January 28, 2018 Bullfrog Religion 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Synopsis: Paul was continuing down a list of questions from the believers in Corinth when the subject of food sacrificed to idols came up. It was a thorny question for the believers there who, like all of us, were made up of believers at different levels of maturity. Paul’s answer went way beyond the question to strike at the need of the church in Corinth and everywhere else. Throughout the letter to the Corinthians Paul emphasized the need for unity in the church, true knowledge and true love. Some in the church were “puffed up” about what they thought they knew and were not concerned about the affect it was having on other believers. We have a common phrase (idiom) that I have found in a lot of different uses in a lot of different sections of our society. I am sure you have heard it and suspect you have even used it. The phrase is “puffed-up like a bull frog” and it came to my mind when I was reading verse 1, thus my title Bullfrog Religion. Simply put a religious bullfrog is someone who is all puffed up with making their own noises and therefore lean toward the put down of those around them instead of building others up in love. Which do you think is more like Christ? Surely, the work of the church is not about making noises. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul wrote more extensively about love and closed with naming the things that remain “faith, hope and love.” Of course, “love” is the one that remains but I hope you noticed “knowledge” didn’t even make the list. Text (NIV): 1 Corinthians 8:1-13