The audio of the twenty-third message from the SCREWED-UP SAINTS series, “Just Let It Go” (1 Cor. 6:1-8) is now online.
A key quote: “We need to be people who live out the fact that we serve the God who died for his enemies. We need to be people who truly believe that everything wrong that is done to us was either paid for on the Cross or it will be paid for in Hell, which leaves no retribution left to be handled by us..”
Here are the small-group discussion/personal application questions:
Getting to know you: What goals do you have for your life? Share as many as you’d like.
Have someone in the group read 1 Corinthians 6.1-8 out loud.
1. What do you think God wanted to say to you through this message? What was important for you to hear? What do you hope will change in your because of it?
2. Why did Paul care that these two brothers had their case tried in front of unbelievers in the marketplace (verse 6)?
3. Why did Paul see it as such a ‘defeat’ for the church to have these lawsuits among themselves (verse 7)?
4. Are there particular ways that you have accepted the world way of doing things rather than trying to be a part of a “counter-culture’? Have there been wrongs done to you that you just need to let go?
Next Week: “Good News for Really Bad People” : 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
While I pondered your message on counter-cultural living, I thought of another relevant scenario: professional sports. It seems that heaping insults on opposing teams and their fans, and flying into fits of rage over a reffing call are quite acceptable in our society. I’ve gathered from some of your posts here and on facebook that you are an avid football fan. How do you, personally, live counter-culturally when it comes to the Packers?
By: KAR on September 10, 2009
at 1:36 am
He becomes a Viking fan?
By: Darius on September 10, 2009
at 1:45 am
Dang. Good question. I’ll think on that one, KAR. For real.
By: B.C. McWhite on September 10, 2009
at 2:48 am
I’ll push KAR’s question even further….
In light of your oft-spoken encouragement for boys to put away the xbox and become men, how do you feel about the incredible amount of time invested by guys in following sports teams?
It never ceases to amaze me how many hours some guys will invest in tracking players, stats, trades, drafts, game stats, coaching stats, etc. For a large percentage of church-going men, the time invested in following professional sports probably amounts to a part-time job at the very least. Do you think this is a superior use of time compared to the xbox? Is it justified by the fact that it’s such a common part of American guy culture that it’s practically the only way to be conversant with non-Christian guys?
… and Darius, that was just plain cruel.
By: KAR_IS_USING_MY_PICTURE on September 11, 2009
at 3:53 pm
I’ve been wondering how one applies the “counter-culture” view to something like tattoos/piercings… should Christians just modify their choices and instead of doing a skull and crossbones, get a fish or cross? Or instead of some Chinese letters that mean “world peace,” get a tattoo of Greek letters that spell “Prince of Peace”? In so doing, are they merely creating another form of “Christian cheese” (as Vince might say), albeit a “cool” kind? Is this counter-cultural? Or is it (more) counter-cultural to reject prison markings and keep one’s body clean of such things?
It’s an honest question, one that seems quite apropos for the times. I’m not sure where I exactly stand on it, but I do think that each person should think hard about such things and be “fully convinced in his own mind,” knowing that all is permissible but not all is beneficial.
By: Darius on September 15, 2009
at 10:24 pm