1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 Personal Study Guide
January 12, 2020

INTRODUCTION

This inductive Bible study is designed to walk you through a particular passage and help you study it thoroughly. It is divided into five parts or “steps” which will guide you from a larger, broader perspective down to a more narrow, tightened understanding of the text. This guide also contains additional components, such as Going Deeper and Further Study, to help you as you work through the text.

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE
2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE
3. FOCUSING ON KEY WORDS
4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE
5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Beginning with the day after your growth group meets, we encourage you to get alone with God and follow the instructions provided in this guide. Each step has specific guidelines followed by questions. We trust if you faithfully use this study to meet with the LORD each day not only will your personal walk with the LORD grow deeper but your growth group experience will be enhanced as well.

The discussion of eating food sacrificed to idols comes to a close with this final section at the
end of chapter 10. Two scenarios inform Paul’s instruction: purchasing food in the marketplace
and being invited into the home of an unbeliever. Paul addresses the same issues of 1 Corinthians
chapters 8 and 9 when he exhorts the believers to put no stumbling block in the way of
the gospel.

Bringing glory to God and building up one’s neighbor provide general principles for eating
food sacrificed to idols. Acting almost as filters, these are the questions believers must ask
themselves concerning eating and drinking: “Will this edify and strengthen others (10:24)?”
And, “Will this glorify God (10:31)?” Paul’s own life served as an example of such sacrificial living
so he therefore exhorts the believers to imitate him as he imitates Christ (11:1).

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE

Discovering the Passage seeks to get an overall idea of the meaning of the passage. Think bigpicture. Pray for God to open your eyes to the meaning of Scripture.

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 slowly and thoughtfully. What is the primary issue(s) Paul is
    addressing in this passage?

  2. According to this text, what should be the primary principle that guides every minor and major decision of our lives? How is God glorified in the way we relate to ourselves and others

  3. How do verses 24 and 32-33 put parameters around our freedom in Christ?

2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE

Identifying the Structure seeks to gain insight into why the author wrote the way he did. Try to think like the author. Pray for God to give you insight into the writing of the Scriptures.

Questions

  1. The ESV divides verses 10:23-11:1 into two paragraphs. What is the main point/theme of each paragraph?

  2. Why are we including verse 1 of chapter 11 in with verses 23-32 of chapter 10?

  3. In verse 33, Paul uses the word “that” to give the purpose for living for the good of his neighbor. What is that purpose?

Pause & Pray

  1. Think about the way that you relate to others. Is it usually for your own benefit or is it for the good of others?

  2. Pray that the Lord would give you strength to follow the example of Paul, who did not seek his own advantage, but lived with a focus on winning lost souls for Christ.

3. Focusing on Key Words

Focusing on Key Words seeks to identify and contemplate the use and meaning of specific words or concepts within the text. Pray for God to open your eyes to words and concepts you’ve never seen before or have overlooked.

Going Deeper: The Example of Israel

In 1 Corinthians 10:33, Paul indicates that he tries to please everyone (Greek: aresko) in everything he does. This verse can be subject to misinter.pretation and wrongly applied when not understood properly. It does not mean that Christians are to seek to please unbelievers by adopting sinful practices that are contrary to God’s word. Additionally, it does not mean that believers ultimately seek admiration of others who are lost. In Galatians 1:10, Paul uses the same word “please” negatively (i.e. flattery) and says that seeking the admiration of others is contrary to serving Christ.

The verb “to please” in 1 Cor 10:33 has the positive idea of accommodating oneself to the desires and interests of others (cf. Romans 15:1-3). It is a Christ-focused, self-denying kind of accomodation that does not seek its own advantage (v. 33) but instead seeks the good of his neighbor (v. 24). Paul has this in mind when he instructs the church in v. 27 to eat whatever is set before them at an unbeliever’s home. Believers there.fore must seek to prayerfully grow in their love and respect for those who are lost, which includes an awareness and sensitivity to cultural and religious backgrounds. Ultimately, we want to follow Paul’s example (1 Cor 11:1) and seek to become all things to all men in order to win them to Christ (1 Cor 9:22). That is the purpose of seeking to please everyone… “that they may be saved” (v. 33).

Now prayerfully answer the questions below

Questions

  1. What is the difference between something being lawful and something being helpful?

  2. Why are Christians instructed to not seek their own personal good (v. 24)? Why is “seeking personal good” bad?

  3. Considering what Paul states in vv. 27-30, how should our actions be impacted (or not be impacted) by the conscience of someone else?

  4. Paul issues a command for believers to “give no offense” in v. 32. This can also be translated “do not cause anyone to stumble.” Considering the context of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 8-11:1, in what ways can a Christian negatively give offense to others?

Pause & Pray

  1. Are you considerate of those who think differently than you?

  2. Pray for a heart of compassion that seeks to rise above a singular perspective in order to see and love others.

4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE: A

Connecting to the Whole seeks to become aware of how key concepts and themes are seen elsewhere in Scripture. This is allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Pray for God to help you see how this passage connects to the rest of the Bible.

Questions

First Paragraph (1 Corinthians 10:23-30)

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 9:22, 23; Romans 14:19 in its context. What should motivate our conduct in relationship to our neighbor? What should negatively motivate us?

  2. How does 1 Cor 8:4-6 and 1 Cor 10:19-22 inform verses 25-28?

  3. Verses 25-26: Paul gives an interesting instruction to the believers: “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.” On what basis did he state this? Psalm 24:1; 50:12; & 1 Timothy 4:3-5.

  4. Starting in Acts 10:9 and following, Peter faced an dilemma regarding the Jewish diet when he entered a Gentile home, lodged there, and ate what was served by the centurion. Reflect on this passage to understand the Lord’s perspective on food and interactions with other cultures & people.

4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE: B

Connecting to the Whole seeks to become aware of how key concepts and themes are seen elsewhere in Scripture. This is allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Pray for God to help you see how this passage connects to the rest of the Bible.

Second Paragraph (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1)

  1. Reflect on Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 5:16; & 1 Peter 4:10, 11 and see how else we glorify God in Scripture.

  2. What is the discipleship and missional reason for the exhortation “Give no offense” in verses 32-33? 1 Corinthians 9:12, 22-23; 2 Corinthians 6:3; Romans 14;19; & 15:1-3.

  3. 1 Cor 11:1 is the second time in 1 Corithians (1 Cor. 4:16) that Paul exhorts us to a specific action. What is it and why?

Pause & Pray

  1. Am I willing to give up my rights for the good of and the building up of my fellow believers as well as for the sake of the gospel–that my neighbor and the nations may be saved?

  2. Ask the Lord for the grace and humility to willingly give up your rights and preferences for the gospel.

5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Applying the Text seeks to see people changed as the Word of God is brought to bear in the lives of individuals and communities (growth groups). Pray for God to reveal to you where you need to change and have the courage to take action.

Questions

  1. How should conscience, both ours and others, guide the way we live our lives?

  2. How are Paul’s teachings different from being two-faced or double-tongued?

  3. How does this passage confront an individualistic mindset, that I should only be concerned about myself?

  4. What are some practical ways that your Growth Group can cultivate a greater concern for others? Towards one another in the group? Lost people around us? Our neighbors?

  5. If you aren’t being discipled, identify a Christian you look up to in your Growth Group. Request opportunities to pray and discuss spiritual life.

Prayer

Use the following prayer prompts to guide you in your prayers as a Growth Group:

For Your Growth Group

Thank you, Lord, for the freedoms we have in Christ. Help us as individuals and as a growth group to live lives worthy of You as we interact with each other. Help us to be helpful and edifying to each other in all we say and do.

For Parkwood

Take our church, Lord, and use Parkwood to be a vessel to your praise and glory throughout Gaston County. Help Parkwood to continue to grow, starting new growth groups and churches in such a way that you increase and we decrease.

For Your Neighbors

Lord, when our neighbors notice our selflessness and sacrifice, may we not accept the praise ourselves, but turn it back to you. Help us to use these moments to share about how you have changed us.

For The Nations

The practice of carefully buying food according to local religious customs and practices is normal outside the U.S.
Lord, we pray for our workers in Central Asia, when buying meat at the market or eating at an unbeliever’s home, to have a Christ-focused, self denying lifestyle that God uses to save those that are lost in the home.