Bible Jeopardy 1 Corinthians 8-16 The first part of 1 Corinthians dealt with Paul addressing some concerns he had about the church. The second half, he is responding to questions that the church has asked.

Seems like a game of Jeopardy Paul gives us his answer – we have to figure out the question!

Chapter 7 Marriage Chapter 8/10 Food Practices/Freedom Chapter 11-14Order in Worship/ Communion, Spiritual Gifts & Love Chapter 15Resurrection Chapter 16Collection for Jerusalem

Common Link: Concern for Others Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

1.Can we eat meat sacrificed to idols? Situation Response: The meat itself is not the issue. The issue is people’s response. If it bothers people, be sensitive to them. We have freedom in Christ, but don’t lead others into temptation.

1 Corinthians 8 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

1 Corinthian “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

What does that mean for us? Don’t be legalistic… But there are things that are not good for us, or for others. Be sensitive to the weaknesses not only of yourself, but others as well. Make the best choices.

2. The Lord’s Supper – what about the people doing it irreverently and eating ahead of others? Situation Response: Don’t take the ritual lightly; look at yourself and be reverent. Don’t just think about yourself; the meal isn’t about filling your stomach but rather your soul and the church.

1 Corinthians Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

Good reminder to us to come to the Lord’s table with reverence and unity. The ceremony is both individual and corporate… It is a time to thank Christ for saving us one by one and placing us in His family.

3. Spiritual gifts – are some better than others? What is the purpose? Situation Response: The variety of gifts are to benefit the church. They should be used to build up the church, rather than divide. Use them with love.

Use all gifts, with love, to build up the church. Ch. 12: Different gifts/One body Ch. 13: Love Ch. 14: Prophecy vs. Tongues

1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. Chapter Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

Love must be the overriding motivation in the use of spiritual gifts. Without love, the gifts are “…nothing, nothing at all.” A gift without love is meaningless, insulting.

4. Did Jesus really come back to life? What happens to believers after they die? Situation Response: If Christ didn’t die and come back to life, our faith is worthless. And like Christ, our bodies will be resurrected in a transformed way.

1 Corinthian If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.

But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Today, being a Christian isn’t just about going though the motions of church, thinking the stories might be true, but knowing that the power of Christ is in the resurrection... And that we too will receive bodily resurrection and eternal life.

Paul’s special request: A collection for the church in Jerusalem He was concerned for the persecuted Jerusalem church… Set aside a little bit at a time, so in due time you will have a gift to send.

Likewise, we are called to set aside funds to response to the needs of others: Fellowship Fund $20 Club Missionaries Federated Guild Personal responses Fire victims

Common Link: Concern for Others To build up the Body of Christ UNITY