Participants 113
Discussion Questions
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In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul explains how he tries to be all things to all people. Describe, in your own words, what you think Paul is saying in this passage. How can we apply his teaching in this passage to our Christian walk? What precautions should we take in applying this teaching?
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For me, I believe that Paul is saying that our goal is to share the Gospel with all people without prejudice towards their cultures or customs and regardless of their social or economic status in life. To do so means to enter into their situations without compromising the teachings of the Word and without a “I’m better than you” mentality. We are all,God’s creations and need salvation no matter where we are in life.
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Where there is no clear teaching in scripture on specific issues we should try and be should try and accommodate our differences to bring them to Christ. Some would have different views on what could is allowed on a Sunday which is considered day of rest. We should ensure that whatever they believe would not actually be considered as a sin – going to the pub on a Sunday for lunch.
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I believe Paul is saying that in order to lead others to Christ, you must meet them at their level. We should not come with lofty words or attitudes that project cold arrogance. Instead, seek others by way of being relatable within their context. There are many ways to apply this idea to our Christian walk including: inviting someone to their favorite sport event, providing a meal when someone is sick or has had surgery, meeting up with people in their homes, asking for their advice in their field of expertise, etc. We should take precautions in that whatever we do, is not a stumbling block for the other person. It also goes without saying that we do not engage in any act that is immoral, illegal, or goes against Biblical principles.
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Paul made himself a servant to win others to Christ. We learn that we don’t have to become a sinner to minister to others but to be at their level to lead them to Christ.
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Write a one-sentence summary of the teaching of 1 Corinthians. Then, explain how your sentence summarizes this epistle.
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Be Christ in all, for all, and to all for the glory of Christ’s name and His gospel.
If our lives are in Christ, we should live every aspect of our lives (including food, finances, marriage, legalities, etc.), as servants of Christ. As we surrender our will to His will, we will grow deeper to a Spirit-led life that seeks to bring glory to God and transforms us from being self-centered to others-centered.
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Focus on loving one another and remain humble to serve the Lord to be Christlike.
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Live for others and not yourself.
Once you have let go of your own personal needs, you can best live like Christ, which in return can help other’s see the truth.
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Live a life that treats people the same way Jesus treated you, by putting His life on the cross and resurrecting for your salvation. The book was all about knowing Jesus died on the cross for you and that we need to teach other people about this, even to adapting to peoples cultures so we don’t offend them and can share the gospel with them.
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Dedicate your life to Christ and show this through your thoughts and actions each and every day.
Throughout 1 Cor., Paul emphasizes how the church should deal with sin and it provides a model for how Christians should go about their daily lives.
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Think of an area of conflict in your church or in the church at large today. Dr. Blomberg says that if we focus on the two doctrines of the crucifixion and the resurrection, the issues of Christian behavior will begin to fall into place. Explain how such a focus would affect a resolution of the area of conflict you have identified.
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An area of conflict in the church at large today is the acceptance of minority groups within the church. Believing that minorities are less than or in a lower category than whites does not reflect the love displayed by Jesus who gave up His life for all. Deeper still is the issue of undocumented persons within the church. Shall we kick them out of the church for not having legal papers? Many undocumented families have been here for 20+ years and have shown themselves to be hardworking members of society. All people, including those persons who have risked their lives to come into the United States, are created in the image of God. Christ gave His life for all and salvation and the hope of the resurrection are for all people. The church should view minorities including undocumented persons through the lens of Christ’s unconditional love and show the understanding, respect, and compassion that all humans deserve.
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An area of conflict could be which translation of the Bible is the closest to the original meaning. When we put this in line with the crucifixion and resurrection we will see that the bigger, more important picture is that of whether or not we believe in these foundational truths.
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If we understand the purpose of our life is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then spending time with him, obeying his word, and worshiping him will become our top priority.
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The use of pornography by Christians is rarely addressed in the church today. It is typically not addressed from the pulpit, in Sunday School or in youth settings. According to surveys, young men and women within the church have nearly the same level of addiction or compulsion as their non-Christian peers. The point of conflict becomes, “Do we allow the culture to set moral standards or do we look to God for direction?”
Christians I have known who struggled with pornography have typically had discomfort with it. While some labeled it as sinful behavior, others merely had a sense that it was not helpful in their lives or their relationships.
If Christians (or a church) were to focus on God’s word and his clarity regarding sexual sin, they would be convicted of the need to change course. Christ died for our sins. Our hope lies in his forgiveness and his acceptance of us as his redeemed children. -
Church conflict can be attending church when others plan activities on the Lord’s day. If we keep the crucifixion and the resurrection we will want to honor the Lord in attending church.