DON’T PRIORITIZE FREEDOM OVER YOUR FRIENDS.

INTRODUCTION

• When digging through the pages of 1 Corinthians, one observation stands out. This church fought a lot.

• They bickered like an exhausted family on vacation.

• While they fought about a lot of topics, there is one that Paul revisits again and again in his writing. They were stuck in a food fight.

• Not the kind from Disney movies.

• Rather, they were stuck in bitter arguments about whether or not they should eat certain foods—specifically, meat that was sacrificed at the local Corinthian temples.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about common food debates people argue over, like pancakes vs. waffles or Chick-fil-A vs. Popeyes

• This got me thinking about the Corinthian church.

• They seemed to always be stuck in a food feud far more intense. They were suggesting that certain people in their church were inferior due to what they put on their plates.

• For context, Corinth was a central religious hub for numerous pagan religious sects. A major business practice was selling the meat used for sacrifices in the temples.

• Simply put, you could buy lamb and poultry from the temples for a fraction of the cost of meat at the market.

• Many people in the church opted to eat this meat, but other members of the church were challenging them.

• The argument got heated—were Christians sinful for eating meat sacrificed to other gods?

• Following his trend, Paul sees the problem, offers a solution, and promises a blessed outcome.

The Problem: You Are Offending the Weak

• The church in Corinth had a large number of new believers and converts, many of whom were fighting to maintain their newfound holiness and separate themselves from their past.

• I hear you asking, “Wait, wasn’t everyone a new convert to Christianity during this time?” Well, yes, that is technically true.

• Most of them were first or second-generation Christians. However, many Corinthian converts came from Jewish backgrounds.

• Undoubtedly, they understood the commandments and cultural expectations of the Jewish faith, as Jesus was the culmination of the Law.

• So, they had a lot more context for how to live a holy lifestyle than the Gentile believers who converted from idol worship.

• This tension sparked judgment.

• “Weaker brother” seems instantly harsh, doesn’t it? How is Paul saying not to be judgmental while also calling someone weak? That kind of seems like a judgment, Paul. But it’s just an observation.

• He directly explains the nature of their weakness. He says their “conscience” is weak (1 Corinthians 8:10).

• To have a weak conscience is to have difficulty making the best decision for yourself. These “weaker” believers were prone to falling back into destructive patterns.

• Paul wanted to put a stop to it. So what was his solution? You guessed it: love.

The Solution: Love Others More Than Yourself

• Paul sees their problem and offers guidance. He brings them back to the greatest commandment by telling them to love others more than they love themselves.

• That is how they would break free from these petty arguments.

• Paul gave the Corinthians a loving lens through which to filter every decision— you should not become a “stumbling block” to a weaker believer.

• For the Corinthians, this meant that some followers needed to be careful with what they ate, drank, and said to protect and care for their faith family.

• Think about it this way. Most of the mature believers in Corinth were previously Jewish, so they were not active in the red-lit temple of Aphrodite before they met Christ.

• Many of them liked the convenience and price of getting meat from the local temple, but that would require a trip to the temple butcher. Paul was saying that these mature believers needed to make some sacrifices to ensure the less mature believers did not fall back into their old ways because they'd joined in on a trip to the temple market.

• It’d be like taking a recovering alcoholic to a liquor store. Paul said it’s better to make a personal sacrifice than to allow someone else to stumble.

• What does this look like for you, though? Your city likely does not have perverse temples and markets that sell pagan meat.

• However, you do have friends who are struggling. You put Paul’s words into practice when you think about your friends more than yourself.

• If your friend is struggling with an addiction, don’t invite them to a party that might tempt them.

• If you know someone struggling with comparison and coveting, maybe tone down the bragging about your new stuff.

• If you know someone is wrestling with self-hatred, don’t speak down on yourself to them (even if you think it makes them feel better).

• All of these actions could make your friend struggle more. The way of Christ is the way of intentional compassion.

• Paul says, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24).

• Live for the good of your group. When we make others feel safe and seen, they become more open to God’s work in their lives. That is where the blessing shows up. Take a look at what Paul promises.

The Blessing: More People Will Be Saved

• Every church’s relational health requires an intentional habit—thinking of others more than ourselves and living out the great commandment.

• Why is it so important we do that? Because it’s attached to a blessing.

• When you live for the good of others, you open them up to hearing the good news of Jesus. Paul explains it like this, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

• This means that we are to live in a way that is attractive to unbelievers and protective of new believers.

• To prevent these weaker believers from falling into destructive patterns and sinful behaviors, Paul emphasizes the importance of love.

• By prioritizing love for others above personal freedoms, the Corinthians could avoid becoming stumbling blocks or obstacles to their fellow believers’ growth.

• Your effort with one individual helps the entire Kingdom, too. When they get healthy, the Church gets healthier.

• When they mature in faith, the Church grows.

LANDING

• We can sum up Paul’s letter like this: “Build your life on the love of God.”

• He revisits that central thought over and over again in his writing.

• Why is it so important? Let’s not forget what he penned in 1 Corinthians 13: “[God’s] love never fails.”

• This is why Paul wants us to build everything on agape love.

• When you build your life on the love of God, you are building it on something eternal. God’s love will never run out on you.

• Like the Corinthians, you will inevitably falter, but God’s love will never fail you.

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

**Ice Breaker: **Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week, and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What’s one thing that stood out to you from today’s message?

Q2: What are some silly disputes that Christians have today? What do you think Paul would say to them?

Q3: What does Paul mean when he refers to a Christian as a “weak brother?”

Q4: How can you help protect a new or vulnerable believer from falling into sin?

Q5: Can you think of a sacrifice that may be necessary for you to “love others more than you love yourself”?

Application: Think of someone you’d like to help grow in their relationship with Jesus. How can you support their spiritual journey and put protective measures into place to keep them on the right track?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

1 Corinthians 11:1-34

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Matthew 22:37-39

Romans 12:16

Proverbs 3:27-35

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

**READ– **the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.