PROBLEMDivision over whether or not it’s okay to eat meat from animals sacrificed to idols

WHAT WE WILL LEARN Exercising Love is much greater

than exercising Liberty

Discipline is an exercise of Love

Liberty is the reward of Discipline

1 Corinthians 8:1–3Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “We all possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know it as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6Therefore, as to the eating of food offeredto idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—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.

1 Corinthians 8:7-8However, 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. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

1 Corinthians 8:9-11But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 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? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 8:12-13Thus, sinning against your brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

SOLUTIONThose of more mature faith, out of LOVE, should DISCIPLINE their LIBERTIES according to the needs of those of less mature faith

WHAT WE LEARN Exercising LOVE is much greater

than exercising LIBERTY

DISCIPLINE is an exercise of LOVE

BUT WHAT ABOUT…?1. So I have to change anything I do if it would make someone think the wrong thing?

• NO - applies to situations where our action would lead someone else to something that is against Christ.

2. Avoiding a “stumbling block” is NOT avoiding something true about God or what it means to walk with Him because some dislikes it or disagrees…

THEN WHAT FREEDOM DO I HAVE!?“Freedom and discipline have come to be regarded as mutually exclusive, when in fact freedom is not at all the opposite, but the final reward of discipline. It is to be bought with a high price, not merely claimed…”

THEN WHAT FREEDOM DO I HAVE!?“…The [professional] skater and [race] horse are free to perform as they do only because they have been subjected to countless hours of grueling work, rigidly prescribed, faithfully carried out. Men are free to soar into space because they have willingly confined themselves in a tiny capsule designed and produced…

THEN WHAT FREEDOM DO I HAVE!?“…by highly trained scientists and craftsmen, have meticulously followed instructions, and submitted themselves to rules which others defined.”

– Elizabeth Elliot

Little picture:Personal finance, Athletics, Business, Children

BIG picture:Economically, Socially, Politically

Misuse liberty Lose freedom

LIBERTY IS THEREWARD OF DISCIPLINE

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11Liberty is the reward of Discipline

Discipline is an exercise of Love

Exercising Love is much greater than exercising Liberty

NO GREATER EXAMPLE THAN THE VERY GOD WE WORSHIP IN JESUS CHRIST!

BE TRANSFORMEDChristians:Into the Image of Jesus Christ

Freedom abounds when we discipline our liberties out of love

Everyone:True FREEDOM and LOVE are only found by faith in Jesus Christ

John 6:28-29

John 8:31-36“…If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free…

…Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”