Living Godly in a Secular World

 

Summary

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul addresses the challenges faced by the early church in Corinth, a city known for its wealth, power, and moral decay. The church was called to be a holy people in an unholy world, a struggle that resonates with us today as we navigate a secular culture that often opposes biblical values. Paul provides a spiritual roadmap for living with wisdom, conviction, and boldness in such a world. He poses three critical questions: How do we live for God when culture doesn't? How do we remain pure when others aren't? And how do we keep our eyes on the Lord when others are self-focused?

Paul emphasizes that being godly in our world is a daily grind. We are constantly swimming against the current, facing temptations and distractions that can lead us away from God. To combat this, Paul encourages us to make decisions that glorify God, asking not just "Can I?" but "Should I?" This involves filtering our choices through principles of wisdom, love, evangelism, and honor to God.

Paul also highlights the importance of living according to God's guidelines. He challenges us to move beyond personal preferences and consider the broader impact of our actions. We must ask ourselves if our actions are wise, loving, evangelistic, and honoring to God. This requires us to be mindful of how our decisions affect others, especially our neighbors and those we interact with daily.

Furthermore, Paul addresses how we should engage with unbelievers. He encourages us to live peaceably among them, being respectful and making conscious decisions about when to say no. Our actions should pave the way for the gospel, not create obstacles. Ultimately, everything we do should reflect God's goodness and purpose.

Finally, Paul reminds us of the importance of following the right guides. We need people who model Christ-like behavior for us to imitate. He challenges us to consider who we are following and who is following us. Our lives should be a testament to God's glory, influencing others positively in their walk with Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Daily Godliness: Living a godly life in a secular world is a daily challenge. We must constantly swim against the current of cultural norms that oppose biblical values. This requires intentionality in our decisions, ensuring they align with God's will and bring Him glory. [06:03]

2. Decision-Making: Our decisions, big and small, have spiritual significance. We must filter them through questions of wisdom, love, evangelism, and honor to God. This approach helps us avoid moral dilemmas and ensures our actions reflect God's character. [14:29]

3. Engaging with Unbelievers: We are called to live peaceably among unbelievers, respecting their space while maintaining our convictions. Our interactions should pave the way for the gospel, demonstrating Christ's love and grace in every situation. [32:10]

4. Impact on Others: Our actions should consider the broader impact on those around us. We must prioritize the good of our neighbors, ensuring our freedoms do not hinder their spiritual growth or well-being. Love should always limit our liberty. [24:28]

5. Following and Leading: We need role models who exemplify Christ-like behavior, and we must also be mindful of those who look up to us. Our lives should inspire others to draw closer to God, reflecting His glory in all we do. [42:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:07] - Context of Corinth
- [02:16] - Questions for the Corinthians
- [03:57] - Paul's Instructions on Eating
- [04:46] - Imitating Christ
- [06:03] - The Daily Grind of Godliness
- [07:13] - Decision-Making in Daily Life
- [08:09] - The Impact of Social Media
- [11:15] - Filtering Decisions Through God's Glory
- [13:14] - Lawfulness vs. Godliness
- [14:29] - Guidelines for Godly Living
- [16:43] - Lawful but Not Beneficial
- [19:57] - Considering Others in Our Actions
- [22:32] - Loving Our Neighbors
- [24:28] - Limiting Liberty with Love
- [32:10] - Engaging with Unbelievers
- [36:15] - Spiritual Appeal to the Lost
- [41:04] - Reflecting God's Glory
- [42:02] - Following the Right Guides

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

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Observation Questions:

1. What challenges did the early church in Corinth face, and how do these challenges relate to our current cultural context? [01:07]

2. According to Paul, what are the three critical questions that the Corinthians needed to consider in their daily lives? [02:16]

3. How does Paul suggest we should approach decision-making in our daily lives, according to the sermon? [14:29]

4. What does Paul mean when he says, "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful"? How does this apply to the choices we make? [03:57]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "daily godliness" as a "daily grind" resonate with the struggles faced by the Corinthians and by us today? [06:03]

2. In what ways does Paul suggest that our decisions should be filtered through principles of wisdom, love, evangelism, and honor to God? How might this change our approach to everyday choices? [14:29]

3. How does Paul propose we engage with unbelievers, and what might be the implications of this approach for our interactions with those who do not share our faith? [32:10]

4. What does it mean to follow the right guides, and how can identifying role models in our faith journey impact our spiritual growth? [42:02]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you consider whether it was wise, loving, evangelistic, and honoring to God? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [14:29]

2. Think about a time when you felt the pressure to conform to cultural norms that opposed biblical values. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [06:03]

3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel you are "swimming against the current." What practical steps can you take to remain steadfast in your faith in this area? [06:03]

4. Consider your interactions with unbelievers. How can you live peaceably among them while maintaining your convictions? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate Christ's love and grace? [32:10]

5. Who are the role models in your life that exemplify Christ-like behavior? How can you intentionally learn from them and apply their example to your own life? [42:02]

6. Reflect on your own life and consider who might be looking up to you as a role model. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions positively influence their walk with Christ? [42:02]

7. Is there a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on God? What steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and prioritize your relationship with Him? [39:54]

Devotional

Day 1: Swimming Against the Current
Living a godly life in a secular world is a daily challenge. We must constantly swim against the current of cultural norms that oppose biblical values. This requires intentionality in our decisions, ensuring they align with God's will and bring Him glory. [06:03]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one cultural norm you find yourself conforming to, and how can you intentionally choose a godly alternative today?


Day 2: Decisions with Eternal Impact
Our decisions, big and small, have spiritual significance. We must filter them through questions of wisdom, love, evangelism, and honor to God. This approach helps us avoid moral dilemmas and ensures our actions reflect God's character. [14:29]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you ensure it aligns with wisdom, love, evangelism, and honor to God?


Day 3: Peaceful Engagement with the World
We are called to live peaceably among unbelievers, respecting their space while maintaining our convictions. Our interactions should pave the way for the gospel, demonstrating Christ's love and grace in every situation. [32:10]

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:18, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a relationship with an unbeliever where you can demonstrate Christ's love more effectively. What practical step can you take today to show them grace?


Day 4: Love Limits Liberty
Our actions should consider the broader impact on those around us. We must prioritize the good of our neighbors, ensuring our freedoms do not hinder their spiritual growth or well-being. Love should always limit our liberty. [24:28]

"But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." (1 Corinthians 8:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a personal freedom you exercise. How might it affect others, and how can you adjust it to prioritize their spiritual well-being?


Day 5: Following and Leading in Faith
We need role models who exemplify Christ-like behavior, and we must also be mindful of those who look up to us. Our lives should inspire others to draw closer to God, reflecting His glory in all we do. [42:02]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: Who is a Christ-like role model in your life, and how can you emulate their faith? Conversely, who might be looking up to you, and how can you lead them closer to God?

Quotes

"We too find ourselves in a secular, self-indulgent culture that opposes biblical values and truths. We find ourselves facing the same pressures to conform, tensions to our faith, and challenges for our faith. standing up for what God's word says even when the world doesn't want to hear it." [00:01:59] (24 seconds)


"Paul begins in verse 23. If you don't have a physical copy of God's word this morning, go ahead and scan that QR code. It'll take you to the chapter where we find ourselves, chapter 10, verse 23. All things are lawful. Not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." [00:03:27] (22 seconds)


"Three truths that Paul wants to draw from this text today start like this. Number one, being godly in our world is a daily grind. Can God's people say amen to that? We feel that. We experience that. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been placed in a world that's very, very different than the world that God wants us to be." [00:05:02] (23 seconds)


"And so, every day as you enter out into your work day or your day at school, you're feeling this constant push, this constant temptation, this constant ongoing battle. And what it is, is it's you and me as Christ followers, we're swimming against the current, going against the flow. And as a result of that, it's going to be tiring." [00:05:38] (25 seconds)


"We have to make countless decisions. And what the apostle Paul says to us is, I want to make sure that all of your decisions about whether you eat or what you drink or what you do or what you wear or how you interact with people, all of the decisions, I want every Christian everywhere in Corinth or in Sugar Grove to make those decisions that will glorify God." [00:11:33] (24 seconds)


"Godliness thrives when we live according to his guidelines. And when I speak of his guidelines I'm not speaking of Paul's I'm speaking of God's. When we live according to his will. Now Paul lays out the framework and he says stop asking is it allowed? And he's going to ask this question. Is whatever I'm going to do is it wise? Is it loving? Is it evangelistic? And is it honoring to God?" [00:13:56] (29 seconds)


"The Corinthians wrestled with how their faith and culture that was steeped in idolatry and immorality and indulgence and Paul says I want to challenge you to move beyond your personal preferences and to consider the broader impact. To do that we have to ask some questions that come right out of the text." [00:14:43] (22 seconds)


"Love will always limit. Listen to me. Love will always limit. It will always limit liberty, and so whatever you're going to do, whatever you're going to say, whatever you're going to, whether it's post on social media or how you're going to invest your time or your energy, love will always limit the liberty that God has given you." [00:25:07] (22 seconds)


"Paul told the church in Philippi, don't look to your own interests, but the interests of others. Have the mind of Christ. Jesus came to this earth. He came to us, not because it served as an advantage for him, not because he was looking out for himself. Why would he lead to heaven?" [00:26:14] (22 seconds)


"Jesus said, if I wanted you to seclude yourself in Christian enclaves, that you're no longer around the world, I would have taken you up to be with me a long time ago. And so I want you with unbelievers and I want you engaged. And so it's altogether a good and right thing for an unbeliever to invite you. And when they do, you should be excited." [00:31:50] (21 seconds)


"If someone was to follow you for a day, think about this, for an average day of your life and my life, if a person was to follow you, at the end of the day, would they be closer in their walk with Jesus than they were at the start of it? And if there's doubt in your mind, then I can assure you something." [00:43:55] (27 seconds)


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Transcript
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