1 Corinthians 3:16-23
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How were you challenged or encouraged by our study of 1 Corinthians 3:16-23?
According to 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:15, 19–22; and 1 Peter 2:5, what is God building His people to be? According to 1 Peter 2:9, what is God building his people to do? How should this shape the way we think about the purpose and unity of the church?
In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul reminds the church, “you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Why is it significant that Paul is speaking to the whole church rather than merely to individual believers? What does that teach us about our need for and responsibility toward one another?
How should our identity as God’s temple, indwelt by His Spirit, shape the way we live and relate to one another?
Why is division in the church such a serious matter? According to James 3:13–16, Galatians 5:15, and Romans 16:17–18, what do jealousy, strife, quarreling, and division produce? How does 1 Corinthians 3:17 reveal God’s response to those who tear down what He is building?
How does 1 Corinthians 3:17 function as both a warning and an encouragement? What does this verse reveal about how seriously God takes the holiness and protection of His church?
Consider your own presence in the church. In what ways are your words, attitudes, gifts, and relationships building up the body of Christ? In what ways might they be discouraging, weakening, or tearing down others?
In 1 Corinthians 3:18, Paul warns, “Let no one deceive himself.” Why is this warning necessary and helpful, especially when we find ourselves in conflict or disagreement with others?
How does pride narrow our vision? What did the Corinthians’ pride in their teachers and their own wisdom keep them from seeing, enjoying, and displaying? Where are you tempted to become so focused on being right, being heard, or defending your preferences that you lose sight of Christ and the good of His church?
What are some practical ways we can guard against self-deception? How can Scripture, prayer, the wisdom of other believers, and a willingness to receive correction help us examine ourselves before diagnosing everyone else? Which of these do you most need to grow in?
