1st Corinthians Series Discussion Questions
May 10, 2026 - A Relatable Letter
Each book in the Bible has a unique context, history, culture, and "personality". Why is it important to study these things to better understand what the book actually has to say?
How relatable do you feel 1 Corinthians is?
What is significant about P46 and what it reveals to us about Paul's writings?
What does it mean to rest in the authority of the Word of God? What kind of relationship do you have with authority?
What was the culture of Corinth and what do think it must have been like to become a Christian in that environment and start a movement in a city like that?
What similarities do you feel with this context?
What names stood out to you in the history of this church and how did they help the people of the church mature in their faith? Who has stepped into your spiritual timeline?
This book can be broken down into five sections:
Finding your identity in Christ alone
Sexual ethics formed by the gospel
Setting aside opinions for unity through the gospel
Finding order in the church to centralize the gospel
And , the importance of the resurrection.
How do these sections feel needed and relatable as someone living in a 21st century community of faith in the Pacific Northwest?
May 17, 2026 - Don't Ruin A Good Thing
When have you lost focus in an important area of life? In School, Work, Relationships, or recreation. Is there a time when your lack of focus yielded frustration or apathy?
What did it mean for Paul and Sosthenes to be called by God? What would it have ment to hear Paul remind the reader that they had also been called by God?
What does it feel like to be called by God, to be called from, to be called to be, and to be called to action? When you deeply understand this how could you stay where you were before Jesus came into your life?
What does it mean to BIRG in Jesus? To Bask In HIS Reflective Glory? How does this make you a saint?
Grace and Peace are both positional realities given to you based on the work of Jesus alone. They are also growing conditional realities that make you more like Jesus over time. How does Paul describe this in these verses?
What excitement do you feel when you realize this is the good life that Jesus has called you to?
How did the Corinthians loose their focus and what did that cost them, their church, and their city in Corinth?
When have you lost your mind, heart, center, or way?
How have you seen that cost you, your church, or your city?
How is the LEGO story similar to Paul's introduction to the Church at Corinth?
How can you start today to refocus on Jesus as the only thing in life that matters?
May 24, 2026 - Finding our Humble Hero
BIRGing (Basking in Reflected Glory) is a social psychology concept where individuals boost their self-esteem by publicly associating themselves with successful people or groups, even if they had no hand in the success. Why you congratulate yourself when the Seahawks win.
Last week we introduced this concept. Here Paul raises the danger of Basking in Lesser Glory. The church at Corinth had set their attention on heroes lesser than Jesus.What value or preference were the Jews and Greeks in Corinth looking for in their hero's?
How did the Jews wanting a powerful sign of works blind them from seeing Jesus?
How did the Greeks wanting wise words of pride blind them from seeing Jesus?
How does Paul speak of the wisdom, works, and power of Jesus and His gospel?
Take some time to talk through the gospel of Jesus' humility. How is this true divine wisdom and power?
To whom will you B.I.R.G?
What happens when you set your eyes on broken human hero's?
What happens when you set your eyes on Jesus lifted up? Talk through verse 30-31. What impact does Jesus' victory have in your life?
Paul ends this chapter by calling the readers to remember their calling. Why does Paul need to remind them of their humble state? Why do we need a sober reminder of our humility?
Why is it good to "Know that you're low"?
How does this help us to B.I.R.G. on Jesus?
How does this open doors for Jesus to use you toward His powerful work?
May 31, 2026 - Who Will You Be?
Last week Paul showed us the superiority of God's wisdom through the gospel over man's natural wisdom. How does Paul demonstrate his love for God's wisdom and power in verses 1-5? How did Paul "get out of the way" so people could only see Jesus?
In verses 6-9, Paul says that this is the only wisdom he wishes to give to the readers. How does his use of Old Testament scriptures show that he isn't using his own wisdom but God's wisdom?
Paul demonstrated with his life that he was a fragile human and a humble speaker. How does that prove, as a leader, that he truly believed what he taught?
Chapter one and now into chapter two WISDOM presents itself a the major theme. Paul now directs the reader to the key to growing in SPIRITual wisdom. You can't SPIRITually mature if you don't have The SPIRIT. Read verses 10-13 and talk through the intimate and personal relationship that can be found with The Spirit.
How do these verses parallel other verses in the New Testament? Take some time to talk through these verses and what it can look like to have this kind of relationship with The Spirit.
-Ephesians 1:13-14
-John 14:16-17
-Galatians 2:20, 3:1-6
-Ephesians 5:15-18
Paul then calls attention to life without The Spirit. When you are in your natural life you can not welcome The Spirit, listen to The Spirit, learn from The Spirit, or be led by The Spirit. Paul then connects the Corinthians with the reality of their hearts. According to 3:1-4, how are they living their todays? Naturally or Spiritually?
-How does living naturally ruin the good work of the gospel in their lives?
-How does living naturally lead to ruining the good work of the gospel in their church?
-What is the key to not ruining a good thing in our lives?
-What does it look like to be more Spirit minded in your today?
June 7, 2026 - A Foundation to Build On
Who are some people that you have pedestaled in your life?
Can you give some examples of what you believe is wood, hay and straw in your life?
Does the differing values of gold silver and precious stone help you to evaluate what you're doing and how you could be doing it differently - remember good, better, best?
We are always in the process of maturing, how has this message spurred you on?
Read Hebrews 11:13-16 and discuss how it is that all those mentioned prior gazed towards heaven to be recompensed for their life on earth.
June 14, 2026 - Is This You?
(*Please note that due to a technical hardware issue there is no online video available of this message.)
Paul begins all of his letters in similar ways. Before we can get to life change we have to understand and embrace our identity in Jesus. That is what Paul has been driving at for the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians.
Paul comes back to his clarification between worldly wisdom and the wisdom of God. At the heart of this clarification is Paul helping us see where we turn to for sustenance.
How does the wisdom of this world produce salinization in our lives?
How does the wisdom of God (the Gospel of Jesus) provide true sustenance for our lives?
When we are truly receiving our life's sustenance from Jesus, we are able to find God's provision of supplements in life. What is the difference between enjoying supplements rightly, and wrongly turning to supplements for our sustenance?
When we are sustained in Jesus we are free to enjoy supplements. How does Paul show this in the eight supplements he lists in verses 21-23.
Paul then concludes this talk on identity by rightly understanding a leader's identity in Jesus.
What was Paul communicating with his use of "servants" and "faithful stewards"?
How did Paul demonstrate this with his life?
What does it mean to "live for an audience of one" and how did Paul describe this?
Talk through these top three points:
What does it mean to be enthralled and sustained by the Gospel of Jesus?
How are you being an everyday servant and steward of this mystery?
How do you live differently living for an audience of one? Does this change your life everyday?
Is this you?