Category: Sermon

Good morning church! Hope you’re well this morning. A warm welcome to you all in the name of Jesus Christ. If you’ve been tracking with us, you would’ve noticed that we’ve been going through a series titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place from the letter of 1st Corinthians. 

And the recurring theme that we’ve seen week after week is this that the church isn’t a building but a People – God’s redeemed people among whom He dwells! Today we arrive at 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul directly addresses the “controversial” topics on the gifts of prophecy and tongues in the life of the church. But before I proceed, I would love for all of us to pray and ask God for help with this text.

As we tackle this difficult and controversial topic of prophecy and tongues in the church, I just want to be honest to say that we’ve not spoken a lot about this in the last nine years that we’ve been gathering as a church.

We’ve preached a sermon once on “prophecy” few years back. Usually if someone asks me or Saju on what is our church’s position, we’ll tell it to them but overall we’ve not spoken on this a lot.

So in some ways I see this as God’s providence in bringing this text because it gives us an opportunity to teach and disciple biblically on this topic. So what’s our position on this?

We believe that all of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the bible including the miraculous gifts like healing, prophecy and tongues still exist in the church today and are equally valuable and beneficial to the church.

Even as I say this, we’re aware that there could be some among us who believe that these miraculous gifts don’t exist in the church anymore. We respect that and we know of many well meaning, godly believers through the years have held to that conviction.

What we would say is that this isn’t a major doctrine of the bible like salvation through faith over which we need to break our fellowship or be divided over. In fact we welcome conversations where we can sit across the table and biblically work through passages like these so that we land on a position which is not based on our personal preference or our past experiences but based on the word of God.

You may say “brother Jinson, all this great but what’s the biblical basis for your position?” And my response would be that there’s actually no clear, direct passage in the Bible which tells us that these miraculous gifts ceased to exist after the establishment of the early church and after the NT was written down. In fact it’s quite the contrary, where there are more passages which encourage us to desire and use these gifts.

In this chapter alone, Paul tells us to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy not once but twice. In 1 Thess 5:20, Paul instructs to not despise prophecies but test them.

Even some of the passages which are used to support the position of miraculous gifts ceasing to exist after the early church don’t actually say that. Usually 1 Cor 13:8-12 is used as a supporting passage.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 ESV [8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Now as we heard in last week’s sermon, these verses are not referring to the ceasing of miraculous gifts after the establishment of church or after the NT was written. It’s instead referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ when at that point there will be no longer any need for spiritual gifts because at that time we will know Christ fully.

But until that time, we will need spiritual gifts including the miraculous ones. So in a sense, these verses support the opposite view which is that these giftings will continue to exist until the second coming of Jesus.

Having said that, the biblical definition and practice of these gifts are quite different from what we see in churches around us. Though we believe that these miraculous gifts exist today, we believe that there’s a biblical guideline on what is the nature of this gift and how it is used in the context of the church. It’s not spooky, it’s not awkward, it’s not chaotic and that’s precisely why Paul wrote this passage.

And that’s what I want to invite you all into – if we could lay aside our judgments and preconceived notions about these miraculous gifts and embrace whatever God’s Word is telling us on this topic.

Now with that, let’s get into chapter 14. Today for a change we will look through the text verse by verse instead of 3 points.

[1] Pursue love , and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Pursue love – Don’t you find it interesting that Paul spent one whole chapter – chapter 13 teaching the church about love before getting to the “how to” of spiritual gifts? He knew that they were eager to talk about miraculous gifts, so he wanted them to pause and think. He basically set the foundation by telling them that if they didn’t have love for each other, then no matter what gift they had, it was all going to be useless. I think it’s a helpful place for us to start as well.

Earnestly desire spiritual gifts – One thing this tells me that although we need to be content with the spiritual gift that God has given us, it’s not a bad thing to earnestly desire and ask God for more gifts so that we can serve the church.

especially that you may prophesy – Now it seems like he’s singling out this gift but it’s not the case. There is a context to this. The Corinthian church were big on speaking in tongues and they saw that as a gift that would make them appear to be more spiritual and superior than the others. And what Paul’s going to do over the next whole chapter is build a case as to why prophecy is a more helpful gift in the setting of public corporate worship.

Prophesy – One quick disclaimer on the NT gift of prophecy. It is not to be equated with the Bible. It is not authoratative like the Bible. It’s not infallible and inerrant. People who have the gift of prophecy can go wrong, which is why their prophecies need to be weighed by others (v29).

Look with me at verses 2-6:

[2] For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. [3] On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. [4] The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. [5] Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

So Paul is in no way degrading or downplaying the gift of tongues. He’s basically saying that tongues are meant for private worship but prophecy on the other hand is meant to build up other believers in a public worship setting.

The only exception to using the gift of tongues in public worship is as long as there is an interpreter of tongues. So if there is someone to interpret, then tongues can be expressed during public worship. If there is no one with the gift of interpretation, then it should not be exercised in that public corporate setting.

Just a side note – look at the way prophecy is described in v3 – upbuilding, encouragement and consolation. One of the main goals of prophecy is to encourage and comfort God’s people. There’s a shepherding and a caring that is taking place. It’s not fortune telling or future prediction.

I hope you can already see here – the definition and practice of these gifts that we see in churches in the world are quite different from the guidelines mentioned in the Bible.

In the next few verses, Paul will use different examples and analogies to drive home the point of how prophecy is a more helpful gifting in the context of public corporate worship.

[6] Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

(Paul uses his own example to say that if he came to their church only to speak in tongues which they didn’t understand, how would they benefit from it?)

[7] If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? [8] And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? [9] So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. [10] There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, [11] but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

The point Paul is trying to make here is that being able to understand and help each other takes priority over simply exercising our spiritual gifts.

Imagine if our sermons were loaded with alot of heavy theological terms and sophisticated language but no one understands what we are trying to say, it’s useless.

[12] So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

The Corinthians were very eager in displaying and showing off their spiritual gifts, and Paul was trying to tell them that they were getting it wrong. Their focus needed to be on building up each other. Their focus needed to be on serving each other. Their focus needed to be on helping each other. Their focus needed to shift from themselves to the others in their church.

One of the hardest things to do is to avoid the tendency to make our spiritual gifts all about ourselves. Our sinful heart craves for validation, affirmation and glory and so often times we view our spiritual gifts as something to get us that validation, affirmation and glory that our hearts craves for.

[13] Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

The Bible’s instruction to all who have the gift of tongues is that they pray so that they may also have the gift of interpretation because then they can be of better help to the local church.

[14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. [15] What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

When someone has the gift of tongues, his spirit communicates with God but his mind is unengaged. So the desire of every believer should be that he’s also able to engage his mind along with his spirit and that’s why the gift of interpretation will also benefit the believer himself. V14-15 also gives us hints on what is the content of this speaking in tongues – it’s prayers and praises to God. That’s what we see in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost – they were uttering praises to God in strange tongues.

[16] Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? [17] For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

[18] I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. [19] Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Is Paul looking down on the gift of tongues? Absolutely not. He himself had the gift of tongues but he chose to use the gift of teaching and prophecy in public corporate settings because that would be more beneficial for others in the church.

It should make us stop and think – when was the last time we intentionally thought about how to encourage and serve someone else at the church before arriving at a Sunday gathering or GC? When is the last time we decided to willingly give up on something because we felt it would be unhelpful to the others in the church?

I remember as a new believer in my previous church, I would view the communion time as a window to demonstrate my best keyboard solos. People noticed me and some others came and congratulated me after the service but in reality I was a distraction to others in them experiencing God. I’m using my failed example to illustrate how there will be times when we will need to willingly give up on certain things (even using certain spiritual gifts) if it’s not being helpful to others in that context.

[20] Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

The Corinthians were being childish and immature by using their spiritual gifts as a way to make them seem more superior than others.

[21] In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” [22] Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

V21 is a quotation from Isa 28:11-12 where it spoke about God speaking to the Israelites in a foreign language as a sign of His judgment. Through this they would sense God’s judgment and their great distance from God.

Paul is applying this quotation in this context to say that tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers because if an unbeliever hears a believer speaking in strange tongues, they would sense God’s judgment and their great distance from God.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the unbeliever who comes to a church gathering. We are after all a people of hope…

[23] If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? [24] But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, [25] the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

In this context, Paul is going from the lesser to the greater. Even if you look from the perspective of your gospel witness to a lost world, if all your church did was speak in tongues it would only remind the lost of their judgment and their great distance from God. But if you prophesy in a language that they understand, then it will actually bring them to conviction, repentance and worship – which is what we desire right?

Paul is nailing down the point – desire prophecy over tongues because it will not only benefit believers but also make the gospel message real and accessible to a lost and dying world around you.

As you can see again, this gift of prophecy is quite different from the versions of prophecy we see in churches around us. It’s not giving us a dreamy future aspiration, it’s not revealing what kind of job we will have next, it’s not telling us about our future financial success, it’s not telling us about the kind of person we will marry, it’s not telling us of who will be the next political power in India.

Real biblical gift of prophecy will convict us of sin and point us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. So it obviously means that the person with this gift should have a good, solid gospel understanding to be able to communicate that clearly. If the person doesn’t know the Gospel, how will he be able to convict and call someone to repentance?

There is quite some more that we will like to share on these gifts especially on the time & setting for using these gifts. So I’d ask all of you to join us next week as we conclude this topic & also provide some helpful next steps.

As I close, I just want to acknowledge that this isn’t an easy topic for some of us to process and embrace especially if you’ve witnessed the abuse of these particular spiritual gifts. If I’ve to share my story, growing up we had a lot of evangelists and pastors who would drop into our home who claimed to have the gift of prophecy. We were in a very vulnerable position relationally and financially and sad to say they took advantage of us.

So when I became a believer, it became easy for me to swing to the other side and label all of them as fake but it took me some time to study Scripture and also have conversations with other mature believers who have helped me deal with my past baggage.

So if you’re there today, I just want you to know that God doesn’t want you to be skeptical and cynical. He wants to help you deal with this baggage & embrace the purpose that He has through these valuable giftings in the local church.

In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul paints a powerful picture of the church as the body of Christ. Just as the human body is made up of many parts, each with a unique function, so too is the church, comprised of diverse individuals with different gifts and roles. However, at the core of this illustration lies a fundamental truth: We are all interconnected, united in Christ, and called to work together for God’s glory.

Today, we’ll explore three lessons from this passage:

1. Living in denial that we are part of the body of Christ could be an absence of
   faith in the Gospel.
2. Everyone in the body has a part to play in the growth of God’s kingdom.
3. Gifts are many, but the mission is one: to glorify God and participate in His
   work.

1.Living in Denial of Our Place in the Body Could Reflect an Absence of Faith in the Gospel

Paul begins by emphasizing the unity of the body of Christ: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are
one body, so it is with Christ” (v.12). This metaphor is not just a picture of community; it’s an expression of spiritual reality. We are part of Christ’s body by virtue of our faith in Him.

• Why is this denial dangerous?
  • It diminishes the work of Christ: When we deny our place in the body, we are, in effect, denying the very work of Jesus on the cross, who has united us to Himself and to one another. Through His death and resurrection, He has given us new life, making us part of His body. To reject this is to question the sufficiency of His work
  • It undermines the Gospel’s message of grace: The Gospel calls us to trust that we belong to Christ—not based on our merit, but on His grace. Living in denial suggests we believe we need to earn our place rather than accept it by faith.
• Application:
  • If you struggle with feeling disconnected or insignificant in the church, remember that your belonging is secured in Christ, not in what you do or don’t do. Don’t live in denial of this truth. Accept the grace of God and believe that you are an integral part of His body.

2. Everyone in the Body Has a Part to Play in the Growth of God’s Kingdom

Paul goes on to explain that every part of the body has a purpose: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’” (v.21). Each member is important for the health and growth of the body.

This teaches us that everyone in the church has a role in the growth of God’s kingdom. There are no “extra” or “useless” parts of the body. Some may have visible roles, while others may serve quietly behind the scenes, but all are equally valuable in God’s mission.

• Why is this lesson important?
  • It combats spiritual inferiority: You may think, “I’m not as gifted as someone else, so I don’t matter.” But the truth is, every person—no matter how big or small their role seems—has a part to play in God’s kingdom. Just as every organ in the human body has a function, so too does every believer in the church.
  • It promotes spiritual interdependence: Paul emphasizes that each part of the body needs the other. No one can say, “I don’t need you.” We are meant to rely on one another for the growth and flourishing of the church. This mutual dependence reflects the humility and cooperation that should characterize the body of Christ.
• Application:
  • Take time to discern the gifts God has given you. Ask yourself, “How can I serve the body of Christ? How can I contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom?” Whether your gift is teaching, serving, encouraging, or something else, remember that you are vital to the body’s health.

3. Gifts Are Many, but the Mission is One: To Glorify God and Participate in His Work

Paul concludes by reminding the Corinthians that while there are many different gifts, they are all given for the same purpose: to build up the body of Christ and to glorify God. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church… various gifts” (v.27-28). These gifts are not for personal glory, but for the greater mission of the church.

• Why is this crucial?
  • It aligns our focus: The gifts we have been given are tools for a greater mission—the mission of God’s kingdom. The danger is that we might focus on our gifts for the wrong reasons, seeking personal recognition rather than God’s glory. Paul’s point is clear: The gifts are many, but the mission is one—to glorify God and participate in His work.
  • It unifies the church: When we understand that the ultimate purpose of our gifts is to glorify God, it prevents competition or comparison among believers. Instead of competing over whose gift is more important, we can celebrate the diversity of gifts and recognize that they all contribute to the same mission.
• Application:
  • Use your gifts for God’s glory, not for your own. Ask yourself, “Am I serving to make myself look good, or am I using my gifts to advance God’s mission?” Whatever your gift is, use it in humility, knowing that it is God who works through you to accomplish His purposes.

Conclusion:

The body of Christ is a beautiful and powerful metaphor for the church. It reminds us of three key truths:

1. We must not deny our place in the body, for doing so reflects a lack of faith in the Gospel.
2. Everyone in the body, no matter their role, is essential to the growth of God’s
   kingdom.
3. Our gifts may be different, but they all serve the same mission: to glorify God
   and advance His kingdom.

Let us embrace our place in the body, use our gifts faithfully, and work together as
one for the glory of God.

Good morning church! A warm welcome to all of you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. Hope you all are well. But even if some of us don’t feel too well either physically or spiritually, I just want you to know that God intends to personally meet with you & encourage you through the Word today. 

I want you to know that He is the Good and Great Shepherd who is looking out for you & wants to care for you through His Word. I hope that all of us are eagerly and expectantly waiting to receive God’s encouragement and care today. 

If you’ve been tracking with us at the Gathering, you would’ve noticed that we’ve been going through a series titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place from 1st Corinthians. And the recurring theme that we’ve seen week after week is this: that God’s chosen residence isn’t in a building but in His People – those whom He has redeemed through Jesus Christ. 

But here’s the thing, this church – this Dwelling Place isn’t perfect right now. Why? Because the church consists of people who are imperfect. We still struggle with sin & & are being continuously worked on by the grace of God. The church is a work in progress, not a finished product. 

The letter of 1st Corinthians is proof to this fact. Every kind of sin & division is witnessed in this church (some of us would probably think twice before going to that church) and yet God joyfully calls it His Dwelling Place. And that’s what I believe God has been trying to tell us through this series that though we’re a mess in so many ways now, He still delights to call us His Dwelling Place. And He’s not finished with us yet! 

Today we move forward in chapter 12 where the focus seems to be on Diversity of Spiritual Gifts in the church. 

And it’s a tricky topic because even among us – we can have very different responses to a passage like this based on our previous church experiences. Some of us are probably relieved saying “Finally, it’s high time the church spoke about spiritual gifts”. Some others are probably evasive “I wish that the church avoids this topic” fearful that a topic like this would end up opening the floodgates of a misuse of spiritual gifts in the church. 

I want to acknowledge that this is a tough topic but here’s what I want to ask each of us to do today and over the next few weeks as we tackle the subject of spiritual gifts. I ask all of us to approach this with an open mind ready to submit to whatever the Bible tells us, not our past church experiences. Our church experiences shouldn’t be used to interpret the Bible. We need the Bible to help us interpret our church experiences. 

That’s why we really need God’s help this morning to help us keep our biases and church baggage aside so that we can freely submit to God’s Word. Would you join me in prayer asking God for help? 

Pray

Why is there a diversity of spiritual gifts in the church? 

1. To teach us about interdependence (v8-10) 

[8] For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 

In these verses, one thing that stands out clearly is the fact that different gifts are distributed among different members in the church. What we don’t see is a situation where all members have the same spiritual gift. Neither do we see some members who have all the spiritual gifts. 

Different members have different gifts – and there seems to be a purpose attached to it – and the purpose is to teach us about interdependence – depending on one another. 

Let’s unpack each of these nine spiritual gifts listed here. Before we look into these, let me add a disclaimer that this list isn’t exhaustive. There are other spiritual gifts which aren’t mentioned in this list but are mentioned in other passages. 

For example if you jump to v28 at the end of chapter 12, it mentions the gifts of apostles, teachers, helping and administration. So as we’re reading this list of 9, let’s bear that in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list but some examples of spiritual gifts that Paul uses here. Now let’s get to unpacking each of these 9 gifts. 

• Utterance of wisdom & utterance of knowledge: These obviously refer to some kind of speaking gift where God has given certain people the gift & ability to read specific situations in other people’s lives and give timely & appropriate wise and knowledgeable counsel for those situations. 

• Faith: God has given these people the gift and ability to believe God for impossible things, whether be it physical healing, provision, breakthrough in mission. 

• Healing: God has given these people the ability to heal others from physical ailments supernaturally. 

• Miracles: This could be connected with healing but could also be more visible ways to validate the Gospel message or demonstrate God’s judgment on people. We saw this during our study of Acts that when the apostles went from city to city, these miracles served as a way to validate that they were sent by the Lord Jesus. But also as was in the case of Ananias and Sapphira – the miracle sometimes serves to also display God’s judgment. 

• Prophecy: God has given the gift and ability to certain people to describe things that they couldn’t have known outside of God’s spontaneous revelation. But this gift of prophecy is different from the OT understanding of prophecy which basically said “thus says the Lord” – it was God’s authoritative word. But in the NT church, as we will also see in chapters 14 – prophecies need to evaluated by others in the church – which means that it’s not infallible and inerrant. It is subject to evaluation. 

• Ability to distinguish between spirits: God has given this gift and ability to certain people to be able to tell if another person is representing God or a false and demonic spirit. 

• Speaking in tongues: God has given the gift and ability to certain people to be able to say praises and prayers in a language that was not known to them earlier. This language could actually be a real language like the day of Pentecost. Or it could be a spiritual language which no one understands (Acts 14). But there is control in place for its use : Acts 14 tells us that it’s only to be used in a public gathering as long as there is an interpreter. 

• Interpretation of tongues: God has given the gift and ability to interpret someone else who is speaking in tongues. And again this interpreter doesn’t know the language of the tongues. He’s hearing it for the first time but God has given him or her the ability to translate it so that others in the gathering can also be edified. 

You can already see here how each of these gifts are unique in their own way and they are given to different members in church so that we could be interdependent on each other. If I had all the spiritual gifts, then I wouldn’t know what it means to be dependent on my brother or sister in Christ. 

But the way God has distributed gifts in the church is to force us to be interdependent on each other. It is to force us to lean on each other’s giftings for our spiritual maturity & journey of faith. How humbling it is for us to realize that we can’t grow in maturity & can’t move forward in our journey of faith apart from depending on my brother or sister’s help in the Lord? Let’s take a minute to just allow that truth to sink in. 

But not only does the diversity of spiritual gifts teach us about interdependence, it also

2. To teach us about unity (v11a)

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, 

Although we all have different gifts, let’s remember that it’s the same Spirit which empowers (activates) us with these gifts. Look at the way the Spirit is described in v8-10: same Spirit, same Spirit, one Spirit. Different gifts but same source. Same person of origin. 

And if it’s the same person of origin, then that should tell us one thing: spiritual gifts are meant to unify, not divide. Spiritual gifts are meant to enable us as a cohesive unit and not elevate us on a pedestal. Spiritual gifts are meant to gather and not scatter. 

Unfortunately as was in the church in Corinth, and as it is in churches today, spiritual gifts aren’t being used to unify the church but a platform to celebrity status. So and so healing and deliverance ministry. Apostle so and so. Anointed man of God so and so. 

And this is not just a problem in the big mega churches but also in smaller churches. Why? Because that same DNA of selfishness and pride is in all of us. Our sinful hearts crave for prominence & unfortunately spiritual gifts are seen as tools to get us there! 

And in all of this we are missing the main point about spiritual gifts. Your spiritual gift is not meant for you, it’s meant for to bless and edify others in the church. That’s exactly what we read last week in v7: 

[7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 

It’s almost like we will have to train our minds to realize that our gifts do not belong to us at all. We’ve to train ourselves to realize that our spiritual gifts is actually the church’s property and we’re just simply being called to steward and utilize it to serve others.

Imagine your spiritual gift to be like one of the instruments or sound equipment in this hall. When we use it, we fully know that we don’t own it – it belongs to the church, we’re simply using it serve others in the church. 

Whatever your gift is irrespective if it’s right up there near the pulpit or not, whatever your gift is – it belongs to your church. That’s what God had in mind when He gave you that gift. It was meant to serve and unify the church. 

But not only does the diversity of spiritual gifts teach us about interdependence & unity, it also

3. To teach us about grace (v11b) 

[11] All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 

I think this is one of the most beautiful, comforting verses in the Bible for two reasons:

• It tells us that every believer in Christ has a unique purpose in God’s grand scheme of things. This verse tells us that the Holy Spirit apportions or distributes the gifts individually. There’s a personal touch to it. The Spirit doesn’t just randomly fling gifts in the air but personally and individually gives them to us which means that there is some prior thought and purpose to it. 

The role that He wants us to fulfill, no one else can. That’s why no believer should say that their life is meaningless. Because God has a unique purpose for their lives symbolized by the individual gift given them. How encouraging it is to know that? 

• Secondly, it should free us from the burden of feeling bad for not having spiritual gifts that others have. The verse tells us “these gifts were distributed as He wills”. 

Not having certain spiritual gifts isn’t an indication of us being less loved by God. God is not a partial Father. He is a loving, just and wise Father and in His mind He knows precisely why He’s given you this gift so that you can be in the best place to glorify God and also love your church. 

Unfortunately there are churches today which try to equate the number of spiritual gifts with a person’s spiritual maturity. They’ll look at this list of 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit and they’ll say that this is the top-level of Christianity. This is the HNI in God’s family. 

If you pray harder, have more faith and be more obedient, and then God will reward you with more and more spiritual gifts as though these spiritual gifts were a badge of accomplishments that they’ve earned. 

And that’s simply not compatible with the Bible especially this passage which tells us that this is just grace – Spirit apportions it to us individually as He wills. Spiritual Gifts are exactly what they are: Simply gifts of grace that we receive! Just like salvation. 

As people who have turned away from God in our sin and rebellion, the only thing we deserve in return is His wrath and judgment. Rom 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death”. That’s our salary, that’s what we’ve earned, that’s what we have to our credit. 

But God being rich in grace and mercy didn’t want to leave us there. Instead all along, before the foundation of the world was set, God planned to rescue us through His Son Jesus Christ. That rescue plan was put into effect when Jesus came down to the earth. He lived the life that we should have lived and then collected the punishment that we deserved. 

On the cross, our massive sin payment was being paid off. Jesus hung and died on the cross because of you and I not because of politics and some other bad religious people. We are the culprits. He was buried in the grave and then three days later rose from the dead to give us what we didn’t deserve – full forgiveness from sin & the right to be called children of God. 

John 1:12 ESV

[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 

Wrath and judgment redirected, payment paid, new status and identity as children received! This is a gift of grace just like our spiritual gift is. 

One of the things that I really love and enjoy at the Gathering is the potluck where each person or family brings their own dish & sets it on the table to serve others. This was also true of the time when I was a bachelor, when all I could contribute was with chips or juices. 

It didn’t matter that it wasn’t as elaborate as a biryani or as tasty as a gravy. Because it was part of an ensemble cast which was serving the people that I love. And I too got the benefit of being served with what someone else prepared & brought to the table. I wondered if that was a good illustration for how we need to view the diversity of spiritual gift in our church. 

Every time we gather, it’s bringing our gifts and placing it on the table for others to enjoy and be served because our spiritual gifts 

1. Teach us about interdependence
2. Teach us about unity
3. Teach us about grace

Do you know what your spiritual gift is? If you don’t know, pray and ask God to help you identify the gift & then slowly start using that gift to encourage others. If it’s a gift, it will

Good morning church! Hope you’re well. A warm welcome to all who have joined us at the hall and our friends who have joined us online today.

As a church we’ve been going through this series titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place from the letter of 1st Corinthians. And what we’ve seen so far is that the church is not a physical building but a People – the redeemed People of God in whom God dwells.

The church is God’s chosen residence! But what’s interesting is that this chosen residence – the church is not perfect. In fact it’s far from being perfect. In fact there’s a lot of maintenance and repair work that needs to take place in the lives of God’s people. The church is like a broken down home which needs a full scale major renovation.

So even as we approach today’s passage, let’s approach it with the same perspective. We are far from perfect. We need a full scale major renovation and we call out to God to perform that repair work in us as we listen and respond to God’s Word this morning. So let’s pray and ask God to that right now.

As we’ve gone through this letter, Paul has been addressing different sin issues that the Corinthian church were struggling with. They were fighting over leaders, there were issues of sexual misconduct, they were taking legal action against each other over trivial issues and they were using their Christian liberty as an excuse to be a stumbling block to weaker believers.

But the last thing that you would expect is for Paul to call them out in the way in which they were approaching the Lord’s Table or the Lord’s Supper.

How is it possible that something that is so integral to their worship gathering, something that they do together week after week turn out to be a big issue? Is Paul just trying to be difficult for the sake of it? Or is there actually a heart issue which is being addressed? What is it that we can learn from this especially when it comes to us approaching the Lord’s Table?

1. Lord’s Table is not a place for selfishness (v17-22)

[17] But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. [18] For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, [19] for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. [20] When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. [21] For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. [22] What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

In v17, we can see Paul not holding anything back. He is making his displeasure known. He’s basically telling them that their church gatherings are doing more damage than good.

And then he goes on to explain the reason for saying that in V18. There is some kind of division and discrimination that is taking place during their church gatherings.

And then in V19, it seems like a contradictory verse because we can easily misinterpret it as promoting divisions and disunity. But that’s not what he’s saying. Paul isn’t contradicting his earlier passages where he said:

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

[10] I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Paul is saying that divisions reveal those who are really genuine. In fact the Greek translates genuine as those who have God’s approval. Those who are truly in Christ. But how can divisions in the church possibly do that? Because it reveals those who desire love and humility and those who desire pride and self centredness. It reveals those who demonstrate repentance and those who demonstrate an unwillingness to change.

Now it’s not to say that we will never have a moment of pride or selfishness or unwillingness to change in this life. As long as sin dwells in us it will show itself in some form or the other.

As believers we reckon with that truth but at the same time we always need to question ourselves if we’re being characterized by pride, selfishness and an unwillingness to change. Is that the only fruit that we see in our lives? Because if that is the only fruit, then it reveals a heart that doesn’t know the Lord. It reveals a heart that is not genuinely transformed.

And then in v20-22, we understand a little bit more of what’s going on in Corinth. In the early church, the Lord’s Supper was part of a “love feast” that was served to the church.

As most of us are aware, the early church met in homes. Generally the homes of wealthier believers were used because they were bigger, so they could accommodate more people. All the congregants would be spread across many rooms of the house.

Now what was happening in Corinth was that the rich and the honored believers would be seated in the same room as the host. They would be given the best food in terms of quality and quantity. The poorer believers would be seated in a separate room and would often receive the leftovers of the meal (if there was anything remaining).

And that’s what Paul was calling out and saying that the Lord’s Table which was supposed to unify the church – join together people from different backgrounds and social statuses was now being used as a tool to discriminate and divide! They were using the Lord’s Table as a way to put themselves above others. They were using the Lord’s Table as a platform for their selfishness. How sad and unfortunate is that?

Although we live in a slightly different context where the Lord’s Supper each week is not a part of an overall meal. But I think the principle still remains. Could it be possible that we approach our Sunday gatherings with a heart of selfishness? I’m hoping to preach this sermon well so that people in the church can pat my back and say how well I’ve done today. And in our opportunities to serve on Sunday – I hope I’m perceived as a good, mature believer because of how I’ve served people with my giftings and responsibilities today. I hope people come and compliment me about the way I dressed up today. I hope I can exit the hall as soon as the service without engaging in any meaningful conversations with the people.

And there can be many more ways in which we often put ourselves above others as we approach our gatherings and the Lord’s Table with selfishness. And we’re being humbled and told that the Lord’s Table is not a place for selfishness.

2. The Lord’s Table is a place of remembrance (v23-26)

[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In these verses, selfishness is being constrasted to the self-sacrifice of Christ and that’s symbolized through the elements of the Lord’s Table.

In V23, we see where the Lord’s Table or supper originated from. It’s not a man made ritual – it came from the direction of the Lord Jesus Himself on the night when he was betrayed.

V24 – the breaking of the bread symbolized Jesus offering Himself on the cross for us. Those two words “for us” are so precious because it tells us that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not because of anything that He did but because of everything that we did in rebellion and defiance to God. Jesus offered Himself as our substitute. He became a scapegoat for us. He bore the punishment instead of us. Every time the bread is broken and handed over to us, it’s a reminder telling us that Jesus offered Himself for us. We were supposed to face the punishment but He took it for us.

V25 – the cup symbolizes Jesus creating a new covenant in His blood. What’s that? For that we first need to get what the old covenant was about. The Old covenant was God’s promises with His people on the basis of their commitment to the law. In other words, it was conditional. If God’s people remained committed, then they would receive God’s blessing but if not, they would bear the consequences of punishment and curse. It was based on their performance to the law.

Now contrast that with the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. In this God establishes permanent promises with His people no longer on the basis of their commitment but on the basis of Jesus’ blood. It’s no longer based on their performance but Jesus Christ’s perfect performance for them. It’s no longer conditional. And so every time we pick up the cup, it’s a reminder to our hearts that God doesn’t relate with me on the basis of my level of commitment or performance, He relates with me on the basis of Christ’s perfect performance and pure blood. How freeing is that for us this morning? To know that despite our many sins and failures, God is not asking us to perform and prove ourselves to be in His presence (that’s not even possible) but He invites us to Him because He sees us through the lens of the new covenant in Jesus’ blood.

V26 summarizes it by saying that every time we partake of the elements, the church is preaching and proclaiming a message. It’s preaching that it desperately needed Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and also Christ’s performance on their behalf to establish a permanent unbreakable relationship. Week after week we regularly preach this message until the Day when our Lord returns.

But not only is the Lord’s Table not a place for selfishness, not is it a place to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, but

3. The Lord’s Table is a place of repentance (v27-34)

[27]  Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30] That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. [31] But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. [32] But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. [33] So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— [34] if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

When we read warning passages like these, it almost seems unreal. Is God actually going to judge me on how I partake in the Lord’s Table? Yes, it’s actually true. In fact v27 tells us if we take it in an unworthy manner, we will be held guilty of the way we’ve treated the body and blood of the Lord.

And so as v28 reminds us that there needs to be a self-examination which takes place before we partake of the elements. We are self-examining not just our actions but also our motivations before the Lord. But it shouldn’t just make us stop there but also lead us to humble repentance. And the assurance is that humble repentance will be met with a welcome embrace.

Hannah and I were reading the story of the lost son a few days back. It was such an assuring, comforting truth to know that while the son was still a long way off, the father saw him (which meant that he was watching and waiting for his son to return from the time his son left him), felt compassion, and ran and embraced and kissed him.

And even as the son began to say the sorry script that he prepared saying “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I’m not worthy to be called your son”…He couldn’t even finish his script, because the father immediately called his servants to put the best robe, shoes and ring on his hand and have a celebration that night because his lost son came back. And that’s not only true on the day when you and I believed first, it’s even true today when as a believer in Christ we have messed up miserably and fall short of what God has called us to do.

And that’s precisely what the Lord’s Table is supposed to tell us this morning. It’s not telling us to perform, reform ourselves on our own strength and make ourselves worthy of God. In fact it tells us that like the lost son we have messed up badly, but on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice and performance, God is pursuing and running toward us like the father of the lost son.

Good morning church. Just wanted to welcome all who have joined us at the hall today and our friends who have joined us online. Every time we come together as a church family especially as God’s Word is being opened up, let’s remember that it’s no ordinary event but God is intending to do something deep in our hearts. And that’s what we get to do together as a family each week. 

If you’ve been tracking with us at the Gathering, we’ve been going through a series titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place from the letter of 1st Corinthians. What we’ve seen so far is that the church is not a building, it’s not an organization, it’s not a formal event that you sign up for a few hours each week. The church is a People whom God has redeemed through His Son Jesus Christ. 

In these passages that we’ve read over the last three or four weeks, Paul has been consistently addressing the topic of christian liberty or christian freedom – what does it mean for us to be free in Christ. 

In chapter 8, he tells us that Christian freedom can’t be an excuse to become a stumbling block for a weaker fellow believer. In chapter 9, he uses his own life as an illustration to demonstrate how he himself surrendered his rights for the good of the Corinthian church (He’s asking the church to look at his life’s example). In chapter 10, he tells us how our Christian freedom can’t be an excuse to participate in sin (idolatry and immorality). 

And as he brings this topic of Christian freedom to a close this week, he’s challenging the church to look inwards and ask themselves if their “Christian freedom” has become a hindrance to their Gospel witness. 

As their spiritual father in Christ, Paul is lovingly telling them “You think you’re mature, you think you’ve got some superior knowledge which allows you do whatever you want under the umbrella of being free in a Christ, I want you to take a hard look at yourselves and see if “Christian freedom” is becoming to your own Gospel witness. 

And even as we’re listening to this, we realize that this isn’t an irrelevant topic for us today. We all understand the tension between our Christian freedom and our Gospel witness. As we are living out our identity as children of God in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and in places of leisure, we’re all trying to figure the balance between our freedom in Christ and ensuring that it doesn’t compromise our Gospel witness. 

If you’re there today, wrestling with this tension of Christian freedom and your Gospel witness, let me encourage you to know there’s hope and help available in today’s passage. It’s not coming from a place of legalism which asks “If you call yourself a good Christian, is this what you do?” Rather it gives three quality checks to help us deal with this tension.

1. Does it edify?

 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 [23]  “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. [24] Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 

As we’ve read 1st Corinthians, one thing that we’ve grown accustomed to is seeing Paul cite a quotation and then respond to it. Most likely these quotes were questions that Corinthian church had written to Paul asking for biblical counsel on it. This was the Ask Pastor Paul podcast of that time. 

The question they asked Paul in V23 was “All things are lawful”. In other words, “I have the right and power to do anything and everything because I’m free in Christ, right?” And Paul’s response is, “Alright, but anything and everything is not helpful”. That word helpful is translated as “profitable”. Is it actually profiting you? Is it actually benefiting you in some way? Is it actually productive for you? Is it actually good for you? 

And then he quotes them once more by saying “alright you’re saying you can do anything and everything” but is that actually going to build up faith? Not just your faith but the faith of your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

In fact in the original Greek, the word is translated as house builder. The picture of a construction worker who is laying one brick upon another to build a house. And that’s the imagery that’s being used for our faith. Are we building up our faith by doing this? Are we building up our brother and sister’s faith by this? 

And what Paul is doing by this is challenging their assumption that their freedom in Christ allows them to do whatever they want. And he’s challenging them to ask themselves if it’s profitable to them? And if it’s helping build up their faith and their neighbors faith through it? In other words, by doing this or not doing this is it helping to edify yourself and your fellow believer’s faith? 

And then in V24, he tells them to not seek their own good but the good of their neighbor. If you’ve been around a church, you’ve probably heard this a few times. 

But I want us to take a minute to think how antithetical it is to the culture around us? We live in a culture that tells you that if you seek your own good, if you seek your own interests then you’ll be happy. Then you’ll progress in life. And it’s not just the culture around us, our own sinful hearts tell us the same thing – Put yourself above others, seek your own good and then later on care about your neighbors. 

And it’s to that culture and sinful heart that this verse tells us “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor”. I’m saying this so that we can acknowledge that this doesn’t come naturally to us. We are simply not wired that way. We are not able to do this by our own strength. We desperately need God’s grace to help us live with this perspective of seeking not our good, but the good of another. 

And when Paul is saying “seek the good of another”, he’s not just preaching some broad moral science lecture. There is a specific context to what he’s saying. The context was on eating food offered to idols. There were some so-called mature believers in Corinth who were saying “I can eat because I’m free in Christ”. What Paul has been discipling them through is to consider a younger believer among them who won’t see it that way and instead it will hurt their conscience. He’s telling them how they need to lay down their rights to eat that food for the good of their younger brother and sister. 

In my previous church, once our youth group had the chance to go to an orphanage outside the city to conduct a VBS for the children out there. During the orientation we were told to not wear jeans and tight fitting clothes while we’re on the premises. I remember being not so comfortable with that instruction. Felt it was very restrictive and old fashioned but later on I realized why we were told that. It was a context where wearing jeans and fitting clothes were perceived very differently. And we were going to spend the good part of the next 2 days sharing the Gospel in skits, songs and through teaching and the people out there who understood the context better than us didn’t want our Gospel witness to be hindered in the process. 

Was there something sinful in wearing jeans? No but in that context it would have been perceived in a way where it would be an obstacle to them receiving the Gospel. And so it meant that we had to let down our pride, let down our rights for the good of those children. 

It’s a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves what are some places in our lives where we need to lay down our rights for the good of our brother and sister? What are some choices that we need to make with the intention to edify our faith and the faith of our brothers and sisters? 

First quality check – Does it edify? Second one. 

2. Does it glorify? 

1 Corinthians 10:31 [31] So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

But before we come to v31, I want to ensure that we don’t skip the verses in between. So a quick summary of the verses in between. In verses 25-30, Paul is dealing with the question of eating food offered to idols but in a slightly different situation – at the marketplace and at somebody’s home. Till now Paul has been saying “No” to the question of eating in the temple, but now it seems like he’s making an allowance in these situations. Why is that so? 

Again, let’s understand the Corinthian context. In those days everything in that city revolved around the temple and their worship of their many idols. And so inevitably even the meat that was sold at the local market probably had a touch point at the temple. So the Corinthian church was asking “can we eat this meat if it was purchased from a local market”? 

And Paul’s response is that if you’re buying from the local market without anyone giving a disclaimer saying that this was previously sacrificed to an idol, just take it. Don’t be paranoid, don’t do a background check, don’t do a criminal investigation. Just buy it and take it home. 

And then another question “what if it’s served at the home of an unbeliever?” Paul’s response is again the same. If there’s no disclaimer given stating that this was offered to an idol, just eat it. No need to do a background check, don’t do a criminal investigation. Just eat it. 

However, if someone at the table mentions that this was offered to an idol, then you need to avoid it for the sake of the other person’s conscience. Not your conscience – because you’re eating it with a clear conscience after giving thanks to God for that meat. But it is for the sake of the other person’s conscience that you need to avoid it. 

I think this is a helpful principle especially when our unbelieving neighbors or colleagues or sometime family members offers prasad to us. Sometimes we just know what to say or do in that moment. If they come to you offering prasad, then the reason you need to decline and avoid eating it is for the sake of the conscience of the others that are there. In fact it’s an opportunity for us to witness to them by saying “I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to take this because of my faith in Jesus alone”. 

But is there something inherently wrong in eating the prasad? No. If you’re eating it giving praise to Jesus, you can do it with a clear conscience. However, it’s for the sake of the other person who will probably perceive it as us being okay with worshiping an idol. 

And that’s how we arrive in v31. Because it’s telling us whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, everything needs to be done to the glory of God! 

Couple of observations from this verse. 

• There is nothing insignificant in our lives for God. There’s nothing too small or mundane or random in our lives which don’t deserve to be lived to the glory of God. Even things as mundane as eating and drinking need to be to the glory of God. Waking up, Brushing your teeth, Taking a shower, Putting on your clothes, Taking a bus or train or rickshaw to work or school, while you’re filling a redundant excel sheet at work, while you’re taking your lunch break and chai break, scrolling through your phone – all of these mundane things are significant to God and needs to be done in a way that brings honor to Him. 

• There is nothing out of bounds in our lives for God. Whatever you do, do it to the glory of God. There is nothing out of scope, there is nothing out of bounds even the areas of our life that we think are private and personal. Our relationships, the content that we individually consume on TV and social media, private conversations we have on chat, how we spend our money, (sometimes we get embarrassed to say this) but even something as private as our sex life all of it needs to be for the glory of God. Whatever we do on a Sunday morning or whatever we do from a Monday to Saturday, that need to be for the glory of God. 

And so it’s a helpful practice for ourselves and with each other to ask – can we honestly say that we’re thinking this, or saying this or doing this to the honor and praise of God?

3. Does it unify? 

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 [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.

If we read verses 32 & 33 out of context, we can very easily misunderstand it as though Paul is promoting people pleasing. A couple of reasons why we shouldn’t misunderstand is because that phrase “Give no offense” doesn’t mean being politically correct or overly sensitive but it actually is translated as “don’t lead anyone to sin” or as the NIV translates as “Don’t be a stumbling block”.

Secondly, we understand the goal that he’s trying to accomplish in doing all this. It’s not so that people can love and accept him more. The goal in trying to please people is for their salvation. (V33) Now that doesn’t mean being a doormat, it doesn’t mean compromising on our gospel witness, it doesn’t mean being dishonest just so that they get saved. Without compromising on our gospel witness, we are called to accommodate ourselves for the best interests of the other. 

It’s not trying to ask others to come to where we are at, but rather to meet people where they are at without compromising our witness. It reminds us that each and every believer is called to be a missionary (even though it’s not a formal title or vocation). We’re always on mission whether inside the hall of the church or outside it. We are called to think like missionaries who are always exegeting and understanding their context to ensure that the gospel is made accessible to their context without compromising their witness. 

It tells us can’t be living our Christian life in oblivion without understanding or caring about our current context. The most loving thing we can do to understand where others are at and then strive to meet them where their at without compromising our witness so that they would be able to receive Jesus. 

After all isn’t that what happened when God reached out to us. God didn’t wait for us to come to him but rather came to us without compromising his holiness. God had undertaken the greatest and most significant mission trip by sending his Son Jesus Christ to the earth to take on the form of man and then live the life that we needed to live and die the death we deserved to die for us. He was buried and three days later on that Resurrection Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the grave so that whoever would believe in Jesus would be saved and converted to His children forever. Our salvation is hinged on the fact of Jesus Christ laying down his freedom and his rights for our best interests. 

As people who have experienced the benefit of Christ’s work first hand, we are called to similarly lay down our freedoms for the best interests of others. We do that by asking ourselves these quality check questions:

• Does it edify? 
• Does it glorify God? 
• Does it unify?

In today’s world, the idea of exclusivity often comes with negative connotations—elitism, discrimination, or separation. However, in the Christian context, being “exclusive” is about being set apart by God for a unique and divine purpose. This passage from 1 Corinthians 10 reminds us of the sacredness of our calling, the responsibilities it carries, and the communal aspect of living out our faith.

1. We Are Called into an Exclusive Relationship with God Through Jesus

1 Corinthians 10 begins by reminding us of Israel’s history—how they were all under the cloud, passed through the sea, and ate the same spiritual food. Yet, not all pleased God. Paul uses this history to caution us that despite being part of God’s people, our relationship with Him is personal and exclusive through Christ.

Called to be His Own: Just as Israel was chosen, we are called into a covenant relationship with God, but this is now through Jesus. It’s not just a collective identity but an intimate, personal relationship. This relationship is exclusive because it’s through Christ alone, by His sacrifice, that we have access to the Father (John 14:6).

The Warning of Idolatry: Verses 7-10 warn against idolatry, which in this context is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. This exclusivity in our relationship with God means that nothing else can compete for His place. We are to worship God alone, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

2. We Are Called to Live an Exclusive Lifestyle That Honors God

Paul goes on to urge the Corinthians to learn from the past, to not repeat the mistakes of Israel. This brings us to our second point: our calling demands a lifestyle that is set apart.

A Life of Holiness: Living a lifestyle that honors God means adhering to His standards, which are often in contrast with the world’s values. We are to flee from idolatry (v.14), which could be anything that detracts from God’s supremacy in our lives—be it materialism, immorality, or pride. Our exclusivity is evident in our distinctiveness—living holy lives as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Witness to the World: This exclusive lifestyle is not just for our benefit but as a witness to others. When our lives reflect God’s holiness, it draws others to the light of Christ in us. Our speech, conduct, and decisions should all bear the mark of this divine calling.

3. We Are Placed in an Exclusive Community to Live Out This Lifestyle

Finally, our exclusive calling is not just individual but communal. Paul speaks to the church in Corinth as a collective, reminding them of their shared history, challenges, and calling.

Community of Believers: God places us in an exclusive community—the Church—to support, encourage, and hold each other accountable. Verses 16-17 speak of the communion we share as believers, symbolizing our unity in Christ. This community is exclusive in its purpose to uphold God’s truth and encourage one another in faith.

Means of Grace: Within this community, God provides means of grace—through the Word, sacraments, and fellowship—to help us live out our calling. The Church is where we grow, where we learn to live this exclusive lifestyle, and where we find strength in our shared faith. Together, we resist temptation (v.13) and build each other up in love and truth.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, our calling as Christians is exclusive in the most beautiful and profound way. We are called into an exclusive relationship with God through Jesus, to live a lifestyle that honors Him, and to be part of an exclusive community that supports and nurtures our faith. Let us take to heart Paul’s exhortation, learning from Israel’s history, and commit to living out this exclusive calling with reverence and joy. Amen.

Good morning church! Hope you all are doing well. Just wanted to welcome all who have joined us today in-person and also friends who have joined us online. 

We are doubly excited today as we get to dedicate baby Levi and encourage Pradeep and Olayinka to steward this wonderful calling to raise Levi in the ways of the Lord. That will happen a little later but just wanted to say that it’s our joy to journey with them as a church family. 

But before we get there, it’s important that we spend the next few moments anchoring ourselves in God’s Word. After all, everything that we do is a response to God’s Word. Most of you know that our usual pattern is to preach through books of the Bible – chapter by chapter like our current series from 1st Corinthians. 

But every now and then we do standalone sermons especially if it coincides with an occasion like a dedication service which we have today. It gives us an opportunity to care for church biblically through some of those subjects like the subject of parenting that we will cover today. 

And I’m aware that among us we’ve got a mixed audience. There are some who are parents right now, and there are some who aren’t parents but I still believe that this passage will be encouraging and helpful for all because even if you’re not a parent, you definitely know someone who is and you’ll be able to encourage them with what you’ve learnt today. 

What is the goal of parenting? What would you say is the main purpose for parenting? 

Most would say that the goal is to make their children independent, well educated, well behaved people of society who will one day be in a position to repeat the whole cycle again with their children. That’s what most people would agree is their purpose for parenting. And so they spend all of their energies trying to fulfill this purpose for their children. 

But what if we were to ask God what was his purpose in making us parents, what would he say? His answer from Deuteronomy 6 would be quite different from what we normally expect. In fact all of those goals don’t feature anywhere in the passage. Now it’s not to say that those things are bad in itself, but that’s not God’s primary purpose. That’s not why God calls us to be parents to our children. God’s calling for us is far higher than we even think or imagine. 

What is God’s high calling for parents? 

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 

[1] “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, [2] that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 

The high calling is to fear God and to teach that to your kids. And this “fear” is not dreading God but one of reverence out of great honor and esteem for Him. Because we know of God’s supreme authority and because we know that He’s Holy, we approach Him with honor and esteem. 

Well how do we go about fearing God and calling our children to do the same? Deut 6 gives us 3 steps. 

1. Trust (v4-6) 

[4] “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [5] You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 

The first step tells us to personally trust God ourselves before we get to teaching our kids. We are challenged to look inside our own hearts before we get to looking at the hearts of our children. 

Look with me at v4. This verse is often known as the Shema which in Hebrew means “hear”. For a Jew, this is one of the most important verses which says “The Lord our God, the Lord is one”. 

He is not to be treated as one among many gods. He is the One True God. He is making a claim for exclusivity. It’s not Yahweh + other gods. God is telling us “You either chose me as Lord or you don’t.”

And that’s the same sentiment in v5 – the familiar verse which tells us to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our might. Notice it doesn’t say love your God with a part of your heart, with a part of your soul and with a part of your might. He’s demanding all of our devotion or none of it. He’s demanding all of our surrender or none of it. He’s demanding all of our love or none of it. He’s demanding all of our trust or none of it. 

For many of us who have been around church and heard this verse time and time again, we sometimes miss out on its impact because we assume that we know what it means for us. But I want us all to ask ourselves these questions to evaluate our love for God:

Can I honestly say that I love God more than any relationship in my life? Can I honestly say that I love God more than my spouse and kids? Can I say that I love God more than my friends? Can I say that I love God more than making more money? Can I say that I love God more than my job? Can I say that I love God more than my comfort? Can I truly say that I love God more than receiving approval from my peers? Can I truly say that I love God more than the pleasures that I enjoy when no one’s watching? 

And all of these questions get to heart of it. When the Bible says “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your might”, it means that our affections for God should be unparalleled. We should not be making room in our hearts for competing affections. And this is challenging and convicting for all of us because we’re coming face to face with the competing gods in our hearts. 

And that’s why personal trust needs to be accompanied with daily repentance. If we need to daily exhibit trust in the God of the Bible, it needs to be accompanied by daily repentance where we confess all the people and the things which are competing for that place in our hearts which is only reserved for God. 

First step in fearing God and parenting our kids is to demonstrate how we personally Trust God first. It’s humbling to realize that kids are likely to do what they see us do rather than what they hear us tell them to do. We can’t jump this first step. 

Second step is to

2. Teach (v7-9) 

[7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. [8] You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

V7 tells us to diligently teach our children God’s Word and His commands. What’s interesting is that the word which is used in the Hebrew for diligent actually is translated as “pierce”. As parents we’re called to pierce the hearts of children with the truths of God’s Word. It’s not just doing it for the sake of doing it but with the intention of getting God’s Word into the hearts of our children. Have we ever thought about teaching our kids in this way? 

And then it goes on to say how spiritual conversations need to be the focus and the norm for everyday conversations with your children. It’s not a one-time activity. In fact in v7 it almost seems like an obsession where the parents are intentional in bringing up these conversations during every point of the day. Everything seems to circle back to God’s Word. 

V8 and 9 talk about how there’s not only regular daily spiritual conversations but there are visual reminders placed all around the house to point people back to the God of the Bible. God’s Word is not put up for decorative purposes in the home, but to spur the family back to God time and time again. 

So what we can see here is that spiritual conversations with your kids can’t be limited to Sunday School only. Although we greatly value all that the Sunday School teachers do to bring the Gospel to the children in a way that makes it accessible to them each week, yet spiritual conversations with our children can’t be outsourced to Sunday School. As parents we are called to own that responsibility for our children. 

I think it’s a good pause point to ask ourselves – what’s taking center stage in our conversation with our family and children? Is it studies? Is it politics? Is it sports? Or is it movies? Where do spiritual conversations feature in our everyday family conversations? 

And so we Trust God ourselves, we Teach and then the third step is to

3. Testify (v20-25) 

When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ [21] then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. [22] And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. [23] And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. [24] And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. [25] And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.

These verses give us a very different perspective to parenting right? When our children ask us “Dad / Mom – why do we have so many spiritual conversations at home? Why do we have these verses put up everywhere? Why do we not join our neighbors when they participate in idol worship?” Our response shouldn’t be a short one liner saying “Because we’re Christian”. 

That’s a God given opportunity to testify to God’s grace and rescue in your lives. Those are precious discipling moments which God has ordained not to put you in a spot, not to make you think of the smartest theological answer but to simply testify to your own grace story. 

V21 – Talk about how you were a slave to sin & Satan and what life was like as a slave apart from God. 

V22 – Talk about how God had mercy on you and how He sent His one and only Son Jesus to rescue you through His amazing work on the cross. 

V23 – Talk about His resurrection and your trust in Him which totally changed your life forever. As someone who experienced freedom from your slavery to sin, Satan and death – now we owe our lives to our Savior forever. All of our life choices need to reflect obedience to our Savior and that’s why we do what we do. It’s not blind rule keeping. It’s not keeping traditions. It’s obedience as a response to amazing grace! 

Just an encouragement to some of us who might read this passage and think “I missed the whole point of parenting. I wish I knew this earlier but I know I can’t turn back time” – God is sovereign and gracious. You should know that it’s not too late even now. Ask God for grace to help you Trust, Teach and Testify to your children. 

Some others might think – this 3 step process seems overwhelming looking at the high calling for parents. Just want you to know that God wouldn’t have called you to the role, without giving you the grace to fulfill it. Grace is available in plenty at Jesus’ feet. Run to Him and you’ll find all the help you need to be able to fulfill this high Gospel calling. 

Oftentimes when we talk about people being called to ministry, we automatically associate it with pastoral, mercy or evangelistic ministry and these are wonderful callings for sure. But in the light of what we’ve read and heard in Deut 6, parenting is a high gospel call to ministry. It’s not ordinary or insignificant in God’s eyes. God has called and equipped parents to fulfill a purpose of modeling what it means to fear God and they do it by 3 steps:

Trust, Teach and Testify. 

This sermon is from the series “The Church: God’s Dwelling Place.”

Last Sunday, we looked at 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul prohibits believers from eating food offered to idols for the sake of a weaker brother who may stumble in his faith due to lack of knowledge. In the same spirit, Paul continues his conversation in chapter 9, addressing another conflict in the church. He shares his personal decision on a particular matter to help avoid any conflict or misunderstanding from becoming a stumbling block to the Gospel.

When we carefully read the words of Paul, we see that he was addressing two conflicts the church had against him.

First, they had not accepted him as an Apostle as they did with the other 12 disciples of Jesus. Look with me at 1 Corinthians 9:1-2.

To understand this, we need to know the meaning of the word ‘Apostle’. An Apostle is someone sent to preach the Gospel and plant churches who saw Jesus and was directly appointed or commissioned by Jesus himself.

Mark 3:14 ESV: And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.

Perhaps the church was asking how Paul could claim to be an Apostle when he was not among the 12 who saw and walked with Jesus and were directly commissioned by Him.

Paul has a backstory that I assume the people either didn’t know or didn’t believe in.

Paul did meet Jesus on the road to Damascus and was directly commissioned by Jesus to preach the gospel and plant churches. Whether the people Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 2 believed him or not, he seemed pretty convinced. In defending himself, he also claimed that the proof of his apostleship appointed by Jesus was evident in the Lord’s excellent work in the people’s lives through his hard work and efforts.

The second issue with people was that they were constantly examining Paul. They may have concluded that he was working for personal gain or ulterior motives, preventing them from enjoying certain benefits that the other apostles were allowed to have.

1 Corinthians 9:3-6 ESV: This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

From verse 7 onwards, Paul provides reasons for them to believe they genuinely serve the Lord and the people.

1 Corinthians 9:7 ESV: Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

He is saying, look at the work we’ve done so far. We’ve done it at our expense. We did not take anything from you. We served you with a genuine heart.

In verses 8-14, Paul explains that even if they had to take a reward for their labor in the gospel, there was nothing wrong with it. God approves of it.

1 Corinthians 9:8-14 : Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 3 the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Now, what’s interesting is that knowing the conflict in people’s hearts, a division in their hearts that was becoming an obstacle to the gospel, Paul is expressing his decision to willingly surrender his rights to enjoy the fruit of his labor.

In other words, Paul is saying that because of the confusion in your heart, which is becoming an obstacle to the gospel, he is not making full use of his right in the gospel for the sake of the gospel.

Does that mean that Paul says a ministry worker shouldn’t enjoy the fruit of their labor? No.

In a different context, even Paul has taken support from the church to meet his needs. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:9.

2 Corinthians 11:9 ESV:
And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

In other words, Paul could also be saying that if there were no dissension among you regarding us enjoying the fruit of our labor, we wouldn’t mind taking a little support. However, because you have issues with that, which has also become an obstacle to the Gospel, I am refraining from accessing that right and privilege.

Kindly note this gesture is purely motivated by love, humility, and a desire to avoid causing others to stumble in their faith.

From verse 19 onwards, he explains the degree to which he is committed to serving the church in this manner.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 ESV: For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 4 all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

He says, “I am here to serve, win souls for the kingdom, willing to adjust and become all things to all people, discipline my body to fulfill the duties given to me, and will practice what I preach.”

In light of this passage, I want us to spend some time thinking about what it would mean to lay down our rights for the advancement of the gospel in our hearts and the hearts of others.

Surrendering our rights means giving up our privileges, freedom, and entitlements, especially if they have become an obstacle to the gospel in your heart and the hearts of others.

Examples of surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel include:

1. Financial Support:
   • Example 1: A Christian worker or missionary might choose to support themselves through a secular job rather than receiving financial support from the church to avoid any potential criticism or accusations of greed. This is similar to what Paul did by working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3).
     
   • Example 2: A Christian worker or missionary might give up a secure job that provides growth and security to fully commit to the church’s service and mission, like the other disciples of Jesus.
2. Personal Freedoms:
   • Example: Someone might abstain from consuming alcohol in social settings to avoid causing a fellow believer who struggles with alcoholism to stumble. This aligns with Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8:9, where he warns against using our freedom in a way that becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
3. Cultural Adaptation:
   • Example: A missionary might adopt the customs and dress of the culture they are ministering to build trust and effectively communicate the Gospel. Paul exemplified this by becoming “all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
4. Time and Resources:
   • Example: A person might give up their weekends or leisure time to serve in community outreach programs or church activities, prioritizing the needs of others over their comfort.
5. Dietary Choices:
   • Example: Choosing to refrain from eating certain foods when in the presence of those with dietary restrictions due to religious convictions or health reasons, as seen in Romans 14:21, where Paul talks about not eating meat or drinking wine if it causes a brother or sister to stumble
6. Forgoing Legal Rights:
   • Example: A Christian might choose not to pursue legal action against someone who has wronged them, opting instead for forgiveness and reconciliation to demonstrate Christ’s love and mercy, inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:40-41 about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile.

Biblical Basis:

• In 1 Corinthians 9:12, Paul says, “We did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.”
• In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul exhorts believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death on the cross.

I know these tasks are complex, but let me remind you of someone who willingly laid down his rights to save us from death and eternal damnation, give us hope, and unite us with our heavenly father

Jesus, though He was divine and equal with God, chose to surrender His rights and privileges for our sake. He left the glory of heaven and took on human form, becoming a servant. He lived a humble and obedient life during His time on earth, ultimately submitting to death on the cross. This act of ultimate sacrifice was to save humanity from sin and eternal separation from God. By laying down His rights, Jesus provided a path to reconciliation with God, allowing us to experience a whole and abundant life on earth and in eternity. His life and sacrifice are the perfect examples of selflessness and love, inspiring us to live in a way that honors Him and serves others.

By doing so, he has also enabled us not just to receive mercy but also to show mercy, not just receive grace but also show grace to others, not just receive forgiveness but also forgive others, not just be served but also serve others as Christ did. Most importantly, he gave us the grace that enables us to surrender our rights for the gospel’s sake.

Good morning church! Hope you’re all doing well today. As a church we’ve been going through this series titled The Church: God’s Dwelling Place from 1st Corinthians. And a theme that we’ve repeatedly seen in this letter so far is this – that God’s dwelling place or His residence isn’t in a building or a temple or a religious place. God’s dwelling place is among His Redeemed People – His church! 

Which means that God’s presence is no longer confined to a building or even limited to Sunday mornings between 10.30am to 1pm. If God’s people are present in the workplace or at school or in a home, then you can be sure that God’s presence is with them. That’s a huge paradigm shift! 

And this understanding of “God’s dwelling place among His people” brings with it some key questions. If God dwells in us 24/7, then how do I relate with the world and the culture around me? How do I live in the midst of this culture? Do I accept everything or reject everything from the culture around me? Where do I draw the line between my Christian life and the culture around me? And these are some tough questions that every believer wrestles with daily. 

But I want you to know that God hasn’t left us alone to figure this out and He’s graciously given us His Word to help us navigate through this. You’d be encouraged to know that the Corinthian church although in a different context also wrestled with these very same questions – hope and help is available in God’s Word! And so today we arrive at an important section of this letter which focuses on Christian liberty. But before we proceed, I’d love to pray for us.

If you look up the meaning of liberty in the dictionary, you’d see that it’s described as “independence, freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice”. (Freedom to do or say as we want) 

Now the question is – can we describe Christian liberty in the same manner? Can we describe our freedom in Christ in the same vein? Now that I’m a believer in Christ, am I free to do or say as I want? Am I free to do whatever I want to do without any consequences? I’m sure all of us from a biblical viewpoint would say no. Our liberty is under Christ’s rule. Christ’s rule gives us the framework of our liberty. What’s that framework? This passage tells us it is love! Christian liberty is all about love – loving God and loving people! 

In last week’s passage, it spoke about loving God. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. (v3) Loving God is on one side of the liberty framework & on the other side is Loving people which we will cover in today’s passage. They are two sides of the same coin. They go hand in hand. Christian liberty is all about love. Our Christian liberty needs to be filtered through the lens of love – loving God and loving people. How does this passage break it down for us, in three ways:

1. Our Christian liberty involves understanding others (v7-8)

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.

I think it’s important for us to recap the context of this passage. The context is the issue of eating food offered to idols. Just to give you a picture of the city of Corinth – everything about the city revolved around its idols and temples. Its temples were not only a place of worship, but also functioned as butcher shops and dining halls. 

Important trade conferences, weddings, funerals and private dinner parties were held there. This was the center of Corinth culture and life. And people who went to the temple for worship or to dine there were served portions of food offered to idols. And that was the main contentious issue for the church where they were asking Paul, “Is it okay for us to consume the food offered to idols?” 

And there were some people in the church who thought of themselves as “mature Christians” who possessed “special knowledge” or “superior knowledge”. And they were saying “we know that these idols are not real. Hence the food offered to them is inconsequential. There should be no problem in consuming it”. And they were hoping that Paul would agree with them. 

In fact Paul begins by agreeing with them saying “Yes, it’s true we worship the One True God & the Lord Jesus Christ – others gods are not real gods”… “But”, “However”, “Having said that”… “not all possess the same knowledge”. 

Paul is saying “Everyone doesn’t have the same level of understanding as you do.” Everyone is not on the same page when it comes to food offered to idols. Especially those who might have a weak conscience because of their past baggage associated with idol worship. 

They are probably newer Christians who’ve just come out of a lifestyle of idol worship or they may be Christians who have not yet attained the understanding that you have – and for them this food that you’re consuming is still considered as food offered to idols. 

And Paul is telling that by doing this, those who consider themselves as “mature” are “defiling” or “soiling” the weak conscience of these other brothers or sisters.

And even as Paul is saying this, he’s making it clear that the food by itself isn’t inherently wrong or sinful. V8 which says “Food doesn’t commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.” We don’t win any extra brownie points by consuming or choosing not to consume this food. What we eat has no bearing on our standing with God. God doesn’t accept us or reject us simply on the basis of food. 

So although food by itself isn’t inherently wrong, we still need to bear in mind that everyone doesn’t view it in the same way. Past associations of food with idols can hurt the weak conscience of our brothers and sisters. We can’t be blind to it. We need to understand that. We need to be mindful of that. Our Christian liberty involves understanding others.  

But not only does our Christian liberty involve understanding others, it also 

2. Our Christian liberty can’t be at the expense of others (v9-12)

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[c] in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,[d] 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[e] and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 

V9 gets to the heart of the matter. But take care (make sure, pay careful attention, see to it) that this right of yours (this freedom, this liberty) does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. That word “stumbling block” means “stubbing our foot”. It’s a word to describe stubbing your foot against an obstacle while walking. 

In the context of this passage, this word is basically telling us that our christian liberty / freedom should not end up being an obstacle to another person’s faith. And the impact is far more than stubbing your foot, it could result in hurting and turning someone away from his faith! Our Christian liberty can’t be at the expense of others!

And then in V10, Paul goes on to elaborate. He says that if a weaker brother or sister sees you “who have knowledge” – “mature, knowledgeable and understanding” Christian go to a pagan temple and eat food offered to idols, would he not think that it’s okay to eat food offered to idols something he associates as sinful? 

Even worse, wouldn’t he think that since eating food offered to idols is okay, it’s probably alright for him to also now go back to worshiping those idols alongside the Lord Jesus Christ? And you can see how Paul’s building the argument – that christian liberty can end up negatively influencing and hurting the faith of those around us. Have we ever considered this thought? That our actions and choices influence the people around us especially those in our family and in our church family. Take a minute to allow that to sink in.

The next couple of verses explain the gravity of the situation. V11 – When we use our Christian liberty / freedom in a way that isn’t understanding and loving toward those around us, then our so-called “freedom” or “maturity” can actually destroy another person’s faith. It can hurt and harm another brother or sister’s faith – a person for whom Christ died! For those in Christ, they are no longer so and so from this family, so and so from this state or city; they are people for whom Christ died for. They were purchased at the highest cost – at the cost of His own precious blood. They are now His. They belong to Him. And it’s that person’s faith you are hurting!  

V12 is even more weightier and more convincing. Thus, by sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience (pummelling with repeated blows), you against Christ! That’s the weight and gravity of the situation. When we become stumbling blocks to each other, we are not only offending our brother or sister, we are offending Christ himself. 

My mind was blown when I read this. Since we belong to Jesus, now any offense to us is a direct offense to Jesus Christ himself. Which is why when Jesus met with Saul on the road to Damascus as he was enroute to persecute the people of God, Jesus didn’t ask him “Why are you doing this to my people?” Jesus asked him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Being a stumbling block to another person is not only sinning against that person but sinning against Jesus Christ. Our Christian liberty can’t be at the expense of others. 

But not just that

3. Our Christian liberty needs to be used to sacrificially serve others (v13)

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

V13 starts with “Therefore”. On account of the reasons given in the previous verses, Paul says that if by me eating food offered to idols, it will make my brother stumble and turn from the Lord, then I will resolve to never eat it. NIV puts it in this way “I will never eat meat again”. 

In other words, Paul is saying that he will never eat food offered to idols again for the rest of his life if that is what is required to keep his brother from stumbling. 

And for some of us that might seem like a stretch. Why is Paul doing this? It’s because loving His brother takes precedence over his liberties. Love over freedom. He’s saying “I’ll willingly give up my rights for the sake of another”. “I’d rather use my liberty to sacrificially serve others”. 

Does that sound familiar? If there was one person in the whole universe who had every right to do what he wanted to do – that was Jesus because He is the Son of God. 

And yet we see God’s Jesus Christ relinquish His glory and majesty and choose to step into our shoes in the form of man. I know the whole of India has been mesmerized by the Anant Ambani wedding. I’m sure all the things that Anant wanted to do for his wedding happened – and off-course he can do that because he’s the son of Mukesh Ambani. He is the heir! 

But what wouldn’t have happened is Anant entering his home as a servant and that’s the willing choice that Jesus made when He chose to take on the form of man. As He walked on the earth, He lived the perfect, obedient life that we were all supposed to live. And then He died the death that we were supposed to die as our substitute. The wrath of God which was directed toward us because of our infinite sins (too many to count) was absorbed by God’s Son Jesus Christ. 

He died and was buried and three days later he rose from the dead so that whoever may turn from their sins and their efforts to win God’s acceptance by themselves and solely put their faith in Jesus Christ and His work would be saved not just for this age but for ages to come. It’s a humbling thing to realize that our salvation was the result of our Savior choosing to use His liberty to sacrificially serve us! 

What’s the take home for us? 

1. We need to start by taking out the time to understand the people in our church. Unless we understand each other’s stories, each other’s cultural and religious baggage, we will never be able to move toward them with sensitivity and compassion. It’s not going to happen overnight either, it’s going to take time for us to really begin understanding each other. 

2. I know that we can get touchy about subjects like alcohol, fashion, how we spend our money, movies we watch etc. but we need to be open to having honest conversations on what we believe, why we do certain things a certain way and also allow people to share their reservations about certain liberties which can be perceived as sinful or immoral by them because of their background. 

3. Once those reservations or issues are brought to us, our response matters. It could involve discipling them biblically through that issue but also we need to prayerfully ask God to help us discern how to use our liberty to be loving to one another. Pray and ask God to strengthen you to willingly give up your liberty if that helps in preserving your weaker brother’s faith.

4. We need to show patience and grace to each other. Knowing that we’re all in different stages of maturity, we need to be patient and gracious to each other, trusting that the Spirit will ultimately help us gain maturity in due time. And this is not a one-time activity. This is a life-long activity. 

The reason we are saying all this is not because the bible is trying to restrain our liberty and freedom. Christian liberty is all about love! 

1. It involves understanding others
2. It can’t be at the expense of others
3. It needs to be used to sacrificially serve others

We’re back again with Paul addressing questions raised by the Corinthians. Remember in chapter 7 verse 1, an issue regarding sexual temptation and sexual relations with women was raised. There the people were saying that it is good not to have sexual relations with a woman given how great the temptation surrounding sex is. But Paul says you shouldn’t give up sexual relations with your spouse because that opens the door to more temptation in your life. Instead, you should embrace it as God’s good gift and enjoy it with thankfulness.

Similarly, today Paul addresses a question about eating food offered to idols. What was the problem here? In the times the Corinthian believers lived there was the practice of offering food as sacrifices to their false gods. These people used to have feasts in their temples and before the feast began, they would offer the food as a sacrifice, then they would eat. When the feast was done, the leftovers would be kept by the priest of the temple and sold in the marketplace. You should know that Paul and Corinthians are talking about the food sold in the marketplace. The food that was eaten in the temple during the feast was a different matter. What we’re seeing here is leftover food from the feast sold in the market. Now, the Corinthians are saying it’s okay to eat such food because we know the idols the food was offered to are not real. Verse 1 says “all of us possess knowledge”. If you look at the phrase, it’s in double quotes indicating that Paul is using a phrase that the Corinthians wrote in their letter to him. So, the Corinthians are saying we possess knowledge. What is this knowledge? It’s in verse 4-6. The knowledge is of the reality that there is only one true God and one Lord, Jesus Christ. These idols are not real, so the food offered to them has no meaning. Therefore, it’s okay to eat that food. So some Corinthian believers rather arrogantly say that have knowledge so don’t tell us to refrain from eating that food. Moreover, the sacrifice to idols was a common occurrence that it was impossible for the believers to escape situations where that kind of food would come before them.

And what is Paul’s response? Yes, we all have knowledge, including us the apostles. But this knowledge makes you proud. This knowledge makes you grow arrogant. This knowledge hurts you and others. But love on the other hand? Love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows something, he doesn’t know yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. If you say you have knowledge then you should be humbled. Because knowledge of God means knowing that God is so much more holier than you thought He was, so much more powerful than you thought He was, so much more infinite than you thought He was, and so much more in control and sovereign than you thought He was. And it doesn’t end with knowledge of God, there’s the knowledge of self. You should be heart broken when your knowledge leads you to realise that you’re much more sinful than you thought you were, much more helpless than you thought you were, much more impure than you thought you were. But you should also be able to rejoice because inspite of this, God is much more merciful than you can imagine, much more patient than you can think, much more loving than you can grasp, much more faithful than you can conceive. If you have knowledge of these things then you’ll actually respond with love. And love who specifically? Those who don’t have knowledge. You may know that eating food offered to idols is fine, but there are many who can’t reconcile that with their faith. So for the sake of that weak brother or sister, you will not eat such food. You don’t want them to stumble because of you. This is what the passage is about. And it has practical implications for us. But today, I don’t want to focus on what these implications are. Today I want to focus on the theological insight that comes from Paul’s words. When Paul was responding to the Corinthians, he shed some light on the theology that informed and ought to inform their actions. Imagine you’re going on trip with your friends and family. As you driving up the winding roads you notice that the scenery is so beautiful that you have to stop the car, get out and take it all in. Soon you’ll be heading for your destination but just for a few moments you want to enjoy God’s beauty. In the same way, I’m hoping that we can enjoy God’s truth in today’s passage before heading to the main issue of the whole chapter, which we’ll be hearing next Sunday. For today, we have six verses and all six are packed with doctrine that has significance for our lives. And not only that, I believe these doctrines will bring you comfort and reassurance for today. I have three points and my first point will be from the middle of the passage, the second point from the end of the passage and the last point from the beginning of the passage. So we won’t be moving in a linear fashion as we usually do but I’m hoping and believing it’ll still make sense. 

So, what is the first doctrine present in this passage? It is that we exist for God.

1. We exist for God (v6a)

“yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist”

The first one is a big one. Paul is saying yes it is known to them that “an idol has no real existence”  and that there is “no God but one”. When in verse 5 Paul says “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— “ he is meaning to say that the non-believers of that time consider the existence of many gods and many lords because the were people who followed the Greek religion, the Roman religion, then the few other cults of that time. So for them there are many gods and lords. But for the Christians like Paul, the believers in Corinth, and you and me, there is one God. And contrary to the false gods and lords of that time, everything comes from God. It’s written in the verse “there is one God the Father from whom are all things” Everything that you see, touch, hear, taste, smell comes from God. Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” or another translation says “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”. Everything comes from God and everything belongs to God. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The very first verse says that God created the heavens and the earth. The first three words, “In the beginning” that is the beginning of time itself. Before the creation of the world, what was time? What were days and months and years? There was no such thing as time and there was nothing at all. Yet there was God. And “In the beginning” God was there to bring forth everything. 

Now for the main part, that is, the second half of the sentence, “and for whom we exist”. We exist for whom? For God. This verse unlocks the purpose of your life. Genesis 2:2 “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. .” The Bible says that in seven days God finished creating the heavens and the earth and all the host of them. In the process of creation, He even made man and women. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 gives the answer to what God created, or rather who God created, man and women. 1 Corinthians 8:6 gives the answer to why God created man and women. He created them for Him. He created you and me for Himself. We don’t exist for our jobs, we don’t exist for our friends, we don’t exist for our spouse or children, we exist for God. And what does existing for God mean? There is something called “The Westminster Shorter Catechism”, which is a series of 107 questions and answers that summarise the major truths of the Bible. The very first question in the Westminister Shorter Catechism is: “What is the chief end of man?” Or in other words, what is the main goal of men and women? The answer to that is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. Existing for God means glorifying Him. And glorifying God means using every fibre of our being, our strength, our mind, our hearts, everything to praise, honour and worship God. We honour God with our words, we honour God by our obedience to Him, with our good works, we honour Him through our repentance, and with our love for one another and the care for the poor and needy. We honour Him by preaching the gospel to those who have not heard it. We honour God when we do our jobs faithfully and diligently or when we study well. We also honour God by enjoying His gifts, like music, sports, movies, food, and various crafts like painting, writing, carpentry, or enjoying His creation by travelling, trekking, hiking, we glorify Him by taking care of our health and bodies through exercise. The question I want you to ask yourself is, “Do you know you exist for God?” and if you do, “How are you existing for Him or how are you glorifying Him?”. But if you didn’t know you exist for God maybe today God is telling you that. If you try to exist for any other reason, you will be left unsatisfied. No matter what you gain in life, how successful, how beautiful your family is, how much money you make, you’ll be left wanting for more, it is like a bottomless pit, you can’t fill it up no matter how much you put in. To be truly satisfied, you need to accept that you were created for God. Your sole purpose in life is to glorify God. Coming to terms with that sets you on a path to fulfilment and eternal life. 

That leads me to my second point, which is we exist through God.

2. We exist through God (v6b)

“and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

One thing this verse highlightings is how one Lord, that is Jesus Christ, is the true Lord. All other “lords” as mentioned in verse 5 are false lords. In the beginning of the verse, Paul says from God the Father all things come. Here it says through the Lord Jesus are all things. What this verse tells us is that `just as the Father was involved in creating the whole world, the Son was equally involved. The heavens and the earth came from the Father through the Son and to complete the trinity, by the power of the Spirit. Jesus is God as much as Father and Spirit is God. The three are one but separate, three in one. Not three gods but one. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” And again in Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” These verses also reenforce the doctrine truth that Jesus is God and all creation was created through Him and for Him.

But the part I want to focus on is the second half of the sentence “through whom we exist”.

You know there’s a certain impossibleness to glorifying God. How are we, weak creatures that we are, supposed to worship the Lord with 100% devotion all the time? Let me tell you, God demands nothing less than our 100% devotion. It says in Deuteronomy 6:5 “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.’ How much? With half your soul? With a quarter of your mind? With 3/4th of your heart? No with all, fully, absolute. Can you do that? Can you give 100% all the time? That’s a tough ask. Sounds impossible. Then there’s the problem of sin. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. Forget about loving God fully, we’re not even worthy to stand in His presence. Are we to glorify God like this? Will God accept our worship? Will God accept us? If you’re born again then you know the answer. Whoever sitting here or listening online is a born again believer, then you can say with a shout, you can say with full confidence, you can yes with thankfulness, yes God will accept me, God will accept my worship, I can worship the Lord with 100% devotion because I exist through Jesus Christ my Redeemer, my Shepherd, my Lord and my God. I’m not living my Christian life alone, I’m not isolated, I have my Lord Jesus through whom I’m living. The greek word for “through” is dia. Other translations of the word dia are “because of”, “on account of”. So we can rephrase the verse like this: “one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things and on account of whom we exist”. It’s not only talking about existing in the physical world but also living spiritually and eternally. Look at 1 John 4:9 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” The same Greek word for through is used here. Jesus Christ came into this world so that we may exist through Him. We might live through Him. And that should be a comfort for you because whatever is the requirements of worthiness are, Jesus Christ took care of it for us. 1 John 4:10 says, “ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Propitiation means to satisfy or appease. Sin needed to be paid for because God’s was going to punish that sin, your sin and my sin. But with Jesus’s sacrifice, there is no more fear of punishment. 

So brothers and sisters, what does this mean for us? It means right now, you’re living through Jesus, if you’ve repented of your sins and turned to Him. This is true for you now. Your life is in His hands, your life is in His life. John 14:9 says, “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” Because He lives, you will live in eternity and right now. So you keep striving to live a holy life, say no to sin, when discouragement and doubt knock at the door, remember that you’re victory is sure in Jesus because you exist through Him and He will carry you to the end.

And now for my final point, we don’t just exist for God even though is the greatest privilege, we don’t just exist through God, our sole comfort but we’re also known by God.

3. We are known by God (v3)

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”

• Paul’s explanation about knowledge and love
• It is greater to love than walk around with knowledge
• Those who love God show evidence that they are known by Him
• Loving God is not a precondition for Him to know us. He knows us therefore we love
• The Greek word ginóskó means it’s to know personally and well, the same word is used for knowing sexually
• He knows us, our frame, the number of hairs on our head, we are not just another solider, servant, son or daughter
• To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.
• God sees you at you worst but still loves you.