| LEADER'S GUIDE |
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1 Corinthians 6:1-11 - Avoiding Lawsuits with Christians (1-8) and Barriers to Entering the Kingdom of God (9-11) |
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1. Does Paul think that all Christians should get along together and not have disputes with each other? What does this mean for you? A: No. His concern is not that the Corinthians have disagreements or even that those disagreements need resolution by a "judge." Rather, his protest is that they place the matter before the judicial system of Corinth rather than handling it within the church. 2. With your background and attitude, if you were a judge, what kind would you be: Hanging judge? Lenient? Pushover? Known for creative sentencing? Why? 3. Both verses 2 and 3 begin with the phrase, “do you not know...” or “don’t you realize...” Did Paul think that the Corinthians really didn’t know what he was stating? A: He begins with two "do you not know . . ." questions. This expression was commonly used in the Greek world and in Greek letters. The clear implication was that the Corinthians did know what Paul will mention in verses 2 and 3 and he assumes that they should have drawn the same conclusion that he drew. 4. Explain verses 2-3 in which Paul says, first, that saints (or believers) will judge the world and second, that you will judge the world (or angels)? (see Daniel 7:22) A: Verse 2 asks if the Corinthians do not understand that Christians will someday judge the world. Daniel 7:22 says, “Then God Most High, the Eternal God, came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for them to be given the kingdom.” (CEV) “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” (KJV) Verse 3 simply enlarges on this thought by extending it into the future when God’s kingdom has come and we Christians will actually judge angels. This has all kinds of far-reaching implications, one of which is that even when God’s kingdom finally does come—what we think of as heaven—there will still be disputes that must be judged. Think about that! The bottom line here is that Paul views believers as competent to judge cases where Christians have claims against each other, because they view matters from a Godly vantage point. Compared to our future role in judging the world and angels, judging things of this life is insignificant. 5. What point does Paul make in Verse 6 that applies to you today? A: When you have disputes with other Christians, it makes Christianity unattractive to non-believers. They look at us as hypocrites (i.e., people who say one thing but do another). Note that Paul is NOT saying that Christians won’t have disputes, but he is saying don’t air your dirty laundry in front of non-believers, and especially, don’t ask them to judge your disputes. Do you ever do that? You have a dispute with your wife or a friend, and then you go to someone else (not necessarily a Christian) and tell your side of the story to get some support. 6. What does Paul mean in verse 7 when he says “lawsuits with one another are a defeat for you?” (Matthew 18:21-22) A: He probably means that you are defeated by greed, retaliation, and vengeance. Doesn’t the world tell us that we should get even? How about that popular movie from last summer, “V is for Vengeance?” Or books like “Getting Even” and “The Complete Revenge Kit?” He means we are not forgiving one another as Jesus tells us to do. Paul says that we should be willing to accept the injustice and leave it at that. Jesus said to forgive, to turn the other cheek. Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” 7. In this next paragraph (verses 9-11), Paul identifies a number of wrongs (or sins) that will prevent people entering the Kingdom of God. The first category is sexual sin. What are the four types of sexual immorality he lists here and in Romans 1:26? A: 1) Adultery. 2) Male prostitute. 3) Male homosexual. 4) Female homosexual. Romans 1:26 - That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 8. Does that mean that if you committed adultery or had sex with a man you cannot enter God’s Kingdom? A: No. God will forgive you if you truly repent and ask for forgiveness. Notice that Paul uses the present tense of the verb which implies that those who are continuing to indulge in sexual sin or continue to commit adultery are the ones he is speaking about. In fact, Paul even says in verse 11 that “some of you were once like that, but you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God.” How? By calling on the name of Jesus Christ and by the (forgiving) spirit of our God. 9. In addition to those who practice sexual immorality, what other types of people does Paul say will not enter the Kingdom of God? A: 1) Those who worship idols. 2) Thieves. 3) Greedy people. 4) Drunkards. 5) Those who are abusive. 6) Cheaters and swindlers. 7) Several versions of the Bible add slanderers and liars. It is interesting to look at different Bible translations of verse 10 as several add even more sins. For example, the Amplified Bible says, “Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.” The Contemporary English Version adds, “anyone who curses.” The 21st Century King James and Young’s Literal add, “extortioners.” 10. Paul seems to have gone well beyond the Ten Commandments here (Exodus 20:1-17). What justification does he have for doing so? (Matthew 5:21-40) A: Actually, it was Jesus who first enlarged the meaning of the ten commandments when he said in Matthew 5:21, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca (Empty-head),’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. 33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply 'Yes,' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 11. Is there anything you are doing in your life today that would prevent you from entering the Kingdom of God? |
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