37. The Spirit and the Church

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37. The Spirit and the Church

Church is a place we expect to encounter the presence of God

July 30, 2023 • Brian Colmery • 1 Corinthians 14:20–33

How do we think about the Spirit and the church? Church is a place to expect the Spirit to move, typically through others around us—and not just Sunday services, but smaller gatherings throughout the week. Yet this isn't excess, emotionalism, or spiritual experience for its own sake—it's done in order, because it's done in love.

Application Questions:

1. Do you expect God to be at work when you are gathered with the church community, on Sundays or throughout the week?

2. What are different ways you can participate in the Spirit’s work when we gather as a church?

3. Why is Jesus the heart of church gatherings? How can we focus more on him on Sundays and throughout the week?

More from A Better Way: the book of 1 Corinthians

45. Greetings And Grace

October 1, 2023 • Reggie Austin • 1 Corinthians 16:19–24

It's easy to see the greetings at the end of the letter as superficial. But in them we see an affectionate grace that we are to receive ourselves and extend to others as God has to us in Christ. Application Questions: 1. In what ways are you tempted to gloss over greeting? 2. How can you extend an appropriately affectionate greeting to your brother or sister in Christ? 3. How can accepting and embracing the grace of Jesus Christ help you this week?

44. Practicing The Gospel

September 24, 2023 • Brian Colmery • 1 Corinthians 16:1–18

Paul closes the book of 1 Corinthians with several short discussions on practical matters. But under these practical matters we find a deep theology. On three topics—money, plans, and church—we learn how to apply the gospel and find a better way to live in the practical issues of life. Application Questions: 1. How does the gospel give you a new way to think about money? 2. How does the gospel give you a new way to think about your plans? 3. How does the gospel give you a new perspective on life as a Christian in Los Angeles?

43. The Victory of Resurrection

September 10, 2023 • Matt Kleinhans • 1 Corinthians 15:50–58

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is victory over sin and death. We may still feel the sting of death in this life, but the victory of Christ allows us to say, "O death where is your sting!?" Application Questions: 1. How does the future Kingdom of God speak to your present life now? 2. What are ways you distract yourself or cope with the reality of death in this world? 3. What fear(s) do you have about death? 4. How does the victory of the resurrection speak to your fears?