1 Corinthians [chapter 5]

Dear Bethany Young Adult family,
Praying you are well in health and in the faith. For some college family who had their first week of classes, how has it been? For our Post-Grad family, are you pressing on in your workplaces and life with the joy in Jesus Christ? Friday has arrived again! I pray we can gather as a young adult family to pursue, refresh, and restore our walk with the Lord together! 
Let us not giving up meeting together, all the more as the day of the Lord draws near. If able, join us tonight at 7:30pm for a time of praise with our precious youth, followed by some Bible and snack time. **Special tonight also is a brief VISION MEETING to dream of  reaching our local college campuses with the gospel. As we sent-off our *distance* college family last week, we press on as a *local* college family to reach our campuses and grow a beautiful college family and ministry here at Bethany. There are so many colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! Too many to count, and countless more souls that need to hear the gospel and come into a godly church family like Bethany. I hope to dream with you! I am always praying and thinking of you! Bless you and thank you! 

-Your brother and Pastor Chester

​Young Adult (College/Post-Grad) Life group
THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS
Purge the Evil Person from Among You [chapter 5]
PURGE SEXUAL IMMORALITY FROM AMONG YOU (5:1-5)
(Question #1) In this short chapter, the apostle Paul now confronts one of the major problems in the church at Corinth. What was actually reported to him that was happening in the church (verse 1)?
[*REFLECT #1a] The term, “sexual immorality” is the word porneia, broadly referring to all types of impure activity outside of marriage, applying to both singles as well as those who were already married. In that day, anything was acceptable – there was no standard of purity. It was an accepted fact to fulfill your desires for intimacy with anyone available and by any means possible. Apparently, someone was having an ongoing relationship with their stepmother. What ways are we making impurity tolerable and acceptable? What relationships do we need to restore godly purity?
[*REFLECT #1b] How did the Corinthian Christians react to this incestuous relationship in their own church, and what does the apostle Paul command them to do to this brother among them (verse 2)?
[*REFLECT #1c] Although the apostle Paul was not present physically, how else was he present, and what has he already done (verse 3)?
[*REFLECT #1d] Although we are not present physically to address a spiritual problem, do we have confidence to pronounce godly judgment upon it? Do we know and live the Scriptures enough to speak God’s Word into the situation?
[*REFLECT #1e] Paul commands the Corinthian Christians to assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus and deliver this man, once called a brother in the faith, to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. Why were they to do this (verse 4-5)?
[*REFLECT #1f] Why are we to purge brothers and sisters out from our church family and the realm of our relationships who consistently refuse to turn away from a life of impurity and sinful addiction? Purging is sometimes referred to as “disfellowshipping” or “excommunicating” a former brother/sister in the Lord until they repent. In today’s culture, however, someone can easily just go to another church, or start another church, and pretend like nothing happened. Or, they can play the victim, as if the former church was cruel towards them. How can we practice biblical purging that is for the good of the church and for the good of the unrepentant sinner?
PURGE THE OLD LEAVEN (5:6-8)
(Question #2) Instead of mourning over this brother lost in impurity, what were the Corinthian Christians doing (verse 6, also look back to verse 2)? With what illustration does the apostle Paul describe the danger of their attitude?
[*REFLECT #2a] A little sin influences the entire group, according to the apostle Paul. Although the Corinthian Christians were really unleavened, what did they still need to do constantly in order to be a new lump, and how were they to do it (verse 7)?
[*REFLECT #2b] Although we are already cleansed in Jesus Christ, what must our church constantly do to be free from the sinful addictions that destroy our relationships with one another? How can we put our focus back on our perfect Lamb, Jesus Christ, who passed-over and took away our porneia and sinful addictions?
[*REFLECT #2c] As the church, the Corinthians were to be in celebration over the sacrifice of Christ that cleansed them from their past. What were they not to celebrate with? What were they to celebrate with (verse 8)?
[*REFLECT #2d] How can we celebrate Christ, our perfect sacrifice who took our place, with sincerity and truth?
PURGE THE ONE WHO BEARS THE NAME OF BROTHER/SISTER (5:9-13)
(Question #3) Who did the apostle Paul command the Corinthian church not to associate with (verse 9)?
[*REFLECT #3a] Godly character cannot be expected from ungodly people. How do we need to disassociate with to guard our hearts and uphold the integrity of life with Jesus Christ?
[*REFLECT #3b] Paul did not mean to separate from all immoral and sinful people, otherwise they too would need to go out of the world – they too would need to close their church and disperse from themselves, as they too were once caught-up in these sins. However, who is the apostle Paul referring to specifically to disassociate with (verse 10-11)?
[*REFLECT #3c] To carry the name of brother or sister in Christ is a high calling. Who does Paul say to judge and purge (verse 12)?
[*REFLECT #3d] Are you carrying the name of brother or sister in Christ faithfully? How are we to judge and purge?