ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 15 MAY 2005

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 - 2:5

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on the talk at Sunday's 6:30 pm service. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

Launch Question

How would you seek to answer someone who asked questions like these:

How can Christians claim that only they will be in heaven?
How can Christians claim that they, as opposed to the worlds other faiths have got it right?
How can any faith claim to have a monopoly on the truth?

What are the temptations we face as Christians when seeking to stay true to our faith, in a pluralist, multicultural, "tolerant", society?

Introduce the Passage

We might like to thing that such problems are really a rather a new phenomenon, a modern concern… it's only sophisticated, developed folk like us who have these kind of worries. Well let's go back to Corinth in the first century AD, and listen to what Paul felt he needed to write to them, to keep them on the straight and narrow…

(read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5)

The foolish message

What does it mean in verse 18 for Paul to suggest that the message of the cross is foolishness?

Why did it appear foolish back then to Jews and Greeks (verses 22-23)?

What were they looking for… and why?

It what sense does it appear foolish and weak in our multi-cultural, multi-faith, society?

It may appear foolish to the world, but to the Christian it is quite different. Why? (verses 18-21, 24-25)

Just why is, or why should, the cross of Jesus be so central to our faith? Just what is the "power" of the cross (1:17) that may be emptied?

(for help here you might like to turn to 1 Peter 2:24-25, or 1 Peter 3:18, or other passages about the cross!)

(The cross is more than a demonstration of God's love, it is where our sin is dealt with, Jesus takes our place, and pays for our sin.)

That's how it's the power of God (v18) for those of us who are being saved.

Unattractive converts (A case study of Godly wisdom!)

(read verses 26-30a)

In a society where being impressive and intelligent were important, not unlike today, what is Paul saying about humility and our need for God?

Why has God chosen you?

What part do we play in our own salvation?

What do we have to boast about?

What does it mean for Christ to "become" our righteousness, holiness and redemption?

A weak messenger (A second case study of Godly wisdom!)

(read chapter 2 verse 1-5...)

How has Paul sought to present the message of the cross?

How is this both an encouragement (he was weak and scared) and a challenge (he spoke clearly and simply about the cross [verse 2]) to us?

Edward Hobbs
17 May 2005