ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 5 JUNE 2005

1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-21

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: Does being a Christian make life easier or harder? (hopefully the answer, after a bit of discussion, will be 'both'!)

Read 1 Corinthians 4

We're going to look at this under two headings.

1) The authentic Christian life
2) Authentic Christian leaders

THE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIFE
focusing on verse 8-13

There seem to be two very different pictures of the Christian life on display here! Tease out the two pictures, and think about the differences.

Could there be a much greater contrast? Who else was treated like this? (Jesus!)

I know which I would prefer, but which is the life that is set before the Christian, and why? (If we follow Jesus, we should expect the world to treat us as it treated him!)

Why is the Christian life tough? (Because it puts us at odds with the world).

We've seen that already in previous weeks haven't we?
Last week it was about leaders - what did the world want? And what does the Christian faith want (verse 1)? (more of this to come)
The gospel itself - how does the world perceive it? (foolishness) Whereas to the Christian it is...? (the very power of God.)

Well tonight it's the church, and again there are two audiences we can play to... the world and God

Who is in Paul's sights? (verses 3 & 4)

If the world could look at their version of the Christian life and think it so honourable, wise and strong, what was going on? (not living authentic Christian lives)

Following Jesus is going to put us increasing out of step with a culture that is determinedly cutting its connections with its Christian heritage. Following Jesus is going to become increasingly hard.

Discuss a number of different areas where this might apply, eg, evangelism, ethics (especially medical ethics), sexuality, lifestyle, giving, responding to others, etc

We need to accept that many of these things do not make us look wise, or strong or honourable in the eyes of the world. But rather weak, foolish and out of touch.

The Christian life is tough, but then we get verse 20. What does this mean?

WE NEED AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LEADERS

What was Paul's great concern from last week?

What does the world look for in a leader?

What does Paul say is needed...

...in verse 1? (servants of Christ)

...in verses 1-4? (those not concerned about the judgements of others, but only about the judgement of God on their lives and ministry.)

...in verses 16 and 17? (those who will be a model for us to imitate, as they in turn seek to model themselves on the Lord Jesus.)

...in verses 20-21? (those who are willing to be unpopular as well as popular if the cause of the gospel demands it.

APPLICATION AND PRAYER

Who are we following - the Corinthians or the Apostles?
What do we look for in our leaders? How can we encourage them to stay keen?

Edward Hobbs
6 June 2005