Community Group Questions: May 3rd-9th

May 3rd, 2026
by Karissa Smith

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this? 3 Even though I am absent in the body, I am present in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has been doing such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven[b] leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.[c] 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 together. What was the specific sin Paul addressed, and why was it particularly shocking even by cultural standards?
What was Paul's primary concern—the individual's sin or the church's response to it? What does this tell us about corporate responsibility?
Explain the "leaven" metaphor in your own words. Why is this image so powerful for understanding how sin works in community?

Theological Reflection

The sermon emphasized "indicative before imperative." What's the difference between:
- "If you obey God's laws, then you will be saved" vs.
- "Christ has saved you, therefore seek to sin no more"
Why does this order matter so much?
How does understanding Christ as our "Passover lamb" change the way we approach obedience and holy living?
The pastor said, "Walking in holiness should not be something that we feel like is a burden. It is a celebration." Do you experience obedience this way? Why or why not?

Personal Application

Paul said the Corinthians should have been "filled with grief" over sin in their midst. When was the last time you genuinely grieved over your own sin? What prevents us from having this response?
The sermon mentioned that our "softness on sin" often reveals we're "diminishing the holiness of God." How have you seen this play out in your own life or in the broader church?
Which is harder for you personally:
- Addressing sin in your own life?
- Lovingly confronting sin in another believer's life?
What makes it difficult?

Community Life

The Second London Confession described the church as people who "willingly agree to live together according to Christ's instructions, giving themselves to the Lord and to one another." What does this mutual accountability look like practically in our group?
How can we create a culture where we can have "awkward conversations" about sin while still being characterized by grace and mercy?
What's the difference between:
- Judgmental condemnation
- Loving accountability
- Ignoring sin in the name of "grace"

Posted in Small Groups