Sungai Nibong Gospel HallThe Problems of the Local Church in Corinth

(21 July) Pt. 1 – Chs. 1-5(28 July) Pt. 2 – Chs. 5, 6

(10 Nov) Pt. 3 – Chs. 7

17 Nov., 2013

Pt. 4 – Chs. 8, 9

1. The Problem of Disunity – Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Church.

I Cor. 1:10-30 •The Problem of Immaturity – Paul could not Advance with them. They were Childish and Carnal: they still needed Milk and not Meat.

I Cor. 3:1-3, 42.The Problem of Immorality – Paul was Appalled by their Tolerance of Incest in their midst. I Cor. Ch. 53.The Problem of Litigation (Legality)They Accused one Another in Court. I Cor. Ch. 6

RecapitulationThe Problems of the Church in Corinth (Chs. 1-6) as reported by Chloe (1:11)

5. Paul Answered their Problems on Personal Liberty, Rights & Relationships (Chs. 7-10)

Letter from the Church Concerning...(7:1) a. Relationship between Male and Female.

A Person Surrenders his Right to Marry…to Minister to the Lord. 7:32, 33

b. Relationship between Strong and Weak brethren – do not Stumble. Ch. 8 (8:1)

A brother in Love Surrenders his Right to Self… to Consider the Conscience of another. 8:13

a. Relationship between Male and Female. I Cor. Ch. 7

b. Relationship between the Strong and Weak Brethren. 8:13

I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 8:13

i. Concerning/Touching Food offered to Idols, 8:1a – We know. What do we know?

We know that we all have knowledge

a. Concerning Food offered to Idols touching/concerning. 8:1a cf. 7:1

ii. Consider a Few Contrasts:- 8:1-3 Knowledge puffs up; Love Builds up. 8:1b One who Claims to know Completely (perfect tense) may just know nothing. 8:2 If one Loves (present tense) God, then God knows him. 8:3

Love God, Love your neighbour. Lk. 10:27

Love Christ, keep His commandments. Jn. 15:12

•Hence, concerning food offered to idols, Consider What you Know and Whom you Love.

ii. Consider a Few Contrasts. 8:1-3iii. Concerning eating of Food sacrificed to

idols. 8:4-13What and Whom we should know: 8:4-6 An idol is nothing in the world. 8:4 ct. 10:20 There is none other God but one – an idol is

no god. 8:4, 5 cf. Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:17-19 There is but one God, the Father,

of whom are all things, and we in [for] Him; one Lord Jesus Christ, by [through] Whom are all things, and we by [through] Him. 8:6

I Cor. 10:20, 21, NIV

But the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot

drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both

the Lord's table and the table of demons.

What and Whom we should know: 8:4-6 Know, how eating food offered to idols

may affect the brethren:- 8:7-12, 13The Weak Conscience – it Associates an idol

with past beliefs. 8:7The Defiled Conscience – it

is Affected by what it sees as wrong. 8:7The Emboldened Conscience – it follows After Another

that it considers wrong. 8:10,11The Wounded Conscience – it is Stricken a blow and is

wounded Seriously. 8:11, 12

the offending person Sins against Christ. 8:12

b. As touching Relationship between those who eat Meat offered to idols and those who do not – the Strong and the Weak. 8:1-13i. The Strong must not Stumble the Weak. 8:8

Meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

ii.The Strong must not make the Weak Suffer.8:11

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

i. The Strong must not Stumble the Weak. 8:8 ii. The Strong must not make the Weak Suffer. 8:11

iii. Liberty vs. Love: 8:13

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, Lest I make my brother to offend.

Love Limits what Conscience Permits.Also Consider Rom. 14:1-15

Next Lord’s Day - 04.05.14 (D.V.)5. Paul’s Answers (7:1) Concerning…Relationships, Rights and Personal Liberty. Chs. 7-106. Relationship with others – be an Example, be Expedient and Edify Ch. 10A Believer surrenders his right to Please himself to Profit all in all (things) that many be saved.

10:24, 33AND NOW MAY

"THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD,

AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WTH YOU ALL. AMEN. - II Cor. 13:14