Problem:
As 1 Corinthians attests, the church at Corinth struggled with a number of issues regarding sin and temptation. Nevertheless, Paul still considered them to be Christians who had been cleansed from their sin and consecrated to God (e.g., 1 Cor. 1:2-9; 6:11), and thus he treated them accordingly even while urging them to grow in their faith. How can you learn from Paul's example as you seek to minister to Christians who may struggle in similar ways with sin and temptation? How does recognizing a struggling Christian's fundamental identity in Christ help you as you minister to them? How might the unfaithfulness of these struggling Christians impact your ability to deal with discouragement and other temptations?