In the context of a discussion of sex, marriage, and singleness, Paul tells the Corinthians that their circumstances are not as important as their relationship with Christ, and following Him. Instead of concerning themselves with improving their circumstances in this world their concern should be about how to honor the Lord in the midst of their circumstances.

Application Questions:

1. In what ways are you tempted to meditate on and fixate on your circumstances more than on honoring the Lord?

2. Do you struggle with lusting after other circumstances in your life? What are those?

3. How can you honor God in the circumstances you find yourself in right now?

4. What would it look like to cultivate contentment in Christ? How does the gospel anchor you in the swings of life?

Paul’s specific counsel to the Corinthians on divorce is built on a rich understanding of marriage. Marriage is a covenant union, with self-giving love at its center. This changes how we approach marriage, divorce, and much more.

Application Questions:

1. What are common things you hear in our city about marriage and divorce? 

2. Why does Scripture insist that marriage is a covenant? How is that good news for marriage? 

3. How does the covenant love of marriage point you to the larger and better covenant love of God? How can that encourage you this week? 

Paul begins a long section on marriage, singleness, and spirituality for a divided church in Corinth. In this first section, we clear the table of some misconceptions about marriage so we can take a look at the heart of marriage, not just for married people but for everyone: love.

Application Questions:

1. Have you ever thought that marital status was connected to spiritual maturity? Why or why not? 

2. How have you seen our city struggle with love as "giving of yourself”? What does the gospel have to say to that struggle? 

3. How does marriage point all of us, not just those of us who are married, to the love of Christ?

Why did God create us sexual beings? What is the purpose of our sexual desires? What is the purpose of sex within marriage? The Corinthians were confused about the ultimate purpose of sex, and so are we. But, just as in every area of life, God brings clarity and peace out of the confusion through his Word.

Application Questions:

1. How does the way you've previously thought about sex differ from the theological understanding of sex revealed in his Word?

2. If you are single, how does the fact that sex is, ultimately, about God give meaning and purpose to your celibacy?

3. If you are married, how does the fact that sex is, ultimately, about God give deeper meaning and purpose to your times of physical intimacy with your spouse?

4. How should a more theological understanding of sex shape how you talk (or how often you talk) about it with your friends, roommates, spouse, or children?

5. How can you, specifically, strive to glorify God with your sexuality?

The Christian view of sex seems backwards to modern people, but it’s actually joyful and hope-giving. Paul shows us how by teaching us about our body. For Christians, the body is sacred and valuable and it matters how we use it. 

Application Questions:

1. When it comes to our city, do you think we view the body as very important or not very important? 

2. Why is it good news that God cares about your body and how you use it? 

3. What would your life look like if you really believed that your body doesn’t belong to you but to the Lord?

Whether it's life stage, a special circumstance, or specific struggle, we're all tired. Sometimes exhausted. Jesus meets us in our need with an offer of his rest. In Him, we find the unexpected and potent peace of His presence - the rest we truly need. 

Application Questions:

1. What are some ways in which you look for rest? 

2. How is Jesus' unexpected offer of rest actually good news? 

3. How can you look to find your rest in Him this week?  

The Kingdom of God is something we all long for—whether we admit it or not. Paul sees that the Corinthians were losing sight of the kingdom, and their lifestyles showed it. So he refocuses them on the kingdom: what it is, what keeps us from it, and how the gospel gives us a new identity that brings us into it.

Application Questions:

1. How do you see a desire for the kingdom of God in your own life? 

2. Can you think of any times you’ve felt the weight of sin and its effects in your life? 

3. How does a new identity in Christ help you fight sin? 

In Corinth there are Christians who are handling disputes among one another by suing each other in secular courts. Paul shows them that this kind of action undermines the witness of the gospel in the church. Through the power of the gospel the church should be able to handle disputes through discernment, reconciliation, and unity.

Application Questions:

1. How different is authentic Christian community compared to the idea you may have in your head?

2. What role does discernment play in handling disputes, and how can you get more discernment?

3. How can you cultivate a heart and posture of reconciliation in the church?

4. In what way does forgiveness and long-suffering encourage unity?

When we hear of someone being removed from the church community we inevitably have a lot of questions. Isn't that unkind? What exactly does that mean? Why would God promote that kind of shunning? But most of our questions stem from misunderstanding what is typically called "church discipline." But when we understand the biblical concept of "church restoration" things become more more clear and compelling.

Application Questions:

1. Who are the people that know you well enough to talk about your sin? How can you invite them deeper into your life?

2. Is there anyone in your life that you know is struggling with sin and God may want to use you to restore them to him?

3. How has the seriousness of sin and the beauty of the gospel been made more clear to you as we've talked about Church Restoration over the past couple of weeks?

4. What questions do you still have about the process of Church Restoration?

What do you do when sin runs rampant in the church? How do you handle unrepentance in the body? Paul takes on some of the hardest questions facing the church in Corinth (and the church in LA) head on. And he does it with boldness, love, and a confidence in the restorative power of the gospel.