“A Church in Crisis”
Sunday, September 25, 2011, 10:00 a.m.
Allendale Baptist Church, Allendale, MI
Pastor Jonathan DeCou
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
BIG IDEA: What does a church look like?
“To the church of God in Corinth…” 1 Corinthians 1:2a (NIV)
The church ________ ________.
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An ________ people
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An ________ people
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An ________ people
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An ________ people
The church ________ ________.
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________ over ________
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________ over ________
BIG IDEA: What does a church look like?
Read: Re-read 1 Corinthians 1:1-17)
Think: Meditate on Paul’s opening comments to the Corinthians and then ask the following questions: Why does Paul emphasize that he is an apostle? Who was Sosthenes (see Acts 18:17)? How did he become Paul’s sidekick? What is significant about the way Paul addresses this church? Why does Paul thank God for the very things that are now a source of problems (v 5-7)? Why is God’s faithfulness (v 9) important in this regard? What divides this church (v 11-12, 15)? Who was Apollos (see Acts 18:24-19:1)? What about each leader might be a cause for boasting? (eg. Which leader could best win Gentile converts? Mystics? Jews?) How does Paul undercut these divisions (v 13-17)? What facts about Jesus are essential for a church with internal strife?
Do: How do people see our church? How do people see me? What is true about all genuine Christ-followers from God’s perspective? What can I do to protect the unity of our church this week?
