We Need Each Other

• We give to tangible support each other
  • Paul’s description of the relief offering for Jerusalem believers
  • Trust is part of the foundation of community, and stewardship
• We all have a part to play
  • While we think Paul was a solitary letter writer, in reality his letters were a team effort, as was his ministry
  • We should regularly reflect on whether we are passively relying on others, or actively playing our part in discipleship and community
• We work together through conflict
  • There are several healthy images within this chapter of how to resolve conflict
    • Timothy is to lead/pastor the church through it to unity
    • Apollos holds back, perhaps due to wisdom to set boundaries and know when a resolution is likely, or simply a facade.
    • The three people returning to Corinth with the letter are to do their part in the resolution
• We are our future
  • We don’t get to take anything into the new earth and new heaven except each other

1. The end of many of the letters of the New Testament include these more informal, yet personal, lists of people and connections. How have you typically read and interacted with these unique parts of Scripture?
2. After reading the chapter, what are some of the initial impressions or thoughts you have about community and how it relates to Paul’s ministry?
3. Are there any areas of geographic or historical details that you are curious to learn more about or explore, given Paul’s list of travels and people.
4. Taking a look at the chapter as a whole, do you see any themes that emerge? One that was outlined in the sermon was the idea of community. What does this chapter tell us about how community should work?
5. What are some of the surprising pieces about community, church, and ministry, in how Paul describes his network and the people listed in the chapter?
6. Are there any parts of the chapter that you would like to discuss or unpack? Was there something that wasn’t touched on in the sermon that stuck out to you?
7. As you think about community, how have you approached church community? How have you personally engaged in church? What areas are you hesitant about, or even skeptical about?
8. Being in community means having the possibility of experiencing relational hurt or pain. What are ways you have found to overcome or reconcile following painful experiences in church?
9. What do you think about the statement of, “all we have forever is God and each other”? Does that stir hope in you? Hesitation? Share your thoughts about community in light of eternity.

DIG DEEPER