Who You Love Is More Important Than What You Know

In one paragraph

Pastor Raymond opened First Corinthians 8 by noting that it looks like a relief after seven chapters of hard topics, but the passage cuts just as close to home. The question of meat offered to idols turns out to be a question about what matters more: what you know, or who you love. The Corinthians had written to Paul with questions, and most scholars read "we all have knowledge" as a line Paul is...

Read together

1. Psalm 103:1 opened the service with 'Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me'
2. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 main passage for the sermon on knowledge, love, and meat offered to idols
3. Galatians (specific verse unclear) Paul contrasting knowing God with being known by God
4. James (specific verse unclear) to him who knows to do good and does it not, it is sin
5. Romans (stated as Romans 9:1 but preacher was uncertain) Paul wishing he could be accursed so others might know Jesus
6. 1 John 4:7-11 closing passage on loving one another because God is love and sent His Son

Talk about it

1. Pastor Raymond suggested that Paul's phrase 'we all have knowledge' was likely a quote from the Corinthians' own letter to him, and that knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Where have you seen that tension play out in your own experience of church life?
2. Pastor Raymond said 'who you love is more important than what you know,' and that if you love God you are known by Him. What does it mean to you personally to be known by God, and how does that shape the way you relate to other people?
3. The sermon described Christians in Corinth who were theologically correct about idols, yet their freedom to eat meat offered to idols was causing real damage to newer believers who came out of pagan worship. Can you think of a situation closer to home where exercising a genuine Christian liberty might hurt someone whose conscience works differently than yours?
4. Pastor Raymond said 'good theology applied without love is sin.' That is a strong statement. Do you agree with it, and what does it look like in practice to hold your theological convictions without using them as a weapon?
5. Paul's conclusion in 1 Corinthians 8 was that if food makes his brother stumble, he will never eat meat again. Pastor Raymond connected that to Jesus giving His life for others and suggested everything we do should be motivated by love rather than rights. What is one area of your own life where love might ask you to voluntarily set aside something you have every right to do?