1 Corinthians 4 | Bible Study Questions

Observation

What does it say?

  1. What's one thing that you were able to apply or meditate on from last week's study?
    1. Share with one another before you move on to this week's study.
  2. What do you think makes a good church leader? What should their priorities be?
  3. Read 1 Corinthians
  4. What repeated words to you notice?
  5. What characters are mentioned in this chapter?
  6. What is a "clear conscience"? (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)
  7. What is one question that you'd like to have answered about this text?

INTERPRETATION

What does it mean?

  1. How does Paul describe the true life and ministry of the apostles and church leaders?
    1. What do those entrusted with church leadership need to do? (v. 2)
    2. What judgements does Paul care about (v.5) and which ones does he not care about (v.3)?
  2. What are some of the implications of this for gospel ministry today?
    1. How does this encourage and fuel steadfastness in ministry?
  3. Why would it be tempting for a church leader to go "beyond what is written"?
    1. Why would it be tempting to say less than what's written?
  4. What does this chapter have to say to people who are looking to choose church leaders (elders/deacons)?

APPLICATION

How should it change us?

  1. How does Paul's teaching here encourage us if we're being falsely accused?
    1. What should we do if our conscience isn't clear?
  2. How can we help our pastors make sure they don't go "beyond what is written?
    1. How can we make sure that we don't do this with others?
  3. Do you know the freedom of knowing that God's judgment is the only judgement that matters, and that if you're in Christ God sees you as perfect?
    1. How does this help you when you face the judgment of others?
  4. Pray in light of this passage and any applications you've made.
  5. Sing Across the Lands to God and to one another.
Some of the questions from this study were developed from Mark Dever's book "1 Corinthians 1-9: Challenging Church."

1 Corinthians 4 | Bible Study Questions

Observation

What does it say?

  1. What's one thing that you were able to apply or meditate on from last week's study?
    1. Share with one another before you move on to this week's study.
  2. What do you think makes a good church leader? What should their priorities be?
  3. Read 1 Corinthians
  4. What repeated words to you notice?
  5. What characters are mentioned in this chapter?
  6. What is a "clear conscience"? (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)
  7. What is one question that you'd like to have answered about this text?

INTERPRETATION

What does it mean?

  1. How does Paul describe the true life and ministry of the apostles and church leaders?
    1. What do those entrusted with church leadership need to do? (v. 2)
    2. What judgements does Paul care about (v.5) and which ones does he not care about (v.3)?
  2. What are some of the implications of this for gospel ministry today?
    1. How does this encourage and fuel steadfastness in ministry?
  3. Why would it be tempting for a church leader to go "beyond what is written"?
    1. Why would it be tempting to say less than what's written?
  4. What does this chapter have to say to people who are looking to choose church leaders (elders/deacons)?

APPLICATION

How should it change us?

  1. How does Paul's teaching here encourage us if we're being falsely accused?
    1. What should we do if our conscience isn't clear?
  2. How can we help our pastors make sure they don't go "beyond what is written?
    1. How can we make sure that we don't do this with others?
  3. Do you know the freedom of knowing that God's judgment is the only judgement that matters, and that if you're in Christ God sees you as perfect?
    1. How does this help you when you face the judgment of others?
  4. Pray in light of this passage and any applications you've made.
  5. Sing Across the Lands to God and to one another.
Some of the questions from this study were developed from Mark Dever's book "1 Corinthians 1-9: Challenging Church."