Take a moment as a group to flesh out the ‘codes of conduct’ for two common tribes: the political left & right. Tribalism says. “Earn your place. Be the right kind of person, do and say the right things, avoid the wrong people, and you can be part of our tribe.” What are the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ things on each side? How do the two sides compare?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and 1:26-31. How would you describe the criteria given for entering into the ‘fellowship of his Son’ (v9)? How is this gospel community different from the tribal economies described in question 1?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. Why does Paul call the Corinthians ‘infants’? What would it look like for them to become mature?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. What word pictures does Paul use to describe the relationship between God, the church, and church leaders? What do these word pictures tell us about God and how we are to relate to him?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and reflect on this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial. God hates this wish-dream because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idealized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others, and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands, set up their own law, and judge one another and even God accordingly.

What destructive ‘wish dreams’ do you carry with you into the Christian community? How could they impede the fellowship Christ intends to build among us?

Read 1 Corinthians 3:21-23. What does Paul mean when he says, “All things are yours”? What does this have to do with boasting and factionalism? Spend some time in worship and thanksgiving for the truth of these verses, and for the community Christ has purchased and created through his blood.