1 Corinthians #34 – Weekly Study Questions
Final Instructions
1 Corinthians 16:1-24 (CGS #34)
INTRODUCTION – At long last, we’ve made it to the final chapter of 1 Corinthians. And what a journey it’s been! Over the last 11 months, we’ve heard Paul address issues such as unity around the gospel, marriage, idolatry, rules for worship, divisions in the church, spiritual gifts, the nature of the resurrection, and Christ’s victory on the cross. It’s an incredible book packed with rich doctrine and compelling instruction. And now we come to the final chapter. In chapter 16, we get a glimpse into a few practical aspects of the nature of this letter, Paul’s closing thoughts, and some very sweet personal greetings.
First, the practical: Why did Paul write verses 1-11, and why did the Holy Spirit preserve them for us? The first thing to remember is that in Paul’s day, there was no postal service. Letters were difficult to write, expensive to send, and unbelievably slow. As a result, Paul packed as much information into each letter as possible. The second thing to remember is that Paul was a missionary, and this letter was not just an explanation of doctrine, but also a support letter, travel itinerary, and missions update all wrapped up into one. Like modern-day missionaries, he’s got some extremely practical, mundane, day-to-day updates to give. These verses were preserved for us by the Holy Spirit because, like the rest of Scripture, they can instruct, rebuke, exhort, and train us in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17). They also give us a glimpse into the reality of life in Paul’s day. We can see that, even in the 1st century, churches were gathering on the first day of the week, taking up collections, and sending those gifts to people in need. It’s so encouraging that we get to carry on those practices today.
Second, the closing thoughts: Sprinkled throughout verses 12-24 are some final instructions. It reads like the last paragraph of a note from a parent to their child at camp, with all the little reminders, summaries, and details that pop into the mind as you realize this is the last communication you’ll have for a while. Let’s zoom in on the instructions in verses 13-14 in particular.
When Paul says, “Be watchful,” he’s not just talking about watching out for false teachers or disunity among the church, he’s also looking ahead to the return of Christ. He’s telling the Corinthians (and us), “Remember that Jesus is coming back, and it could be any day. Live in the hope and expectation of his imminent return.” Chapter 15 of course gives us the primary motivator of that hope. When Jesus returns, our resurrection will be like his: perfect, eternal, victorious, and glorious. What does our expectation of Christ’s return mean for our lives? It should look like the rest of verse 13: “stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” We can stand firm in the faith, meaning we don’t have to abandon the gospel, even in the face of overwhelming temptation and heavy persecution. We know we’re headed for a glory that’s even heavier (2 Cor 4:17). We can also be strong. Paul’s instruction to “act like men” can sound insulting to modern ears (“Is he saying women aren’t strong?”), but Paul probably has in mind the idea of the Greek honor principle. In Greek culture, men were expected to pursue honor, esteem, and respect, often through military prowess. However, Paul is not instructing the Corinthian Christians to achieve honor through physical combat, but through their faithful endurance. He’s telling them to live honorable lives, marked by courage, steadfastness, and love (v 14).
Finally, the personal greetings: In the final few verses of chapter 16, we get one final reminder of Paul’s genuine love for these people. Remember, these were his friends and supporters. He had planted this church (Acts 18), and he clearly cared about them deeply. Verse 24 is one of the sweetest endings to any of his letters, so let’s end this sermon series there as well: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Amen!
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question: Have you ever gotten a meaningful letter in the mail? What was it and why was it so meaningful?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It’s 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?
DISCUSS – Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following discussion questions:
- 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.
- What do Paul’s instructions show us about his priorities? What did he care about?
- Why does he end this letter the way he does?
- What has God been teaching you through the 1 Corinthians series?
- Has this series helped you grow more aware of how God is inviting you into his greater story? If so, what is he calling you to do?
- Has this series helped you keep an eternal perspective? If so, how does that change your day-to-day life?