Sabbath School Lesson for July 25-31, 2026
Introduction of Lesson 5, All to the Glory of God
Memory Text: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
Paul made quite a sobering case for addressing sexual immorality in the church. But it was followed by showing its connection with idolatry in chapters 8-10 of 1 Corinthians.
Paul often confronted both these prevailing sins as he traveled from church to church in his missionary efforts around the Roman Empire. He longed to see God’s people shine the light of the gospel to their neighbors, who needed to see holy, transformed lives that reflected well on the Creator.
This could only be achieved when they remembered that their bodies were actually God’s temple, and therefore, what they did to and with their bodies would reflect on God. Everything that involved their bodies, he emphasized, must serve the purpose of uplifting God and giving Him glory.
Loving God and loving others must never be replaced by a desire to glorify ourselves, or make us appear more important than someone else. Our thoughts and actions will glorify God when we focus on those two great commandments Jesus spoke of: loving God with all our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves.
This week, we’ll explore:
- Sunday: Knowledge Versus Love
- Monday: Selfless Love
- Tuesday: Learning From the Past
- Wednesday: Warning Against Idolatry
- Thursday: Overcoming Idolatry
Sunday: Knowledge Versus Love
New Christian believers obviously did not know everything about God yet. Therefore, Paul saw confusion and division develop when it came to eating foods offered to idols and sold in the public marketplace. New believers tried earnestly to avoid such purchases. Those who had been in the faith longer, however, recognized that idols to pagan gods were useless, almost non-existent to them. The foods offered to such gods had become no different to them than any other food.
Paul, however, counseled, and followed himself, the practice of abstaining from foods offered to idols whenever possible, for the sole reason that he didn’t want to cause someone new in the faith to stumble.
Our knowledge should never cause us to be arrogant about it and lack love for someone else. When it comes to knowledge and love, remember that love is the dominating force that draws others to Christ. After all, God IS love, in addition to being the way, the truth, and the life.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
- What point does Paul make about knowledge versus love in this chapter?
- In what way was Paul’s choice the correct and loving one?
Deuteronomy 6:4, 5
- Besides knowing that there is only one God, what can we do to show that He is a loving God?
- When and why might we be able to change our actions, without jeopardizing our principles?
Monday: Selfless Love
In many ways, Paul exemplified the love he recommended to the churches. Ignoring his own comfort and stability, he chose to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:7, 8), even though he had the right to take a wife and still serve as a missionary for God as others had. Serving as he did also would have entitled him to a portion of the tithe, but Paul chose instead to work as a tentmaker and support himself whenever he had the opportunity. See Acts 18:1-3.
The church in Corinth certainly benefited from Paul’s selfless love. Chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians points out the many practical ways Paul’s self-denial made him a loved figure in the church.
We, too, may be called to relinquish our comfortable lifestyle, in order to benefit others and glorify God. We must constantly look for ways to love and serve others better, even at the expense of losing things we hold precious. To do otherwise, is only to glorify ourselves, and not God.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 9:1-6
- What was Paul entitled to as an apostle, and why did he not accept such benefits?
- In what ways did Paul show self-denial and love by how he served in Corinth?
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
- Why did Paul chose to serve in Corinth the way he did?
Tuesday: Learning From the Past
Paul practiced self-discipline and selfless love, but he only encouraged others to follow him when he was following Christ in this way. In 1 Corinthians 10, however, he proceeds to provide another prominent example. Using the history of God’s people in the wilderness after escaping slavery, he showed that many of the Israelites were quite unworthy examples. But useful, nonetheless, to warn us how NOT to behave.
The atrocious, immoral behavior of those under Moses’ leadership tended to consist of those very sins Paul was concerned about in Corinth–sexual immorality and idolatry. And many times, unfortunate consequences were suffered as a result.
Christians today are guilty of similar bad choices. Sex outside of marriage has become commonplace in our society. Also, putting anything or anyone above God, making us materialistic and/or ethnocentric, is a form of idolatry that we can’t deny or pretend away. Paul understandably warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” That could be any of us!
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
- How did Paul link this Old Testament example with familiar New Testament themes?
1 Corinthians 10:5-10
- How were those Old Testament sins similar to those in Corinth?
- How were those sins similar to ours today?
1 Corinthians 10:11, 12
- What can history teach us?
1 Corinthians 10:13
- How can and should we be encouraged when we have trials and temptations?
Wednesday: Warning Against Idolatry
Paul laid out plainly how he felt personally about food offered to pagan gods, who were actually demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). In a way, idolatrous offerings were a cheap imitation of the the food and drink offerings of the Old Testament that had been replaced by the bread and wine they shared to celebrate the Lord’s last meal of communion with them.
Therefore, in Paul’s eyes, the idol-offered meats that were later sold in the marketplace held no threat to his relationship with God. He knew there was nothing special about them, and he was able to forget about them and eat freely. However, Paul did decide to abstain from buying such meats when he could, as a courteous recognition and submission to those newer in the faith who still felt nervous about eating them.
Sometimes, we may find it necessary to lovingly follow a stricter line of behavior than we feel necessary, just to put others at ease and keep them open to the gospel message. Since idolatry is putting something or someone above God, let’s be sure we don’t put ourselves above others in a way that closes them to God’s love.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 10:14-23
- Why is it important to flee from idolatry? Who are they really worshipping?
- How might idolatry look and feel different for different people?
Thursday: Overcoming Idolatry
In chapter ten of 1 Corinthians, Paul not only tells them to flee idolatry and sexual immorality, but HOW they should do it. It’s simple: just do everything that would glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
By loving both God and others, as outlined in the Ten Commandments, they would be uplifting God above anything else in this world, including themselves. Anything that takes away the glory of God, that does not give Him credit, is a form of idolatry.
The story of the rich young ruler in Mark, chapter ten, thought he was keeping the Ten Commandments, until Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and follow Him. The young man sadly turned away, proving that his wealth had become his idol. He didn’t have enough love for others, in addition to trusting and loving God enough to take care of him without his riches. He was, in essence, an idolater, breaking the Ten Commandments he thought he was keeping.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Corinthians 10:23-31
- How can we give God glory?
Mark 10:17-22
- How did the rich young ruler prove that he was an idolater?
Friday: Final Thoughts
A respected, Christian author, Ellen G. White, reminded us in 1884 that “all those who truly love God will cease their idolatry of self.” When you stop to think about it, idolatry in all its forms is about putting ourselves above God.
In The Acts of the Apostles, also by Ellen White, we find an eye-opening understanding of what Paul was telling the Corinthians. “By idolatry he meant not only the worship of idols, but self-serving, love of ease, the gratification of appetite and passion”, p. 317.
These are things that pertain to humans of all generations and cultures. The sexual immorality in the Corinthian church, and in our society today, is just another form of idolatry. It wasn’t giving God glory; it was glorifying self.
How careful we must be to do all for God’s glory. Even when we are mindful about taking care of our bodies, as we are told to do, we mustn’t do it only for our own health, hoping to be more attractive, or any other reason focusing on self. Our chief motivation should be that we can serve God longer and better when our bodies are healthy.
Next Week: Spiritual Gifts
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