Truth must be combined with love and grace. This is only possible through knowing Christ.
1 Corinthians 8: Food Offered to Idols
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."
5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth---as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"---
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Things to think about…
1. Paul says knowledge by itself “puffs up”, 1Cor 8:1. This simply means that we our serving our pride if our knowledge is not combined with God’s love. Remember the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil still had “good” knowledge. Worldly knowledge represents humanity without Christ – ever seeking but never coming to the truth. Knowledge will of course increase in the earth, Dan 12:4, but this knowledge does not save. The saving knowledge of Christ allows us to be built up in His love. As the people of Christ we are to share this knowledge with others.
2. What is the best knowledge? The knowledge of God’s love towards us and that we are ‘known by God’, 1Cor 8:3. Remember the demons who spoke to the sons of Sceva, “Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?”, Acts 19:15. Even the demons know those who are marked out by God’s grace and who are “known by God”. We should rejoice in this knowledge, but also to seek after the Saviour to make sure that we are in fact known by Him.
3. The Greeks loved knowledge – Greek - gnosis – meaning knowledge. This is where the heresy of Gnosticism came from – the belief that there are people who have an enlightened or secret knowledge not available to everyone. They would shun the material world based on this knowledge. Paul says that we know that there is “one God from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist”, 1Cor 8:6, but not all have this knowledge with any spiritual strength, vs 7. He says some in the church don’t fully understand this because of their previous idolatrous knowledge and practice, vs 7. This made them weak and vulnerable. These weak folks still come into the church today. They don’t have a full knowledge of the Lord due to their previous life or a theologically weak church experience. As such Paul says that mature Christians should not put stumbling blocks in front of them, vs 9. We may know the freedom we have in Christ, but not everyone has that understanding. As such we must be sensitive to where others are at in their faith.
4. Those of us who have been walking with the Lord for many years have a great deal of knowledge about the person and work of Christ. This knowledge should never be used to cause others to stumble who not have the same understanding. Babies choke on meat.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. 6:30pm every Wednesday. 5:30pm prayer.
Young adult Life group – This week – how do we know the bible is God’s word?
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the work we have going on with site development and TMR.
2. Pray for Pastor Ric who had a fall yesterday. He is badly bruised. Pray he is able to preach this Sunday.
3. Keep praying for Anna and the PlaygPatch on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School. Training happened this week
5. Pray for peace over the US elections
6. The ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
7. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
8. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
9. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
10. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church once a month on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
11. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Great discussion at LifeGroup How to love our neighbour. Will be approaching tent town today at Kholo to see if we can help out.
2. Praise God for all the work done at the working bee on Saturday. Great effort.
3. Praise God for our Bean Redeemed Café team! Serving you every week
4. Reconciliation beginning in some areas in estranged families
5. Worship team did a great job.
6. Praise God for young people stepping up in a number of ministries.
7. New people helping with Playgroup.
8. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ron Naylor – Creation Ministries International coming to CBC on the 18th Aug 6pm
2. Members meeting 25th Aug after morning tea.
3. Monday and Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
4. Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for August...
Q. 23. What is meant by transgression? A. Doing what God forbids.
