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Q4. (1 Corinthians 6:13b-15) What does it mean that "your bodies are members of Christ himself"? What are the implications of that with regard to sexual sin? What are the implications of that with regard to your ministry? By "your bodies are members of Christ himself" it means that we are Christ physical representatives here on earth. Since we are the "body of Christ" we should not defile it through sexual sin.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 6:11) Why is the gospel such good news to those who have been involved in gross sin? On what basis can a person be forgiven? On what basis can a person be cleansed from sin? The Lord God through Jesus Christ died for our sin. When we confess our sin, we are forgiven and made anew irrespective of how bad we have been. Praise the Lord. A person can be forgiven by confessing and repenting of such sin to the Lord. A person is cleansed by the power of the blood of our Lord Jesus and power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us at conversion.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) What does the scripture teach here about participating in homosexual acts? What does the scripture teach about heterosexual immorality? Why is repentance so important for a believer? Participating in homosexual acts by a Christian is a sin, period. Heterosexual immorality is also a sin punishable by God. Repentance for any sin is important because unrepentant sinners will not enter the kingdom of God.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) How does it hurt the Christian cause when Christians take each other to court? How should disputes be settled between believers? How might this be instituted in a local congregation? Among churches in a geographical region? The Church hurts when Christians take each other to court because love is not shown by such action. Furthermore, the Church has abdicated its role to the civil courts. Paul directs believers to settle cases between each other through certain appointed/ selected members who can determine cases between members of the body. The Board of elders can take the role of judging cases between the members or else a panel can also be set up to judge cases.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) According to this passage, with which sinners should we be willing to associate? Why make a distinction between unbelievers and believers? What are the dangers of associating with unbelievers? What are the dangers of associating with unrepentant believers? We should not associate with unbelievers and unrepentant Christian. The danger of associating with unbelievers is that they may lure the weaker Christian to sin and backslide. The dangers of associating with unrepentant believers are that they may believe that their sinning attitude is acceptable and thus continue to sin; others may also be influenced into sinning like the unrepentant sinner

Q3. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7) How does the presence of openly sinning members affect others in the body? We might use the analogy of a "bad apple." What in Paul's background might explain his use of "getting rid of yeast"? When sin of an individual is tolerated in the group, others soon do same since they do not expect any one to challenge them. "Getting rid of yeast" refers to the disciplining that could involve excommunicating the sinning member to prevent others from committing same or similar sin.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 5:2b-5) What are levels of correction and discipline short of excommunication? Who should exercise that kind of correction? What do we do when a sinning member repents? Why is excommunication sometimes necessary? Why are we so unwilling to exercise it in our day? Levels of discipline: i. Meet the offender, when he listens and changes, well and good. ii. If he does not, take two witnesses to meet him for another chance for him to repent. iii. If he still does not change, then the matter should be taken to the Church to handle. If he does not still repent, he is excommunicated. The one to exercise the correction depends on the type of problem, the first two steps are to be handled by the individual who has been offended. But a case of sexual sin by a member should be initiated by the Pastor of the church who meets the sinning member alone and later with on elder. When a sinning member repents, he should be welcomed back and restored into the fellowship. Excommunication is sometimes necessary so as to make the unrepentant sinner come to his senses and the second reason is that it will teach the congregation that blatant sin is not condoned. Excommunication is not commonly exercised because the church does not want to loose the member

Q1. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2a) Why do you think the Corinthians were so proud of their tolerance of immorality? What does this say about their value system? ​ The Corinthians were proud of their tolerance of immorality because they have been so enmeshed with the greatly adulterous and idolatrous majority pagans who practised all forms of sexual atrocities and were living as they did and the weak leadership did not help matters. The church had thus lost its sense of chastity and value system was terrible as it was no longer sensitive to sin.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 4:17) What qualities about Timothy encouraged Paul to send him on a sensitive mission to the Corinthians -- that might have involved some disrespect and abuse? If God were to call you to fulfill a sensitive mission -- to a neighbor or across the world -- would you accept? Why or why not? Timothy was described as loved and faithful and thus could be trusted to be sent with the special assignment. I pray for the grace of God to accept such assignment. I have not been keen in going out and pray for God to forgive me and equip me with the power of the Holy Spirit to go wherever he sends me.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 4:9-13) Why do you think Paul lists the abuse he has to take? What effect did he want it to have on his readers? What effect does it have on you? Do you avoid ministry that comes with abuse? Paul listed the abuses he had to take to show the Corinthian church that being a servant of God could involve suffering and abuse which has to be endured with patience. He wanted his reader to be like-minded when they experience abuse and hardship. I have just realised that I do not have to answer back to criticism and injustice meted on me but to humbly depend on God's grace to cope and endure. I can not remember such experience.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 4:3-5) Why doesn't Paul care how others judge him? Why doesn't Paul judge himself? Why are our motives so important in God's judgment process? Do you see God as a harsh judge? An easy judge? Why? Paul doesn't care how others judge him because his conscience is clear and he believes in God's judgement only. He also does not judge himself because he does his best to please God and will not slow himself down with self criticism that will only poison his mind and unnecessary worries.. Our motives are well read and known by God so that he judges us basically based on our motives than our action. I do not see God as a hash judge but rather as a lenient and merciful judge or else I would have been consumed by His wrath.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) In what sense is a Christian worker a "steward"? Have you ever met a Christian worker who wasn't faithful? What effect did this have on the church? On this person's witness. What are the reasons we are sometimes unfaithful in our area of ministry? What can we do to remedy that? A Christian is a steward in the sense that he has the Lord as his master but he is also responsible for the care of others under him for the Master. Yes, I have met quite a lot who do not put on their best for the Master and for others. Some even cheat and steal from the Master's table. Some of the effect on the church are that some members who are weak are disappointed and their faith is shaken and their trust in such a steward eroded. The steward also looses his credibility and trust. The remedy for this is for the bad steward to repent and be restored and the church to pray for him.

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? What are better ways to deal with differences in the church? The harsh punishment for hurting the body of Christ is meant to deter those who may intentionally want to destroy the body of Christ. Differences in the church can be dealt with by prayers and by conflict resolution through dialogues, tolerance and love .

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? How important is improving your ministry skills through training? Prayer? Practice? Diligence? Faithfulness? Doctrinal accuracy? Devotional life? Openness to spiritual gifts? Etc. A congregation built by the power of the Holy Spirit where every builder uses the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to him correctly to build, the result will be a formidable strong structure that will stand the test of fire. Ministry's skills can certainly be improved through training, prayer e.t.c as listed.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 3:4-9) In what ways do denominations encourage Christian unity? In what ways do they foster disunity? Does belonging a "non-denominational" church make any difference regarding unity throughout the body? How can we tear down the barriers that divide us? Denominations encourage Christian unity because despite their diversity, they preach one Christ and one Lord The way denominations foster disunity is by doctrinal differences where each denomination believes that only her doctrines are correct and even attack other denominations for having wrong doctrines. Not really. Belonging to a "non- denominational" church may or may not make any difference. What makes the difference is the attitude of members within the church towards one another. If the Holy Spirit and love are the driving forces of each member, there will be unity because there will be no preferences to certain people, no quarrels, no jealousy e.t.c then only will there be unity. The barriers that divide the body of Christ are listed above. Unity will be found when the body of Christ allows the Holy Spirit to guide every member in our daily lives and by teaching only the truth as led by the Holy Spirit of Christ.

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? In terms of jealousy and quarreling? -- infant, child, teenager, adult? What will it take for you to grow to the next stage? I do hunger for the word of God and thus think that I have just passed from teenager level into a a young adult stage. In terms of jealousy, quarrelling, I think I am still growing, may be a teenager level. I will rely of the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God to transform me into adulthood.

Q5. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Explain how we can "have the mind of Christ." How does this work, according to these verses? How does having the Holy Spirit "circulating" through our minds explain spiritual gifts working through us? To have the mind of Christ is to have the Holy Spirit living in us and helping us to understand the things of the spirit of God. This works as the Holy Spirit searches the mind of God and translate the findings/ message into our our own level of understanding. By the Holy Spirit "circulating" through our minds, he empowers us with certain abilities and power to operate above the ordinary for the building of the body of Christ- the Church.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 2:1-6) Why didn't Paul conform to the rhetorical standards of his day in order to communicate more clearly? What is the danger of "repackaging" the message? What does it mean that Paul relied on a demonstration of the Spirit's power? Paul did not need to go about preaching with the type eloquence, wisdom and persuasive words of wisdom of the world because his message was not the message of the world that needed such style. He depended on the power of the Holy to preach effectively and recorded success. This was evidenced by miracles and also conviction of the listeners of sin. "Repackaging" the message for acceptance has the danger of diluting the truth in the message or even result in total mispresentation of the truth.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) In what way does Christ represent God's wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption? How far do these go to lay the basis of a truly Christian philosophical system? Christ represents: God's wisdom because through Christ the gentiles are included in God's plan for salvation. His spirit gives us wisdom. God's righteousness. Our righteousness is as filthy rags but Christ sacrificial death makes us right with God. God's holiness because by his blood we are made holy and acceptable by God. God's redemption. We were bought back from the penalty of death due to sin and therefore we are redeemed.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 1:21-25) In what areas do non-Christians in our culture stumble over the basic gospel of Christ? To what degree can we help bridge this gap through careful and creative presentation? To what degree might that be "watering down" the gospel? Why can't we escape the tension between culturally-relevant communication and changing the essence of the message? Many non- Christians do not understand and do not believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose again for the salvation of mankind. The concept does not make sense to such people. The Christians should continue to preach the Gospel undiluted but with wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit power, explain the message and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit to convict and convince.

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. Other teachings pushed to us by world and echoed on electronic and print media are: Same sex marriage Abortion being legalised Dressing and hair style different from what the Bible preaches That Christians and other world religions are serving the same god.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)What kind of divisions do you see in your congregation or in the Christian community in your area? What is the cause of the divisions in Corinth? What is the cause of divisions today? How do we obey the command to "agree with one another" (1:10)? I am not sure of any serious division around individuals in my Church but certainly there are division based on differences in opinions on certain issues and policies. The cause of division in Corinth was primarily based on preference to certain leaders to others. This was probably because certain leaders were more articulate or good in speech, conduct, administration and thus preferred to others. There are many causes of division today. Some are based on doctrinal differences while some are based on personality differences e.t.c. To agree with one another does not mean we accept whatever the other person says but that we should be humble even in our disagreement which should be done in love.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) What gifts does God give us to ensure that we'll continue in faith until the end? Why does each require our active participation to receive its full benefits? Which do you need to enter into more? He has given us the gifts of strength to stand to the end life or end age, forgiveness of sin where are blameless by his grace, fellowship, and his faithfulness ensures that we can be confident to state without doubt that we are save and have a heavenly inheritance with him in fellowship. God's abundant gifts listed above are available to us by grace but it is our responsibility to take advantage of these gift and avail ourselves to the them by receiving them. I need to avail myself more to fellowship with him in the richness of his grace so that he will strengthen me to the end of time.

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? What does it say about Paul that he thanks God for the gifts of those who are at odds with him? What specifically does he thank God for about the Corinthian believers? Rarely do I do so- thanking God for even those who hate me. But I am challenged today to do as Paul did, - thank God for everything and for everyone even those who irritate or annoy me. It shows Paul's love and humility as he could still thank those who were castigating him. He thanked God because the Corinthian Church has been blessed by God with rich abundant blessings of different Spiritual gifts in Christ Jesus.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 1:2) "What does "called to be holy" or "called to be saints" mean? What is a saint according to the Bible? Why is it so comfortable for us to say, "I'm no saint"? What is expected of a person who has been set apart as the personal property of the living God? What kind of behavior does the world expect of those who claim to be followers of Christ? God is holy and his followers are expected to live holy lives. A saint is one who ha been set apart or made suitable for the service of the Lord. We feel unworthy to be called saints because of guilt due to our sinful tendencies. We should however endeavour to live sin free lives but to run to God in repentance whenever we sin. A person set apart is expected to live according to his calling- a holy life by our actions and lifestyles. The world expects us to behave as we claim to be- saints in conduct and utterances.