Message Notes

1. Introduction

a. Fullness is to be appreciated

i. The fullness of God

ii. The fullness of Christ

iii. The fullness of the Church

iv. The fullness meant for the the Individual believer

b. Fullness must also be practised

i. As a general principle of life

ii. In specific scenarios

2. A Principle of Fullness: “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”

a. The LORD created the earth

b. The LORD sustains the earth

c. The LORD provides for all on the earth

d. The earth belongs entirely to the LORD

3. The Practice of the Principle of Fullness

a. The context of Corinth

i. Idolatry and the worship of pagan gods was widespread in Corinth

ii. Most of the meat sold at the public meat market had been slaughtered as an offering at the temple of a pagan god

b. Three specific scenarios

i. Whether a Christian can have a meal at the temple of a pagan god

ii. Whether a Christian can eat what was sold in the meat market

iii. Whether a Christian who has been invited to dinner by a non-believer can eat what was set before him

c. Paul’s responses

i. A Christian cannot have a meal at the temple of a pagan god because he is not to have fellowship with pagan gods

ii. A Christian can eat what is sold in the meat market because the earth is the LORD’s and He has provided the food, while an idol is nothing in the world

iii. A Christian can eat what is set before him when he is invited to dinner by a non-believer, however, if he is told that the food has been offered to idols, he should refrain from eating for the sake of the one who told him, and for the sake of conscience

d. Practising fullness as a general principle of life: “Give no offense”

i. To the Jews

ii. To the Greeks

iii. To the church of God

e. Doing all to the glory of God

i. In eating and drinking

ii. In whatever we do

4. The Personal Example of Paul

a. Paul seeks to please (accommodate) all men in all things

b. He does not seek His own profit, but the profit of many

c. That others may be saved

5. The Challenge to Practice the Principle of Fullness in Our Daily Lives

a. To practice fullness by considering others and their conscience

b. By giving no offense

c. By thinking of the profit of others