On 7-13-14, 1 Corinthians 8 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Love Builds Up or Exercise Freedom with Caution

Love Builds Up or Exercise Freedom with Caution

 1 Corinthians 8

International Sunday School Lesson

July 13, 2014

                                                                                 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Isn’t it interesting, to say the least, that we can cause someone else to sin?  Not only is it interesting but it is also scary serious.

In today’s scripture Paul is clearly speaking to an issue that was brought to him regarding this eating of foods that had been a part of the pagan worship process that was common in that day.

For the most part those Paul was addressing knew that there was only God therefore the fact that this food was used by nonbelievers by putting it in front of something that doesn’t exist did nothing to ruin the food.  Rather like setting a tray of food in front of a lamp!  Unless it’s a heat lamp nothing is changing the food in any way.

But just because you know that and someone else doesn’t, don’t think that you are all that.  This is what Paul was talking about in verses 1-3.

God loves you who understand this and who love Him but He also loves the one who doesn’t understand but also love Him.

This is where the stronger or more mature one can cause the other to sin.  If they know that the weaker one sees them doing something that they think is sinful and it encourages that individual to do that which they thought was wrong they have emboldened that weak individual through their actions.

It is complicated only in that in shows that the lives we lead as Christians are not just about ourselves but truly about others.

For Discussion:

1.      Discuss ways a Christian puffs up as described in verses 1-3

2.      Discuss verse 3

3.      Note and discuss the description difference used when describing God and Christ in verse 6.

4.      Discuss other ways that exercising our freedom causes a stumbling block for others.

5.      Discuss verse 13.

Upcoming Lessons

July 20    Overcoming Temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:12-22 or 1 Corinthians 10:6-22

July 27    Seek the Good of Others, 1 Corinthians 14:13-26

August 3  Consolation Granted Through Prayer or Comfort in Times of Trouble, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

August 10 A Community Forgives or Forgiveness and Restoration, 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved