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Q4. (1 Corinthians 3:17) Division and church splits injure people, especially tender new believers. Why do you think there is such a harsh punishment for those involved in hurting Christ's church? Every believer is a valued member of the Body of Christ and like the scriptures is valuable for caring for and performing the tasks for which they have been gifted. The ultimate reason being they, each one, has been called and saved and set apart by the precious blood of Christ to become members of His Body.” What are better ways to deal with differences in the church? “Preach, teach and love like there is no tomorrow that day of the Lord when any differences will be burned away, and all will be held accountable.”

Q3. (1 Corinthians 3:9-13) In terms of building congregations in our day, how would you assess quality vs. slip-shod building materials and methods? “We can assess quality vs. slip-shod building materials and methods when the results look like something the world does instead of that abiding blessing that comes from Holy Spirit inspired congregations that spread love, increase faith, hope and joy in God and each other.” How important is improving your ministry skills through training? Prayer? Practice? Diligence? Faithfulness? Doctrinal accuracy? Devotional life? Openness to spiritual gifts? Etc. “Good question, these are all very important and like Paul said we want to “train ourselves in all godliness” because we all are or should be involved in the gospel proclamation and making disciples but people have different methods of doing that and God will make use of them all. However these things can become ends in themselves unless they have as their purpose getting us in a closer relationship with Christ Jesus Who is our Savior and the One who strengthens us and delivers the results God wants from our efforts.”

Q2. (1 Corinthians 3:4-9) In what ways do denominations encourage Christian unity? “In denominations unity is encouraged by appealing to people that are of a like-mind about their theology and cultural traditions to work together for common aims.” In what ways do they foster disunity? “They foster disunity when they treat members with different theological or cultural traditions with indifference.” Does belonging to a "non-denominational" church make any difference regarding unity throughout the body? “It shouldn’t. However people, even in non-denoms. should be aware of cultural biases before committing so they know what to expect from the group.” How can we tear down the barriers that divide us? “Prayer for discernment and by encouraging people to pray for one another especially asking for the Mind of Christ, for the Spirit, so everyone glorifies Christ as Lord in thought, word and deed.”

Q1. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) In behavioral terms according to these verses, how would you classify yourself in terms of hunger for the Word? “As long as I am in this earthly existence I’ll need to cultivate my hunger for the Word, because there are so many other means competing for my attention. So I must keep focused on Christ and depend on Him to help me with this. Asking Seeking and finding follow one another.” In terms of jealousy and quarreling? -- infant, child, teenager, adult? What will it take for you to grow to the next stage? “An awareness that I am not alone in this no matter the sinful reaction. That Christ is availabe to me in every instance of jealousy and quarreling. His presence living through some physical member of the Body of Christ and available to me in every such instance. As an infant and child by faithful, obedient godly parents and teachers, as teenagers through carefully selecting the people I associate with that they like adult friends are functing members of the Body of Christ, working for each others good to help us reach that higher ground."

Q5. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Explain how we can "have the mind of Christ." “We can have the mind of Christ because we belong to Christ and receive His Spirit Who communicates to us the mind of Christ.” How does this work, according to these verses? “This works through our trusting in what Christ has done for us in His death, burial and resurrection when God’s grace brings the Holy Spirit to live within us.” How does having the Holy Spirit "circulating" through our minds explain spiritual gifts working through us? “We have the Holy Spirit who can communicate to our spirits God's guidance and truth. This is the basis of our receiving that power Jesus spoke about sending to live within us after His ascension. Thus prophecy, tongues, and interpretation, word of wisdom and the word of knowledge are gifts of the Spirit, and all the other gifts, too (12:7-11).”

Q4. (1 Corinthians 2:1-6) Why didn't Paul conform to the rhetorical standards of his day in order to communicate more clearly? “He knew that if he used lofty high and correct language that would be appealing to the senses instead of peoples hearts.” What is the danger of "repackaging" the message? “The danger is that people will confuse the gospel with man-made religion.” What does it mean that Paul relied on a demonstration of the Spirit's power? “Paul is speaking here about the Holy Spirit opening a persons heart so they would be receptive to the gospel, to his preaching. Without this means of grace (this demonstration of the Spirit’s power) his words would not have the power to change lives, as those hearing would think it nonsense.”

Q3. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) In what way does Christ represent God's wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption? Through His death, burial and resurrection Christ is come as God in the flesh in fulfillment of God’s promises to every generation and for all eternity. How far do these go to lay the basis of a truly Christian philosophical system? Ultimately He is the basis of our life and purpose because all things are complete IN HIM and when we submit ourselves to Him as LORD He increases our faith, our hope and our love for all the creation.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 1:21-25) In what areas do non-Christians in our culture stumble over the basic gospel of Christ? “Most likely it is the misinterpretation of obeying rules as the gospel of Christ.” To what degree can we help bridge this gap through careful and creative presentation? “It would be helpful if we could avoid classifying people by their lifestyles and choices and leave the convicting of those choices to God. It’s the Holy Spirit’s work. Ours is proclaiming.” To what degree might that be "watering down" the gospel? “Some will see it as that, however if we remind ourselves that growing in grace is a process instead of an event that God is responsible for and not us. After all we should be reminded that Christ accepts us, warts and all, just as we are but will not leave us like that.” Why can't we escape the tension between culturally-relevant communication and changing the essence of the message? “We are human and lazy and as long as we are in this world we will be tempted to have misguided efforts at proclamation that condemn and confront people from our sinful nature instead of our divine nature.”

submitted Q2 in error ...

Q1. Name four value differences between Christian teaching and the values you see pushed to us on television. Example: Sex between consenting adults is okay, vs. sex belongs in marriage. Now name four more? 1. Free Speech VS Watch your words don’t hurt others 2. Violent behavior is glamorized VS Don’t be angry, be self-controlled. 3. Self-determination and self-glory VS Self denial by seeking what is best for others and for God’s glory. 4. Consumerism and competition VS Be grateful to God for having our needs met without ourhaving to be winners and others be losers.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)What kind of divisions do you see in your congregation or in the Christian community in your area? “The pettiness and selfishness of individuals causing disruptions in their own lives and families then spilling over into dissension in their own church and community.” What is the cause of the divisions in Corinth? “They were not a unified body, with a common purpose but were characterized by quarrels and contentions, rivalries that threatened to tear the church apart.” What is the case of divisions today? “Deep suspicion of one another’s motives still exist however much we want to deny them. But for all intents and purposes the schism today continues to be lack of understanding of WHY God allows such divergent differences in peoples moral inclinations. The debate about LGBT and abortion and other moral topics affect most every family and in turn every church.” How do we obey the command to "agree with one another" (1:10)? “By staying in love with and in touch with Christ so our focus is centered on the Gospel and what Christ has done for us and trust in that Resurrection power that brings new life then it’s God’s responsibility to handle these other things. And handle them God will in this life and in the life to come. In the meantime the scriptures tell us we are to be ‘completely humble and gentle; patiently, bearing with one another in love. Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3’.”

Q3. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) What gifts does God give us to ensure that we'll continue in faith until the end? “The assurance that I am established and made strong in faith, declared justified through faith in God’s forgiveness of my sinfulness through the faithfulness of Christ. That I am assured by the fellowship of Christ Jesus Himself that I am indeed saved, secure in this life and in the life to come.” Why does each require our active participation to receive its full benefits? “Each aspect of God’s grace to us depends on our participation because we are the fleshly means of representing the Lord Jesus in this world. We are the Body of Christ, the Church of which Christ Jesus is the head. Which do you need to enter into more? Personally I need to focus most on availing myself of God’s presence and help when I am faced with secular choices that tempt me to compromise my trust in God’s ways in answer to life’s circumstances. A reminder too that it is 'in Christ', even in this fellowship of believers, this sharing together with others in the church, that God gives solace and the answers to life's circumstances."

Q2. (1 Corinthians 1:4-7) How often do you thank God for the blessings of those who don't like you, or of your actual enemies? “Wow!” Certainly a probing and humbling question because I never thought about doing that. I can only say “thank you Lord and brother Wilson for revealing my need to thank God for the blessing of my enemies.” What does it say about Paul that he thanks God for the gifts of those who are at odds with him? “ Oh yes it reveals Paul’s contributive self-less character.” What specifically does he thank God for about the Corinthian believers? “Amazingly Paul is thankful for the folks qualities that are an annoyance to him. But then he praises their spiritual growth in Christ riches in everyway.”

Q1. (1 Corinthians 1:2) "What does "called to be holy" or "called to be saints" mean? “It means we are set-apart by God to model our lives after the perfect model of Christ Jesus. “What is a saint according to the Bible? God’s claim of us who follow Christ as LORD as God’s own children. Children set apart from the world.” Why is it so comfortable for us to say, "I'm no saint"? “Because we think to claim sainthood is prideful as though it were a title we have earned ourselves”. What is expected of a person who has been set apart as the personal property of the living God? “To live our life secure in what God has declared us to be and motivated to model the examples of Christ in word and deed.” What kind of behavior does the world expect of those who claim to be followers of Christ? “Behavior that is not self-centered; not of a competitive nature but instead is an example of words and actions that contribute to the good of others to the glory of Christ Jesus our LORD.”