ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 23 OCTOBER 2005

1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-15

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.

This passage needs to be seen in context. Chapter 9 looks at first like a digression from the main discussion of food sacrificed to idols in chapters 8 and 10, but amongst the rhetoric Paul is still dealing implicitly with the requirements of love.

 1. Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-15a

 2. Verses 1,2. There are two views as to what counts as an apostle, and Paul fits either of them. The primary one is that an apostle is someone who has seen the Lord. To see how Paul fitted the bill on this one look at 1 Corinthians 15:6-10.

 3. 'Apostle' means one who is sent. As the missionary who brought the gospel to Corinth Paul also qualifies as an apostle - see his use of the word 'seal' in v2.

 4. Verses 4-6. What sort of rights does Paul say he has as an apostle? Contrast the types of argument that he uses in verses 7-8 as opposed to verses 9-10 to arrive at his conclusion in verses 11-12.

 5. When we are sharing our faith with those around us how far is it possible for us to use a mixture of commonsense arguments and to use the Bible? (Paul is quoting from the Old Testament, but we could use the Old or New Testaments.)

 6. Verse 9. Paul does not use the command he quotes literally, but transfers the principal behind it into his culture. Is this a technique that we too can adopt, or is it one that is legitimate only for an apostle?

 7. In this passage Paul is arguing that Christian workers should be supported by those amongst whom they work. Do you think this is a suitable model for today? (Remember that Paul renounced this for himself, preferring to earn a living making tents while he was in Corinth.)

 8. How much do you think we should pay our clergy, and our youth and children's workers today?

 9. Do they need more than 'food and drink' (verse 4)? Should we support all their dependents as well (verse 5)?

10. Do any of the following need to be taken into consideration: the socio-economic status of the people amongst whom they are working; whether they are the single wage earner in their household; the 'success' or otherwise of their ministry?

11. Verses 12,15. Paul says he did not exercise the rights he could have done. What is his motivation? In what ways might we 'hinder the gospel of Christ' today?

12. Do you think that we are too conscious of our rights? Philippians 2:1-18.

13. Is there a conflict for the Christian between fighting for our rights e.g. a fair wage, and the fact that we are called to be Christ-like?

14. As a group, spend some time praying for those you know who are paid by the church for their gospel work, whether in this country or abroad. Pray too for your own witness amongst the people with whom you live and work.

Helen Wilkinson
24 October 2005