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Liberty Of Love : Week 6 of The Church And Culture : The Book of 1 Corinthians

Sunday Morning, July 30, 2017 Presented by Matt McElyea

37 Jesus told him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is exactly like it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40 (ISV)

1 Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he really knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it. 3 But anyone who loves God is known by him. 4 Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in this world and that there is only one God. 5 For even if there are “gods” in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called “gods” and “lords”), 6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom everything came into being and for whom we live. And there is only one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, through whom everything came into being and through whom we live. 7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idolatry that when they eat food that has been offered to an idol, their conscience becomes contaminated because it is weak. 8 However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat food that has been offered to an idol, and no better off if we do. 9 But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block for those who are weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idol’s temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won’t he? 11 In that case, the weak brother for whom the Messiah died is ruined by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against the Messiah. 13 Therefore, if food that I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from stumbling.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (ISV)

Love Builds Up

20 Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called… 23 You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people.
1 Corinthians 7:20,23

God Wants To Use Us For Who We Are

23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel in order to have a share in its blessings. 24 You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, don’t you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious.
1 Corinthians 9:23-24 (ISV)

23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own welfare, but rather his neighbor’s.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24

32 Don’t become a stumbling block to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I myself try to please everybody in every way. I don’t look out for my own benefit, but rather for the benefit of many people, so that they might be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:32-33 (ISV)

1 Imitate me, as I do the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ISV)

Love God And Our Neighbor As Ourselves

Don't Rely On Knowledge, But Love

We Need To Have A Clear Goal Of Love

Building Up Others Is More Important Than Our Rights

If We Want The Power Of God, Imitate Christ’s Love… Sacrificial Love