Read a Chapter a Day: Small-Group Study on 1 Corinthians 8-16

Click here to read the General Leader's Guide.

Theme: The Heart of Connection – Love, Community, and Sacred Memory

Enter the Museum/Fellowship:

Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer if there’s a meal). Keep creating a welcoming, intentional space.

• If online: Ask someone to light a candle on camera and spotlight that person to invite the Holy into the virtual space.
• If in person: Place a candle near a framed printout of this passage: “Everything should be done in love.” —1 Corinthians 16:14, CEB

Hands off the Artwork/Ground Rules:

Open or reaffirm your group’s ground rules. These are the gentle boundaries of your shared space. (Examples of Group Rules)

The Picture Frame/Gathering Time (5-10 minutes):

Divide participants into pairs or groups of three. Then ask:

• “When was the last time you gave or received a card or a heartfelt email? What was the context, and how did it make you feel?”
• “In what other ways does love (as described in 1 Corinthians) show up in community and relationships in your life? (Alternatively, if love is not showing up as much as you like, what would love showing up look like for you?

The Big Picture/Group Dialogue (15-20 minutes):

Use this introduction to help your group expand their idea of love by borrowing a definition of love from another culture.

Paul reminds us that love is the guiding force for everything we do—whether it’s spiritual gifts, moral choices, or community life. This connects beautifully with the Indian idea of kama muta, a Sanskrit term meaning “being moved by love.” Kama muta describes the warm, overwhelming feeling you get when you experience love or connection deeply—like moments of awe, compassion, or profound unity. These experiences inspire us to love others more fully and build stronger bonds. Doesn’t this remind you of the strange warming of the heart that inspired John Wesley?

Paul reminds us that love should guide everything we do—whether in how we use our gifts, make decisions, or relate with others.

• Ask: “When have you felt ‘moved by love’ in a way that made you feel connected to something bigger than yourself?”
• “How can our group or community nurture more of these moments?”

The Hi-Def Picture/Going Deeper (15-20 minutes):

Focus on 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, CEB:

“Love is patient; love is kind; love isn’t jealous; it doesn’t brag; it isn’t arrogant; it isn’t rude; it doesn’t seek its own advantage; it isn’t irritable; it doesn’t keep a record of complaints; it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.”

This passage gives us a clear picture of love’s true nature — the kind of love that creates community and sustains relationships over time. Experiencing kama muta is a glimpse of this perfect love — it moves us emotionally and motivates us to act with kindness and patience.

• Remember a time you had to make a big decision that you later questioned or even regretted. Share out loud or ponder silently.
• What decisions do you have to make, as an individual or an organization? Ponder aloud together how LOVE, as Paul describes it, might change the set of options. (Or to quote Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do with it?”)

The Motion Picture/Take Action (5-10 minutes):

Consider:

• Is there someone in your life who needs to hear (or feel) love more clearly this week?
• How might you “pass on” love in a memorable or meaningful way—through words, gestures, or time?

Prayer (10 minutes):

Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes):

Close with the Lord’s Prayer or this from Brian Wren’s hymn, “How Can We Name a Love”:

“How can we name a love that wakens heart and mind,
indwelling all we know or think or do or seek or find?”

End with a moment of candlelight or silent reflection.

Let us go in the spirit of that love—a love that is remembered, embodied, and shared.

May it move us toward one another and into the world with compassion, wisdom, and joy. Amen.

Leader’s Guide Notes

• Fellowship: Encourage participants to mingle and introduce themselves if they are new. Place art or visuals in the space to set the tone.
• Gathering Time: Keep the pairs/groups small to allow everyone to share. Have a leader or facilitator ready to join groups if someone is left alone.
• Group Dialogue: Allow flexibility in the conversation. If discussion flows deeply on one question, don’t feel pressured to cover everything.
• Going Deeper: Invite participants to share only what they are comfortable sharing. Leaders can model vulnerability by offering their reflections.
• Prayer: Provide a gentle reminder that prayer requests are confidential. Ask if someone in the group wants to volunteer to close in prayer.

Rev. Manohar Joshi (aka Mantu) has been a minister and elder in the United Methodist Church for more than twenty years. He teaches at Western Michigan University and serves as a chaplain at Trinity Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Drawing on his life as a stay-at-home dad, sports coach and referee, writer, teacher, and chaplain, he helps people explore new, meaningful ways to connect with what matters most. He’s also the author of the bestselling book The Resilient Parent: Everyday Wisdom for Life with Your Exceptional Child.