April 16, 2023
John Harris

Courtroom Drama

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
—1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Let go of your

1. It is better to let go of your grievances and let
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   be the
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   .
   

2. It is better to let go of your grievances toward others since God’s
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   has
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   His grievances toward you.
   

3. It is better to let go of your grievances lest your
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   bring unnecessary
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   on the
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   of Christ and His church.
   

1. Make a list of movies or shows with courtroom drama.
   

2. What makes courtroom dramas so entertaining?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. What is the nature of the grievance or dispute described in this passage?
   

4. How do you reconcile that Paul does not want them to take their grievance to the secular courts with the fact that he appealed to the Roman law system (Acts 16:37; 22:25; 25:11)? Does this passage teach that a Christian should never resort to the courts? How does Paul’s teaching on the role of government help answer this? (Romans 13:1-5)
   

5. What is the nature and reason for Paul’s concern in these verses? Why is he concerned about this? (Romans 2:23-24) How does Paul’s concern for the Corinthians relate to Jesus’ expectation for His church found in John 13:34-35?

6. Why is it so difficult to “let go” of grievances that we have toward others?
   

7. What is the basis of Paul’s reasons why the Corinthians (and we) should “let go” of their grievances? (Matthew 5:38-42)
   

8. What are some examples in your life when you had a grievance (big or small) towards someone else, and had to make a decision to let it go? How does the Corinthian situation apply to yours?
   

9. Where in today’s church—in our church—are we behaving in such a way that we are shaming the gospel in the eyes of the world?
   

Close in prayer.