1 Corinthians Week 22

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:17-18 

¹⁷ And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. ¹⁸ Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? 

Just as the Israelites showed their commonality by eating the sacrifices at the altar, believers in Jesus do this at the Lord’s Table. Believers today are brothers and sisters in the body of Christ and display this at the Lord’s Table.  

REFLECT 

As you participate in the Lord’s Supper, do you feel a deeper bond with fellow believers? 

RESPOND 

Join with a believer in praying for other believers and ministries that are close to your heart. Pray for one another’s family. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:19-20 

¹⁹ What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? ²⁰ No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 

Paul wanted to be understood in what he was saying. He wanted all believers in Jesus to understand that sacrifices to idols were actually being offered to demons. Paul did not want Christ-followers to have anything to do with worshiping demons. 

REFLECT 

Is it your desire to stay as far away as you can from anything connected with the demonic world? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Deuteronomy 18:9-12 to see what Moses told the Israelites. He wanted them to obey his instructions as they entered the Promised Land.  

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:21-22 

²¹ You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. ²² What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? 

The Corinthian believers were living where there was much idol worship. Paul did not want those believers to have anything to do with that culture. Believers should not participate in the Lord’s Table and think they could have any part in the table of demons. There would be consequences if they sought to do that.  

REFLECT 

Do you have a reverential fear of the Lord? You should not raise His jealousy by having anything to do with the demonic world. 

RESPOND 

Read Deuteronomy 4:15-20 to see God’s warning about idolatry. An idol is something that is seen in contrast to God who is not seen. In the western world it could be materialism. Matthew 6:24 says one cannot serve two masters. 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 

²³ You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. ²⁴ Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 

Paul cautioned those who were taking their Christian liberty as a license to disrespect others. It is selfish wanting only to please one’s self rather than having the desire to honor Christ in all one does. It is also selfish to be concerned only about yourself and not the good of others. 

REFLECT 

As you seek to honor the Lord Jesus, are you concerned about how others view your life? 

RESPOND 

Talk about this with a friend. In thinking about others see Ephesians 5:15-20 that tells how a believer should live. 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:25-27 

²⁵ So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. ²⁶ For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” ²⁷ If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 

It is not necessary for Christians to ask in the marketplace whether something has been offered to an idol. The same is true if the believer is invited to the home of an unbeliever. The Christian should not make something an issue if the host has not.  

REFLECT 

Does this help you in living the Christian life in front of others? Your main desire should be to live a good testimony before them. 

RESPOND 

Consider Jesus to be your model of what a Christ-follower should be like. The apostle Paul described this in Philippians 2:3-11. Talk about this passage with a friend.