Can a Christian Continue in Sin?

Community Group Discussion Guide for the Week of March 9, 2025

Miss this week’s teaching? You can watch it here.

# Summary

In the teaching this week, Pastor Jim discusses 1 Corinthians 6, focusing on Paul's rebuke of the Corinthian church for taking disputes between believers to secular courts instead of resolving them within the church. He explains how believers will one day judge the world and angels during Christ's millennial kingdom, emphasizing that if Christians are given this future responsibility, they should be capable of handling current disputes among themselves. The sermon also addresses the serious warning about those who continue in unrepentant sin not inheriting God's kingdom, while emphasizing the transformative power of salvation through Christ.

# Intro Prayer

Lord, as we gather to discuss Your Word today, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Help us to be honest with ourselves about areas where we need to grow and change. Give us the courage to respond to Your conviction with genuine repentance. Guide our discussion and help us encourage one another in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

# Ice Breaker

Can you share about a time when someone helped mediate a conflict in your life? What made their help valuable?

# Key Verses

  • 1 Corinthians 6:1

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

  • 1 John 3:6-10

  • Matthew 18:15-17

# Questions

  • What does Paul mean when he says believers will ‘judge the world and angels’? How should this impact how we handle conflicts today?

  • Why does Paul consider it shameful for believers to take their disputes to secular courts?

  • How can we practically apply Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18 about handling conflicts between believers?

  • What’s the difference between struggling with sin and ‘continuing in sin’ as described in the sermon?

  • How does Paul’s list of sins in verses 9-10 challenge our understanding of what it means to be a Christian?

  • What does it mean to be ‘cleansed, made holy, and made right with God’?

  • How can we maintain a healthy balance between God's grace and the call to holy living?

  • What role should repentance play in our daily Christian walk?

# Life Application

This week, examine your heart for any areas where you've been resistant to change or living in unrepentant sin. Choose one area and take specific steps toward repentance, whether that means making amends with someone, stopping a harmful behavior, or seeking accountability from a trusted believer.

# Key Takeaways

  • Christians should seek to resolve conflicts within the church rather than through secular courts

  • Continuous, unrepentant sin is incompatible with genuine Christian faith

  • True salvation results in transformation - we should be able to see change in our lives

  • Quick repentance should be our regular response to conviction of sin

  • God's grace provides complete cleansing and new identity in Christ

# Ending Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your transforming grace that makes us new creations in Christ. Help us to live as people who have been cleansed and made holy through Your Son. Give us the humility to quickly repent when we sin and the wisdom to help each other grow in godliness. May our lives reflect Your holiness and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.

1 CorinthiansPastor Jason MookMTN CHURCH