1 Corinthians 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 has 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 sinful nature 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.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, idolaters or slanderers, drunkards or swindlers. With such persons do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."

Questions to consider:

• Compare the first century Greek attitudes and modern attitudes toward sexual morality.
• What is the attitude of the Corinthian church to the problem? How does Paul instruct them to act?
• Specify those with whom the church is not to associate. How far does their practical excommunication go?
• With whom can you associate if you follow Paul’s instruction?

Possibilities for prayer:

Paul seems to be concerned about the issue of pride in the Corinthian church; this passage is not the first time he has mentioned being surprised by their pride. Much like having judgmental attitudes, pride is one of those issues with which most people struggle at one time or another in their lives. Paul is particularly surprised in this situation because the types of behavior that appear to be going on in this community are not things of which someone should be proud! Today, let’s ask God to help us take a healthy and Godly type of pride in the good things in our lives, in the ways that God is working through us to bring more of the Kingdom to this world, and that he would continue to build a spirit of humility within us, that we might always recognize God as the source of the good things we are able to accomplish.