"CORINTHIANS" SERMON SERIES
WEEK 1: BE UNIFIED.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read the first chapter of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. If a member did not attend service, use this as an opportunity to personally reach out and invite them on this journey through Corinthians alongside of you. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members got out of the reading.
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to ask this question:
Throughout the emphasis on 1 Corinthians we are going to be hearing ways to be “countercultural” are there strategies that you or your family already are implementing that help you go against what our current culture tries to burden families and individuals with?
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to ask this question:
Throughout the emphasis on 1 Corinthians we are going to be hearing ways to be “countercultural” are there strategies that you or your family already are implementing that help you go against what our current culture tries to burden families and individuals with?
WEEK 2: BE SPIRIT-FILLED.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read the first chapter of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. If a member did not attend service, use this as an opportunity to personally reach out and invite them on this journey through Corinthians alongside of you. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members got out of the reading.
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to ask this question:
Throughout the emphasis on 1 Corinthians we are going to be hearing ways to be “countercultural” are there strategies that you or your family already are implementing that help you go against what our current culture tries to burden families and individuals with.
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to ask this question:
Throughout the emphasis on 1 Corinthians we are going to be hearing ways to be “countercultural” are there strategies that you or your family already are implementing that help you go against what our current culture tries to burden families and individuals with.
WEEK 3: BE WISE.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. If a member did not attend service, use this as an opportunity to personally reach out and invite them to read Chapter 3 before your group gathers. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members got out of this week’s reading.
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to, ask this question:
This week’s emphasis to being “countercultural” is to be “wise.” What eternal elements do you need to add to your life? (Examples: Attend church more often, spend more time with God in prayer or in His word, quality time with your family.) If the Holy Spirit has been prompting your heart with a change, share it with your group.
3. Take time to pray as a group over any decisions, commitments or adjustments members want to apply to their lives this week.
2. If time allows after all have shared that want to, ask this question:
This week’s emphasis to being “countercultural” is to be “wise.” What eternal elements do you need to add to your life? (Examples: Attend church more often, spend more time with God in prayer or in His word, quality time with your family.) If the Holy Spirit has been prompting your heart with a change, share it with your group.
3. Take time to pray as a group over any decisions, commitments or adjustments members want to apply to their lives this week.
WEEK 4: BE ACCOUNTABLE.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapters 4 and 5 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your groups any insights or takeaways members got out of this week's reading.
2. If time allows after all group attenders have shared, read the meaning of "accountability" from Bill's sermon. Then ask the question(s) that follow.
Accountability - "I have given my permission to someone to speak the truth in love boldly to me."
Question - Do you have someone in your life that you are accountable to? Do you have someone in your life that has permission to speak "truth in love" to you?
3. As your group pray together, pray for hearts that are willing to be held accountable.
2. If time allows after all group attenders have shared, read the meaning of "accountability" from Bill's sermon. Then ask the question(s) that follow.
Accountability - "I have given my permission to someone to speak the truth in love boldly to me."
Question - Do you have someone in your life that you are accountable to? Do you have someone in your life that has permission to speak "truth in love" to you?
3. As your group pray together, pray for hearts that are willing to be held accountable.
WEEK 5: BE PURE.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your groups any insights or takeaways members got out of this week's reading.
2. (Discuss this question in your group if time allows!) In this week's sermon, Pastor Bill said we can enjoy pure freedom in Christ by following these two simple guidelines: "Don't do it if it's hurtful" and "Don't do it if it controls you." What do you think would be the outcome in your life if you ran every decision through these two filters?
3. As your groups prays together, pray for hearts to be pure and focused on Jesus this week
2. (Discuss this question in your group if time allows!) In this week's sermon, Pastor Bill said we can enjoy pure freedom in Christ by following these two simple guidelines: "Don't do it if it's hurtful" and "Don't do it if it controls you." What do you think would be the outcome in your life if you ran every decision through these two filters?
3. As your groups prays together, pray for hearts to be pure and focused on Jesus this week
WEEK 6: BE CONTENT.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your groups any insights or takeaways members got out of this week's reading.
2. READ 1 Corinthians 7:17 then ask: Do you struggle with being content? Share with your group ways that discontentment shows itself in your life.
3. As a response to this week's reading, commit as a group to reach out when discontentment creeps in so that your group can encourage and pray for each other throughout the week
2. READ 1 Corinthians 7:17 then ask: Do you struggle with being content? Share with your group ways that discontentment shows itself in your life.
3. As a response to this week's reading, commit as a group to reach out when discontentment creeps in so that your group can encourage and pray for each other throughout the week
WEEK 7: BE CONSCIENTIOUS.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your groups any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Questions for deeper conversations in your groups:
3. As you close your time together, pray for the Holy Spirit to identify and eliminate any barriers in our own hearts that could be blocking someone around us from a relationship with Jesus.
2. Questions for deeper conversations in your groups:
- How could individual choices become a roadblock between someone and Christ? Do I have any choices that I am making that could prevent someone else from seeing Jesus in me?
- Am I willing to give up something I have freedom in Christ to do in order to protect the faith/walk of someone in my life?
3. As you close your time together, pray for the Holy Spirit to identify and eliminate any barriers in our own hearts that could be blocking someone around us from a relationship with Jesus.
WEEK 8: BE SELF-CONTROLLED.
1. In your groups this week, ask your members to read Chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your groups any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Below are next step questions from our pastor for deeper conversations in your groups:
3. As you close your time together, pray for the Holy Spirit to bless your group with self-control this week in our actions, words, and thoughts.
2. Below are next step questions from our pastor for deeper conversations in your groups:
- Is there a current compulsion (something you are compelled or driven to do) in your life that you need to take more control of?
- Food, finances, and how we treat others are just a few examples of areas we may need to exemplify more self-control in. If there is an area of struggle for you, think about what the future outcome could be if self-control was used more often. How is that better future outcome worth the work of practicing self-control today?
3. As you close your time together, pray for the Holy Spirit to bless your group with self-control this week in our actions, words, and thoughts.
WEEK 9: BE FREE.
1. What is a temptation you have experienced that you thought might be unique to you but have since discovered others battle this too?
2. The Bible says that God always gives us an escape hatch out of temptation, never letting us be tempted beyond what we can bear. What best describes your feelings about this: comforting, challenging, or surprising? Why did you choose that answer?
3. Think of a temptation you have battled. When you are running from that, what are you running FOR or TO instead of God's help?
2. The Bible says that God always gives us an escape hatch out of temptation, never letting us be tempted beyond what we can bear. What best describes your feelings about this: comforting, challenging, or surprising? Why did you choose that answer?
3. Think of a temptation you have battled. When you are running from that, what are you running FOR or TO instead of God's help?
WEEK 10: BE MISSIONAL.
1. In your groups this week, ask members to read Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
3. As you close your time together, ask God to knock down intentional or unintentional barriers we may have created with others so that we are able to connect people's hearts to Jesus.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
- What is a characteristic, skill, passion, or interest you have that makes you unique? Could you use this part of who you are to connect with someone with the same or similar interests?
- Let's reverse the first question: could there be a barrier you've created with others because of something you choose to do or say?
3. As you close your time together, ask God to knock down intentional or unintentional barriers we may have created with others so that we are able to connect people's hearts to Jesus.
WEEK 11: BE A PART.
1. In your groups this week, ask members to read Chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
3. As you close your time together, pray and ask God to show you and your group ways you can become a part of His work this week.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
- Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts assessment? What are your specific gifts? If you haven't taken a spiritual gift assessment, use this online resource to find out what your gifts are - https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/
- Do you think you are using your spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has given you? Do you feel like you are "a part" of things? What are some barriers or challenges you face preventing you from using your gifts and talents to be a more active part in the body of Christ?
3. As you close your time together, pray and ask God to show you and your group ways you can become a part of His work this week.
WEEK 12: BE LOVING.
1. In your groups this week, ask members to read Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
3. As you close your time together, pray that your group becomes a group that loves like Jesus loves this week. Take time to list those love "characteristics" above in your prayer time.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
- In Chapter 13, we read that love is: patient, kind, non-envious, non-boastful, non-arrogant, non-rude, unselfish, non-irritable, non-resentful, no longer celebrates wrong doing, honest, faith-filled, hope-filled and has the ability to endure and persevere. As you read that list, did any of those characteristics of love stand out to you? Why do you think they caught your attention?
- Think about your typical day and the interactions you have with those you come in contact with. If you applied love as Christ loves to each interaction, would it change that relationship?
3. As you close your time together, pray that your group becomes a group that loves like Jesus loves this week. Take time to list those love "characteristics" above in your prayer time.
WEEK 13: BE ORDERLY.
1. In your groups this week, ask members to read Chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians and apply the HEAR method contained in this guide. Discuss in your group any insights or takeaways members highlighted in this week's reading.
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
2. Below are next step questions to keep the conversation going in your groups:
- What are your favorite parts of coming to church? When you come to church, what are some things you hope to leave with?
- Think about this equation: "In church, HE > WE > ME." If when we come to church our focus should be on worshiping HIM and serving others, what are some ways we can prepare our hearts so that worship and church doesn't become only about our own preferences?
WEEK 14: BE ALIVE.
1. Share with your group what you liked about studying 1 Corinthians with the HEAR method in your group. What was the biggest challenge for you throughout the journey?
2. Share with your group your biggest takeaway you will remember from Paul's letter in 1 Corinthians.
3. Want to know more about studying scripture? Email missy@hickorygrove.net for ways you can continue to grow.
2. Share with your group your biggest takeaway you will remember from Paul's letter in 1 Corinthians.
3. Want to know more about studying scripture? Email missy@hickorygrove.net for ways you can continue to grow.