What do you do when a sincere question has no simple answer? In this episode of the Leader's Lesson, part of our Third Quarter 2026 study of First and Second Corinthians, we look at the question the Corinthian believers brought to Paul about eating food that had been offered to idols.

Much of the meat sold in Corinth's market was tied to pagan temples, so it was hard to know what had been sacrificed and what had not. Paul's answer, found in 1 Corinthians chapters 8 through 10, is more pastoral than a simple rule. He speaks about conscience, about the weaker brother or sister, and about the difference between having the right to do something and choosing the loving thing to do. In chapter 9 he uses his own example, giving up rights he truly held for the sake of the people he served.

We talk through how this reaches into everyday life: relating to neighbors who do not share our convictions, responding gently to someone acting out of zeal, and remembering the principle that whatever we eat or drink, we should do all to the glory of God. We also reflect on Daniel's choice to refuse the king's delicacies and on love as the motive that holds it all together.

For teachers, there is a simple reminder in this episode: less is more. You do not have to cover every page of the lesson. Pick what resonates, prepare well, and give your class room to think.

This lesson is studied July 25 to July 31 and will be taught in class on Sabbath, August 1.

Join us next time for Lesson 6: Spiritual Gifts.

Executive Producer: Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Producer: Henrique Gomes
Editing: Henrique Gomes
Logo: Becky Carpenter

Some lessons are harder to teach than others, and this one is among them. In this episode of our Third Quarter 2026 study of First and Second Corinthians, we work through Lesson 4, "Sin in the Church," focusing on 1 Corinthians chapters 5, 6, and 7.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers about real and painful situations: a case of sexual immorality the church was tolerating, members suing one another in public courts, and questions they had raised about marriage and singleness. Through these chapters, we talk about why the gospel never gives permission to sin, and why sin always carries a corrosive effect. We also reflect on the example of David, whose later years were marked by consequences that followed his sin, as a reminder of how lasting the effects of sin can be.

Yet the heart of this conversation is grace. Drawing on 1 Corinthians 6:11, we discuss how believers were washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ, receiving a new identity and a new way of life. We also consider how a congregation can address sin in a way that aims at restoration rather than damage, keeping the wellbeing of the person and the church in view.

For those who teach, we offer a practical thought: handle this subject with care, since class members may be quietly wrestling with shame. Lean on open ended questions that invite reflection and personal experience rather than questions that expect a single answer.

Next week we continue with Lesson 5, "All to the Glory of God."

This lesson is studied during the week of July 11–17 and taught in class on Sabbath, July 18.

Executive Producer: Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Producer: Henrique Gomes
Editing: Henrique Gomes
Logo: Becky Carpenter

Why was the church in Corinth so divided, and what was Paul's answer? In this episode of Leader's Lesson, we study Unity in Christ from First Corinthians chapters 1 through 4, where members had begun lining up behind their favorite teachers and personalities instead of standing together in Jesus.

Pastor Ryan helps us see how Paul confronts this. Some believers tied their loyalty to the person who baptized them or to a particular style of teaching, and Paul gently but pointedly reminds them that the faith was never about him or any other teacher. It was always about Christ. We also talk about the well-known image of the body of Christ, where unity is not the same as uniformity. The parts of the body look very different from one another, yet every part is needed and they work together as one.

Along the way we reflect on a striking idea: because of Christ and His love, we can have more in common with a believer from a completely different background than with a neighbor who looks just like us. The love of God transforms how we treat one another and frees us from pride and comparison.

If you teach Sabbath School, you will find a practical tip in this episode. Aim for discussion rather than lecture, prepare carefully without overwhelming your class, and lean on open questions that invite people to engage.

This conversation is part of our Third Quarter 2026 study of First and Second Corinthians. The Unity in Christ lesson is studied during the week of July 5 to 11 and is taught in class on Sabbath, July 11.

Next week we continue with Lesson 4: Sin in the Church.

Executive Producer: Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Producer: Henrique Gomes
Editing: Henrique Gomes
Logo: Becky Carpenter