2. PROBLEM
Division over whether or not it’s okay to
eat meat from animals sacrificed to idols
WHAT WE WILL LEARN
 Exercising Love is much greater
than exercising Liberty
 Discipline is an exercise of Love
 Liberty is the reward of Discipline

3. 1 Corinthians 8:1–3
Now concerning food offered to idols:
we know that “We all possess knowledge.”
This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
If anyone imagines that he knows something,
he does not yet know it as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

4. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered
to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that
“there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called
gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and
many “lords”—yet for us there is
one God, the Father, from whom are all things
and for whom we exist, and one Lord,
Jesus Christ, through whom are
all things and through whom we exist.

5. 1 Corinthians 8:7-8
However, not all possess this knowledge.
But some, through former association with
idols, eat food as really offered to an idol,
and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Food will not commend us to God. We are no
worse off if we do not eat, and no better off
if we do.

6. 1 Corinthians 8:9-11
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become
a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have
knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if
his conscience is weak, to eat
food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge
this weak person is destroyed, the brother for
whom Christ died.

7. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13
Thus, sinning against your brothers and
sisters and wounding their conscience
when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble,
I will never eat meat, lest I make my
brother stumble.

8. SOLUTION
Those of more mature faith, out of LOVE,
should DISCIPLINE their LIBERTIES according
to the needs of those of less mature faith
WHAT WE LEARN
 Exercising LOVE is much greater
than exercising LIBERTY
 DISCIPLINE is an exercise of LOVE

9. BUT WHAT ABOUT…?
1. So I have to change anything I do if it would
make someone think the wrong thing?
• NO - applies to situations where our action would lead
someone else to something that is against Christ.
2. Avoiding a “stumbling block” is
NOT avoiding something true about
God or what it means to walk with
Him because some dislikes it
or disagrees…

10. THEN WHAT FREEDOM
DO I HAVE!?
“Freedom and discipline have come to be
regarded as mutually exclusive, when in
fact freedom is not at all the opposite,
but the final reward of discipline.
It is to be bought with a high price,
not merely claimed…”

11. THEN WHAT FREEDOM
DO I HAVE!?
“…The [professional] skater and [race] horse
are free to perform as they do only because
they have been subjected to countless hours
of grueling work, rigidly prescribed,
faithfully carried out. Men are free
to soar into space because they have
willingly confined themselves in
a tiny capsule designed and produced…

12. THEN WHAT FREEDOM
DO I HAVE!?
“…by highly trained scientists and craftsmen,
have meticulously followed instructions,
and submitted themselves to rules which
others defined.”
– Elizabeth Elliot

13. Little picture:
Personal finance, Athletics,
Business, Children
BIG picture:
Economically, Socially, Politically
Misuse liberty Lose freedom
LIBERTY IS THE
REWARD OF DISCIPLINE

14. PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11
 Liberty is the reward of Discipline
 Discipline is an exercise of Love
 Exercising Love is much greater
than exercising Liberty
NO GREATER EXAMPLE THAN
THE VERY GOD WE WORSHIP
IN JESUS CHRIST!

15. BE TRANSFORMED
Christians:
Into the Image of Jesus Christ
 Freedom abounds when we discipline our
liberties out of love
Everyone:
True FREEDOM and LOVE are only found by
faith in Jesus Christ
 John 6:28-29

16. John 8:31-36
“…If you abide in my word, you are truly
my disciples, and you will know the truth
and the truth will set you free…
…Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave
to sin. The slave
does not remain in the house forever;
the son remains forever. So if the Son
sets you free, you will be free indeed.”