Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up – We Use Knowledge Immorally When It Divides and Makes Proud

Paul said that "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up," (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowledge is amoral, but it can be used in moral and immoral ways: Morally when it's combined with love and builds up Immorally when it's combined with pride and leads to condemning others over nonessentials https://youtu.be/55UFMJ8QsbQ Paul said that "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up," (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowledge is amoral, but it can be used in moral and immoral ways. Table of ContentsSermon Lessons for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up Family Worship Guide for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up Sermon Notes for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds UpLesson 1: knowledge is amoral, but the way we use it is moral.Lesson 2: having knowledge doesn’t always mean determining who’s right and wrong.Lesson 3: knowledge is used morally when combined with love.Lesson 4: knowledge is used immorally (part 1) when combined with pride.Lesson 4: knowledge is used immorally when (part 2) condemning others over nonessentials.Lesson 4: knowledge is used immorally when (part 3) stumbling others. Sermon Lessons for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up Note: Lessons 1-3 are from the previous sermon: Concerning Things Offered to Idols (1 Corinthians 8:1) – Using Knowledge Morally to Build Up Others Lesson 1: Knowledge is amoral, but the way we use it is moral. Lesson 2: Having knowledge doesn’t always mean determining who’s right and wrong (1 Cor 8:4-8; Rom 14:5). Lesson 3: Knowledge is used morally when combined with love (1 Cor 8:1; Eph 4:15; Phil 1:9). Lesson 4: Knowledge is used immorally when: (Part I) Combined ________ __________ (1 Cor 8:1). (Part II) ____________________ ____________ over nonessentials (Rom 14:1-4, 10, 13). (Part III) __________________ others (Rom 2:12-15; 1 Cor 8:9-10) Family Worship Guide for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up Day 1: Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-7 and discuss: Why did the Corinthians’ knowledge puff them up? What does it look like to use our knowledge to build up others? What about using it to build up ourselves in pride? What are some ways we can use knowledge to build up others? What are some ways we can work to prevent knowledge from building us up in pride? Day 2: Read Romans 14:1-3 and discuss: What does it look like to condemn others with our knowledge? When should we condemn others with our knowledge? When shouldn’t we? How do we know the difference? What makes something an opinion (nonessential) versus an essential? Why does the person with more liberty condemn the person with less? Why does the person with less liberty condemn the person with more liberty? Day 3: Read Romans 2:12-15 and 1 Corinthians 8:9-10 and discuss: Why are Jews condemned before God? Why are Gentiles condemned before God? Describe our consciences and how they work. What does it mean to stumble others? Why is it an immoral use of knowledge to do so? Sermon Notes for Knowledge Puffs Up but Love Builds Up This morning we’ll continue in 1 Corinthians 8. The title of last Sunday’s sermon on verses 1-8, was, “Using Knowledge Morally.” The title of this morning’s sermon on verses 9 and 10, is, “Using Knowledge Immorally.” I shared that I wanted to begin a series on wisdom to help us navigate through trials and difficulties. And I think we must understand the differences between knowledge and wisdom…and there’s no better place – at least in my opinion – to understand knowledge than 1 Corinthians 8. Let me briefly review… Last week we discussed that knowledge is amoral, but the way we use it is moral. I left this lesson your handout… Lesson 1: knowledge is amoral, but the way we use it is moral. Knowledge can be used in moral and immoral ways, and some of the Corinthians were using their knowledge immorally. They were facing a situation that was dividing their church: “Should we eat meat sacrificed to idols?” Two groups developed. The first group is in verses 4-6. Look there with me… 1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. Notice Paul used the used the words we and us b/c he was in this group. This first group would say… “Idols aren’t real – there’s no being named Zeus, or Hermes, or Mars – so whatever is offered to them isn’t really offered to anything. I can go in an idol’s temple to buy meat, because it’s no different than any other meat except that it’s cheaper, which means I’m being a good steward of my finances if I buy it.” The second group is in verse 7… 1 Corinthians 8:7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. This second group would say… “I don’t want anything to do with meat sacrificed to idols, and no believer should have anything to do with it. You could give it to me for free and I wouldn’t take it.” Paul made the point that it didn’t matter which group they were in. Look at verse 8… 1 Corinthians 8:8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Neither group is better or worse if they do or don’t eat meat…and this gave us Lesson 2… Lesson 2: having knowledge doesn’t always mean determining who’s right and wrong. Paul didn’t side with anyone or commend one side and rebuke the other. So here’s the question… If it’s not about who’s right and wrong, what is it about? Paul gives the answer in verse 1… 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. Notice the words love builds up. You could say this is what it’s about. This verse reveals how knowledge can be used morally and immorally. Last week we talked about how knowledge can be used morally: when it’s combined with love and builds up…this gave us Lesson 3… Lesson 3: knowledge is used morally when combined with love. Now we can talk about what it means when knowledge is used immorally. Look at the words This “knowledge” puffs up…and this brings us to Lesson 4… Lesson 4: knowledge is used immorally (part 1) when combined with pride. Notice the parallelism: Knowledge puffs up But love builds up Knowledge is going to build up one way or the other: We can use it to build up others We can use it to build up ourselves Unfortunately, some of the Corinthians were using knowledge pridefully to build up themselves. The verse is misleading. It looks like it’s saying knowledge puffs up as though knowledge is immoral and should be avoided. But this should be interpreted in light of the rest of Scripture, and plenty of other verses present knowledge as something valuable that we should pursue. Here are two examples: Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. It’s not saying knowledge is something that should be avoided b/c it make us proud. Instead, it’s saying knowledge is something that CAN make us proud. The ESV translates this well. It adds the word this before knowledge. Instead of saying knowledge puffs up, it says THIS knowledge puffs up. What knowledge? The knowledge the Corinthians had that caused them to say: We’re right and you’re wrong We know better than you. This is why some translations – such as the NIV and ESV – put the words “all of us possess knowledge” in quotation marks. Paul was quoting the Corinthians. They were saying all of US possess knowledge. You can hear the pride. If we’re going to learn you the Corinthians, we should ask ourselves: Is knowledge a source of pride? Does knowledge cause us to act arrogantly? If our knowledge puffs us up, something inevitably happens. We condemn others We look down on people who don’t know as much as us And this bring us to the next part of Lesson 4… Lesson 4: knowledge is used immorally when (part 2) condemning others over nonessentials. Last week I said 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 are similar: In 1 Corinthians 8 they were arguing about food sacrificed to idols In Romans 14 they were arguing about food and days of the week The Romans were using their knowledge immorally to condemn each other over nonessentials. Turn one book to the left to Romans 14:1… Romans 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. It says weak in faith, but it would be better to understand this as weak in [knowledge] or lacking knowledge that others have, b/c this isn’t an issue of having strong or weak faith. Paul says to welcome these people, versus quarrel with them over opinions. Opinionsis such an important word, b/c it reveals what we’re NOT dealing with: We’re not dealing with Scripture. We’re not dealing with hills to die on. We’re not dealing with battles that need to be fought. Instead, they’re nonessentials. What makes something an opinion or nonessential? Basically, it’s something that doesn’t have the weight of Scripture behind it. Scripture doesn’t forbid it or permit it. Therefore, if you’re arguing your opinion, you have to argue without  the Bible’s support. Briefly look at verse 22… Romans 14:22a The faith – again we should think of this as knowledge – that you have, KEEP BETWEEN YOURSELF AND GOD. Paul is urging them to keep their knowledge – or opinions –