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

• The passage this week focuses on 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Read all 23 verses of Chapter 1 to review the contextual reasoning Paul is building in discussing rights with the Corinthian church.
• "For" starts verse 19, what does that indicate about how it connects with the preceding verses? What is Paul claiming to be free from? How would it impact the Corinthians for Paul to claim that he is a servant of all? Why does he desire to do to this?
• In verses 20-22, Paul gives several groups of people that he becomes that he might win them. Is this required? Why is he encouraging it (look at the end of verse 19)
• Paul claims one central reason for becoming like others, for the sake of the gospel (v 23). How does he end verse 23? Why is that important?
• 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

• What does it mean for Paul to make himself a servant to all? Has he no authority as an apostle?
• How have you heard these verses being applied to share the gospel with the lost? Is the methodology employed reflecting what Paul means here? If not, how is it different?
• What ways can you think would be Gospel-centric and still becoming like others to win them to Christ? What would you have to give up as a Biblical right?
• How did Christ give up his rights for the sake of the Gospel? (Read Philippians 2:1-8)