Becoming God's New Creation

Corinthian House Church Communities

This page is a resource that can help you grow spiritually. Whenever you see a link Become! on a study page, click on it to find questions and activities. The activities on this page refer to our web page Corinthian House Church Communities.

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Questions and Activities

1. The structure and relationships of people in the early church in Corinth were affected by both the Roman family structure and the fact that they met in richer people's homes. Which contemporary family structures impact the traditions and practices of your congregation? Think of an example and share it if you are using these questions in a group context. Here are some ideas to get you going:

What kind of activities and traditions are part of Advent, Christmas, and Easter celebrations?
How are your adult church school, study and activity groups, and United Methodist Women's groups organized? By age, marital status, and/or topic/action focus?
Does you congregation celebrate Mother's and Father's Days? If so, what happens? Who are recognized at these times?
In church school, are all children affirmed, not not just those who are part of nuclear families (mother, father, and children)? For example, are children taught about the variety of families? What considerations for the child are involved if, for example, a her or his
- parents separate or obtain a divorce?
- caretaker is arrested and incarcerated?
- parent or guardian develops a serious illness?
- parents are a multiracial couple?
When youth, adult, and mixed-age groups go on outings, are these designed so that those whose families have low income can attend?
Which type(s) of clergy family do you prefer to live in your church's parsonage and pastor your church? Why?

2. Read 1 Corinthians 12 [standard link]. The church at Corinth was a mix of people:

They came from different economic backgrounds and social levels;
Some had grown up in Jewish culture and religion; some in Greco-Roman culture and the worship of the Greco-Roman gods, family gods, and other divinities such as Isis (Egyptian origin) and Cybele (Anatolian origin);
They were men and women, slave and free, Roman and Greek.
They came from a variety of nations.

How does your group compare and contrast to the make up of all of God's Household? In the box below, check off all the diversities that apply to your congregation, women's, or youth group.

Do you want your women's, youth, or church group to be more or less diverse? Why? Whom would you like to see included? Which steps could you take to accomplish a goal of more diversity? Which steps will you take?

3. Does your congregation or other church group have lots of money, just enough, or not enough to operate? Is it comprised of members of different socio-economic strata? How has your church group's economics affected the way it envisions God and ministers within its membership and beyond? List steps your church/group has taken or could take to include all persons, regardless of economic status. How is your church group addressing mission concerns related to poverty in your community, country, and the world?

Especially for Youth

1. Note! If you are discussing the following question in a group, do not name individuals but rather talk about general characteristics. No gossip or "dissing" please!

In your school or youth group, why are the most popular students popular? Is it because of their personality, leadership skills, values, status in sports, the way they dress, the amount of money they have, moral values, etc.? (Alternately talk about the characters in "Popular" and/or other teen TV shows dealing with this issue.)

Are students divided into formal or informal social groups which limit their membership to a "chosen few"? How do you feel about these groups? Do they contribute positively or negatively to your school community? In which ways? Are any groups working toward bridging the differences between different cultures and unifying the student body?

The early Christian church brought together persons from a variety of groups, including those who were the "popular" and "unpopular." Not surprisingly, these diverse groups sometimes fought among themselves. In response to these conflicts, Paul stressed that they were all a part of one body and that they were unified by Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 12 [standard link]. How might Paul's principles apply in today's world?

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2. The first churches met in homes. The size of the group and their activities were therefore very much affected by the structure of the houses where they gathered.

Build a model of a Roman House like the one shown here or draw a house plan. See Roman Houses and Corinthian House Churches for drawings, pictures, and background.

Mark the areas of the house used by early Christian congregations. Where did the leaders stand? Where did the group meet as a whole? What if the group was too large for that room? Where did the overflow group stand? Where were baptisms held? In the earliest congregations, Holy Communion was part of a meal. Where did early the Christians dine?

Note: Youth will enjoy other activities on this page; adults can also participate here. The activities above refer to our web page Corinthian House Church Communities.

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Running the Good Race

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Children and Poverty

United Methodist Women are strong advocates for the rights and needs of children. The following links provide ideas of ways you can help address the needs of children, particularly those living in poverty.

Return: Corinthian House Church Communities
Characteristics and Conflicts

Email: umw@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/

All biblical quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

Disclaimer: Some links jump to outside sites for further information on Corinthians, the Bible, Paul, and other resources. Links do not constitute an endorsement by the Women's Division of the information on other web sites. External web sites offer us diverse perspectives; afford us an opportunity to compare them to United Methodist positions; and, encourage us to critically analyze the issues raised by the Corinthians web pages.

Diversity Check List
Age	Gender	Race	Language
Status	Disability	Culture	Nationality
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