OPEN:
What was the least useful class you had to take in school? Why?
How do you feel about speaking before a group?
DIG:
What do the Jews seek? What do the Greeks want? What is "Christ crucified" to the Jews? To the Gentile Greeks? How does Christ fulfill what both groups are looking for (1 Corinthians 1:22-25)?
What was the "wisdom and strength" that was so attractive to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:20-21,26; 2:1, 4-5)? What does this reveal about the division in 1 Corinthians 1:12?
In contrast, what was the "wisdom and power" of God?
Is Paul rejecting education itself, or some related and prideful assumptions?
REFLECT:
What pictures come to mind when you think of powerful, successful people? How do these images sometimes conflict with knowing Christ?
How do people today confuse the world's power with God's power? How does that affect you?
What do you think Paul means when he says that the foolish and lowly things will shame the wise and strong? How does your own life reflect this principle?
Other Resources:
Living in the Spirit 1 Corinthians 2
