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Christians and Controversial Topics | 1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians

How do Christians preserve unity when they disagree on controversial topics? Jermaine Harrison walks us through 1 Corinthians 8 and shows us how we can foster unity when seeing things differently pushes us to divide.

Jermaine Harrison • Jun 12, 2022
1 Corinthians 8:1-13

In This Series (20)
Standing Firm In A Fallen World | 1 Corinthians 16
David Marvin • Jul 31, 2022
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts | 1 Corinthians 14
Oren Martin • Jul 24, 2022
A Church Marked by Love | 1 Corinthians 13
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jul 17, 2022
How To Build A Church | 1 Corinthians 12
John Elmore • Jul 10, 2022
God's Design for Men and Women | 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jul 3, 2022
Repentance, Allegiance & Deference for the Glory of God | 1 Corinthians 10
John Elmore • Jun 26, 2022
Giving, Sharing, and Living for the Gospel | 1 Corinthians 9
John Elmore • Jun 19, 2022
Christians and Controversial Topics | 1 Corinthians 8
Jermaine Harrison • Jun 12, 2022
Being Single | 1 Corinthians 7:7-40
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jun 5, 2022
Fighting For Your Marriage | 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 22, 2022
Sex and Glorifying God | 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 15, 2022
Conflict: An Inevitable Opportunity | 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 1, 2022
Church Discipline: Sin, Grace, and Shepherding | 1 Corinthians 5
John Elmore • Apr 24, 2022
The Resurrection Is the Remedy to Our Hypocrisy | 1 Corinthians 15
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Apr 17, 2022
The Purpose, Plot Twists, and Power of Christ | 1 Corinthians 4
John Elmore • Apr 10, 2022
Being a Healthy Church | 1 Corinthians 3:1-23
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 27, 2022
The Miracle of Spiritual Maturity | 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 20, 2022
The Miracle of Salvation | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 13, 2022
Priority, Preference, and Power | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
John Elmore • Mar 6, 2022
Called, Gifted, and Kept by Jesus | 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John Elmore • Feb 27, 2022

In This Series (21)

Standing Firm In A Fallen World | 1 Corinthians 16
Standing Firm In A Fallen World | 1 Corinthians 16

David Marvin • Jul 31, 2022

The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts | 1 Corinthians 14
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts | 1 Corinthians 14

Oren Martin • Jul 24, 2022

A Church Marked by Love | 1 Corinthians 13
A Church Marked by Love | 1 Corinthians 13

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jul 17, 2022

How To Build A Church | 1 Corinthians 12
How To Build A Church | 1 Corinthians 12

John Elmore • Jul 10, 2022

God's Design for Men and Women | 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
God's Design for Men and Women | 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jul 3, 2022

Repentance, Allegiance & Deference for the Glory of God | 1 Corinthians 10
Repentance, Allegiance & Deference for the Glory of God | 1 Corinthians 10

John Elmore • Jun 26, 2022

Giving, Sharing, and Living for the Gospel | 1 Corinthians 9
Giving, Sharing, and Living for the Gospel | 1 Corinthians 9

John Elmore • Jun 19, 2022

Christians and Controversial Topics | 1 Corinthians 8
Christians and Controversial Topics | 1 Corinthians 8

Jermaine Harrison • Jun 12, 2022

Being Single | 1 Corinthians 7:7-40
Being Single | 1 Corinthians 7:7-40

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Jun 5, 2022

Fighting For Your Marriage | 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Fighting For Your Marriage | 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 22, 2022

Sex and Glorifying God | 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Sex and Glorifying God | 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 15, 2022

Conflict: An Inevitable Opportunity | 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Conflict: An Inevitable Opportunity | 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Timothy "TA" Ateek • May 1, 2022

Church Discipline: Sin, Grace, and Shepherding | 1 Corinthians 5
Church Discipline: Sin, Grace, and Shepherding | 1 Corinthians 5

John Elmore • Apr 24, 2022

The Resurrection Is the Remedy to Our Hypocrisy | 1 Corinthians 15
The Resurrection Is the Remedy to Our Hypocrisy | 1 Corinthians 15

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Apr 17, 2022

The Purpose, Plot Twists, and Power of Christ | 1 Corinthians 4
The Purpose, Plot Twists, and Power of Christ | 1 Corinthians 4

John Elmore • Apr 10, 2022

Being a Healthy Church | 1 Corinthians 3:1-23
Being a Healthy Church | 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 27, 2022

The Miracle of Spiritual Maturity | 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
The Miracle of Spiritual Maturity | 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 20, 2022

The Miracle of Salvation | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Miracle of Salvation | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Timothy "TA" Ateek • Mar 13, 2022

Priority, Preference, and Power | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Priority, Preference, and Power | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

John Elmore • Mar 6, 2022

Called, Gifted, and Kept by Jesus | 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Called, Gifted, and Kept by Jesus | 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

John Elmore • Feb 27, 2022

Summary

Much like society today, the people of the Corinthian church found themselves divided over controversial (not foundational to the Christian faith) topics. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses Christians and challenges them to desire and pursue unity amongst each other. Here are 3 habits that create unity when controversial topics push to divide us:

  • Care more about making a difference than making a point. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)
    • Knowledge should ultimately lead to the benefit of other believers. If knowledge makes you feel superior or to live how you want, you’re missing the point.
    • The most important kind of knowing is to be known by God.
  • Pursue truth while practicing patience. (1 Corinthians 8:4-8)
    • Run from idols and run to God – the only true source of rescue, meaning, and satisfaction. Firmly believing this truth and allowing our convictions to be informed by it takes time, hard work, commitment, and humility.
    • Our experiences, upbringing, and culture often have a direct impact on what we believe and how we live our lives. Deeply held beliefs don’t change overnight, so be patient with each other.
    • What commends us to God isn’t correct convictions but a clean heart.
  • Limit your freedom so others can freely follow Jesus. (1 Corinthians 8:9-13)
    • We all have more influence than we think we do on our friends, family, children, students, roommates, coworkers, etc.
    • We should view every Christian as the object of Christ’s love and affection.
    • If your actions motivate a fellow Christian to sin, you are not free to do it.
    • God invites us into something greater than rules and law; He invites us to a higher law of love.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

  • How can you be known for compassion, patience, and gentleness?
  • In what ways can you display patience while pursuing truth?
  • Do you need to seek forgiveness in a relationship from for making a disagreement a matter of spiritual maturity or for motivating another Christian to sin?
  • Which one of these habits do you want to be challenged by the Lord to act on?