1 Corinthians #9 – Study Questions
A Purposefully Responsive People
1 Corinthians (CGS#9) – 1:2 / Ezra 3
INTRODUCTION: One of the things that I love about the Bible is how it routinely offers us honest pictures of humanity over the ages. These pictures are both comforting and challenging. They comfort us by reminding and demonstrating that we are not all that different than the generations that have come before, even those stretching back to antiquity. These pictures are challenging because they also call us out of our sin and into righteousness. As we all know, that is a needed but challenging thing. One of these very honest moments comes in the book of Ezra.
Let’s get some quick context for the book of Ezra.
There were three waves of return to Jerusalem—led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and then Nehemiah. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe these returns, but they are not attempting to provide a complete, detailed history of this 100-year-plus time span. Instead, they focus on only a few highly significant years.[1] There were several groups that departed from Persia and returned to Jerusalem to re-establish God’s people in their own land. One wave was led by Ezra, another by Zerubbabel, and another by Nehemiah. Ezra was a scribe, so he helped with re-educating Israel; Zerubbabel was a priest and re-established the priesthood; and Nehemiah was the governor, who helped with social order. Each had their own place in God’s plan.[2]
In Ezra 3:11-13, Ezra tells us about this beautiful moment when the people had returned from exile and the foundation of the Temple had been restored. This was a moment of great significance and one to rejoice. Some do, some don’t. Ezra tells us that the heads of the households wept because the rebuilt temple was smaller than the one that they remembered. This is tragic. The function of the Temple was to facilitate the worship of God and the communion of his people. That had stopped in the exile, and now was about to begin again! Yet, they wept because the form was different than they remembered. They had prized form over function and missed a beautiful and sacred move of God. Again, the only word to describe this moment is, tragic.
As we’ve been in I Corinthians this fall, we’ve heard from Paul about the ultimate function (purpose) of the church. The church is made up of God’s people who are to live distinctively different lives now that they are being sanctified (transformed) in Christ Jesus. The tragedy of Corinth is that they had become more like Corinth than Christ, and that meant they had lost their ultimate purpose, showing their neighbors that there is a better way in Christ through transformed lives.
When we consider what’s next in the life of Christ Community, these two examples should spur us on. They remind us that we can easily miss what God is doing when we forget our purpose, or we prize form over function. They also call us back to faithfulness as we realize that God is on the move, and he wants to use us in our context just as he used the faithful through the Scriptures. May we never forget that the Church exists because of Christ, and for the glory of Christ. And that we need to be purposefully responsive (personally and corporately) to what God is doing here and now.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, take time to answer this question together: What was an experience in your life where you learned the importance of being responsive and proactive?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday-Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions about the article of faith we are studying that week.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- In 1 Cor. 1:2, Paul says that we are to be sanctified in Christ Jesus. What has that transformation looked like in your life? What is an area of needed growth?
- When we experience change, we often experience it as loss. Loss of information, influence, and impact. How have you experienced those things? How does this help you understand what those who were weeping in Ezra 3 were experiencing?
- Purposeful responsiveness is not about saying yes to everything. Instead, it is about saying yes to the most important things for your and others’ spiritual growth and health. Revisit the idea from last week of evaluating your time, talents, and treasure. Are there good things that you are devoting your time, talents, and treasure to that are standing in the way of great things that God has for you?
[1] Mason, Eric. Nehemiah For You: Strength to Build for God (God’s Word For You) (p. 11). The Good Book Company.
[2] Mason, Eric. Nehemiah For You: Strength to Build for God (God’s Word For You) (p. 6). The Good Book Company.