1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (New International Version)
5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I. Defining Sexual Immorality (v. 1)
• God defines what is moral and immoral and his standard for morality is in the

.
• Sexual immorality is

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with Christianity.
• Anything called

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that does not have its

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in God is not love.
• Christians should

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whose behavior contradicts Scripture.
II. Judging Sexual Immorality (vv. 2-5)
• The

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instructs Christians how to judge graciously and truthfully.
• Our doctrines, morals, and

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should never go beyond what is written in Scripture.
• Exposure of sin is for the purpose of

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, freedom, and healing.
• Discipline and judgment in the church is to be carried out with an

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of restoration, not condemnation.
• The

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of judgment of sexual immorality must reflect the

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of the person’s heart.
III. The Consequences of Sexual Immorality (vv. 6-8)
• Sin, if left

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, will always spread.
• God will not choose a

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over the church.
• Christians need to

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the truths of the Bible, both inside of and outside of the church.
• Christians must be

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to correct believers who practice sin - both for their sake and for the sake of the church.

TAKE OFF
1. What was the highlight of your Spring Break or Easter holiday?

TEXT
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. What sin is being committed by a member of the Corinthian church and why is this particular sin so egregious? How has the Corinthian church responded to it? How does Paul recommend they respond?
3. What are some examples of attitudes or behaviors accepted and prevalent in our American culture that the Church/Christians no longer judge as sin? Can you think of any examples of sins that even American culture thinks are bad but that churches have ignored disciplining?
4. Why is it important to confront sin in the church (vs. 6)? What emotions are conjured up when you think about confronting another believer about their sin? How about fellow believers pointing out your sin to you?

TAKE AWAY
How does a believer pass judgment on another believer in a way that is helpful and not hurtful? Pray about any situations where you need to speak to another believer about their immoral behavior.