Inductive Bible Study: 1 Corinthians chapters 10–13
PRAY: Almighty and eternal God, draw my heart to you, guide my mind, fill my imagination, and direct my will, so that I may be completely yours, utterly dedicated to you. Use me, I pray, as you choose, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people, through Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. Amen.
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:1–11:1
MEDITATE:
In August of 2001, a Kansas City pharmacist was charged with diluting the cancer treatment drugs Gemzar and Taxol in order to make a larger profit. This man held life-saving power in his hands, and for the sake of personal gain diluted it to the point at which it could not help people. As Christians, there are four ways we can be guilty of a similar crime on the spiritual plane:
1. Be ignorant of history. To illustrate the folly of trusting in the ceremonies of religion to protect a Christian from temptation, in verses 1–11 Paul reaches back to the history of Israel for an illustration. The evil we face is a master of disguise and often changes the names of things to confuse us. What God calls sexual sin is often labeled as sexual “liberation” today. Will we learn from history or will we be ignorant of it?
2. Rationalize our behavior. Sure, what other people are doing is plainly sinful, but my own shortcoming is understandable or acceptable. By listing specific sins, Paul is warning his readers that they could just as easily step on the same landmines.
3. Mix Christianity with other religions. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
4. Look out for number one. There is in all authentic Christianity a healthy tension between individual freedom and corporate or community responsibility. Keeping a good balance between the two is not easy.
Questions and Application:
- What does this passage say?
- What does this passage mean?
- What struggles and temptations can we anticipate in the months ahead?
- How can our congregation guard itself against both ungratefulness for God’s provision and cynicism in the face of challenges?
PRAY: Almighty God, by the Passover of your son you have brought us out of sin unto righteousness and out of death into life. Grant to me and to all who are sealed by your Spirit the will and the power to proclaim you to all the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.