Concerning Things Offered to Idols (1 Corinthians 8:1) - Using Knowledge Morally to Build Up Others

In 1 Corinthians 8:1 Paul writes, "Now concerning things offered to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." We’re beginning a series on wisdom to help us navigate through trials and difficult circumstances. We must understand the differences between knowledge and wisdom, and there’s no better place in my opinion to understand knowledge than 1 Corinthians 8. Knowledge is like guns, money, and food in that it’s amoral (it’s simply information), but knowledge can be used in moral and immoral ways. This chapter reveals some ways the Corinthian were using knowledge immorally, but could use it morally.

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SERMON LESSONS for Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

Lesson 1: Knowledge is ____________, but the way we use it is __________.

Lesson 2: ____________ __________________ doesn’t always mean determining who’s right and wrong (1 Cor 8:4-8; Rom 14:5).

Lesson 3: ___________________ is the absence of __________________ (Rom 11:25; 1 Cor 12:1; 2 Cor 1:8; 1 Thes 4:13).

Lesson 4: Knowledge is used (Part I) morally when combined ________ ________ (1 Cor 8:1; Eph 4:15; Phil 1:9).

Family Worship Guide for Now About Things Offered to Idols

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 8:1

Day 1: Read 1 Cor 8 and discuss: Is knowledge moral, immoral, or amoral? Why? List some things that are moral, immoral, and amoral. Who are some people in history and in the Bible who used knowledge morally. What about immorally? Describe the situation in Corinth with meat sacrificed to idols and what the two sides believed.

Day 2: Read Rom 14, 1 Cor 12:1; 2 Cor 1:8, 1 Thes 4:13 and discuss: What does it mean that some people had “weak consciences”? Is this a criticism of them? Why or why not? Would you or wouldn’t you eat the meat sacrificed to idols? Why or why not? How should you treat people who do the opposite of you? Why?

Day 3: Read 1 Cor 8, Eph 4:15, Phil 1:9 and discuss: What does it mean to be ignorant? Should we always share knowledge with people? Why or why not? What makes someone a guest versus a pest? How do we know when we should or shouldn’t share our knowledge with others? What are some essentials? What are some nonessentials? What does it mean to combine knowledge with love? What does it look like when love is combined with knowledge? What about when it isn’t?

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