1 Corinthians 3:5-17 | Food for Thought

 

1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Food for Thought:

  • The Humility of Disciple-Making. Paul responds to some “favoritism” among the church by recalibrating the way they think about the people God uses - and themselves!

    • Think about someone who’s been influential in your spiritual life. In Paul’s garden analogy, how would you describe their role in your life?

      • Were you aware of God going to work in your life through that person?

      • Does it lessen that person’s significance to you if you acknowledge that they would’ve have been “anything” apart from God giving the growth?

    • What motivates you (or would motivate you) when it comes to disciple-making? Are you motivated by a “reward” of some kind? Why or why not?

      • How can it make you humble knowing there’s a reward for you - and all of your co-laborers - waiting from the Lord?

    • As much as you’re God’s coworker, you’re also God’s field. How are you allowing the Lord to till your soil through the ministry of other people?

  • The Hope of Disciple-Making. We do disciple-making work in order to make disciples who last. Paul assures us that there’s only one foundation we need to worry about - Jesus - and that any worthwhile ministry won’t be wasted.

    • Using the building analogy, why is the foundation so important?

      • For Christians, why is it important to have Jesus - not other Christian things, Christian ideas, or Christian practices - but Jesus himself be our foundation? What if he’s not?

    • What insecurities do you have when it comes to disciple-making? What’s your worst fear?

      • How might the promise of a “testing by fire” actually be good news for those insecurities?

      • What’s not at stake for you personally and for your faithful work? What will last no matter what - even if your work gets burned up and someone attempts to take you down?

    • Is there a way to know in advance whether what you’re putting your effort to is straw or gold? What is it? What can help?

  • The Hustle of Disciple-Making. Make it practical! Discipleship isn’t just a one-on-one meeting between an older person that always gives and a younger person who always receives. Discipleship can happen formally or informally, explicitly or implicitly, among a couple of people who vary in age, a few folks who are in the same stage of life, and a larger group from across the board. But discipleship CAN’T happen accidentally… at least not discipleship towards Jesus!

    • Very bluntly: are you discipling anyone? [How are you on purpose helping people grow in believing and becoming like Jesus?]

      • If so, how? Share with us!

      • If not, why not?

      • Who do you want to starting believing in Jesus and/or begin becoming like him in some news ways? What’s stopping you from praying for them and inviting them to follow Jesus alongside you?

    • In the Great Commission (Matthew 28), Jesus says we have to teach disciples to observe all that Jesus commanded. This means teaching to know and showing how to live. In what area(s) do you need to be discipled in?

      • How can you pursue that in some way this week? What habits, priorities, resources, etc. do you need to add / change in your life?

    • What else is the Spirit pressing upon your heart to do in order to make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus from a humble, hopeful place?

 
1 SamuelScott O'Donohoe