06.24.08
Small Group Plan - June 22, 2008
“Pulling Together”
Unity
Small Group Plan
June 22, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
I am quite sure that the best way to promote union
is to promote truth.
It will not do for us to be all united together
by yielding to one another’s mistakes.
– Charles H. Spurgeon
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What to you is an unmistakable picture of love?
· As a child, who loved you in an extra special way? Why does the memory stay with you?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
A Picture of Disharmony
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
· How would you describe the Corinthian problem?
· To what extent should we try to “agree with one another” (Vs. 10)?
· Paul was concerned about “quarrels” (Vs. 11). What kind of quarrel is normal and what kind is dangerous? Explain.
· How can having a spiritual hero go too far and lead to division (Vs. 12)?
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
· In this context, what does Paul say is the basic difference between “spiritual” and “worldly” (Vs. 1)?
· What is the evidence that someone is ready for “solid food” (Vs. 2)?
· In this text “infant” means immature. How is disunity a sign of immaturity?
· How did Paul and Apollos feel about being used as dividing wedges?
A Picture of Harmony
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
· How is Paul’s confrontation an act of love?
· How does the love described here differ from the love defined by our culture?
· From this text, describe what love is and isn’t
· From this text, describe what love does and doesn’t do.
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How does Jesus bring diversity of opinion together?
· What does it mean when a person wears the name of Jesus but can’t get along, go along or cooperate with almost anyone?
· What are the first few steps towards healing a damaged relationship with a fellow Christian?
· What’s the best way to learn how to love?
· What would build our unity at Prestoncrest?
Close with prayer for our unity over the next two months?