Week 10: Unity in the Gospel
1 Corinthians 4:14–21 — “A Good Ouch”
1. Paul writes “I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children” (v.14).
Why is it important that correction happens in the context of relationship and love? How does remembering our identity in Christ affect the way we receive correction?
2. In the sermon, we heard that it is possible to celebrate Jesus publicly while resisting Him personally. Where can we sometimes want Jesus as Savior but struggle to submit to Him as Lord? What does true surrender look like in everyday life?
3. The sermon described two kinds of love: one that wants approval and one that wants growth. Why is loving correction often difficult to give or receive? Who has God used in your life to lovingly challenge you?
4. Paul says his warning is meant to help the Corinthians avoid a harmful path. How have you experienced correction that later proved to be a gift? Why can warnings feel uncomfortable even when they are loving?
5. Paul contrasts “guardians” with “fathers.” What is the difference between someone who simply gives advice and someone who is truly invested in your spiritual growth? Who has played a spiritual “parent” role in your life?
6. Paul says, “imitate me” (v.16). Who are you intentionally learning from in your walk with Christ? Who might God be calling you to model Christ for?
7. Paul reminds the Corinthians that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (v.20). What is the difference between spiritual talk and spiritual transformation? Where have you seen God’s power changing someone’s life?
8. Spiritual maturity is not perfection but teachability. What makes it difficult to receive correction with humility? What helps create a teachable heart?
9. The sermon emphasized that discipleship requires real relationships. How is God using relationships in your life to help you grow spiritually? Are you currently allowing others to speak truth into your life?
10. Where might God be inviting you to experience a “good ouch” right now? What is one step of obedience or growth you sense God calling you to take this week?
1. Paul writes “I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children” (v.14).
Why is it important that correction happens in the context of relationship and love? How does remembering our identity in Christ affect the way we receive correction?
2. In the sermon, we heard that it is possible to celebrate Jesus publicly while resisting Him personally. Where can we sometimes want Jesus as Savior but struggle to submit to Him as Lord? What does true surrender look like in everyday life?
3. The sermon described two kinds of love: one that wants approval and one that wants growth. Why is loving correction often difficult to give or receive? Who has God used in your life to lovingly challenge you?
4. Paul says his warning is meant to help the Corinthians avoid a harmful path. How have you experienced correction that later proved to be a gift? Why can warnings feel uncomfortable even when they are loving?
5. Paul contrasts “guardians” with “fathers.” What is the difference between someone who simply gives advice and someone who is truly invested in your spiritual growth? Who has played a spiritual “parent” role in your life?
6. Paul says, “imitate me” (v.16). Who are you intentionally learning from in your walk with Christ? Who might God be calling you to model Christ for?
7. Paul reminds the Corinthians that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (v.20). What is the difference between spiritual talk and spiritual transformation? Where have you seen God’s power changing someone’s life?
8. Spiritual maturity is not perfection but teachability. What makes it difficult to receive correction with humility? What helps create a teachable heart?
9. The sermon emphasized that discipleship requires real relationships. How is God using relationships in your life to help you grow spiritually? Are you currently allowing others to speak truth into your life?
10. Where might God be inviting you to experience a “good ouch” right now? What is one step of obedience or growth you sense God calling you to take this week?
Week 9: Unity in the Gospel
1 Corinthians 4:1–13 — Servants, Stewards, and Faithfulness
1. Paul describes believers as servants of Christ and stewards of what belongs to God. How does thinking of your life as something entrusted to you (rather than owned by you) change how you view your time, gifts, relationships, or resources?
2. Both sermons (Kevin and Leonard) challenged the idea that success in the Christian life looks like comfort, status, or recognition. Where do you most feel pressure to measure success the way the world does instead of the way Christ does?
3. Paul says the primary requirement of a steward is faithfulness, not impressiveness. What do you think faithfulness looks like in everyday life right now (work, family, friendships, church)?
4. Paul says he cares very little about human judgment, even his own self-evaluation, because the Lord is the true judge. Whose approval most strongly influences how you feel about yourself right now? How does that shape your decisions?
5. Both sermons highlight how easy it is to become puffed up or prideful when we forget that everything we have is received from God. What is one area where pride or comparison tends to creep into your heart?
6. Paul warns against going beyond what is written and building identity around personalities or leaders. Why do Christians sometimes attach themselves more strongly to leaders, styles, or preferences than to Christ Himself?
7. The sermons emphasize that God not only sees what we do, but why we do it. How does knowing God sees our motives challenge or encourage you in unseen acts of obedience?
8. Paul contrasts the Corinthians’ expectation of comfort and status with the apostles’ experience of weakness, sacrifice, and endurance. Why do you think we naturally expect faithfulness to feel easier or more rewarding than it often does?
9. Paul describes responding to hardship in a Christlike way: “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.” Where is God currently inviting you to reflect Christ’s character in a difficult situation?
10. Both sermons repeatedly ask a version of this question: What did you expect when you chose to follow Jesus? How has your understanding of the Christian life changed over time, and what might God be inviting you to surrender more fully right now?
11. If faithfulness, not recognition, is the true measure of a life with Christ, what would need to change in your priorities or perspective this week?
1. Paul describes believers as servants of Christ and stewards of what belongs to God. How does thinking of your life as something entrusted to you (rather than owned by you) change how you view your time, gifts, relationships, or resources?
2. Both sermons (Kevin and Leonard) challenged the idea that success in the Christian life looks like comfort, status, or recognition. Where do you most feel pressure to measure success the way the world does instead of the way Christ does?
3. Paul says the primary requirement of a steward is faithfulness, not impressiveness. What do you think faithfulness looks like in everyday life right now (work, family, friendships, church)?
4. Paul says he cares very little about human judgment, even his own self-evaluation, because the Lord is the true judge. Whose approval most strongly influences how you feel about yourself right now? How does that shape your decisions?
5. Both sermons highlight how easy it is to become puffed up or prideful when we forget that everything we have is received from God. What is one area where pride or comparison tends to creep into your heart?
6. Paul warns against going beyond what is written and building identity around personalities or leaders. Why do Christians sometimes attach themselves more strongly to leaders, styles, or preferences than to Christ Himself?
7. The sermons emphasize that God not only sees what we do, but why we do it. How does knowing God sees our motives challenge or encourage you in unseen acts of obedience?
8. Paul contrasts the Corinthians’ expectation of comfort and status with the apostles’ experience of weakness, sacrifice, and endurance. Why do you think we naturally expect faithfulness to feel easier or more rewarding than it often does?
9. Paul describes responding to hardship in a Christlike way: “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.” Where is God currently inviting you to reflect Christ’s character in a difficult situation?
10. Both sermons repeatedly ask a version of this question: What did you expect when you chose to follow Jesus? How has your understanding of the Christian life changed over time, and what might God be inviting you to surrender more fully right now?
11. If faithfulness, not recognition, is the true measure of a life with Christ, what would need to change in your priorities or perspective this week?