Navigating Knowledge with Love in Community

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound insights from 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul addresses the issue of knowledge and its application within the church. The core problem isn't the correctness of the Corinthians' knowledge about idols, but rather the incomplete and inconsiderate application of that knowledge. Paul affirms that their understanding—that idols aren't real and there's only one true God—is correct. However, he warns that right knowledge can lead to wrong application when it is incomplete or inconsiderate.

To illustrate this, I used the analogy of looking through binoculars. While you can see true things, you miss the full picture. Similarly, the Corinthians had a partial view of the issue of food offered to idols. They saw the truth about idols but failed to consider the broader implications of their actions on others. Paul emphasizes that knowledge must be accompanied by love and consideration for others. Liberty does not always mean license, especially when it can cause harm to a fellow believer.

Paul challenges us to consider two key questions when navigating complex situations: Will my participation clarify or confuse my witness for Christ? And will it help or hinder those around me? Our lives are a reflection of our faith, and our actions should affirm our purpose to glorify God. We must be mindful of how our decisions impact others, recognizing that our actions are not made in isolation but within the community of believers.

As we continue to explore Paul's teachings in the coming weeks, we are encouraged to apply these principles to our lives. We must learn to navigate these situations with love, asking ourselves the hard questions about the impact of our actions on our witness and on others. This approach helps us live out our faith in a way that honors God and serves our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Right Knowledge, Wrong Application: Knowledge, even when correct, can lead to wrong application if it is incomplete. Like looking through binoculars, we may see true things but miss the full picture. We must seek a comprehensive understanding to apply our knowledge rightly. [03:32]

2. Consideration for Others: Knowledge must be accompanied by love and consideration for others. Our actions should not cause harm to fellow believers. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ, ensuring our knowledge does not become a stumbling block. [08:07]

3. Liberty and Love: Liberty does not always mean license. Just because something is permissible does not mean it is beneficial. We may need to forego certain liberties out of love for others, prioritizing their well-being over our rights. [09:27]

4. Clarifying Our Witness: We must ask if our participation in certain activities clarifies or confuses our witness for Christ. Our lives should reflect our faith and testify to the saving work of Christ. Our actions should affirm our purpose to glorify God. [15:40]

5. Impact on Others: Our decisions impact those around us. We must consider whether our actions help or hinder others in their faith journey. Living in community requires us to bring love to bear on our decisions, setting a positive example for others. [20:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:32] - Right Knowledge, Wrong Application
- [05:39] - Partial Picture and Misapplication
- [08:07] - Consideration for Others
- [09:27] - Liberty and Love
- [12:01] - Applying Paul's Teachings Today
- [13:23] - Navigating Complex Situations
- [14:48] - Good Things and Evil Associations
- [15:40] - Clarifying Our Witness
- [17:24] - Living Through Christ
- [18:16] - Decision-Making and Impact
- [19:11] - Clarify or Confuse?
- [20:03] - Impact on Others
- [20:59] - Love in Decision-Making
- [23:40] - Navigating with Love
- [25:18] - Living in Community

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
- Galatians 2:20
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul affirm about the Corinthians' knowledge regarding idols in 1 Corinthians 8? How does he describe the problem with their application of this knowledge? [03:32]
2. How does the analogy of looking through binoculars help illustrate the issue of having partial knowledge? [05:39]
3. What does Paul mean when he says that liberty does not always mean license? How does this relate to love? [09:27]
4. According to the sermon, what are the two key questions Paul challenges us to consider when navigating complex situations? [14:48]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the concept of "right knowledge, wrong application" apply to modern-day issues within the church? [05:39]
2. In what ways does Paul suggest that our actions can impact our witness for Christ? How does this relate to the idea of living through Christ as mentioned in Galatians 2:20? [17:24]
3. How does the principle of considering others' well-being over our own rights challenge common cultural attitudes about personal freedom? [08:07]
4. What does it mean for our decisions to be made within the community of believers, and how does this affect our personal liberties? [20:03]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you consider how it might impact your witness for Christ or those around you? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [15:40]
2. Think of a situation where you might have prioritized your rights over the well-being of others. How can you apply Paul's teaching on liberty and love to that situation? [09:27]
3. Identify a "good thing" in your life that might be associated with something negative. How can you ensure your participation clarifies rather than confuses your witness for Christ? [14:48]
4. How can you cultivate a habit of asking the two key questions Paul poses when faced with complex situations? What practical steps can you take to make this a regular part of your decision-making process? [19:11]
5. Consider someone in your life who might be affected by your actions. How can you show love and consideration for them in your decisions this week? [20:03]
6. Are there any liberties you currently exercise that might be a stumbling block to others? How can you lovingly address this in your life? [08:07]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to navigate their decisions with love and consideration for the broader implications on their witness and the faith journey of others? [25:18]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: The Danger of Partial Knowledge
Knowledge, even when correct, can lead to wrong application if it is incomplete. Like looking through binoculars, we may see true things but miss the full picture. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses the Corinthians' understanding of idols, affirming that their knowledge is correct but incomplete. They recognize that idols aren't real and that there is only one true God. However, their application of this knowledge is inconsiderate, as they fail to see how their actions impact others. Paul warns that right knowledge can lead to wrong application when it lacks love and consideration for others. We must seek a comprehensive understanding to apply our knowledge rightly. [03:32]

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (ESV): "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you have acted on partial knowledge. How can you seek a fuller understanding to ensure your actions are considerate of others?


Day 2: Love as the Lens for Knowledge
Knowledge must be accompanied by love and consideration for others. Our actions should not cause harm to fellow believers. Paul emphasizes that while the Corinthians' knowledge about idols is correct, it becomes a stumbling block when it lacks love. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ, ensuring our knowledge does not become a stumbling block. Love should be the lens through which we view and apply our knowledge, prioritizing the well-being of others over our own rights. [08:07]

1 Corinthians 13:2 (ESV): "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

Reflection: Consider a time when your knowledge may have unintentionally hurt someone. How can you approach similar situations with love and consideration in the future?


Day 3: Balancing Liberty with Love
Liberty does not always mean license. Just because something is permissible does not mean it is beneficial. Paul challenges the Corinthians to consider the impact of their actions on others, even if those actions are permissible. We may need to forego certain liberties out of love for others, prioritizing their well-being over our rights. This balance between liberty and love is crucial in living out our faith in a way that honors God and serves our community. [09:27]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Reflection: Identify an area where you exercise your freedom. How can you ensure that your liberty does not become a stumbling block for others?


Day 4: Clarifying Our Witness
We must ask if our participation in certain activities clarifies or confuses our witness for Christ. Our lives should reflect our faith and testify to the saving work of Christ. Paul encourages the Corinthians to consider how their actions impact their witness, urging them to live in a way that affirms their purpose to glorify God. Our actions should be a clear reflection of our faith, helping others see Christ through us. [15:40]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Reflect on an activity you participate in regularly. Does it clarify or confuse your witness for Christ? What changes can you make to ensure it aligns with your faith?


Day 5: Impacting Others with Love
Our decisions impact those around us. We must consider whether our actions help or hinder others in their faith journey. Living in community requires us to bring love to bear on our decisions, setting a positive example for others. Paul reminds the Corinthians that their actions are not made in isolation but within the community of believers. By prioritizing love and consideration, we can positively impact those around us and help them grow in their faith. [20:03]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made. How did it impact those around you? How can you ensure your future decisions help others in their faith journey?

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Quotes

"So what Paul is not doing is saying, hey, all of us possess this knowledge, but you're incorrect in what you have come to know. He affirms it and says, okay, we've got this knowledge, and our knowledge says that idols aren't real. And our knowledge says that there's no other God but the one true God. All of that's true. The knowledge is true. So what's the problem? If knowledge and the correctness of their knowledge isn't the issue, the problem that Paul brings to bear on it is that at times, right knowledge, knowing the right thing, can lead to the wrong application." [00:00:37] (35 seconds)


"wrongly and the reason for that there's a couple two reasons in this text so right knowledge can lead to wrong application when number one it's incomplete all right so paul says listen you've got this knowledge but but it's not the full picture right we we know that that idols aren't real we know you know verse six down in here we know that there's only one true god all of that's fine all of that's great but you're not looking at the full picture so you'll notice back up in verse two he says that if anyone imagines that he knows something he does not yet know as he ought to know and so right out of the gate paul's saying okay you guys have written to me and you've said hey we have this knowledge and paul's like that's fine but you have you're looking at only part of the picture if you will it would be like if we all had uh telescopes with us right now or we all had telescopes with us right now or we all had telescopes with us right now or we all had binoculars and we were to say, hey, we want to stop and sit in this room. We're going to only look through these binoculars. You're going to see real things, right? You're going to look around the room and you're going to see me probably way more large and close up than you would ever like to see me. But you're going to see Jeremy and you're going to see that Jeremy's wearing a blue shirt. He's got hair. He's got a beard. You're going to..." [00:01:19] (79 seconds)


"see real true things. But when you're only looking through the binoculars, you're not going to see everything else that's going on. You're getting a zoomed in view of the issue. And Paul's saying that's what's going on when we're dealing with food offered to idols. So to give us a little bit of a game, I've found some pictures for us. And the first picture that we're going to put on the screen, it's a little bit hard to see maybe because of the projector and the light. But here's the issue that we're dealing with. And your job is going to be to identify what this is a picture of. And some of you may be able to do that. But you're looking at it right now. I see some really puzzled faces. And I don't want to know what all maybe you're thinking this is. But you're looking at it and you're assessing that there are some things that we know about this picture. We can see that this picture has some sort of an object that is brown." [00:02:38] (54 seconds)


"true facts, things that you can observe. And you're saying, I know those things to be true about this picture. And so you're probably thinking, okay, well, maybe, maybe this is a picture of some sort of a rock formation." [00:03:58] (15 seconds)


"You're looking at it and you're maybe something like, that wasn't even on my radar and that's fine, but maybe this is a rock and this is a big rock and we see some sun shining on it and it's rough. And I could see how, you know, there's a little bit of an overhang and that could be. Some of you are like, maybe this is a piece of dirt. Maybe, I don't know. You're going through your head and if you're thinking any of those things, I'm just going to tell you right now, you're wrong. Okay, it's none of that. This picture is actually a picture of something quite wonderful. Something that may make you just a little bit hungry today. It's a picture of a cupcake." [00:04:14] (36 seconds)


"Okay, but it was very hard to identify the cupcake when you're zoomed in on only parts of the picture. So, I'm going to show you a picture of a cupcake. Part of it. You only saw part of the picture. And for some of you, maybe you guessed that it was a picture or a cupcake. But I'm going to assume that probably most of you didn't even think it was a cupcake. Like that wasn't on your radar. You weren't even thinking about it because you didn't have the whole thing. And there is a danger that can come in that you had right information." [00:05:23] (34 seconds)


"You could make accurate observations, but you were only dealing with a partial picture. And Paul is saying that when it comes to the issue that the Corinthians have brought before him of food offered to idols, they were only looking at the partial picture." [00:05:24] (15 seconds)


"And they made right and accurate assessments. They could see clearly. They're saying, yes, idols are nothing. Yes, there's only one true God. But Paul is going to, over the course of his answer to this, help them see that you're dealing with that first picture." [00:05:38] (15 seconds)


"You're only looking at a little bit of it, which can lead us to a wrong application of right knowledge. Right, when Paul's answer to the Corinthians, just to let you in on where we are headed here, is not summed up in chapter 8." [00:05:54] (20 seconds)


"Chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians is the beginning of Paul's answer to their question about food offered to idols. He's going to spend chapter 8, chapter 9, and all of chapter 10 in the first little verse of chapter 11 to answer their question about food offered to idols. But at the outset of it, he says, listen, if anyone imagines he knows something he doesn't yet know as he ought to know. Right now, this knowledge you have" [00:06:13] (29 seconds)


"It's a partial picture. There's more that meets the eye, and it's leading you maybe to a wrong application. Number two, right knowledge can have a wrong application when it's inconsiderate. So it can lead you to the wrong place when it's incomplete, and it can lead you to the wrong place when it's inconsiderate. Paul says that, listen, it is not enough to be correct if our correctness leads us to cause harm to other people. He says your correctness is of no value. Your knowledge has not helped you at all if living based on your knowledge has caused you to bring harm to a brother or sister in Christ. It's just not worth it at that point. You have brought about no good through this. This is where down in verse nine, we're just snapshotting a couple of things real quick. He says, take care that this right of yours doesn't somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. That if we were to assume that the tidbits of knowledge that they had, that idols aren't real, that there's only one true God. If we were to assume that that is all the requisite information that they needed to assess the situation, technically, they would have the right to eat. But Paul's saying it may not be right to do so." [00:06:55] (75 seconds)


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Transcript
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