BUILD - WEEK 5

PRAY TO BEGIN

To continue on with the theme of being dependent in prayer begin your time splitting into groups of two or three. Each person to share one thing they are needing prayer for- for this week. Give everyone 10 minutes to share and pray over specific prayer requests. Come back together to begin study.

READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

Discuss:
1. What good news is described here for those who trust in Christ?

2. Based on these passages, if someone asked you to describe the character of God, what would you say?

3. Verse 18 sees God declare “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart”. Why does God have such beef with human wisdom?

READ Luke 7:36-50

Discuss:
1. What stands out to you/convicts you from this passage?

2. Forgiveness is always costly. What were the costs for Jesus to forgive and redeem you?

3. (In pairs) If you considered daily and believed daily how much you have in the cross- how would that impact your life now? What would look different? What would you see more of?

4. If a church community began to forget how much it has in the cross, what would it begin to look like?

APPLY:
1. What is one area in your life that is needing to be transformed by the truth of the Cross (in pairs)

2. What would it look like for City Light to be rejoicing in the Cross in 2025?


PRAISE AND PRAY
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16

1.If you have time and the people, consider singing with your group to close. Ask someone to lead the group in a song or two of praise.

If you are unable to sing- spend some time praying prayers of praise as a group.

2. Pray that we would be a church community that greatly rejoices in the cross of Christ

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13