Sermon Cloud

June 9/10, 2012
Limiting My Rights
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Pastor Dennis Keating

(For Scripture references and fill-in the blanks)

THE KEY PRINCIPLE: Love regulates liberties. (See 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Peter 2:16; Galatians 5:13)

“. . . where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

THREE REASONS

1. We value love over knowledge. (8:1-3; Mark 7:18-19)

“‘. . . whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?’ (Thus He declared all foods clean.)” Mark 7:18-19

“Some Christians grow; others just swell.” – Anonymous

THE POINT: Knowledge without love is really arrogant immaturity.

2. We know theology must be learned. (8:4-8)

THE CHALLENGE: Don’t ever force a person to violate his conscience. (See Romans 14:23; Colossians 2:16)

“. . . he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink.” Colossians 2:16

3. We won’t cause others to stumble. (8:9-13)

THE CRITICAL QUESTION: Do I love others enough to limit my liberties?