Sunday, Nov 8
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Scripture
1 Corinthians 10:31-33, 11:1 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Dialogue
Below is a list of awards that everyday people commonly receive in their lifetimes. For each award, give two scores from 0–5: Left side: How much did you want, or do you currently want, to receive this award? (0 = Not at all, 5 = Very much) Right side: How much effort did you put, or would you be willing to put, into earning this award? (0 = No effort, 5 = Maximum effort) Perfect Attendance Award Honor Roll Student of the Month Lettering in a sport or extracurricular Sportsmanship Award Most Valuable Player Academic Achievement Award Employee of the Month Years of Service Award Graduation Honors Most Improved Award Employee of the Year Volunteer of the Year
Dialogue
What awards have you received?
Dialogue
What motivates your desire to receive recognition, and how does that motivation influence the effort you put into earning it?
Dialogue
What diminishes your desire for recognition, and how does that influence the effort you put into earning it?
Scripture
Matthew 4:1-11 • Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Dialogue
What does this narrative reveal about Jesus’ motives and character?
Scripture
Mark 2:13-17 • Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners 13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Dialogue
What does it look like to be Christlike in our encounters with others? How do Jesus’ motivations in this encounter shape how we should relate to others?
Dialogue
What makes your own motives difficult to recognize, understand, and direct?
Scripture
1 Corinthians 10:31-33, 11:1 • All for the glory of God 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Dialogue
How are your motives being challenged and/or focused today?
Take it deeper
Question 1
Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, 11:1
Question 2
Make a list of shallow motives.
Question 3
Make a list of pure motives.
Question 4
What are some keys to being a person who consistently has Christlike motives?
Question 5
Are there obvious areas of your life where changing your motives could significantly change your actions?
Question 6
How are you challenged, focused, encouraged, and/or confused by this text?
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