Series: 1 Corinthians
Sermon: Freedom with a Catch
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

I. In the Corinthian Church, there were two types of Christians (verses 2, 7)

1. Paul calls them: 1) Christians with a specific knowledge  and 2) “weak” Christians
2. Both have had background in worshipping local deities that were represented by idols
3. Some of them—Christians with a specific knowledge, matured to a level that their former loyalty to idols did not bother them
4. So, they bought meat, probably for a cheaper price, that was brought from the local temples (verses 1-6)

a. During festival seasons, priests of the local temples would not be able to eat the amount of meat of the sacrificed animals
b. So, they would sell it to the market for a cheaper price
c. Some Christians—the so-called matured ones, bought them for consumption, which was an offense to some Christians—the weaker ones

i. The weaker ones still associated the sacrificial food to idols (verses 7-8)
ii. Their conscience was weak, and they felt that they were defiled (verses 7-8)

5. Paul did not disapprove those who bought the meat sold in the market for cheaper price

a. He agrees with them that the deity to which the animal was sacrificed was not a reality
b. Paul affirms the faith of the Christians

i. There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom   we live.
ii. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live

6. But Paul disapproves such action if it becomes an offense to some Christians—the “weaker in faith”

II. Paul is concerned about the devastating effect of the action of one group of Christians over another group (verses 1 & 2)

1. Some Christians pushed their freedom to the level of becoming arrogant (verse 2)
2. That they were not concerned about Christians who were weaker in their faith (verse 9)
3. Paul was concerned about the believers’ focus on themselves and ignoring other believers
4. Paul seems to say that true knowledge is not accumulation of information or theology, but it is living in love towards others, particularly those who are weak

III. Paul’s instruction regarding the conduct of the so called strong towards the weak (verses 9-13)

1. One’s freedom must not be a stumbling block to others (verse 9)
2. The strong believers must always take the weak ones in to consideration (verse 10)
3. Failure to consider the wellbeing of the weaker ones is equivalent to sinning against Christ (verses 11-13)

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