June 8 2025, Sunday School Lesson

Learn from Bad Examples

Lesson Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24 – 10:13

Related Scriptures: Exodus 32:1-10; Numbers 16:1-50; 21:4-9; 25:1 – 15; Psalm 78:9-39

TIME: A.D. 55

PLACE: from Ephesus

Golden Text – “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians10: 11)

INTRODUCTION

At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, John Stephen Akhwari, a runner from Tanzania, was injured in the marathon. Akhwari hobbled on a dislocated knee into the nearly empty stadium an hour after the last runner.

The filmmaker Bud Greenspan asked the athlete why he bothered to finish the race. Akhwari replied, “My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race. They sent me to finish it!” (Roper, Out of the Ordinary, Discovery House).

When we trusted in Christ, we began the Christian race. Like the African runner, we entered the race not merely to begin it but to finish it! It is imperative that we persevere to the end. The Christian life is not a quick sprint but a long-distance marathon!

To successfully finish, we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and …run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1)

LESSON OUTLINE

I. PRIZE PURSUED – 1 Cor. 9:24-27

II. PREVIOUS PROBLEM – 1 Cor. 10:1-10

III. PROTECTION PROVIDED – 1 Cor. 10:11-13

QUESTIONS

1. What two athletic illustrations did Paul use for the Christian life?

2. How was an ancient athlete “temperate” (1 Cor. 9:25)

3. What did Paul mean when he said he wanted to avoid being a “castaway” (vs. 27)?

4. How was Israel “baptized unto Moses” (10:2)? How does this relate to Christian baptism?

5. Who was the “spiritual Rock” (vs. 4) that accompanied Israel in the wilderness?

6. What four examples did Paul gie from the wilderness journey?

7. What is a biblical “type”?

8. Why did Paul warn the Corinthians about failing?

9. Are the temptations that people face unique? How are temptations both similar and different?

10. How is God faithful to use when we are experiencing temptation?

ANSWERS

1. Since the Corinthians would have been familiar with both the ancient Olympic and Isthmian games that occurred in Greece, Paul used illustrations from athletics to oppress home his point, both running and boxing.

2. As in modern sports, ancient athletes had to be “temperate” (1 Cor. 9:25), or self-controlled, in order to prepare for their chosen event.

3. That word meant disqualified, or not standing the test. It is translated as “rejected” in Hebrews 6:8, where it is used for land that proved to be unfruitful, laden with thorns. Paul did not want to be disqualified for bing unfaithful and not persevering.

4. That the people of Israel were “baptized unto Moses” (1 Cor. 10:2) means that they submitted themselves to the authority of Moses and were brought into the Mosaic covenant.

5. The “spiritual Rock” (vs.4) that accompanied them on this journey was Christ Himself.

6. The first example was a warning against idolatry. When Aaron made the golden calf, those unwilling to repent were slain by the Levites, and about three thousand perished (Ex. 32:1-6; 28). The second example was the Israelites’ fornication with the daughters of Moab (Num. 25:1-9). Because of this sin, God brought a plague upon the people that resulted in the deaths of 24,000 people in a single day. The third example was when the people became impatient and began to speak against God and Moses. They said, “wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there an water; and our soul loatheth this light bread” (Num. 21:5). Because of their complaining, God sent “fiery serpents” (vs. 6), or poisonous snakes, among the people, and many perished. Onlly by looking with faith on the bronze serpent erected by Moses could the people be healed (21:9; cf. John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32). Although there were several occasions when the people grumbled against Moses, the fourth example probably referred to Korah’s rebellion (cf. Num. 16). Besides the earth opening up and swallowing the rebellious leaders (vss. 31 – 33), over 14,000 were killed by a plague (vs. 49). The “destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10 is likely a reference to a destroying angel (cf. II Sam.24:16-17; II Kings 19:35).

7. From it we get the word “type” A biblical type symbolizes or prefigures something else. For example, Adam was a type of Christ, as was the Passover lamb (Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 5:7). There is much typology throughout the book of Hebrews.

8. Many of the Corinthian believers were proud. Since pride signals an approaching fall (Prov. 16;18), the Corinthians needed to be vigilant. While God is able to keep us from falling (John 10:28; Jude 1:24), there are also many warnings in the Bible about falling (Luke 8:13; Heb. 3:12)

9. First, no temptation, trial, or test that we face is unique. While we may sometimes feel that we are the only person facing a particular trial or temptation, this is not true. The temptations and tribulations we face are “common to man,” that is, they are the kinds of things other people also experience. Although not every person will be tested in the same way, we all are tempted, and there are others who are tempted in the same way you are.

10. Since “God is faithful” (1 Cor. 10:13), He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength to resist.