Idol Factories

Question

Discussion Questions

Accepted Answer

1. READ 1 Corinthians 10:1 Paul calls the Israelites “our ancestors”—even though most of the Corinthians (like most of us) weren’t Jewish. Through Jesus, we’ve been grafted into God’s family. What are some of the promises that are ours because of that truth? (see Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 26:3 & 41:10, Jeremiah 29:11)

2. When was the last time you truly felt like you belonged to God’s family? What does it feel like when that reality grows? When it dims?

3. READ v1-11 How is it possible that after experiencing everything described here, the Israelites still rejected God? V11 tells us this is a warning–what is that warning for us in general? You personally?

4. READ v12-13 This is a verse often misquoted as: “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Have you ever had that quoted to you in a hard season? How did it land? What did you actually need to hear instead? Why do we sometimes want this misinterpretation to be true?

5. ‘He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.’ How have you found this true? How have you resisted temptation in the past? Why have you sometimes failed?

6. Paul actually says not that ‘we’ can handle it, but that He will. God will “show you a way out”—a door you may not have seen, maybe one that didn’t even exist a moment ago. When have you experienced God opening a door like that? What did it look like?

7. READ 14 What do you think this meant for the Corinthians? What might it mean for us today?

8. READ v15-22 What does this passage teach us about the reality of the unseen realm? What’s the difference between a demon and a god? A demon and God himself? See John 8:44, Romans 8:38-39, Colossians 2:15, Jude 1:6, Rev 20:10

9. Paul says idols aren’t gods—but they aren’t harmless either; there’s demonic spiritual weight behind them. Where do we (as a culture, a church, or as individuals) treat our idols as neutral, when Paul would call them dangerous?

10. Timothy Keller: “An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.” Using that definition, what’s the honest answer for you right now?

11. Quick round the room, if the group is ready: what do you reach for first when you’re anxious? Sad? Bored? Lonely? What is that pattern actually telling you about what you’re worshiping?

12. The pastor named three next steps. Pick the one God is pressing on right now and share:

13. • Name your idol—What do you run to instead of God? What do you reach for first?

14. • Stop treating your idol as neutral—What danger lies if nothing changes?

15. • Run—What’s one concrete thing you could do this week to put real distance between you and it?