Joyful Moments in Christ

Read the New Testament in a Year: Week 25 – 1 Corinthians 4-8

Read the New Testament in a Year: Week 25 - 1 Corinthians 4-8

Week 25: Exploring 1 Corinthians 4-8

As we enter week 25 of our year-long New Testament journey, our focus turns to 1 Corinthians 4-8. In these chapters, Paul offers insight into leading with humility, handling challenges within the church, and balancing personal freedom with responsibility toward others. He emphasizes a Christ-centered approach to everything from leadership and conflict resolution to personal relationships and community impact. This week’s readings invite us to consider how love, accountability, and self-control shape our faith and interactions. Let’s explore how Paul’s teachings can help us strengthen our communities and honor God through our lives.

1 Corinthians 4

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. - 1 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages the Corinthians to see him and other apostles as servants of Christ, accountable to God, not to human judgment. He calls them to humility and warns against pride, urging them to follow his example of humility and service.

1 Corinthians 5

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. - 1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addresses a case of sexual immorality within the church and urges the believers to uphold holiness by removing such sin from among them. He calls the church to maintain purity, likening them to unleavened bread made holy through Christ.

1 Corinthians 6

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul instructs the Corinthians on handling disputes within the church rather than taking them to secular courts. He also warns against sexual immorality, reminding them that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 7

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. - 1 Corinthians 7:17 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul gives guidance on marriage, celibacy, and singleness, stressing that each person should live according to their calling from God. He encourages faithfulness and self-control, addressing practical concerns in relationships while emphasizing devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 8

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. - 1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul discusses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, emphasizing that love for others should guide actions. He warns against causing a weaker believer to stumble, prioritizing love over personal freedom.

Week 25: New Testament Reading Assignment

Each week, we will read 5 chapters of the New Testament. Some people may prefer to read during the weekdays, while others might enjoy doing most of their reading on the weekends. Choose the method that works best for you!

Printable Resource:

Reading Plan: New Testament in 1 Year

Week 25: Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 4-8

Consider the following reflection questions:

1 Corinthians 4: Servant Leadership and Humility

  1. How does Paul describe being a servant of Christ, and how can we live humbly in our roles?
  2. Why does Paul urge the Corinthians to “imitate” him, and how can we seek to follow Christ’s example?
  3. How does Paul balance accountability with encouragement, and how can we approach our relationships in a similar way?

1 Corinthians 5: Addressing Sin in the Church

  1. How does Paul address sin within the church, and what does this mean for pursuing holiness in our community?
  2. Why does Paul instruct the Corinthians to “remove the old yeast,” and how can we strive for purity?
  3. What does it mean to hold each other accountable in love, and how can we support each other’s spiritual growth?

1 Corinthians 6: Resolving Disputes and Honoring the Body

  1. What does Paul say about resolving disputes among believers, and how can we handle conflicts with integrity?
  2. How does Paul describe the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit,” and how can we honor God with our bodies?
  3. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of sexual integrity, and how can we practice this in our lives?

1 Corinthians 7: Guidance on Marriage and Singleness

  1. How does Paul guide believers in marriage and singleness, and how can we live faithfully in our current state?
  2. What does Paul say about devotion to God above all else, and how can we prioritize our relationship with God?
  3. How does Paul address the realities of relationships, and how can we approach ours with wisdom and care?

1 Corinthians 8: Love and Freedom in Christ

  1. How does Paul explain the need for love over knowledge, and how can this guide our actions toward others?
  2. What does it mean to avoid being a “stumbling block,” and how can we support others in their faith journey?
  3. Why does Paul emphasize compassion over personal freedom, and how can we exercise our freedom with love?
Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 4
Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 5
Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 6
Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 7
Reflection Questions for 1 Corinthians 8

Reflective Prayer

Choose a few verses or topics from these chapters and pray over them. Consider using the ACTS method — Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication:

  • Adoration: Praise God. What specific characteristics of God do these readings bring to mind?
  • Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. What specific sins do these readings bring to mind?
  • Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. What in these readings inspires gratitude?
  • Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. What in these readings inspires a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

Read the New Testament in a Year: Week 25 - 1 Corinthians 4-8
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. - 1 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. - 1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. - 1 Corinthians 7:17 (ESV)
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. - 1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

Other Reading Plans

Old Testament in 3 Years
Whole Bible: Daily
Whole Bible: 5 Day/Week
Whole Bible: Weekly

Online Resources

Read the Bible in a Year: Blog Series

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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