Discussion for 29 January 2017

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
     “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
          and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

For Consideration-
If it is true religious affiliations are directly related to social and economic class then what does this passage say is the solution for coming together as one?

Discussion for 22 January 2017

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

FOR CONSIDERATION
-What is Paul's theology of The Cross?

Discussion for 15 January 2017

Psalm 40:1-11

1   I waited patiently for the LORD;
          he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2   He drew me up from the desolate pit,
          out of the miry bog,
     and set my feet upon a rock,
          making my steps secure.
3   He put a new song in my mouth,
          a song of praise to our God.
     Many will see and fear,
          and put their trust in the LORD.

4   Happy are those who make
          the LORD their trust,
     who do not turn to the proud,
          to those who go astray after false gods.
5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
          your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
          none can compare with you.
     Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
          they would be more than can be counted.

6   Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
          but you have given me an open ear.
     Burnt offering and sin offering
          you have not required.
7   Then I said, “Here I am;
          in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8   I delight to do your will, O my God;
          your law is within my heart.”

9   I have told the glad news of deliverance
          in the great congregation;
     see, I have not restrained my lips,
          as you know, O LORD.
10  I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
          I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
     I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
          from the great congregation.

11  Do not, O LORD, withhold
          your mercy from me;
     let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
          keep me safe forever.

FOR CONSIDERATION
- What does this passage say about authentic evangelism?

Discussion for 8 January 2017

 Isaiah 42:1-9

1   Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
          my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
     I have put my spirit upon him;
          he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2   He will not cry or lift up his voice,
          or make it heard in the street;
3   a bruised reed he will not break,
          and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
          he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4   He will not grow faint or be crushed
          until he has established justice in the earth;
          and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5Thus says God, the LORD,
          who created the heavens and stretched them out,
          who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
     who gives breath to the people upon it
          and spirit to those who walk in it:
6   I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,
          I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
     I have given you as a covenant to the people,
          a light to the nations,
7        to open the eyes that are blind,
     to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
          from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8   I am the LORD, that is my name;
          my glory I give to no other,
          nor my praise to idols.
9   See, the former things have come to pass,
          and new things I now declare;
     before they spring forth,
          I tell you of them.

FOR CONSIDERATION
- Who is the servant in this passage.
- Is is possible for any of us to be servants?