Sabbath School Lesson 5 Summary – All to the Glory of God | Q3 2026

Speaker A 00:00:00 - 00:00:37 Hello, I'm Clive Nash. Welcome to Let God Speak. How do we navigate Christian freedom without harming others or compromising our faith? In a world filled with competing loyalties, this week's Sabbath School lesson tackles a heated issue in Corinth— food offered to idols. This one issue reveals a timeless principle for every believer and practical wisdom for living faithfully today. Stay with us as we let God speak through His Word to learn how to do everything, whether eating, drinking, or any daily choice, for the glory of God. Speaker B 00:00:37 - 00:00:38 Mm-hmm. Speaker A 00:01:03 - 00:01:11 Well, on our panel today we have Corinne Knopper and John Kosmeier. There's something about that Dutch sound there to those names, isn't there? Speaker B 00:01:11 - 00:01:11 Yes. Speaker A 00:01:11 - 00:01:34 But good to have you with us today, and I'm Clive Nash. Before we begin our discussion, let's take time to pray. Our loving Father in heaven, we just want to thank you that we have your word and that you are willing to speak to us through it today. And we pray that as we study this topic together and discuss it, that your Holy Spirit will be here to guide us. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Speaker B 00:01:34 - 00:01:35 Amen. Speaker A 00:01:35 - 00:01:47 Well, first of all, I'm going to read a text from the book of Acts. Acts chapter 15, verses 28 and 29, before I direct my first question to you, Corinne. Speaker B 00:01:47 - 00:01:48 Thank you. Speaker A 00:01:48 - 00:02:28 Acts chapter 15, verses 28 and 29. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. And notice what he says, that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. Now, this is talking about the Jerusalem Council. And they were deciding on these issues about sexual immorality and idolatry and so on. Corinne, do these things seem to be commonly linked together in the New Testament? Speaker B 00:02:28 - 00:03:13 They do seem to be when Paul is writing in the Book of Acts of the Apostles. And there are a few instances where Paul mentions them together, and we can find that what he's written in Ephesians. So if we turn over to Ephesians, chapter 5 and go to verse 5, we're going to see what he says here. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. So these vices seem to travel so frequently together and they have good company, it seems, with each other. Speaker A 00:03:13 - 00:03:14 Bad company. Speaker B 00:03:14 - 00:03:26 Oh, bad company, yes. And then he continues telling us, as we're going to find out in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. And he's gonna keep and tell us a little more about what idols are. Speaker A 00:03:26 - 00:03:42 Okay, now just moving on to another idea that Paul brings up in Corinthians, John, and that's this idea of the relationship between knowledge and love. And how does he rank those? Speaker C 00:03:42 - 00:04:18 Knowledge is important, But love is fundamental in actions and relationships with people. We can read in 1 Corinthians chapter 8, and I'm reading from the New King James Version starting from verse 1 through to verse 3. Now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, and I like what it says in the margin. In the margin, of chapter 8, verse 1, it says, makes arrogant. Speaker B 00:04:18 - 00:04:20 Hmm. Speaker C 00:04:20 - 00:04:51 Whereas love, what it does is it builds up. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him. It's love that should control how we act, both in what we do, but also to not be a stumbling block to others. Speaker A 00:04:51 - 00:05:11 Okay. Just going on in that same chapter, in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Paul writes, therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. Speaker C 00:05:11 - 00:05:12 Mm-hmm. Speaker A 00:05:12 - 00:05:44 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live. So Corinne, this idea of eating food offered to idols, it was a serious issue in the Corinthian church, it seems, doesn't it? Speaker B 00:05:44 - 00:06:40 Yes, it was very much in Corinth. The idol worship was so deeply connected with everyday life, their business, their social gatherings. Even if we were to be getting together, it would have been put into that as well. And some of the Christians just thought that idols were nothing. They were of nothingness, no benefit, and therefore they felt that it was freedom just to eat any of the food anywhere that was offered to them. And attending any of those pagan festivals, there was all these foods and the meats that were offered to the idols. It was just something that was part of what and who they were. And the poor weaker believers, they would misunderstand that. And that would be a sadness to think that Christianity was so-called approving idolatry. A very sad thing. Speaker A 00:06:40 - 00:06:55 Okay, so John, Paul talks about these weak Christians and strong Christians in relation to eating meat offered to idols that were sold in the market. And what was the outlook of the, what he calls the weak Christians? Speaker C 00:06:58 - 00:08:07 According to verse 7, however, there is not in everyone that knowledge. For some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But then it goes on in verse 8, The reality is that food does not commend us to God. For neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. And so this is a question that Paul says, you know, does the eating of the food make any difference? And a rich, strong-minded person can accept that, but the weak one, They're a little bit trying to work it out. And so in verse 9, he says, but beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. And so we need to take care of other people because love is greater than knowledge. Yes. Speaker A 00:08:07 - 00:08:15 Yeah, so it's really a matter of example, isn't it? And Corinne, how does Paul sum up this issue of food offered to idols? Speaker B 00:08:15 - 00:09:07 Well, we can keep reading here because verses 10 to 13 will help us understand a little bit more about it. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things that are offered to the idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ has died? But when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat lest I make my brother stumble. And I'm finding that it's the same as I practice what I preach. Speaker C 00:09:07 - 00:09:07 Mm-hmm. Speaker B 00:09:07 - 00:09:09 And that's what people see. Speaker A 00:09:10 - 00:09:12 Okay, so it's a matter of example. Speaker B 00:09:12 - 00:09:13 Example, yes. Speaker A 00:09:13 - 00:09:15 Concern about the welfare of the other person. Speaker B 00:09:15 - 00:09:17 Yes. Speaker A 00:09:17 - 00:09:24 So John, so how does Paul apply this concept or the principle of love to his ministry? Speaker C 00:09:24 - 00:10:16 Yes, he switches now from eating food offered to idols to giving an example how he did things which he didn't have to do, but he did them because it set an example to others. And so we can read here in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 this time, going on beyond chapter 8, starting from verse 2. If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and to drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord? That's Christ's brothers. Speaker B 00:10:16 - 00:10:16 Hmm. Speaker C 00:10:16 - 00:10:46 And Cephas. And he is saying here that the church could have supported me. And if I had a wife and I wouldn't have to work because they would support what I'm doing. I've also said we haven't done any of that because we don't want to. We want to set a good example of how we can. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Speaker A 00:10:47 - 00:11:23 Okay, so I'm going to go back to Acts chapter 18 now and verse 3. And see what we find here. Acts 18:3. So because he was of the same trade, this is Paul, he stayed with them, Aquila and Priscilla, for by occupation they were tentmakers. So Corinne, he didn't need to work at his trade, but he could have been supported by the church, couldn't he? Yes. Speaker B 00:11:24 - 00:13:11 He could very well have been. And it was something quite stirring for him that he would be able to say and do such things. But he didn't do that. He and Barnabas didn't want to be a burden to this young church that was there in Corinth. And we don't know what Barnabas did live for, for his living, because we said here Paul was a tentmaker, so he could make a living. And But we do know Barnabas was a very generous person because if we go over to Acts chapter 4, a little bit before what you've just read, we can find a little bit about him. And if I read verses 36 and 37, it says, And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles, which translated is son of encouragement, A Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. He was being very, very generous to them. And he didn't claim any of those privileges that were ordained, say, in the Book of Moses and what Moses had said in the law there. And in 1 Corinthians, we learn a little bit more. We keep going in 1 Corinthians that we're studying. chapter 9, verse 9. And it says, for it is written in the Law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about? And he is quoting, when I look a little bit closer, from Deuteronomy 25, verse 4. Speaker C 00:13:11 - 00:13:12 Hmm. Speaker B 00:13:12 - 00:13:17 Showing a little bit more of what an oxen can do, what people can do. Speaker A 00:13:19 - 00:13:29 Okay, now John, the heading of my chapter, of chapter 9, is Pattern of Self-Denial. So how did Paul sum up his ministry at Corinth? Speaker C 00:13:29 - 00:14:08 When you read 1 Corinthians 9:12, I like the way that the New Living Translation puts the verse. If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? Yet we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything that put an obstacle in the way of the good news about Christ. And this is where, remember, this week's lesson is about everything to the glory of God. Speaker A 00:14:08 - 00:14:08 Yes. Speaker C 00:14:09 - 00:14:30 And so rather than accept what is their rightful being kept by the church for the work that they've done, they've said, no, we can do this ourselves. And the people go, huh? And it's all to the glory of God. Speaker A 00:14:30 - 00:14:34 Yeah. And Corinne, did Paul see benefits flowing from his selfless ministry? Speaker B 00:14:35 - 00:16:27 I believe he did because he does write a bit of the outcomes for us, and that's still continuing in 1 Corinthians chapter 9. And he'll tell us a little bit more about it in verses 19 through to 23. And this is what he tells us. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more. And to the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law, not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law; to the weak, I become as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. That's a lot to take in there, but Ellen White unpacks it a little bit more in her Gospel Workers, page 92, and I'm going to read this quote for you where she He says that Paul varied his manner of labour, always shaping his message to the circumstances under which he was placed. The labourer for God should study carefully the best methods, in order that he may not needlessly arouse prejudice or stir up combativeness in his hearers. Speaker A 00:16:29 - 00:16:42 Yeah, in chapter 11, verse 1, John, Paul says, imitate me. Well, it could sound a bit egocentric, but then the rest of the verse says, just as I also imitate Christ. Speaker C 00:16:42 - 00:16:44 Hmm. Speaker A 00:16:44 - 00:17:00 So he was pointing to his own example here, but then pointing to Jesus, the ultimate example to follow. And what Old Testament story does Paul draw on in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, to give a warning to the church. Speaker C 00:17:04 - 00:18:27 This particular part of Corinthians is actually a summary of both Exodus, the book Exodus, and also the book Numbers. And it says here, Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers As listed in the book of Exodus and Numbers. Were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. And so here, the whole group had the cloud of divine protection and guidance and good food and drink, but they disappointed God and Moses, as we read in verse 5, and then on to verse 6 and 7. But with most of them, God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our example to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters. Hello, there's that word again. Speaker B 00:18:27 - 00:18:28 Hmm. Yes. Speaker C 00:18:28 - 00:18:50 As were some of them, as it is written, the people sat down to eat and to drink. And guess what? They rose up to play. And that's where the problem comes in, when you start making sacrifices and eating and drinking that which has been offered to idols. Speaker A 00:18:50 - 00:19:01 Yeah, and Paul would have been very much aware of that golden calf story that he's referring to here in this chapter. But can we make this relevant for today, Corinne? Speaker B 00:19:01 - 00:20:46 I think it gives us a very clear warning of what could be happening today and how we can understand it, because he still keeps writing in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 telling us even more of what we can do. And I'm going to read verses 8 to 11 to see what he says here. Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day 23,000 fell. Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted and were destroyed by serpents. Nor complain, as some of them also complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. So in mentioning that sexual immorality there in verse 8, Paul's implying some things such as the feasts in the temple because that happened there. And Corinthians has a special slogan that I found a little earlier in reading Corinthians, and it said, foods for the stomach and stomach for foods. And that was 1 Corinthians 6:13, which we haven't read yet at all. And that was just to put a justification on eating in the pagan temples. And so those patterns of sin and divine judgment are an example for us today, what we are doing today, as well as for the Corinthian people in the churches there in Paul's day. Speaker A 00:20:46 - 00:20:55 Now, John, when we read these stories and these texts, we, it's easier for us to point the finger, you know, and say we would've done better, isn't it? Speaker C 00:20:55 - 00:21:08 Surely so. But Paul says in verse 12, therefore take, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Speaker B 00:21:08 - 00:21:09 Fall over. Speaker C 00:21:09 - 00:21:46 You become overconfident, you'll be the one that falls. But then God goes on to say in verse 13, no temptation has overcome you except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also makes the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. And so, the devil will come along and tempt us with all kinds of things. But God won't allow him to tempt us about above that we are able to overcome that temptation. Speaker B 00:21:46 - 00:21:47 Hallelujah! Speaker A 00:21:47 - 00:21:49 Wonderful promise, isn't it? Speaker C 00:21:49 - 00:21:50 It is a wonderful promise. Speaker A 00:21:50 - 00:22:02 I'm going to read verse 14, 1 Corinthians 10, verse 14. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. Now, Corinne, he's quite straightforward here, isn't he, in what he says? Speaker B 00:22:02 - 00:22:03 Very much so. Speaker A 00:22:03 - 00:22:07 And then he goes on to write about the Lord's Supper. Why does he bring that in, do you think? Speaker B 00:22:09 - 00:23:03 Let's read it first and see why it might happen. That's verses 16 and 17. The cup of blessing which we bless, Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body. For we all partake of that one bread, our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't it? And we eat and we drink those emblems of Christ's broken body. He broke it for us so we could identify with Him. And we participate in the benefits of His death and His resurrection through what is portrayed here. Yes, the blood of Jesus, He died for me. Speaker A 00:23:03 - 00:23:08 Now, John, these emblems, is there any intrinsic value or merit in them? Speaker C 00:23:11 - 00:23:35 Not really when you stop and think about it. I like what Andrew's Bible says on this particular question. It says, the real worth is what is represented. Eating foods that have been prayed over in immediate connection with these institutions cause one to participate in the life and community of the deities. You notice it's plural there. Speaker A 00:23:35 - 00:23:35 Hmm. Speaker C 00:23:35 - 00:24:03 Whereas God is only one. But when we're dealing with this particular question of idols, which also is plural, here in 1 Corinthians 10:19, it says, the question is asked, what am I saying then, that an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? And the implied answer to that is no. Speaker A 00:24:03 - 00:24:04 Mm-hmm. Speaker C 00:24:04 - 00:24:16 Of course not. But, But here in verse 20, it says, rather, the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons. Oh, oh. Speaker B 00:24:16 - 00:24:17 Oh, demons. Speaker C 00:24:17 - 00:24:29 And not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. And so Paul is saying this for us. The protection is there. Speaker B 00:24:29 - 00:24:30 Yes. Speaker C 00:24:30 - 00:24:43 And so we don't need to offer up an offering to our idols because you're offering it to the devil. Oh dear. That's the Apostle Paul. Speaker A 00:24:43 - 00:24:50 Yeah, but Corinne, if I'm going to the market, I don't know whether the meat's been offered to idols or not, do I? Speaker B 00:24:50 - 00:24:50 No. Speaker A 00:24:50 - 00:24:54 So, you know, was eating that meat wrong? Speaker B 00:24:54 - 00:26:29 Well, it didn't change it in one aspect. at all. But if we continue what Paul is saying about this, it can be helpful to us in verses 25 to 30. Eat whatever is sold in the marketplace, asking no questions for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, this was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for the conscience's sake. For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. Conscience, I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by any man's conscience? And then verse 30 says, but if I partake with thanks. Why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? There were so many foods that were distributed in the market, not just meat. Oh, I can't think about that. And he would not eat it because of his conscience's sake if he knew it was from an idol. And I don't want to do the wrong thing by putting things in front of people If it's wrong, it's like an idol here. What I eat, what I wear, everything like that is not right. Speaker A 00:26:29 - 00:26:35 Now, John, can you just read for us verse 31? I think this summarizes things very well. Speaker B 00:26:35 - 00:26:35 Yes. Speaker C 00:26:35 - 00:26:52 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. And that's the whole purpose of our witnessing, isn't it? To be, to raise up the glory of God, and to bring others to the blessings that are there. Speaker A 00:26:52 - 00:27:58 Yeah. Okay, well, you know, it's, we sometimes look back at these issues and think, if I'd been there, I would have been better. But it's good to learn by example from the love as well as the knowledge, isn't it? You know, Paul clearly cared about the church in Corinth. He lovingly warned them to flee from sexual immorality and to flee from idols. Few people have idols of wood, metal, or stone today, but idols can take various forms. Anything or anyone that supplants worship of the true God of heaven is an idol. How much better our world would be if we did all to the glory of God! Well, we're glad you joined us today on Let God Speak. If you were blessed by this program, why not tell your friends? Remember, All past programs plus teachers' notes are available on our website, 3abnaustralia.org.au. Email us on [email protected]. Join us again next time, and until then, God bless. Speaker B 00:27:58 - 00:28:31 You have been listening to Let God Speak. This has been Let God Speak, a production of 3ABN Australia Television. To catch up on past programs, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. Call us in Australia on 02 4973 3456 or email [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.