1 John 2:15-17

Digging Deeper:

• How does the gospel display the wisdom of God?
• In what ways are we blessed to live on this side of the cross? (in the New Covenant)
• Why must we have the Spirit of God if we are to understand the gospel?
• How does this passage impact your proclamation of the gospel?

Sermon – Amazed and Humbled by God’s Grace - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• What qualities does the world value?  How might these run counter to the Gospel and what God deems important?
• What does unconditional election mean?  How does this truth humble us and highlight God’s grace?
• In what other things/people am I tempted to boast rather than the Lord?

Other passages to consider: Deut 7:6-11; 10:12-22; 1 Sam 2:1-11; Jer 9:23-24; Matt 11:25-30; Eph 1:3-10; 4:1-7; James 3:13-4:10; 1 Pet 2:9-12 

Digging Deeper:

• Why does God often save and work through the “nobodies” of this world?
• How did you come to be saved?  Who should get all the credit for that?
• What does v30 teach you about your salvation?
• How can we boast in the Lord this coming week?

Sermon – Christ: The Power & Wisdom of God – 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• Why is pride incongruent with the Gospel?
• How does the method of preaching bring glory to God?
• What two camps does this passage divide all of humanity into?

Other passages to consider: Isa 29:13-21; 2 Cor 4:1-7; James 3:13-17; 1 John 2:15-17.

Digging Deeper:

• How did the Corinthians exaltation of human leaders contradict the Gospel?
• Why is the Gospel foolish to unbelievers?
• How has God through the Gospel made foolish the wisdom of the world?
• What values of the world might I be adopting that are contrary to the Gospel?

Sermon – United Around Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17a

Preparing your heart for the sermon:

• Where does the believers’ unity come from?
• What are common sources of division within the church?
• What should unity look like in the church?

Other passages to consider: Ps 133; Matt 5:21-24; 7:1-5; 18:15; John 17; Rom 13:8-15:7; 1 Cor 12:12-13:13; Eph 4:1-6; Philippians 2:1-11.

Digging Deeper:

• Why is unity important in the church? What is this unity centered on?
• What within Christendom can divert our focus away from Christ?
• How does the Gospel help us maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
• Are there any people within the Body of Christ that I need to be reconciled to?