Sabbath School Lesson for July 18-24, 2026
Introduction of Lesson 4, Sin in the Church
Memory Text: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 NIV
We are indeed bought with a price–the life of God’s own Son. The Spirit of God resides in us, in our bodies, making us God’s temple. Temples were revered in Paul’s day, so this reminder must have caused them to see their sin in a different light. We, too, must treat our bodies with more care and honor God with our bodies. We are all holy vessels of God, and must be ready to be used by Him any way He chooses.
After Paul made the case that the Corinthian church was sadly divided, he began to outline in chapters 5 to 7 why and how they must live better and do more for the Lord. There were many ways they could improve their witness and be used by God to save others, if they would only listen to Paul’s counsel.
The Corinthians, just like us today, were influenced by the sinful culture all around them. Our human brains are capable of soaking up sin like thirsty sponges. Paul reminds us of a higher standard though that must be maintained in God’s church.
This week, we’ll explore:
- Sunday: Dissonance Between Faith and Practice
- Monday: Dealing With Scandals
- Tuesday: Protecting the Church’s Identity
- Wednesday: Antidote Against Sexual Immorality
- Thursday: Marriage and Singleness
Sunday: Dissonance Between Faith and Practice
There was a glaring incident of sexual immorality that Paul became aware of, probably through someone in Chloe’s household (1 Corinthians 1:11). It was widely known in Corinth that a member of the Christian church there had married his stepmother, or someone his father had been married to. Such a thing was not only warned against by God in Leviticus 18:7, 8, but even the Gentiles recognized and did not tolerate such an incestuous relationship that often was the result of exploitation within the family unit.
To make it even worse, the Christians were arrogant to the point of boasting about their tolerance, which only marred their reputation and spoiled their witness in the community. See 1 Corinthians 5:1, 2.
This story of the church in Corinth can be used as an example of the way not to share our faith. We must be careful not to practice “love” and “acceptance” to the extent that we overlook needed reforms in behavior that must be taken for a church and individual members to grow and prosper in God’s love.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
- Why would the Christians in Corinth overlook such a scandal?
- What message was Paul trying to convey to the Corinthians about how our faith must influence our practice of Christianity?
Leviticus 18:7, 8
- Why do you think Leviticus calls out such immoral behavior?
Monday: Dealing With Scandals
Some of Paul’s words in chapter five may sound harsh to modern readers. But a closer study of their meaning reveals the redemptive purpose for the actions a church should take when a member fails to live up to the standards of God.
When scandals threaten the reputation of God’s people, church discipline must be taken. Paul described how the individual who posed a substantial threat must “be removed from among” them (1 Corinthians 5:2). Verse 5 goes on to talk about how they should “deliver this man to Satan”. What Paul no doubt meant was that they should let him reap the consequences of his unlawful behavior. It seems logical that they would encourage each other not to associate with the erring individual, in order that he not influence others in the church to follow his unholy example.
Paul is clear in verse 5 that the purpose of disciplinary action by the church includes the redemption or saving of the individual being disciplined. Perhaps such action would cause the individual to see the error of their ways and come back to God.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 5:1-5
- What harm does immorality in the church pose for the community, and in the church?
1 Corinthians 5:9, 11
- What other sins does Paul mention as needing disciplinary action?
- Why would they be advised not to even eat with the disciplined individual?
Tuesday: Protecting the Church’s Identity
In chapter five, Paul made a good case for how immorality should be handled, and not ignored by the church. Church discipline must be administered whenever necessary to protect the reputation and influence of the church.
The first half of chapter six emphasizes the danger of taking petty, minor disputes to public criminal courts. Many times, such non-criminal offenses can be judged by the church alone. As the saying goes, we should not be “airing our dirty laundry in public” unnecessarily. It can often be done quietly and discreetly within the church.
Wisdom and spiritual discernment are available to Christians through the Holy Spirit. As Paul reminded them in 1 Corinthians 6:3, someday they would even be judging angels–a reference, of course, to the angels who joined Satan’s ranks and rebelled. See Jude 6.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 6:1-13
- How has the church, several denominations in fact, misapplied Paul’s counsel and covered up sexual promiscuity with minors, for instance?
- How and why must we avoid covering up sexual sins, just to protect the church’s reputation? Where do we draw the line, and still follow Paul’s advice?
1 Corinthians 6:3, Jude 6, Revelation 20:4
- When and how will the righteous judge angels?
Wednesday: Antidote Against Sexual Immorality
Several church denominations continue to believe that once we are saved, we are always saved from that time forward–giving the impression that our behavior no longer matters after we are saved. This mindset also seemed to be that of the Corinthians. But Paul was having none of it. He emphasized that we are set free FROM sin, and are not free to continue sinning.
We must not put aside the work of sanctification by continuing to live in open, willful sin. This includes sexual sins, but also any wrongdoing that separates us from God, such as those sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.
Paul’s noteworthy antidote to sexual immorality was to remind them that their bodies were the temple of God, to be cared for and nurtured just as much as one takes care of any holy place of worship. God’s spirit residing in us should truly make us cautious about doing anything that would bring dishonor to our heavenly Father.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
- How does Paul also make the case for sexual purity in Thessalonica?
- How can we keep God’s Spirit within us to enable us to develop pure, holy lives?
1 Corinthians 6:15-20
- In what ways does sexual impurity cause us to sin against our own body?
- How is sexual immorality harmful to us and all our relationships, including with God?
Thursday: Marriage and Singleness
Paul has given some the impression that he favors being single over being married, but a close examination of his counsel reveals a different assessment. He provides advice for both married and single individuals in 1 Corinthians 7.
Sexual intimacy is something God planned for married couples, as an joyful expression of their affection and committed devotion to each other. It is to be celebrated, not opposed. Only sex outside the confines of marriage is prohibited by God. If a couple comes to the point where they can’t live without each other, certainly marriage can be a blessing and a means of further serving God together. Living a single lifestyle was also described as a blessing by Paul. Such a life would allow freedom to serve God, without the pressure of pleasing and serving a life companion as well.
There is no reason to prefer being single over being married, according to Paul. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to listen to God and move forward with the plan that best fits our individual needs.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 6:19 and 7:1-9
- What are the recommended ways Paul gives to avoid sexual immorality?
- How can we put into practice the idea of our bodies being the temple of God by carefully considering our marital status?
Friday: Final Thoughts
It’s easy to get discouraged by the exhaustive list of sins Paul outlined in 1 Corinthians 5:10, 11 and 6:9, 10. But, we must not let that hinder us from doing all we can to eliminate sin from our lifestyles and from the church. God’s presence is within each of us. He made us, and therefore we must not do anything with our bodies that dishonors our Creator and Redeemer (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).
The conflicts and tension within the Corinthian church must have alarmed Paul, causing him to address boldly steps that must be taken to improve their behavior and reputation in the community. Their witness for God was deeply threatened by their reluctance to take disciplinary, redemptive actions against their members engaged in sin.
A timeless Christian saying tells us: if you want to be discouraged look at yourself, if you want to be disappointed look at others, and if you want to be saved look to Jesus. Looking to Jesus, we will find ways to transform the church into the holy vessel it was meant to be that would help save the world.
Next Week: All to the Glory of God
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