Bible Study Questions
1 Corinthians - "Devoted or Divided?"
Prayer
Summary 1 Corinthians is Paul’s wake-up call to a gifted church that’s coming apart at the seams. Pride is fueling division, tolerance is excusing sexual sin, “knowledge” is crushing weaker believers, and worship gatherings have turned chaotic and self-centered. Paul corrects them by re-centering everything on Christ—crucified and risen—because a divided church can’t preach a unified Savior. The mission doesn’t collapse out there first; it collapses in here, when the church forgets devotion and replaces it with ego. Detailed QuestionsRomans Bible Study Questions (12)Romans 1–3: The Problem 1. Background & Setting: Using Acts 18, what do we learn about Corinth (Paul’sarrival, ministry, opposition, duration, and the kind of city it was)—and why doesthat context make the problems in 1 Corinthians feel “predictable”? 2. Reason for Writing & the “Missing Letter”: In 1 Corinthians, what clues show Paulis responding to questions and reports from Corinth, and what does the sermonmean by “0 Corinthians” (a prior letter/correspondence)? How does that change theway we read the book? 3. Division Issue #1 — Pastor Worship: Read 1 Corinthians 1–4. What were thefactions (“I follow Paul… Apollos… Peter… Christ”), and why does Paul treat this asidolatry rather than “personal preference”? What does 1:10–13 reveal about Christand unity? 4. How Division Spreads Today: Where do you see modern “pastor worship” inchurch culture (celebrity, brand, tribe, algorithm-discipleship)? What’s one practicalway to honor leaders without building factions? 5. Division Issue #2 — Sexual Sin & Church Discipline: In 1 Corinthians 5–6, whatwas the sin Paul addresses, and why does he say the church should mourn insteadof boasting? What does it mean to “remove” someone from fellowship? 6. Technical: “Hand him over to Satan” (1 Cor. 5:5): Why would Paul command this,and how does the sermon frame it as a restoration strategy (a “prodigal strategy”)rather than revenge? What outcome is Paul aiming for? 7. Technical: Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (1 Cor. 7): What instructions doesPaul give to married believers, single believers, and widows? In the sermon’swording, what does it mean that the abandoned believer is not “bound,” and whydoes that imply a freedom to remarry when an unbelieving spouse leaves? 8. Division Issue #3 — Secondary Doctrine (Food, Idols, Conscience): In 1Corinthians 8–10, what doctrine/issue were they divided about, and why is Paul’sanswer so significant? How does he balance (a) “idols are nothing” and (b) “don’twound a weaker conscience”? 9. Worship Service Section & Its Problems: What section of the letter deals withworship gathering issues (chapters 11–14), and what are the major problems listedin the sermon (head coverings/cultural signals, abuses at the Lord’s Table, pride ingifts, disorder with tongues/prophecy)? 10. Technical: Gifts, Tongues, and “Not Everyone Does Everything”: Where doesPaul explicitly show that not all believers have the same gifts (including tongues,apostleship/missionary-type roles), and how does that correct modern pressurethat “everyone must have the same experience”? 11. Technical: Women Speaking — Language & Context: The sermon notes the“contradiction problem” (women pray/prophesy in ch. 11, yet told to be silent in14:33–35). Looking at the context of disorder and the language details noted in thesermon (“women” / “husbands”), what do you think Paul is restricting—all speech,all women, or a specific disruptive kind of speech—and why? 12.According to the sermon, what is the one solution Paul brings everything back to(chapter 15), and how does the resurrection re-center pride, purity, doctrinedisputes, and worship chaos? What’s one “mirror” takeaway you want to live thisweek? Discussion
Summary 1 Corinthians is Paul’s wake-up call to a gifted church that’s coming apart at the seams. Pride is fueling division, tolerance is excusing sexual sin, “knowledge” is crushing weaker believers, and worship gatherings have turned chaotic and self-centered. Paul corrects them by re-centering everything on Christ—crucified and risen—because a divided church can’t preach a unified Savior. The mission doesn’t collapse out there first; it collapses in here, when the church forgets devotion and replaces it with ego. Detailed QuestionsRomans Bible Study Questions (12)Romans 1–3: The Problem 1. Background & Setting: Using Acts 18, what do we learn about Corinth (Paul’sarrival, ministry, opposition, duration, and the kind of city it was)—and why doesthat context make the problems in 1 Corinthians feel “predictable”? 2. Reason for Writing & the “Missing Letter”: In 1 Corinthians, what clues show Paulis responding to questions and reports from Corinth, and what does the sermonmean by “0 Corinthians” (a prior letter/correspondence)? How does that change theway we read the book? 3. Division Issue #1 — Pastor Worship: Read 1 Corinthians 1–4. What were thefactions (“I follow Paul… Apollos… Peter… Christ”), and why does Paul treat this asidolatry rather than “personal preference”? What does 1:10–13 reveal about Christand unity? 4. How Division Spreads Today: Where do you see modern “pastor worship” inchurch culture (celebrity, brand, tribe, algorithm-discipleship)? What’s one practicalway to honor leaders without building factions? 5. Division Issue #2 — Sexual Sin & Church Discipline: In 1 Corinthians 5–6, whatwas the sin Paul addresses, and why does he say the church should mourn insteadof boasting? What does it mean to “remove” someone from fellowship? 6. Technical: “Hand him over to Satan” (1 Cor. 5:5): Why would Paul command this,and how does the sermon frame it as a restoration strategy (a “prodigal strategy”)rather than revenge? What outcome is Paul aiming for? 7. Technical: Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (1 Cor. 7): What instructions doesPaul give to married believers, single believers, and widows? In the sermon’swording, what does it mean that the abandoned believer is not “bound,” and whydoes that imply a freedom to remarry when an unbelieving spouse leaves? 8. Division Issue #3 — Secondary Doctrine (Food, Idols, Conscience): In 1Corinthians 8–10, what doctrine/issue were they divided about, and why is Paul’sanswer so significant? How does he balance (a) “idols are nothing” and (b) “don’twound a weaker conscience”? 9. Worship Service Section & Its Problems: What section of the letter deals withworship gathering issues (chapters 11–14), and what are the major problems listedin the sermon (head coverings/cultural signals, abuses at the Lord’s Table, pride ingifts, disorder with tongues/prophecy)? 10. Technical: Gifts, Tongues, and “Not Everyone Does Everything”: Where doesPaul explicitly show that not all believers have the same gifts (including tongues,apostleship/missionary-type roles), and how does that correct modern pressurethat “everyone must have the same experience”? 11. Technical: Women Speaking — Language & Context: The sermon notes the“contradiction problem” (women pray/prophesy in ch. 11, yet told to be silent in14:33–35). Looking at the context of disorder and the language details noted in thesermon (“women” / “husbands”), what do you think Paul is restricting—all speech,all women, or a specific disruptive kind of speech—and why? 12.According to the sermon, what is the one solution Paul brings everything back to(chapter 15), and how does the resurrection re-center pride, purity, doctrinedisputes, and worship chaos? What’s one “mirror” takeaway you want to live thisweek? Discussion