Life Is About Sharing The Gospel Any Way Possible

A husband and wife are eating dinner, specifically they are having steak.

The Wife: Look at how selfish you are. You took the biggest piece.

Husband: Well, what would you have done?

Wife: I would have taken the small one and left you the big one.

Husband: Why are you mad? I gave you the one you wanted.

Joko Beck:

We have self-centered minds which get us into plenty of trouble. If we do not come to understand the error in the way we think, our self-awareness, which is our greatest blessing, is also our downfall.

Historical/Cultural Context -

Paul preached the gospel in Corinth in the early 50s AD during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–18). When opposition grew fierce there, the Lord Jesus spoke to him in a vision assuring him that he had ‘many people’ in the city (Acts 18:10). With this encouragement, Paul stayed on for eighteen months, ‘teaching them the word of God’ (Acts 18:11). God used Paul’s ministry to bring about the birth and establishment of the church in Corinth.

Biblical Text -

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1 NKJV

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Understand Other People So You Don’t Stop Spiritual Growth.

Life Point- Be Understanding Of Others Consciences

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 10:23–25 NLT

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.

Homiletical -

Last week Paul mentions idols and idolatry. He talked about eating meat sacrificed to idols and that there is a difference between eating that meat and Participating in the worship of idols.

When Paul says I am allowed to do anything, to what is he referring?

Is he talking about the moral law? Is he talking about the religious law? Is he talking about things that are debatable? What is in view here?

He can’t be talking about the moral law because Jesus confirmed the moral law and even made it stricter. As an example:

Matthew 5:27–28 NLT

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:31–32 NLT

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

Matthew 5:33–37 NLT

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

These are just a few examples. Jesus made the law stricter. So what is Paul talking about here? He is talking about the debatable things. You see by the time Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us, the Jews had added rules for all sorts of things.

You see man’s thoughts are interesting. God puts up a fence and says don’t cross it. We see that fence and say, I shouldn’t even go near that fence so I am going to build a 30 ft. brick wall 10 ft. in front of the fence. Things become so convoluted over time, not only is there a brick wall and the original fence but now you have a path that you can’t go off of or you get in trouble.

Mark 7:1–9 NLT

One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.

Notice that they weren’t even following the law, they were upset by the traditions. It says the traditions of the elders.

To human religiosity is what Paul was referring to.

However, that is not the end of it. Paul says he can do these things, but not all things are beneficial for him. He says that we should not be concerned about our own good, but that of the others.

Now what is he talking about?

In order to witness to the Jews he would follow Jewish law, in order to witness to the gentiles he would live like them, while not compromising his Christian morals.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 NLT

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

You see this is about the spread of the Good News between God and man. God made a way that we could be made right with Him. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is about Col. 1:19-22

Colossians 1:19–22 NLT

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Life Point- Be All Things So That Some May Be Saved

Exegetical -

Now Paul gives an illustration as to what would he is talking about.

1 Corinthians 10:25–11:1 NKJV

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Homiletical -

Paul says that if someone were to mention to you that it was offered to an idol, then don’t eat the meat. Why? Because normally someone would not mention something like that unless they thought it would be important for you. Because of how you will be perceived to them. For example, let’s say I was invited to preach at a holiness church where it was expected that I wear a suit and tie, but I showed up in what I have on now.

Not a single person there will listen to what God has to say through His Word because they would be offended by my dress. You may say that doesn’t happen anymore, but it does.

I have a friend who is a pastor who wore a dress shirt with no tie 2 weeks in a row. Around here we would call that normal Sunday attire. However, one of the deacons came up to him and said. “Alright Pastor it has been 2 weeks in a row with no tie, next Sunday make sure you go back to wearing a tie.”

Some might find that religiosity, man’s traditions etc. Is it wrong for him by scripture to not wear a tie? No. But would the Word of God ever reach that deacon if he were to offended because the man didn’t wear a tie. Yes.

What is more important, a tie or God’s Word? God’s Word is more important.

I will always remember the first time I showed up here in a tie. I was told that I should not feel like I should wear one and that most people would prefer if I didn’t.

So I don’t

Which is good, because I have a fat neck anyway.

The Gospel should be our primary focus in all that we do. We are to live a Holy life

1 Peter 1:16 NLT

For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

But we do not have to live according to man’s traditions and religiosity. There is a difference between following God’s Word and following man’s pathway. Our concern should always be to see people saved and let God worry about their sanctification. There was a starting point for all of us where we learned how God desires us to be, how He desires us to live. Let us never forget that, but let us never impose our man-made traditions on others.

Many a Missionary has gone into a village and lived just as the villagers did. They wore their clothes, ate the same food and drank the same water. They did not come in and make them dress in formal wear or eat prepackaged anything. If the hunted, so did the missionaries.

1 Corinthians 9:22 NKJV

to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Life Principle– Understand Other People So You Don’t Stop Spiritual Growth.

Call to Action – altar call….