Bible Reading Challenge #19
Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
The Bible is a catalogue of real people with real problems seeking to honor the real God. Chapter 9 gets into a touchy yet honest conversation: money. Paul seems expected to do all of his ministry work pro bono. While other apostles were financially supported by the church, Paul often was not. Instead, he worked as a tentmaker and funded much of his own travel and preaching.
That raises a modern question: Should pastors be paid? For most of us, the answer seems obvious—yes (and I am personally very grateful for that!). But Paul’s teaching pushes us to move beyond what “feels right” and think through what is biblically right.
Paul argues that laborers should share in the fruit of their labor. He points back to the Old Testament, where God provided for priests through the offerings of the people. In the same way, Paul says those who preach the gospel should receive support from those who benefit from it. This is the same principle that drives how churches operate today—offerings are used to fund personnel, buildings, and ministry. On average, staff expenses make up 50–60% of a church’s budget. Is that right?
Well, it depends. Some churches operate with bi-vocational pastors—leaders who serve the church but also maintain outside employment. This can be a faithful and effective model, especially for smaller congregations. Other churches, as resources and needs grow, employ full-time pastors and staff who can dedicate themselves fully to shepherding and leading. Both can be viable; what matters is the fit for the church’s context.
What we must avoid are two extremes:
Treating the church like a charity that exists to keep a pastor on payroll, regardless of real need.
Expecting pastors to pour themselves out full-time while not compensating them fairly.
Paul reminds us that these kinds of issues—though practical and sometimes uncomfortable—are still spiritual issues. As Christians, we are called to honor God in everything, including how we steward our resources as individuals and as a church, as well as how we support those who minister among us.
Bible Reading Challenge #18
Read 1 Corinthians 8
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
Day 2 of Chapter 8
Read 1 Corinthians 8
Yesterday, we discussed how to approach a topic that weighs heavily on another person's conscience. We should tread lightly, not arrogantly, into those conversations—for the sake of the other. We are not to abuse our freedoms at the expense of our brothers and sisters.
Today, I want us to focus on the other side: those who hold to cultural convictions that are not biblically forbidden. For Paul, the topic at hand was meat sacrificed to idols. In Corinth, the congregation was comprised of many recent converts, most of whom came from a pluralistic religious background. Simply put, they used to worship the very gods and idols that Paul says are “nothing at all.” While this is true, it was not an easy concept to leave behind quickly. As a result, eating meat sacrificed to idols felt like condoning idol worship. The consciences of these recent converts were being tested. It just didn’t feel right! While love and patience are demanded, Paul is also clear that there is nothing to fear.
In our day, the church is quite divided over what is “allowed.” The freedom found in Christ is understood and interpreted differently across denominations, churches, and even among members of the same congregation.
Here are some helpful questions to consider when discerning whether to partake in something:
Is it biblically forbidden?
(Examples: sexual immorality, drunkenness, idolatry) → If yes, avoid.Does it trouble my spirit?
(Is the Holy Spirit pricking my conscience?) → If yes, avoid for now (at least).How will this affect those around me?
(Example: Am I unnecessarily creating temptation or sin for someone else?) → If yes, limit or avoid in this scenario.Will this bring glory to God?
(Can I honor and thank God in it?) → If yes, enjoy with gratitude.
Bible Reading Challenge #17
Read 1 Corinthians 8
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
Day 1 of Chapter 8
Paul begins by addressing dietary restrictions carried over from Jewish tradition or even regional practice. To bring it into our context, think about areas that the church has historically debated or even prohibited—things like alcohol, dancing, instruments, or gambling. Paul builds upon Jesus’ teaching that all things are clean (see Mark 7:19) to show that no food is inherently unclean. But notice—Paul doesn’t start by laying down that truth. Instead, he starts by addressing attitudes around food. You may have the right theology, but are you handling it in the right way?
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” That’s the heart of this passage. The question is not only Do you know what’s right? but Are you using truth in a way that builds up or tears down? At the core of this is arrogance. Spiritual arrogance has no place in the church. This doesn’t mean we lower our standards or embrace untruth, but rather that we “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
So here’s the challenge: How are you exercising your freedom in Christ? In embracing your rights, are you becoming a stumbling block for others? Maybe for you it’s not about food—but about your freedom to dance, gamble, drink alcohol, or enjoy certain forms of entertainment. Are you exercising that freedom in a way that encourages others toward holiness, or in a way that could cause them to stumble?
At the end of the day, Christian freedom is not about doing all that you can do. It’s about choosing what is best for others. Love sets limits on liberty. It is arrogant and heartless to live as though your choices affect no one else. In Christ, we are called to something better.
Who in your life could be influenced—positively or negatively—by the way you live out your freedom in Christ?
Bible Reading Challenge #16
I’ll be honest—this passage was a real challenge for me. After Paul addresses those who are engaged, he makes a confusing statement in verses 29–31:
“This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.”
At first glance, it sounds like Paul is calling us to completely disengage from life—ignoring our marriages, our emotions, our celebrations, even our work. It almost reads as if Paul is telling believers to stop doing everyday responsibilities because “time is short.”
But after digging deeper, I’ve come to understand that Paul isn’t telling us to abandon our duties (otherwise, much of chapter 7 would contradict itself). Instead, he’s calling us to a perspective shift. The victory of Christ changes how we see the world. We are not to cling too tightly to what is temporary, but to live with an eternal mindset. Yes, keep working, keep loving, keep doing the tasks God has called you to—but don’t carry them as if your future depends on them. Don’t let the anxieties of this world weigh you down. God is over all, and He is in all.
That truth feels especially relevant for us today.
Finally, Paul closes this section with a more straightforward teaching. He explains why he considers singleness a gift. An unmarried person can be fully devoted to the Lord, while a married person—by God’s good design—will naturally divide their attention between God, their spouse, and their family. Paul isn’t diminishing marriage; he’s elevating the unique freedom of those who are single or widowed to give themselves wholly to God’s service.
Bible Reading Challenge #15
Live as You Were Called
Paul reminds the Corinthians that following Jesus is not about changing your status—whether circumcised or uncircumcised, married or unmarried, slave or free—but about changing how you live. His call is simple: be faithful right where God has placed you. Be a light for Christ at your job, in your family, in your neighborhood, and even in your hobbies. This is not a call to completely overhaul your schedule, but to live with gospel purpose in the circles of influence you already have.
For too long, Christians have been tempted to pull away from the world out of fear of contamination. But Paul points us in the opposite direction. We are called to step into the world with the hope of spreading the Good News of Jesus. Don’t retreat from the unbelievers in your life—step toward them. Yes, it is often easier to be pulled down into sin than to pull someone up into godliness, but God has wisely placed you in your relationships and environments so that you can be His ambassador.
You may think your influence is small, but hear this clearly: you likely have more influence than I do with your co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends. As a pastor, I may carry a title, but you carry the trust and depth of relationship that opens doors to the gospel. So live as you were called, where you are called, and among those to whom you are called.