Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Re-read vv 6-13 and review your notes or listen to the sermon from last week. In verses 10:1-5 the main point was not to focus on signs of belief for security in salvation. You must focus on your faith in Christ, not the religious signs.
• In verse 6, what does Paul refer to when he says “these things”? How are they an example to the Corinthians? 
• What references in the Old Testament are Paul speaking of in verse 7, 8, 9, and 10? See if you can identify them specifically in the Pentateuch (Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, Deut).
• Paul states that these events in Israel’s history were for their example and for the Corinithians instruction as they have been written. What instruction would this give to the Corinthians? 
• Paul concludes this section with a therefore from verse 12 through 13.  This leads to the reason for the instruction and example and it is a warning.  What is expressed by falling in regards to temptation?  Is it temporary or eternal?  How will you be able to overcome temptation?  What is God’s role?  What is man’s role? 
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

• These verses in chapter 10 are full of warnings and examples to lead us to fear being “overthrown” and “falling”.  How does this work with perseverance for those who believe?  Who is God warning, believers or unbelievers?
• How often do you see sin in your life or especially responses to temptations with wrong attitudes and overlook them?  How does God treat the Israelites in response to their grumbling (unbelief)?  How should you treat grumbling (unbelief) in your own life in response to temptation?
• What do we look for as a way of escape from temptation?  What does it mean God will not tempt you beyond your ability?  Do you expect to endure the temptation without responding in sin?  Or do you expect that the temptation would be removed to keep you from sinning?
• What does this passage speak to of Scripture, regarding its purpose and preservation, specifically thinking of 2 Timothy 3:16-17?