SOAP Study - September 23, 2020
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people.[b] I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
PERSONAL SOAP STUDY
OBSERVATION:
- What verse stood out to you while you were reading?
- What did you discover about God, yourself, and others?
APPLICATION:
- How should this information impact your life?
- What needs to be different about the way you are currently living?
PRAYER:
- Take some time to talk to God about the things you just learned and how you want your life to look different. Give God thanks for revealing these things to you, ask Him for wisdom and courage to move forward so that you can apply these things to your life.
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STAFF SOAP STUDY
OBSERVATION:
I love this verse from Paul so much! It is all about perspective. Both parts of that verse is absolutely true at all times. Because Christ has fought to get my spiritual freedom, I now get to labor in the same way he did. The same way Jesus made disciples is supposed to be the same way I make disciples. If I am connected to Jesus and committed to his way, then that means I will go after what he knew was important—getting more people on the Team. Why? Because the world is much better, when it knows about what Jesus has done for them. That is the responsibility that comes with being Jesus’ disciples. Yet, we “are” God’s field! Though we are disciples of Jesus, we still need Jesus just as much as anyone else. We can be working on others, while God is still working on us. It is like Jesus is driving a car, while still working under the hood. Jesus has given us enough to do what we are responsible for—give people a fair shot to move from enemy of God to family member of God. It is no different than what Jesus has already done for us. Still, we are a masterpiece that Jesus needs to work on.
APPLICATION:
This is such a great reminder that we are superior to no one. The same way that Paul challenges them on their preferences is similar to Jesus challenging people on which Rabbi they follow. Paul just cares that you know the truth of our place in the grand scheme of things. We all are in the same situation. Saved by grace through faith alone. Keep it simple! We are servants of God being worked on by God. Let’s just focus on what we are responsible for. Make sure that we are on the journey doing what we are supposed to.
PRAYER:
LORD, keep us low to the ground! Don’t ever let us believe that we are better than we actually are. Keep our lives in perspective. We are saved by you in order to help others be saved by you. Please keep working on me! Though I may not be perfect from moment to moment, please keep seeing me the way you do—not as I am but what I can still be. As you don’t give up on me, keep that truth forever before me! I will not get tired of that reminder!