Lesson 2:Learning from History (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Based on two books by Tom Holland

A Cause of Waywardness:IDOLATRY (1 Cor. 10:7)

• History: God’s people became idolaters (1 Cor. 10:7; cf. Ex. 32:4-6; Num. 25:2)• God’s prohibition against idolatry was plain and pointed (Ex. 20:2-

4)• Present Day: Some of God’s people have become idolaters

– Modern Idolatry is called “greed” or “materialism” – Some sacrifice spiritual values & practices in pursuit of earthly things– Some sacrifice children to the pursuits of materialism– The value of people is evaluated on the basis of financial stature

• God’s Word is still plain and pointed: covetousness (greed) is idolatry (Col. 3:5-6)• Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it

A Cause of Waywardness:IMMORALITY (1 Co. 10:8)

• History: God’s people committed sexual immorality (1 Cor. 10:8; cf. Num. 25:1-9)• God’s prohibition against sexual immorality was plain and pointed

(Ex. 20:14)• History: Corinth was a city of fornication

– A city of idolatry & fornication – seem to complement each other– Fornication had gotten into the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 5)

• Present Day: Some of God’s people have succumbed to sensual sin• God’s Word is still plain and pointed: covetousness (greed) is

idolatry (Col. 3:5-6)• Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it

A Cause of Waywardness:INSOLENCE (1 Cor. 10:9)

• History: God’s people developed a prideful & haughty attitude toward God (1 Cor. 10:9; cf. Ex. 17:7; Num. 21:4-9)• God’s prohibition against pride was plain and pointed (Deut. 6:16,

10-25).• Present Day: Some of God’s people have developed a prideful &

haughty attitude toward God– Blame God (hold Him responsible) for the hurts of life– Doubt that God can or will work things out for us– Question whether God even cares (or exists)– Satan utilizes the wounds of life to cause us to foolishly charge God

• History: Learn from Job (Job 13:15)• Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it

A Cause of Waywardness:INGRATITUDE (10:10)

• History: God’s people murmured, complained, griped and grumbled (1 Cor. 10:10; cf. Ex. 16:2; Num. 14:2; Psa. 78:18)• Present Day: God’s people murmur, complain, gripe and grumble

(cf. Phil. 2:14)– Ingratitude may be the base sin of a sinful life– Try to ungratefully think of “God’s indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15)– Turn toward self + away from God = “unthankful” (2 Tim. 3:2)

• We have so much for which to be thankful!– God has shown mercy on us (Psa. 103:10) + lavished us with His grace

(Eph. 1:6-8) + adopted us as His very children (Rom. 8:14-16) + chosen us as His own special people (Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:9)

– We did not choose God! He chose us!• Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it

A Cause of Waywardness:Learning from History

• Let us learn from the example God left us (1 Cor. 10:6, 11)• We know why God said, “To him who thinks he stands,

take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12)• God’s people have always had their relationship with God

challenged• There was nothing pretty about God’s people losing faith

& forfeiting their right to enter the Promised Land• Let us renew our soul’s commitment to a faithful

Christian life (Rev. 2:10)!