How Similar Can We Be?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 15 to study 1 Corinthians chapter 1.  This chapter introduces some critical themes which form the basis for the rest of the letter.  It also introduces the first of the problems that the Apostle Paul addresses with this church in this letter.

Read through this chapter several times.  In letters, it is sometimes helpful to consider the 'topical arrangement' of what is written.  So, think in terms of where what Paul writes 'breaks', what constitutes a 'section', and what topics seems to form the core of those sections.  In other words, where does Paul seem to 'change the subject', even slightly?

Jot down questions and observations you have of the text as you read through several times.  Some of these will be answered on subsequent readings, and more will crop up.  Revise your 'arrangement' of this chapter, perhaps read chapter two to see if there is an 'artificial' break between chapters.  Keep working through it, especially using several versions (you pick, just different ones).

After you have some idea of your questions and arrangement, go back through using the questions below:

• Where was Sosthenes mentioned in Acts? Who was he? 
• What do you think is important about including this church along with 'all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'?
• Through verse 9, Paul is still in the 'Introduction'.  In these verses, Paul seems to tie down some important concepts.  List how many you can find (it's subjective, there's not a 'right' answer).
• Look up the word, 'blameless' in the Strong's on the Blue Letter Bible website. The word is a legal term used in court cases, and had to do with bringing someone before the judge.  This word seems to mean that the object can't even be brought before the judge; the case is thrown out before it begins.  What does that mean in this place as Paul uses it?
• The word for divisions is the Greek word from which we get 'schisms'.  Look this word up at Dictionary.com; where does it come from?  What does it mean as Paul uses it here?
• In verse 10, Paul uses the Greek word for 'same' three times.  Can you spot all three in English?
• The final two 'same mind', 'same judgement' are Greek words for thinking.  One refers to the 'location' of thinking (i.e. the head/brain), and the other to the 'directing of ones faculties on an object'; so one is the 'tool' and the other the 'thing fixed' in terms of thought.  Big deal, why so precise here?  What do you think Paul is getting at?
• The 'schisms' stem from 'personalities'.  Which 'group' does Paul seem to favor? Which group(s) does he seem to be against?  Why one over the other?
• What seems to define who is in what group?
• In verse 18, Paul seems to begin a discussion of the Cross of Christ, but what is he contrasting it to?  What problem do you think Paul is addressing in this way?  How are we guilty of this today?
• In verse 20, Paul lists some 'types' of people (3 types).  To which people groups do these types belong?  Why do you think he is referring to them this way?
• What forms (or 'about Whom is') the core of Paul's 'preaching' or proclamation of the good news?  How is that different from 'wisdom'?
• Considering the 'solution' Paul is pushing in chapter 1, what do you think is the problem the church in Corinth is having?

That should keep us going for one night.  I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday!

Discipling in Context

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting November 7 to study the fourth chapter of Multiply by Francis Chan.  This chapter is the first of the second section: Living As The Church.  The chapter focuses on the church as the context in which we disciple others.  While it notes that this isn't easy, Chan points to a passage of Scripture that describes how our Master intended for it to work; God's design for church-life in a sense.

In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul describes how the people of a church are supposed to interrelate and for what purpose.  We're going to spend most of our time in this passage, as it encapsulates well why and how we disciple others within the context of church.

Read the Ephesians 4:1-16 a few times.  Go back and read chapter 4 of Multiply again a few times.  Notice the points of connection with these verses, but also any disconnections.  The chapter uses other verses as well, but no other chunk this big.  Read the Ephesians passage again, critically this time.  Really pick it apart.  Jot down questions and observations.  As you read it a final time, use the questions below to see if any additional light can be shown (perhaps not after reading it for yourself so many times).

• Paul describes the 'manner' of walking (or living) that is worthy of our calling, but what do you think we are called to/from? (you may need to read more than these 16 verses, just saying)
• What does 'bearing with one another in love' mean to you?  See if you can find it worded differently in another translation.
• In verses 4 through 6 Paul lists a series of 'ones'.  What surprises or questions do you discover in the list?
• After the list of 'ones', what contrasting 'many' do you infer in the following verses?
• What differences are there to you in the list of church 'roles' listed in verse 11?
• The job-descriptions of these church positions are 'equipping' and 'building', but consider the goal Paul gives in stages.  Where in this progression of goals do you fit?  And where do you see these goals in our church?
• Right out of the gate, Paul says the purpose to the work of church leaders should result in 'unity of faith' (v. 13).  How do you think of this as the same or different from 'unity of the Spirit' in verse 3 (and consider all of verse three when you compare/contrast the two verses)?
• If the church leaders do their jobs, and if the people are unified in faith, knowledgeable about Jesus, and mature in Christ; what 'no longer' happens?  What would this look like in our church?
• The image of 'building' is used in verse 12 and verse 16.  What do you think connects these ideas (beyond the imagery of construction)?  How might this help you understand the work of church leaders?

There's lots more in this passage that we probably pull out, so feel free to jump in and mix it up; pulling out what you see.  Be sure to then go back and re-read the Multiply chapter.  This passage should illuminate some things in the chapter for you.