1 Corinthians 10:1-13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Warning for Christians

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The events from Egypt to Canaan are a spiritual picture of God’s people.

  2. The events from Egypt to Canaan are a spiritual warning to God’s people.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Look for the way of escape.

QUESTIONS

  1. Review the teaching on Christian liberty in the last few chapters.

  2. How do the Children of Israel fit into the surrounding context?

  3. What is a “type”?

  4. Why were the manna and water from the rock called “spiritual” food?

  5. Why is the account of the Children of Israel a warning for us as believers?

ANSWERS

  1. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul began a teaching on the proper use of Christian liberty. As believers, we enjoy certain freedoms in Christ. However Christian liberty does not free us from the moral laws of God and even in non-moral areas we should restrict our Christian liberty so that weaker believes are not stumbled in their growth. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul gave himself as an example of restricting Christian liberty in the interest of serving the Lord and His people. He showed that serving the Lord and using Christian liberty in the proper way takes a lot of self-denial and self-discipline.

  2. Paul uses the Children of Israel and their Wilderness Wandering as a negative example. They did not practice self-denial and self-discipline and were thus disqualified from entering the Promised Land.

  3. A type is an Old Testament person, place, thing, or event, which illustrates a New Testament truth.

  4. This real food and drink were spiritual because they were pictures of Christ as the living bread from heaven and the living water for our souls.

  5. So that we don’t make the same mistakes that the Children of Israel made and fall short of the blessings and victories God has for us.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the Children of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan. How is their journey a picture of the Christian life?

  2. Do you need to heed the warning of the Children of Israel? Are you wandering in the wilderness of Christian experience? Review 1 Corinthians 10:5-12.

CHALLENGE

  1. Praise our faithful God—He always provides a way of escape. Memorize the threefold promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13.

KEY VERSES

  • “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.” 1 Corinthians 10:11

  • “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

  • “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13



1 Corinthians, New Testament, TalksDeb Harms1 Corinthians 10:1-13