In Polish homes under communism the highest praise for a bar of chocolate was: it tastes like before the war. The preacher starts from that family myth to ask whether we idealise the first-century church in exactly the same way. A reflection on 1 Corinthians 5 and 6 shows a community that turned a blind eye to a scandal in its own ranks, dragged one another before secular courts and was keener on the sins of outsiders than on its own. Listen if you want to see how much those Christians resemble us, and what Paul offers instead of sweeping things under the carpet.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul writes that someone in the Corinthian church is living with his father's wife, and instead of grieving, the church is proud. Why does he see the problem as not only the sin itself but the attitude of the whole community?
- What is Paul trying to tell the Corinthians with the image of a little yeast leavening the whole batch of dough, and how does it connect to the Jewish Passover custom?
- The sermon begins with the saying "like before the war" and asks whether the early church was really as perfect as we imagine. How does knowing that the first Christians had the same weaknesses as we do change the way you think about the church?
- Paul says not to judge those outside, but to look at ourselves and our own community. Why do Christians find it so easy to focus on the sins of the world and so hard to focus on their own?
- In the story of Polish and German Christians meeting in Warsaw, the prayer fell silent at the words "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." What in this story speaks to you most, and why?
- Paul asks why we would not rather be wronged, and the sermon reminds us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In what specific relationship or situation this week can you deliberately choose grace instead of insisting on your rights?
