Glorifying God in Whatever You Do

History even though it may seem boring at times, plays an important role in learning from previous mistakes. If we avoid learning about history, we then we may make the same mistakes as those who lived before us.

In the section of 1 Cor. that we will be studying tonight, Paul brings up some history from Israel’s past so that the church at Corinth would not make the same mistakes as the Israelites did in the old testament.

If you have your scripture notebook with you please meet me in 1 Cor. 10. 1 Cor. 10. verse 1.

Before we start reading I want to give some context.

Over the past couple of chapters of 1 Cor., Paul has addressed the issues of eating food that have been sacrificed to idols. We read about that in chapter 8 and then in chapter 9 Paul talked about our attitude of serving others in issues discussed in chapter 8. Tonight we arrive at the last chapter that Paul addresses this issue of food sacrificed to idols and in this chapter, Paul gives some practical advice on how to love others in this issue of food sacrificed to idols.

WIth that in mind, let’s start reading 1 Cor. 10. with verse 1.

As a reminder have your pens ready to underline anything that you have a question about or that sticks out to you.

Read 1 Cor. 10:1-13.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

10 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. 7 Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. 8 Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

Let’s pause here to study further this first section of 1 Cor. 10.

Explain 1 Cor. 10:1-13.

Learn From History

In this first section of 1 Cor. 10 we see Paul remind the church of Corinth of Israel’s history of idolatry.

Before we go further we need to understand what idolatry is- I would write down this definition in your scripture notebook.

Idolatry- To worship or to give priority to anything other than God. (Repeat)

Idolatry when fully present is seen in outward actions such as the Israelites as they worshiped physical idols. Man-made images of gods. But their idolatry wasn’t just in a physical sense. The Israelites also sinned in having what we call idols of the heart or a sinful idolatrous attitude towards things. Paul lists idols of the heart such as lusting in a sexual way, seeking satisfaction in food (gluttony), seeking satisfaction in being around people instead of being satisfied first in their relationship with God.

Paul lists those forms of idols of the heart and then says verse 12. I would underline verse 12 if you haven’t already.

1 Corinthians 10:12 CSB

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

This is a key verse because if someone looks back at history of when they or someone else sinned, and they find themselves in a similar situation, they should run to God to help them in their temptation.

Read v. 13.

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

Paul is saying when we are tempted to make something an idol or to prioritize something about God, we need to turn to God because He is faithful and will help us overcome the temptation.

So in this section, Paul is saying learn from history of your past sins and the sins of others and when you find yourself in a situation when tempted, run to God.

I relate this concept to watching film of yourself.

picture slide of team watching film

explain this illustration and how it relates to learning from our history.

Hopefully we understand this concept of learning from our history in order to say no to the temptation of idolatry.

Transition statement: But why is idolatry such a big deal to Paul, let’s keep reading to find out.

Read 1 Cor. 10:14-22.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Let’s pause here for a moment.

Explain 1 Cor. 10:14-22.

In this section of our passage we see the command to Glorify God

Glorify God

We see this in v. 14.

Re-read v. 14.

1 Corinthians 10:14 CSB

So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

If I’m running away from something it means that I’m running toward something else. In this case I’m running away from sin and I’m running toward God. (use a visual of running toward something)

The Christian should desire to glorify God because of what Christ did. Jesus paid the penalty for sin. The penalty is separation from God, a broken relationship from the creator of the universe. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life in order to pay that penalty. He bore our sin, died or death. Jesus experiencing God the Father turning his back toward him so that one day we can have a right relationship with God, knowing Him, not with his backed turned toward us but receiving us with open arms. It’s because of this that a born again believer should desire to glorify God.

Because what happens when we choose our sin, when we put an idol of the heart in a higher priority than God, we say that God I don’t believe that your good enough, I don’t believe that you can satisfy me enough, love me enough. So I’m going to choose this other thing to bring me the satisfaction that I’m looking for.

In reality in those moments when we choose to sin, we are choosing to believe that Satan and his temptations will bring us more satisfaction, more love, more joy, more good, than what God has already offered you. That’s simply a lie. There is nothing better that having a right relationship with God. There is nothing that compares. Paul is saying here. this is why God cares that you run from idolatry and run to Him, to glorify God. Because He is worth it. He is so much better than any temptation that Satan can dangle in front of you.

Transition statement: In this last section of 1 Cor. 10 Paul will give us some advice on how to practically glorify God in this way. So let’s finish reading chap. 10.

Read 1 Cor. 10:23-11:1.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 24 No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, 26 since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. 11 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

In our final part of our passage tonight, we see that Glorifying God involves Loving Others.

Glorifying God involves Loving Others

Explain 1 Cor. 10:23-11:1.

If you weren’t here this morning to hear Pastor Dave preach on this passage, I highly encourage you to go to Crosspoint’s youtube channel and listen to his sermon as he explained this passage in more depth that what I am going to do tonight.

The big idea that Paul is trying to get across to the church in Corinth is this.

It’s not so much the action that matters as it is the heart motivation behind the action.

In the context of this passage, notice Paul didn’t say stop eating meat. He said to the Corinthians to be aware of their heart attitudes and to not cause someone to sin when eating meat sacrificed to idols.

In today’s context there are many things that can be an idol of the heart.

We can take the same principle that Paul is teaching the Corinthians and apply it to our lives.

For example, I’m going to list some common idols of the heart that people wrestle with today.

Food, sports, grades, sex, money, and being accepted by others are all common idols of the heart and there are so many others that I didn’t list.

Now what would it look like to take Paul’s principle and consider our heart in these temptations of these idols of the heart?

Maybe instead of looking for our own satisfaction in different things, we have the attitude of how can I serve someone else in a God glorifying way. How can I love someone else instead of focusing on loving myself.

In the end, our lives are meant to be lived for something way greater than just bettering ourselves. Our lives have a purpose to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

The last few verses of our passage summarize this very clearly.

1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 CSB

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Application/Conclusion

To close our large group lesson, I want you to reflect, to think, what are some things that battle for top priority in my life? What can I learn about my own history or someone else’s history to remind me that sin will fail me but God will never fail me. Is there an idol of my heart that I need to repent of? Is there something that I need to confess and ask God to forgive me of and run to Him for help to overcome my temptation? I want to you to be honest before God and seek Him because in the end our purpose in life is to glorify him and to find our joy in God forever.