Bethel Sunday School 2 FEB 2020
Text: 1 Corinthians 8:7 – 13

THE PROBLEM OF A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

(1 Corinthians 8:7 – 8)

1. Some of the Corinthian believers lacked knowledge of God

2. Their conscience suffered

a. Weakness

b. Defiled

3. They were badly affected by the eating of food offered to idols

a. They ate it as food offered to an idol

b. They were very conscious of this and it affected them

4. Paul gently ministered to them

a. By assuring them that these “food” does not commend us to God

b. We are not better if we eat of it

c. We are not worse if we do not eat of it

THE PROBLEM OF BEING A STUMBLING BLOCK

1. Misapplying our Christian liberty (1 Corinthians 8:9)

a. Believers enjoy a glorious liberty in Christ

b. There is the power to be freed from sin and superstitious fears

c. These believers were not afraid of eating food offered to idols

d. They however did not consider their brethren who were weak

e. They were in danger of stumbling those who were weak!

2. Misapplying our knowledge of God (1 Corinthians 8:10 – 11)

a. Those who have knowledge seen eating in an idol’s temple

b. Those who are weak see them eat and follow

c. They struggle with their conscience and stumble in their faith

d. The weak brother whom Christ died for perish!

3. The danger of sin (1 Corinthians 8:12)

a. Sinning against a brethren by stumbling them

b. Wounding their conscience that is already weak

c. This would lead to sin against the Lord Himself

THE GREAT CHALLENGE TO PRACTICE THE LOVE OF GOD

1. Love edifies (1 Corinthians 8:1)

2. Paul’s example of love for the Lord and His people (1 Corinthians 8:13)

a. He thinks of each believer even the weakest as one whom Christ died for!

b. He will not stumble a brethren over food!