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 16:1-12. Review verses 1-4 looking for Paul's travel instructions. How does that set the context for verses 5-12?
• List the people who Paul is giving instructions. Why is Paul instructing the Corinthians on receiving these people? Why would Paul single out these people?
• Review chapter 1 Corinthians chapter 1 to help gain insight into how the church at Corinth was dealing with other leaders in the church. Are any of them repeated here in verses 5-12?
• What single theme can you derive from the instructions Paul is giving in verses 5-12?
• 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

• In what ways would this be helpful to the church at Corinth after the corrective nature of the letter from Paul? What was Paul's concern for those coming?
• Are there any reasons why Apollos might refuse to come? Any concerns Timothy might have about coming to the church at Corinth? Why must Paul be so direct in the timings and desires of his itinerary with this church?
• How do you treat those working in gospel ministry? How does chapter 9 of this letter shed light on the attitudes of Corinth towards those in gospel ministry? Have your attitudes reflected the Corinthian church?
• How do we as a church body corporately support those in gospel ministry? In prayer, attitudes, services, and finances?