Living and Moving in the Holy Spirit
Part I: Our Purpose & Power
Study Guide Week Three:
Message for Sunday April 29, 2018
This Week Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Additional Reading: Romans 1:16; Acts 1:1-7
Introduction
When Jesus returned to heaven He gave His followers a great task to accomplish. The task is known as the Great Commission. It is found in Matthew 28 verses 16-20. Jesus said to them and to us today the following, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." At that point in history there were 120 followers of Jesus. How could they do accomplish such a great task? Jesus himself answered this question for them. In Acts chapter 1 verses 4-8, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the gift that God had promised. In verse 8 Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." What they needed to accomplish God's will is exactly what we need to accomplish God's will today. We need the power of God. This power comes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Our power is not enough we need God's power! Paul therefore after reminding the people in Corinth of their call (see guide for week one) and warning them about the threat of disunity (see week two) now tells them the source of power they need to accomplish God's purpose.
When Jesus returned to heaven He gave His followers a great task to accomplish. The task is known as the Great Commission. It is found in Matthew 28 verses 16-20. Jesus said to them and to us today the following, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." At that point in history there were 120 followers of Jesus. How could they do accomplish such a great task? Jesus himself answered this question for them. In Acts chapter 1 verses 4-8, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the gift that God had promised. In verse 8 Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." What they needed to accomplish God's will is exactly what we need to accomplish God's will today. We need the power of God. This power comes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Our power is not enough we need God's power! Paul therefore after reminding the people in Corinth of their call (see guide for week one) and warning them about the threat of disunity (see week two) now tells them the source of power they need to accomplish God's purpose.
Some Background Information
Paul in these verses makes a big contrast between God's power and wisdom on the one side and man's wisdom on the other side. Paul mentions teachers of the law and philosophers. The teachers of the law were Jews who knew every word of the Bible but it was an intellectual knowledge and lacked any power to save people and change lives from the inside. The philosophers were the Greek and Romans philosophers who followed the teaching of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and other schools of philosophy such as Epicureans and Stoics. Since many of the people in the church at Corinth were Greek (remember Corinth is located in Greece) philosophy was part of their world and a normal part of their lives. So Paul in these verses is establishing that philosophies and intelligence lack the power to change lives. Paul was not anti-intellectual but he personally experienced the power of God and he realized that man's wisdom and power was foolishness compared to God's power. Paul notes that the message of the Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. This brings out the dynamic of pride. Many times when people have great learning or have done much study they can become proud , a sort of I know it all attitude. Their own pride keeps them (is a stumbling block) for them believing the message of the cross. The humble however recognize they are limited in their knowledge and power and gladly receive power from God through the Holy Spirit.
Digging Deeper Questions:
1. What different philosophies or ways of thinking do people follow in our time? What is the wisdom of the world?
6. Discuss verses 28 through verse 31. Put this in your own words.
7. Let each person in the group tell one take away from this study.
This Week’s Victory Challenge: Pray as you begin each day this week for God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
Paul in these verses makes a big contrast between God's power and wisdom on the one side and man's wisdom on the other side. Paul mentions teachers of the law and philosophers. The teachers of the law were Jews who knew every word of the Bible but it was an intellectual knowledge and lacked any power to save people and change lives from the inside. The philosophers were the Greek and Romans philosophers who followed the teaching of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and other schools of philosophy such as Epicureans and Stoics. Since many of the people in the church at Corinth were Greek (remember Corinth is located in Greece) philosophy was part of their world and a normal part of their lives. So Paul in these verses is establishing that philosophies and intelligence lack the power to change lives. Paul was not anti-intellectual but he personally experienced the power of God and he realized that man's wisdom and power was foolishness compared to God's power. Paul notes that the message of the Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. This brings out the dynamic of pride. Many times when people have great learning or have done much study they can become proud , a sort of I know it all attitude. Their own pride keeps them (is a stumbling block) for them believing the message of the cross. The humble however recognize they are limited in their knowledge and power and gladly receive power from God through the Holy Spirit.
6. Discuss verses 28 through verse 31. Put this in your own words.
7. Let each person in the group tell one take away from this study.
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