Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should (1 Corinthians part 17) | Pastor Steve Wolf

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD | 1 Corinthians 8 

As followers of Christ, we often ask, "Is this a sin?" But sometimes the better question is, "Will this help or hurt someone else's walk with Jesus?"  In this message from 1 Corinthians 8, we explore one of the most practical and challenging principles of Christian living: Christian freedom must be governed by Christian love. While believers have incredible freedom in Christ, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our rights and liberties should never become a stumbling block to another believer. 

The Corinthians were debating whether Christians could eat food that had been sacrificed to idols. While this may seem like an issue that has little relevance today, the underlying principle applies to countless modern questions involving entertainment, alcohol, social media, personal preferences, and other areas where Scripture gives believers freedom.  Paul teaches that knowledge alone can produce pride, but love builds others up.

Mature believers are called to think beyond their own rights and consider how their actions impact fellow Christians, especially those who are younger in the faith.  In this sermon, we'll discover why spiritual maturity is not measured by how many freedoms we exercise, but by how willingly we surrender those freedoms for the good of others and the glory of God.