March 5, 2016
This week’s study is the fifth in a series looking at 1 Corinthians.
1. Paul’s Gospel message and Presentation.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
What was the essence of Paul’s Gospel message to the Corinthians when he first came to them? Compare also with 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.
Discuss in your group the points Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 2:3-4.
Why do you think 1 Corinthians 2:5 is important?
Consider the following ….
“A brilliant scholar, Paul could have overwhelmed his listeners with intellectual arguments. Instead, he shared the simple message of Jesus Christ by allowing The Holy Spirit to guide his words. In sharing the Good News with others, we should follow Paul’s example and keep our message simple and basic. The Holy Spirit will give power to our words and give glory to Jesus.” #
What are some things we can keep in mind and do that helps this to happen compared with sharing the things of God (including the Gospel message) with those who don’t know Him in our own strength and our own way?
2. Humility verses Pride.
What does it mean to be humble or to be proud? Give examples of both from personal experience if you can.
Read the following passages and from them answer the questions below.
James 3:13-18, 1Peter 5:5-6, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Mark 7:20-23, 1 John 2:15-17.
a.What is the source of Godly humility?
b.What is the source of pride?
c.How does God view both?
d.What other traits are associated with each?
3. Holiness Produces Humility.
Consider George’s words from Sunday….
“Throughout the Biblical narrative, whenever people encountered the holiness of the person of God or the holiness of the presence of God, it was an overwhelmingly humbling experience.”
Read such experiences of the following men of God and summarize their experience and response.
Isaiah. Isaiah 6:1-9.
John. Revelation 1:10-18. Notice John’s response to Jesus (but now in His glory) whom John knew so well while on earth.
Paul. Acts 22:6-10.
Job. Job 42:1-6.
4. Application.
What did God give Paul to help him from getting proud? 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.
What was Paul’s attitude toward the ‘thorn in his flesh’.
Do you think God sends/allows us to experience similar?
Do you have something you really struggle with sometimes that keeps you especially dependant on God?
When either pride or humility is evident in our selves where and to whom is the focus for each?
When pride raises its ugly head what steps can we take to deal with it?
Consider Ephesians 2:1-10 and Georges following words.
“God’s plan is to spare you from the judgement that your sin deserves, by providing a substitute. Jesus was that substitute, He could take the judgement of a holy God against your sin because He didn’t have His own sin. The resolution of human sin required a sacrifice that would exactly meet the demands of God’s holiness … only Jesus could be this sacrifice. Only Jesus could be the sacrifice for human sin, because only the holiness of Jesus could satisfy the demands of a holy God.
To secure forgiveness of sin you must humble yourself & accept by faith what Jesus did for you. Your humility to secure forgiveness of sin is the beginning place to access the holiness that is required for the people of God.
Jesus’ humility placed Him at Calvary so that a Holy God could forgive your sin. Your humility places you at Calvary to be forgiven by God, and once forgiven to become a holy one belonging to God.”
Finish with a prayer time giving thanks to God for sending Jesus and to Jesus for willing coming to pay the debt of sin you owed to God.
# Taken from ‘Life Application Study Bible’