ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 9 OCTOBER 2005

1 CORINTHIANS 8:1-13

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on the talk at Sunday's 6:30 pm service. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

Before you look at the Bible passage, a couple of scenarios to consider. You are a believer. You know that means, as Paul says at the start of 1 Corinthians, you are 'called to be holy'.

Scenario number 1

You, together with a friend who's just become a Christian, are invited to a party by a friend who isn't a Christian. You're aware that at this party it's highly likely that some people will be getting drunk and there may also be drugs in circulation. Do you accept the invitation?

Scenario number 2

A film has been recommended to you as thought provoking and worthwhile, but its values are, to say the least, unsympathetic to the Christian faith! There's lot's of blasphemy, lots of casual sex, violence, you know the rest... Do you go and see it? Do you take other Christian friends along with you?

Discuss

Read 1 Corinthians 8

Here's another scenario.

You go to the butcher's stall on the market to get a joint for Sunday lunch. You know full well that most of the meat on the marble slab in front of you has come to the butcher from one of any number of local temples. Each temple is dedicated to one of a bewildering range of pagan gods and goddesses. When sacrifices are made, the surplus meat is sold off through the markets. You know this because for one thing it's common knowledge, and for another thing it's not long ago that you were a devotee of one these gods yourself.

But now you're one of a small band of Christians in this teeming great city in the 1st Century AD.

Is it OK for you to buy and eat this meat?

To buy or not to buy, that is the question.

But if that was the only question here, we may as well skip this chapter because it's not an issue that we face any longer in this part of the world. Not directly.

What Paul does do however is to work out what are the implications of the gospel for the question. And he digs up principles for dealing with this kind of controversy in the church that we need to apply.

KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE (verses 1-3)

So, in verses 1 to 3, what is the real issue here?

Why is knowledge without love dangerous?

What does it mean for knowledge to puff up?

How can we be in danger of this?

What is the difference between knowledge with love, and knowledge without love?

What is the source of all true knowledge and love?

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH THAT SETS YOU FREE (verses 4-8)

What does Paul make quite clear are the rights and wrongs of eating this meat?

Why is this?

How do verses instruct us in out multi-faith world?

BUT... why is it so important that the chapter doesn't finish here?

USE YOUR FREEDOM TO BUILD OTHERS UP (verses 9-13)

Why are the simple rights and wrongs of this issue not enough?

What is his order to the "strong", verses 9, 13?

Why is this, verses 10, 11, 12?

SUMMARY

Which group in the church in Corinth had got it right?

As Christians we often divide over things that are of secondary importance. In what areas do you / could you / should you be putting someone else's conscience above your freedom?

Are you conscious of others as you exercise your freedom?

Edward Hobbs
12 October 2005