27 Sep
2026

My Dear Children

Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1-16

REFLECTION QUOTE

“In Christ, death is the doorway to life. Hopelessness is the entrance to hope. Weakness is the place to find strength…. Defeat is actually a victory. The end is really a beginning. … Hope is sung to suffering’s tune. Life is played on death’s instruments. Grace doesn’t play by the law’s score. God composes hope from tragedy’s notes.”

—Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies

SERMON OUTLINE:

1. Be careful how you define success
2. Be careful not to inflate yourself
3. Be careful who influences you

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

What has shaped your understanding of success in general?

What/who has had the most impact on your ego or self-understanding personally?

Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-16. What does this passage show you about God’s character and about being his follower? What challenges, encourages, or sparks questions for you in this passage?

Paul describes himself as a servant of Christ entrusted with God’s truth in verse 1. The image of this description is one of a waiter serving what God has provided. In what ways is this description of every Christian helpful or challenging for your personal self-understanding (identity and purpose)?
How does Paul define success in this passage? In what ways does his description transform your understanding of success in your own life, at work, for your family, for Covenant?
What drives our desire to be puffed up (v 6)? How do Paul’s questions in verse 7 address this desire?
In what ways might asking ourselves, “what do you have that you did not receive?” help us reevaluate our sense of self correctly?
Who has been a spiritual father or mother to you? Who have you wanted to imitate? Are there influencers you are imitating that are not pointing you to Jesus?
What is the beneficial role of imitation in maturing as disciples? Consider Jesus’s ministry especially with his disciples.
Who are you being a spiritual mother or father/brother or sister to? Are you aware of those watching and imitating you? Are there ways you’d like to be intentional in these relationships within our church family? Our community groups are wonderful contexts to practice this intentionality! If further direction or guidance would be helpful, reach out to Patrick.
What from this passage and this discussion is something you want to put into practice or be more aware of this week or praise God for?

 

PRAYER

Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Doxology