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Consequences of division. Rewards lost

1 Corinthians 3: 10-23

  • Session: 7
  • Week: 1
  • Day: 7
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Introduction

In this session, 1 Corinthians chapter 3: 10-23, we will focus on the consequences of division in the church of God and understand the unique grace and role of each kingdom worker, which helps to avoid self-deception and boasting.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood the consequences of divisions in the church of God by using three images ie, field, building and temple.
  • Appreciated the Grace and role of each kingdom worker without comparing them.
  • Challenged to avoid self-deception and boasting within the church of God.

Outline

  • Consequences of church division
  • The unique grace and role of each church worker
  • Self-deception and boasting

Group Study Time

1 Corinthians 3: 10-23

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Describe the partnership among the kingdom workers and the King in building the church of God. 1 Corinthians 3: 9b-15.
  • As God’s building, what grace (benefits) did the church of God in Corinth miss because of division over its workers? 3: 9b- 15.
  • As a temple of God, what benefit/ grace does the church of God miss over the divisions? 3: 16-17
  • What did Paul tell the church of God in Corinth about self-deception consequences? 3: 18-20
  • What did Paul tell the church of God in Corinth about boasting consequences? 3: 21-23
  • What lessons do you learn about effects of division that you would apply in your life and communicate to others

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Consequences of division. Rewards lost

1 Corinthians 3: 10-23

1 Corinthians 3:10-23

Context

  • Paul writes from Ephesus to the Corinthian church, responding to Chloe’s household about divisions and disorders, urging them to build the church on the foundation of Christ.
  • The passage uses analogies of a field, building, and temple to highlight the consequences of division and the importance of building with God’s wisdom.

Building God’s Church (1 Corinthians 3:10-23)

  • Church as a Field: Division caused stunted growth, as rejecting leaders’ graces (e.g., Paul’s planting, Apollos’ watering) hinders God’s work, likened to plants withering without water.
  • Church as a Building: Paul laid the foundation (Christ); others build with materials (gold, silver, or wood, hay, straw), tested by fire at judgment to determine rewards.
  • Final Rewards: Quality building earns crowns (e.g., crown of rejoicing, glory, life); poor building leads to loss of rewards, though salvation remains by grace.
  • Church as a Temple: The church is God’s holy temple, indwelt by His Spirit; division destroys this temple, incurring God’s judgment, as He opposes those who harm it.
  • Self-Deception: Boasting in human wisdom or leaders is foolish; God traps the wise in their cleverness, rendering worldly wisdom worthless compared to His wisdom.
  • Leaders as Gifts: Paul, Apollos, and Peter are gifts to the church, belonging to all believers; boasting over one divides the church and rejects God’s unified purpose.
  • Purpose: Build the church with God’s wisdom, using quality materials in unity, to receive rewards, preserve God’s temple, and align with Christ’s ownership.

Application

  • Build the church on Christ with God’s wisdom, honor all leaders as gifts, avoid division, and work together to ensure spiritual growth and eternal rewards.
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How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!