1 Corinthians 5:6-11

6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the
whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch
without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and
wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
 9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
10not 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. 11But
now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself
a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard
or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

MEDITATION
1. The Word of God is relentless.  It insists that we face up to our sin.  Whether
that sin is indolence, idolatry, or immorality, we must face it squarely and deal
with it decisively.  For if that diseased part of the body is not dealt with, not
only is the individual member of the body at risk of dying, but it also puts
the entire body at risk.  Paul urged them to sever all relationships with those
sinning people.  His purpose is for the protection of the church lest they be
led into the same sinful trap.
2. When I wanted to point out inappropriate behaviours of someone in the
church or cell group, Lord God, please remind me to examine my own
behaviour and thought life first.  Then, give me a deep mourning for them
and their sins.
3. What will happen to my attitude when I mourn for them and others?  How
would this affect the prevention of sin’s “yeast effect”?

Personal Note:
If I hang out with sinful people all the time and do not engage with fellow brothers and sisters, the negative habits will likely to influence to me and to the rest of the church.  It should be noted that this passage is not an excuse for not making friends with people outside of church.  A good measure is to have 50-70% of the time within the faith community and 30-50% of the time with friends on the way to Christ.

This passage concerns more with people who claims to be believers in Christ, who still engages in sinful behaviours.  When we examine and be honest about ourselves, do we swear? Are we envious of others? Are we having lustful thoughts? Are we selfish?  We pray for forgiveness of our sins and then we look at the sins of others.