Scott LaPierre Ministries

Scott LaPierre Ministries


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

January 01, 2021

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 upImmorally 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.