Faithful Decisions: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
1. The principle in making faithful decisions.
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV)
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
2. The priority in making faithful decisions.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. . . . 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:24; 32-33 (ESV)
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Matthew 15:12 (ESV)
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV)
3. The permissiveness in making faithful decisions.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—1 Corinthians 10:25-28 (ESV)
1 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, Exodus 34:14-15 (ESV)
4. The perspective in making faithful decisions.
29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 10:29-30 (ESV)
5. The praise in making faithful decisions.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
6. The pattern of faithful decisions (11:1)
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)