The Word of the Cross and The Wisdom of God

Discussion Questions:

1. First, read Hebrews 13:7 and 1 Timothy 5:17. How do we appropriately honor our leaders without emphasizing the messenger over the message? Is it wrong to have “favorite preachers”?
2. What attitudes and characteristics would make up a church with a flavor of gospel ministry described in 1 Cor. 1? Are there ways we can help foster those attitudes and characteristics at GCO?
3. How can we communicate this gospel message to the unbelievers we know most clearly and honestly? What are the implications of sharing a message that we know will be “foolishness” to them? Should we work to make it less foolish sounding? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in all of this?
4. In our American culture, what particular pressures or expectations do we face as individual believers and a church family in regard to how we carry out gospel ministry? Are those in line with Paul’s description of gospel ministry? What is a God honoring way to respond to those pressures?
5. How does Paul’s description of us in v.26-29 effect how you think about yourself? What about how you talk to your kids about how they think of themselves? How much of the world’s “self-esteem” message fits with the biblical picture of believers?