Term 2 studies Sex, marriage & singleness Gospel Freedom. Member guide

Transcription

1 Term 2 studies Sex, marriage & singleness Gospel Freedom Member guide

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3 Term 2 in 1 Corinthians Our main project for 2015 at St Matthews is the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians. In Term 1 we looked at some of the key issues that presented themselves upon the Corinthian church including divisions, leadership and judgment which could be corrected with a better understanding of the gospel, and a healthy dose of humility. Our time in 1 Corinthians in Term 2 will cover two main issues human sexuality and gospel freedom. The topic of sexuality requires great sensitivity and will impact people in all kinds of circumstances: single, married, re-married, divorced, those with heterosexual attraction and those with homosexual attraction. Despite the sensitivity of the subject of sexuality, marriage, singleness and so on, we all need to hear what the word of God says in each of these areas. So our hope is that these studies will promote a challenging experience in your grace-filled small group. Please note that there are no small group materials prepared for the week beginning Sunday 3 May, as we have a special teaching night planned on the topic of homosexuality and the gospel, which we d love all small groups to attend. 3

4 We ve prepared these small group studies to follow the Sunday message, but you re free to use them as you wish. Here s a suggested timetable for using these studies 1. Sunday Sermon Date Sun 19 April Passage Neville Naden on Ephesians 5 Mid-week What? (small group) April Small group leader sessions Sun 26 April 1 Cor 6:9-20 (Purity) April Study #1: 1 Cor 6:9-20 Sun 3 May 1 Cor 6:9-20 (Homosexuality) Wednesday 6 May Special teaching night on Homosexuality Sun 10 May 1 Cor 7:1-7 (Sex & marriage) May Study #2: Sex & marriage Sun 17 May 1 Cor 7:8-40 (Singleness & marriage) Sun 24 May 1 Cor 7:8-40 (Marriage & divorce) May Study #3: Singleness & marriage May Study #4: Marriage & divorce (study to be provided separately) Sun 31 May Special service 1-4 June Study #5: The gospel & prayer Sun 7 June 1 Cor 8:1-13 (The gospel & freedom) Sun 14 June 1 Cor 9:1-27 (The gospel & service) 8-11 June Study #6: The gospel & freedom June Study #7: The gospel & service Sun 21 June 1 Cor 10: June Study #8: Warning! Warning! 1 Studies are loosely based on materials obtained under licence 4

5 Study #1: The church & purity The Big Idea Start Which do you consider more important: what you think with your mind or what you do with your body? Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 and share your first thoughts and impressions, etc. Think & Talk 1. In v9-10, Paul mentions the kinds of people who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Why do you think he warns against being deceived about this (v9)? Sexual immorality comes from the Greek word porneia, from which we get our word for pornography. It s a catch- all kind of word, covering all kinds of sexual liaisons outside sex between a husband and wife within the bounds of marriage. 2. And that is what some of you were, says Paul in v11. What is now different about the Corinthians? What do washed, sanctified and justified each mean? 5

6 3. I have a right to do anything is probably a quote from some in the church who felt that they were above moral rules and that their physical bodies had nothing to do with their spiritual lives. Using your own words, fill in the following sentences to discover the ways in which Paul refutes this idea: v12: I have the right to do anything BUT v12: I have the right to do anything BUT 4. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food (v13) may also be a quote from some in the church who thought that since God is going to destroy the physical world, then what we do physically doesn t matter. What two reasons does Paul give to show that the relationship between food and the stomach is different from the relationship between our bodies and sexual immorality? 5. What does Paul mean by the statement, your bodies are members of Christ? (See also 1 Cor 12:27) What implication does being members of Christ have on sexual immorality (v15-17)? 6. Is sexual immorality different to other sins? How, why? 6

7 7. Verses 19 & 20 give us two further reasons for honouring God with our body our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and our bodies are not our own. How do these two things motivate us to use our bodies for his glory? 8. Flee from sexual immorality is a command to run away from, rather than run towards, immorality. How can we encourage one another practically to flee and to honour God with our bodies. Pray In your prayer times this term, try to pray as broadly as possible, giving thanks, repenting and asking God for his help. Use the P-R-A-Y acronym if that helps, as follows P (praise): Thank God for the washing, sanctifying, justifying work of Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God. R (repent): Confess to God times when you have not honoured God with your body or have run towards sexual sin rather than fleed from immorality. A (ask for others): Pray that as a group, and as a church, we might encourage one another to honour God with our bodies, despite the cultural pressure and internal temptation to do the opposite. Y (yourself): Ask God to help you to flee sexual immorality. 7

8 Study #2: Sex & marriage The Big Idea Start What celebrity couple seems to have it all? Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Prince William and Princess Katherine David and Victoria Beckham Barack and Michelle Obama Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban None of the above Is our culture more interested in weddings or marriages? Why? Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 and share any first thoughts or comments Think & Talk 1. Verse 1 literally reads, It is good for a man not to touch a woman, and can be translated as It is better for a man not to marry, or It is good for a man not have sexual relations with a woman. Why were the Corinthians thinking like that? 2. In v2-9, what does Paul say are the advantages of being married? What other insight into marriage do we get from these passages: Genesis 2:18-24 Song of Songs 4:9-10 Ephesians 6:1-4 8

9 3. Is this passage for or against sex? Our culture (and perhaps us too) often thinks of sex as a way to gain fulfillment for ourselves, but how does Paul say married people should view sex? 4. What are some of the things that make it difficult for married people to give themselves to each other, and in what practical ways can we foster love and sex within our marriages? Further Reading Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage, pp ; (key reading) Christopher Ash, Married for God, pp Pray Time to pray; feel free to use these prayer points as guidelines for prayer this week P (praise): Thank God for the gift of marriage, and for the gift of sex, which operates like a glue that bonds married people together. R (repent): Repent of any time where you ve thought of and practiced sex as a means of getting your own fulfillment rather than as a way of giving to your spouse. A (ask for others): Ask that God would protect all the marriages of St Matthews, and help spouses to work out how to love and serve one another, particular in the area of sex. Y (yourself): if you re married ask that God might help you to be a giving lover in your marriage; if you re unmarried ask that God might help you to be a good support to your married friends. 9

10 Study #3: Marriage & singleness The Big Idea Start Which does our society say is better: being single or being married? Which does the church say is better? Do you find yourself tempted to think that a different status (i.e. married if you are single, or single if you are married) would give you a better life? Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 and share your first thoughts, observations, etc Think & Talk 1. What advantages does Paul see in being single in v32-35? 2. What do you think Paul means by the present distress (v26)? 3. What do these verses add to Paul s view of singleness: v28 v A key theme in this passage is to remain in the situation in which you find yourself, be that single, widowed or married (see v17, 24, although there are exceptions, e.g. he says it s not wrong to marry the 10

11 person you re engaged to in v36-38). Why is remaining in the situation in which you find yourself an important concept for us to grasp? 5. In light of this theme how would you encourage and/or love in words and actions: A single person who looks longingly upon the companionship of married people? A married person who looks longingly on the freedom of single people? Further Reading Christopher Ash, Married for God, pp (key reading: p , p ) Barry Danylak, Redeeming Singleness, pp Pray P (praise): Thank God for the gift of singleness, in which single people can serve Him single-mindedly. R (repent): Repent of any time where you ve envied the lives of people in a different situation than yours. Also confess any lack of empathy you might have had towards single brothers and sisters. A (ask for others): Ask that God would fill all the people at St Matthews with contentment, whether single or married. Pray that our community might be a place in which all people feel loved, supported and valued, regardless of their status as married, single, widowed, etc. Y (yourself): if you re unmarried ask that God might help you to be content in your situation and to use it to serve him and encourage others; if you're married ask God to help you to be content in your situation and be a good support to your single friends. 11

12 Study #4: Marriage & divorce This study will be provided separately, closer in time to the sermon on Marriage & Divorce (to be preached on Sunday 24 May) 12

13 Study #5: The gospel & prayer The Big Idea We will spend some time looking at prayer in this study, but this is a great opportunity to spend the majority of your evening together actually praying. While it is good and right to pray for ourselves, try to use this time to pray for things outside your immediate small group. There are suggestions below, but it would be worth doing a bit of preparation to develop specific prayer points. Start Prayer is one of the ways in which God allows his creation to stay involved with what he is doing. Not only does prayer help us to know about God, but it also helps us to truly know God. Through prayer, we can personally communicate our requests to God, confess our sins to God, and give adoration, praise and thanksgiving to God. Think & Talk 1. Why do you think God wants us to pray? Identify a few reasons from the passages below: John 14:13 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Acts 4:23-32 Matthew 9:

14 2. Re-read Acts 4: What did the apostles pray for, and what is significant about their prayer (v29)? What was their real motive (see also John 14:13)? 3. From your own personal experience, what are some reasons that you pray? Pray Spend the rest of your time in prayer together. While any acute or pressing issues in the group should certainly be prayed for, try to focus instead on things outside your small group this week. There are some suggestions below; use these as starting points to get you going. (Each area could merit an entire prayer meeting on its own, so don t feel like you need to just pray what s written and move to the next point!) Pray for your unbelieving family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbours. Pray for them by name. Ask God to reveal himself to them, and for boldness and opportunity to share the gospel with them. Pray for St Matthews: pray that we would be a church that hungers and thirsts for God. Pray that we would be people of prayer, who love God s word. Pray that people would be drawn to Christ through the ministries and members of our church. Pray for our leaders, pray for our marriages, pray for our single people and single parents, pray for our children. Pray for persecuted Christians. Ask God to protect them, that he would cause the gospel to flourish, and that he would give his people courage, boldness, and strength. See for up to date needs. 14

15 Pray for our country and our leaders (1 Timothy 2). Pray for our leaders by name pray that they would have godly wisdom beyond their own understanding and the courage to choose the right path. Pray that they would withstand temptation. Pray that God would have mercy on our nation, and that we would hear his voice and respond. Pray that God would exalt his name in the world, that the gospel would flourish and triumph, and that many would come to know him. Pray that the worldwide church would experience a revival of people coming to know Christ and being filled with the Spirit. Pray for protection from the enemy. Use Psalm 63 as a guide: together pray through each line and ask that it would be your heart s prayer. 15

16 Study #6: The gospel & freedom The Big Idea Start What are your most important rights? Would you ever give them up? Why are rights so important to us? Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and share your first thoughts and impressions Some context: In the ancient world, each town had shrines to local gods and goddesses and to great divinities like Aphrodite or Venus. In Paul s day it was common to see shrines to the Roman Emperor and members of his family as well. People customarily went there with animals to sacrifice. As a result, a significant amount of the meat for sale in Corinth and other cities would have been previously offered in sacrifice. The situation was likely to present problems for new Christians. Think & Talk 1. Some teachers in Corinth were apparently saying that Christians had a secret knowledge that made them immune to what they did or didn t eat. Paul says Christians all possess knowledge (v1). What is this knowledge? Why do we need love as well as knowledge? 16

17 2. What do Christians know about God (see v4-6)? How does the theological foundation Paul lays down here deal with the question of food offered to idols? 3. What does Paul therefore say all Christians should know (v8)? Does it matter then whether or not Christians eat meat that has been used in idol worship? 4. In v7, 10-12, Paul mentions those with a weak conscience ( not all possess this knowledge ); what is the problem if they eat such meat? 5. What principle is Paul establishing in this situation as he talks about whether to eat meat sacrificed to idols? 6. (Extra/optional) Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1. How does this passage modify or enhance the instructions Paul has already given in chapter 8? 17

18 7. What are some ways that a supposedly stronger Christian can wind up sinning against a weaker Christian today? Do you feel free to do certain things that other Christians consider wrong, or do you refrain from certain things that other Christians think are ok? Give some examples and explain your reasons. 8. How would love for others (v1-3) and knowing God created the world through Jesus (v4-6) guide Christians in discerning how we should act? Pray P (praise): God for his word, which tells us everything we need to know in order to live godly and humble lives. R (repent): Of any areas where your/our knowledge or lifestyle may be in danger of harming other Christians. A (ask for others): That we as a church would be motivated by love for fellow Christians rather than concerned with our own rights and freedom. Y (yourself): Pray that you would be growing in the knowledge of how to obey God by educating your conscience from God s word as much as you can. 18

19 Study #7: The gospel & service The Big Idea Start Recall last week s discussion on our rights and which ones are most important to us. Has there ever been a time when you had to lay down one of your rights? What was the situation? Did you have a choice? What was the result? Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 and share your first thoughts or observations... Think & Talk 1. Up front, Paul reminds the Corinthians why he is free; why is this? What are some things that he says he is free to do as a result? 2. What has he decided to do with these rights? Why? What was his reward? 3. According to v19-23 in what different ways does Paul seek to remove barriers to the gospel? How is he all things to all men (22)? 19

20 4. Thinking back over what you know about the Corinthians from your study of Chapters 1-9, what were their priorities? How would verse 19 have been a real challenge to them? 5. In 9:24-27 Paul compares the Christian to a runner, focused on reaching the finish line, and to a boxer, ensuring every action counts. What does this look like for him? How might this be an encouragement to Christians who teach others? How might it be a warning? 6. Think back to our earlier discussion on giving up our rights. What rights do you struggle with to be willing to give up for the sake of others? 7. How might v19 motivate us to give up the freedoms we hold most dear? 20

21 Pray P (praise): Thank God for the people who followed Paul s example and gave up rights and freedoms so you could have the opportunity to hear the good news of Christ. R (repent): Pray about those areas where you find it hardest to think of giving up your rights for the sake of others, or maybe times when you haven t. A (ask for others): Ask that our church body would be one that is willing to forsake rights and freedoms in order for people to hear the gospel. Y (yourself): Pray about your relationships with people where you may need to be willing to lay down your rights. 21

22 Study #8: Warning, warning The Big Idea: Start Have you ever run a marathon, or competed in any other long-distance event? What are the critical things to do to complete the event? Which is the hardest part: the start, the middle, or the finish? Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 and share you first impressions and thoughts, etc. Think & Talk 1. Paul has just encouraged the Corinthians in 9:24-27 to run in such a way as to get the prize. To illustrate this point he focuses on some examples from the history of God s Old Testament people. What advantages & benefits did these people have? 2. Read Exodus 14:21-31, 17:1-7 for the Old Testament background to 1 Corinthians 10:1-4. How do these sections show how the people were blessed? 22

23 3. In view of these blessings why are v5-10 so shocking? 4. In what ways did that people turn from God? 5. Read Numbers 25:1-4 (or Exodus 31:18-32:6). How do these passages help us appreciate the seriousness of their rebellion? What would be the equivalent sins in 21 st century Manly? 6. Looking at 1 Corinthians 10:1-10 overall, what do we learn about God, and what do we learn about following him? 7. Why did the Apostle Paul include these verses in 1 Corinthians? 8. In what ways do we excuse and give into temptation? 23

24 9. Is v13 more of a feel-good encouragement or a challenging warning for us? 10. In what ways are we complacent with sin, individually and as a church? What are the common ways we are tempted, individually and as a church? Pray Last chance of the term to pray P (praise): Praise God for his holiness which cannot tolerate sin and thank God for his word, which was written for us, and which challenges and encourages us to keep going in the Christian life. R (repent): Repent of any time where you ve justified, rationalized or otherwise gone soft on your own sin. A (ask for others): Ask that God would give our church a great appreciation of God s holiness and love for us, and might guard us against complacency in our Christian lives. Y (yourself): pray that God might soften your heart to any unrepentant sin in your life, and help you withstand temptation when it comes your way. 24