Week 1

IN CHRIST ALONE

1 Corinthians 1–2

Leader Prep

Memory Verse

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Digging Deeper

If you did not have an introductory session, read Digging Deeper Week 1, "My Town," and note any interesting facts or insights that you would like to share with the group. (See pages 25-26 for highlights; read the full article online at AbingdonPress.com/FirstCorinthians.)

Materials Needed

• First Corinthians DVD and DVD player

• Stick-on nametags and markers (optional)

• Paper and pens or pencils (Optional Group Activity)

• Index cards or sticky notes (optional — Scriptures and Prayer Requests)

Session Outline

Note: Refer to the format templates on page 7 for suggested time allotments.

Welcome

Offer a word of welcome to the group. If time allows and you choose to provide food, invite the women to enjoy refreshments and fellowship. (Groups meeting for sixty minutes may want to have a time for food and fellowship before the official start time.) Be sure to watch the clock and move to the All Play icebreaker at the appropriate time.

All Play

Ask each group member to respond briefly to this question: Who is a person you admire and why? (It can be a person from history, a contemporary personality, or someone you know personally. Don't think too deeply. This is not the person you admire most but just someone you admire.)

Read aloud or paraphrase:

We all have those we look up to as great leaders, moms, teachers, or faithful followers of Jesus. The believers in Corinth also looked up to the apostles and other strong leaders. While people can model great attributes, we must be careful never to elevate the messenger above the message when it comes to the gospel of Christ. Our greatest mentors are those who point us to Jesus rather than themselves. Paul wanted the church at Corinth to depend on Christ alone for their salvation as well as for the power to live out their daily walk of faith. He encouraged them to remember that God's wisdom and the world's wisdom look very different at times.

Digging Deeper Insights

If you did not have an introductory session, share the insights you gained from Digging Deeper Week 1, "My Town," (highlights on pages 25-26; full article at AbingdonPress.com/FirstCorinthians). Share ways that the geography, history, religion, and customs of Corinth influenced the original audience of Paul's letter. Then ask this question: How has your town shaped you? If you choose, encourage group members to read the full article online.

Prayer

Before playing the video segment, ask God to prepare the group to receive His Word and hear His voice.

Video

Play the video for Week 1. Invite participants to complete the Video Viewer Guide for Week 1 in the participant book as they watch (pages 42-43). (Answers are provided on page 64 of this book.)

Group Discussion

Video Discussion Questions

• What is the difference between unity and uniformity, and why is this important for us as followers of Christ?

• What does seeing others as holy have to do with living love when we disagree?

• How can the new H20 — (hope of) heaven, Holy Spirit, optimism — help us navigate our differences and disagreements?

Participant Book Discussion Questions

Note: Page references are provided for those questions that relate to specific questions or activities in the participant book.

Before you begin, invite volunteers to look up the following Scriptures and be prepared to read them aloud when called upon. You might want to write each of the Scripture references on a separate index card or sticky note that you can hand out.

Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Isaiah 29:13-14; 1 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 2:1-9; Acts 18:1-11; Isaiah 64:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; John 14:16-17; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:16

Day 1: Spiritual Identity

• What are some topics on which Christians today often disagree?

• On page 10 we read, "The question isn't whether we will have disagreements in the church but how we will handle these conflicts." What are some words that describe healthy postures we can take in the midst of disagreement?

• What modern cities come to mind when you read about Corinth? What parallels do you find between Corinthian culture and our culture? (page 11)

• Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-3. Consider the disagreements you have observed within the body of Christ. How could seeing ourselves and one another as holy help with conflict resolution? (Answers will vary; there is no one right answer.) (page 13)

Day 2: Dealing with Divisions

• How do you think social media has impacted our forms of communication in both positive and negative ways?

• Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and refer to the illustration on page 18. Which tendency do you identify with more: skeptic or sheeple? (page 18)

• What are some ways we can take a more balanced approach toward leaders in order to avoid relational idolatry?

• Read John 17:20-23. How have you seen unity expressed among believers in the midst of differing opinions? (page 20)

Day 3: The Foolish Plan of God

• Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Verse 24 says that Christ is the "power of God and the wisdom of God." How do those attributes of Christ encourage you related to any situations you may be dealing with right now?

• Ask if any of the women would be willing to share how they answered this question: "When did you make a personal decision to follow Christ? Or if you've loved Jesus since you were a very young child, when did you begin to understand the message of the cross?" (page 24)

• Read Isaiah 29:13-14 and 1 Corinthians 1:19. From the perspective of...