This Sunday we’ll be finishing up chapter 10 in our study of 1 Corinthians, reading ch 10:23-11:1.

Much of what Paul will be doing in this passage is a recap of what he’s been encouraging since chapter 8. It all centers around our freedom in Christ and how we manage that in the best way possible. Verse 24 provides the overall ethic that creates guardrails for our freedom. How might an intentional interest in serving others provide parameters for our Christian liberty?

Once again, Paul addresses food that might have been used in a pagan ritual, urging us to not ask questions about the origins of the hamburger we’re munching. I find that very freeing, don’t you? I’m someone who thinks that same principle can be applied to a lot of different elements of life – if we receive whatever it is from God (this, obviously, means things that are not in conflict with his character), we can forgo worrying about where it came from. In fact, v 31 sums that all up pretty nicely – do whatever we do for the glory of God. What does it mean to you to do something for the glory of God? Does that mean make it religious, or something else?

Paul also included a qualifier that I’m very stoked he included in v29 and 30. You should read it in the Message version – I love it! It just reminds us that caring for our fellow believer doesn’t mean we have to submit ourselves to every person’s intolerance. How do you understand the difference between being careful for someone’s conscience and resisting legalistic expectations? How can we better walk that balance beam?

I’m really looking forward to digging into this on Sunday – I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.