Trinity Study: 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 Application Questions

As we consider how to apply Paul's words from the beginning of chapter 5, think through the following questions:

• How do Paul's words about lofty speech and wisdom apply to our celebrity preacher culture today? Do you ever struggle with the desire for the preaching at Trinity to be more like a TV or radio preacher that you appreciate? Does the "celebrity" status of those preachers have a tendency to draw more attention to the preacher/speaker than to Christ and the Gospel?
• Do you watch for "fear and trembling" in the preaching at Trinity Church? What would it mean if our preachers (either our pastor or guest preachers) put confidence in themselves and in their preaching skills and abilities? 
• What is the role of the Holy Spirit in preaching? And what is his role in listening to preaching? Do you find yourself relying on the Holy Spirit to hear and understand the wisdom of the Word of God preached? Why or why not? How could you approach the preaching of the Word with greater reliance on the Holy Spirit?

Suggested Prayers:

• Lord, help me to hear when your Word is preached faithfully, and to turn aside from temptations to wish that I could sit under the preaching of a "celebrity" preacher. Give me a greater appreciation for preaching done not with lofty speech or worldly wisdom but by the power of God.
• Father, give my pastor fear and trembling each time he steps into the pulpit, and cause him to rely on you in every way as he preaches. 
• Jesus, may your Gospel always be the central teaching of every sermon at Trinity. Renew our focus on you, Lord Christ, and the work of your saving grace in our midst.
• Holy Spirit, guide my heart to hear your Word as it is preached, and teach me to listen more closely according to the ways you have shaped the sermons I hear. Show me my need for the Gospel each time I listen to preaching, and show me how the Gospel fulfills that need more than I could ask or imagine.

Trinity Study: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 application questions

Following up on the exposition part of the study earlier in the week, here are some application questions about 1 Corinthians 1:1–3.

• What do you usually think about your own sanctification? Does it challenge your way of thinking to consider how Paul addressed the Corinthians as "those sanctified"? Do you think of yourself as being viewed as already sanctified in the eyes of God, even as he continues to do the work of bringing this to fuller reality?
• When you consider Paul's address of the Corinthians as "those called to be saints" does it bother you, in light of their ongoing struggles with sin? Who do you think is worthy of the label "saints"? Do you count yourself in that category? If your category of "saints" doesn't include ALL Christians, what requirements or qualifications allows one to be a saint and prevents another from being one? How does that definition of "saints" compare to the way that Paul (and the rest of the Bible) uses the word?
• Paul greets them with a familiar but significant greeting: "grace and peace to you." What does it mean to pass along these two states of being in a greeting? Do you read those words as being perfunctory and empty because they are words of greeting? Or do you recognize that Paul genuinely meant them as what he would have for the Corinthians?

Areas for Prayer

• Lord, teach me to view myself and my spiritual status through your eyes—that, because of the work you completed on my behalf, I need never fear that you see me as fully sanctified and having all righteousness. Remind me of that when I struggle with sin, that I might live according to the identity you have given me through my union with you, and not live according to the flesh.
• Father, give me a sense of unity and inclusion in the church, and protect me from feeling like an outsider from those who are part of your body. Show me what it means that you call me a "saint"—someone set apart for your purposes—and help me to understand my life in light of that reality.
• Lord Jesus, you became incarnate to bring your kingdom to all of creation, and through your life, death, resurrection, and ascension you have graciously secured the permanence of your kingdom come for all the world. Help me, and all of those who believe and trust in you, to see life with "grace and peace" in view, and to relate to one another, to your creation, to ourselves, and to you in light of the grace and peace that you make possible.

Trinity Questions #1: Suggested Application

Yesterday we briefly considered the attitude that Christians are called to embody at all times—especially during times of crisis, like we are currently facing.

Today I'd like to think together about some possible ways to apply this in our lives right now. Please note that these are suggested application points, not mandates or direct instructions. And they are just the beginning of a potentially long list of suggestions, so please add your own ideas to the mix!

First Corinthians 10:23–24, the main passage we looked at yesterday, mentioned three particulars to pay attention to: things that are helpful, things that build up, and things that seek the good of neighbor. Let's consider some ways that those might find direct application right now.

• As we think of neighbors: who are your literal neighbors, the people that live closest to your home? What are ways that you could do things that are for their good right now? Someone posted a note they had sent to all of their neighbors, offering to help them by getting them groceries, pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, or other errands they may not be able to do themselves. Even if you don't know your neighbors very well, an offer to serve them would be a great act of neighbor love.
• Also related to "the good of neighbor": as long as the spread of this virus is such a grave concern, the practice of "social distancing"—keeping a space of about six feet between you and anyone else—is not just an act of self-preservation but also one of love for neighbor, because it respects their need to keep from infection as well as your own. Even for someone we might feel inclined to greet with more affection, a hug or handshake at this particular time is inconsiderate and unloving.
• It's been surprising to see the "hoarding" of staple goods during this pandemic. This strikes me as a perfect example of something that might be "lawful" but that isn't helpful or building up of others. Christians shouldn't take more than their "share" of even the most vital items. We might even consider foregoing our own needs or desires for the sake of others, and simply not buying an item so someone else can have it. One person recognized that items marked for "WIC" (the "women, infants, and children" food program) should be skipped over by those who aren't enrolled in WIC, so that WIC mothers would have them to buy. This kind of decision is helpful and builds others up.
• One way we can consider others, love them, and build them up is to keep in mind that those around us may be facing this crisis in challenging ways. They may be struggling to pay rent or afford groceries; they might have lost their job and be fearful about the future. It could be they someone close to them is sick from the virus or otherwise. Those who struggle with depression or anxiety could be seeing those struggles flare up in difficult ways. Love is patient and kind, and exercising some extra grace toward others is definitely called for during a time like this.

How can the church be actively serving our community in love right now?

• We are going to make sure that everyone in our own church community has what they need. Much as we do during a time of particular need when we coordinate meals for others, we will do all we can to coordinate meals, groceries, and/or other necessities for those families in our congregation that cannot get them for themselves.
• We want to support the community of Rossville as much as we can. Over the next week our leadership will be in touch with the governing leaders of Rossville and Fayette county to find out how we might play a role in supporting them. We will also be in touch with the Rossville Fire Department, with whom we have had occasional opportunities to be supportive, to learn what they might need and whether we can provide that.
• We are also tentatively planning to set up a Little Free Pantry on the church grounds for those in the immediate area to make use of, which may be particularly helpful during this season when groceries and other household needs are in shorter supply.

Again, these are just a few ideas for application of this attitude that we are called to live out. What ideas do YOU have for this, that we could add to the list?