1 Corinthians - Lesson 8

By Stafford North

BE STRONG

Background Information for the Teacher

Objectives:

1. The student can explain how the Israelites fell to temptation in the wilderness.

2. The student can list some of the temptations to which he/she is most susceptible.

3. The student can list some ways God will help us when we face temptation.

Preparation:

  1. Each student should have a Bible
  2. Each student should have a copy of the Worksheet and a pencil/pen.
  3. Have ready a board on which to write key words and ideas.
  4. Have verses to read ready to hand out before class.
  5. Have Review Quiz over Lesson 7 ready to distribute at the first of class or as people enter.

Theme:

By using the Israelites in the wilderness as an example, Paul encourages us not

to fall to temptation and tells us how God can help.

Lesson Plan for Conducting the Class

Introduction: (about 10 minutes)

  1. Call the roll and introduce visitors.
  2. Make necessary announcements.
  3. Sing some songs if you wish and have a prayer. Songs related to the lesson would be: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Yield Not to Temptation,” “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me,” and “I Need Thee Every Hour.”
  4. Give the answers to the Review Quiz as a way of reviewing the previous lesson.Encourage students to complete the worksheet on the lesson today so they can prepare for the Review Quiz next week.

Learning Experiences: (about 20 minutes)

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Q: From Paul’s comparison of running a race with living the Christian life, what lessons do we learn? A: (Teacher-write the parallel answers in two columns on the board.) We both run for a prize but ours is eternal. We both train hard to be ready for the race. We both run hard to win the prize. We can both be disqualified from the race. So we must both bring our bodies into subjection so we do not lose our prize.
  2. In light of this comparison, Paul goes next to speak of the need to be strong, to persevere. Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 and be ready to discuss this passage. We will note the comparison Paul now makes between Israel in the wilderness and theChristian in the world. Q: What similarities do you note?” A: (1) The trip for both starts with a “baptism,”-they were surrounded by water and so are we. (2)After the baptism, both we and they enjoy certain blessings from God-they had the manna and water from Christ and we have Christ-the bread and water of life-of which to partake. (3) They had temptations to stray into idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling and we have temptations to fall back into the world in similar ways. (4) Many of them did not resist the temptations and died in the wilderness. The question is whether we will learn from their example and resist the temptation or will fall like they did.
  3. Q: What warning does Paul give? A: Just as they fell because they did not resist, so we can fall if we do not resist. This passage certainly does not teach“Once saved, always saved.” Even if we think we are standing firm, we still must be careful lest we fall. None of us is immune to temptation. Read 1 Corinthians15:33-34. Q: How do we strike the balance between letting evil people corrupt us, on the one hand, and having contacts in the world to bring them to Christ? A:We have to be able to determine whether we are influencing them for good or they are influencing us for evil and to act accordingly.
  4. Q: What help does Paul promise to help us resist temptation? A: (1) We should realize our temptations are “common to man.” We are not the only ones tempted in these ways. Others have resisted and so can we. (2) God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. (3) God will provide a way of escape with every temptation.

Application: (about 15 minutes)

  1. Q: Name a temptation which we often face? (Teacher-take several of these but deal with the full sequence of questions and answers with the first temptation given before going to the second one.) A: (Maybe-to do something dishonest in my business, to cross the line into sexual sin, to speak unkindly to someone I love, to let my friends pull me away from coming to church, to be too timid to share my faith with someone.) Q: What is the exact temptation in each case? A: To want to make some extra money more than I want to be honest; to enjoy the excitement of a sexual encounter rather than keeping God’s plan for purity; etc. Q: Is this temptation “common to man?” A: Yes. Many have the same temptation. Q:Are some resisting it? A: Yes, not all are falling.
  2. Q: What way of escape has God given? A: To share the temptation with a friend and let a discussion with that person help me resist. To read what the Bible says about this sinful action. To think about what has happened to others who have fallen into this sin. To realize that Galatians 6:7 is true-and to recognize that I do not want to suffer the present and future consequences that will come from this sin. To pray God will strengthen me. To know that God, through theHoly Spirit, lives in me and I do not want to take Him with me into such sin (1Corinthians 6:18-20).
  3. Q: How can love play a part in our resisting temptation? A: Because I love God, I do not want to sin against Him. Because I love my wife, I do not want to sin against her. Because I love the church, I do not want to hurt the church.Recognizing the loves in our lives can be a strong deterrent to sin.
  4. God has put at our disposal plenty of ways to escape the temptation if we will use them. Before engaging in a sinful behavior, we ought to stop and utilize these helps God has provided for us, especially to weigh the possible consequences.

Assignment:

  1. Prepare for the Review Quiz by studying the worksheet.
  2. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

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