“1 Corinthians 8–13,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
Portrait of Christ, the Savior, by Heinrich Hofmann
1 Corinthians 8–13
In these chapters, Paul addressed eating meat that had been offered to pagan idols, self-mastery, overcoming temptation, and dress and grooming standards. He also addressed what it means to worthily partake of the sacrament. Paul explained the role of spiritual gifts and the importance of charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “1 Corinthians 8–13”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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As you read 1 Corinthians 10:1–14, look for truths that can help you resist temptation. Watch the video “Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought” (2:57).
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What spiritual gifts do you have or would you like to have? Read 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, and ponder how these gifts could strengthen you personally and help you serve the Lord and others.
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What difference could an increase of love make in your life? As you read 1 Corinthians 13:1–8, what do you learn about charity, the pure love of Christ?
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of 1 Corinthians 8–13.
Skill Training
1 Corinthians 10:1–14 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Searching in the Scriptures and in Gospel Library” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Emphasize the example of Jesus Christ. One way to focus on Jesus Christ no matter what you are teaching is to emphasize how He is the perfect example of all gospel principles. Even when the Savior is not directly referred to in a scripture passage, you can help students make connections to the Savior’s example.
How can God help me increase my capacity to resist temptation?
You could begin by sharing the following scenario:
Maurice is discouraged. He feels like he keeps giving in to the same temptations. He worries that he will never be strong enough to resist these temptations.
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What could help Maurice better understand what it means to resist and overcome temptation?
Explain that in 1 Corinthians 10:1–14, Paul cited some of the experiences of ancient Israel to teach the Corinthian Saints important lessons about resisting temptation. To learn more of the background of these verses, students could read “1 Corinthians 10:1–11. What did Paul want the Corinthian Saints to know about the Exodus story?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.
Read together 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, and ask:
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What do you learn about Jesus Christ from these verses?
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How does knowing that Jesus Christ is your “spiritual Rock” give you hope that you can overcome temptation?
Students could work with a partner and read together verses 5–14, looking for what they can learn about how to overcome temptation.
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What do you learn from verse 13 about overcoming temptation?
After students have responded to the question, you could explain that Alma 13:28 is a companion verse to 1 Corinthians 10:13. Invite students to read Alma 13:28 and to consider cross-referencing these two passages.
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What gospel principles can you identify from these two passages? (Students may identify truths like the following: God will provide a way for us to escape temptation, but we must first choose to separate ourselves from temptation. As we humble ourselves and watch and pray continually, we will not be tempted more than we can bear.)
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What are some ways God may provide a way for us to escape temptation?
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If there is time, students could refer to the entry “Tempt, Temptation” in the Guide to the Scriptures (Gospel Library) to find additional scripture passages about overcoming or resisting temptation (see “Searching in the Scriptures and in Gospel Library” in Scripture Study Skills). Invite students to share with a partner what they learn.
Give students a few minutes to record specific steps they will take to increase their capacity to resist temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:23–29
How can taking the sacrament help me come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Display the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks:
The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. (“Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 17)
Ask students to ponder the following:
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Do you treat sacrament meeting like the most sacred and important meeting in the Church?
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How do you prepare for sacrament meeting?
Invite students to read 1 Corinthians 11:23–29, looking for counsel from Paul that could help them to prepare for the sacrament:
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What do you think it means to examine yourself?
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Why might it be important to examine yourself as you prepare to partake of the sacrament?
Consider sharing the following statements by Elder Larry R. Lawrence, emeritus General Authority Seventy, and Brother Milton Camargo, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency:
A perfect time to ask, “What lack I yet?” is when we take the sacrament. The Apostle Paul taught that this is a time for each of us to examine ourselves. In this reverent atmosphere, as our thoughts are turned heavenward, the Lord can gently tell us what we need to work on next. (“What Lack I Yet?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 34)
Renewing our covenants during the sacrament each Sunday is a great opportunity to examine ourselves and refocus our lives on Jesus Christ. By partaking of the sacrament, we declare that we do “always remember him” [Moroni 4:3; 5:2]. (“Focus on Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 65)
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How can examining ourselves enrich our experience with the sacrament? (Students may identify a truth like the following: By examining ourselves in preparation for the sacrament we can refocus our lives on Jesus Christ and be guided on how to improve.)
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What has your experience with the sacrament been like when you have focused on the Savior?
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What can help you to prepare for the sacrament?
Invite students to make a simple plan of what they will do to examine themselves in preparation for the sacrament this coming Sunday.
If students have questions about what it means to worthily partake of the sacrament, you could share and discuss the following statement by Elder John H. Groberg, emeritus General Authority Seventy:
If we desire to improve (which is to repent) and [have no membership restrictions or membership withdrawn], then, in my opinion, we are worthy. If, however, we have no desire to improve, if we have no intention of following the guidance of the Spirit, we must ask: Are we worthy to partake, or are we making a mockery of the very purpose of the sacrament, which is to act as a catalyst for personal repentance and improvement? (“The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament,” Ensign, May 1989, 38)
How does the Lord bless me and others through my spiritual gifts?
Consider displaying the following statement by Sister Michelle D. Craig, former First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency:
God has given each of us gifts. You may not feel gifted, but you have spiritual gifts from God so you can bless others and draw closer to Him.
What gifts has God given you? (“Less Conspicuous Gifts” [First Presidency Christmas devotional, Dec. 5, 2021], Gospel Library)
Invite students to record what gifts they feel God has given them.
Explain that Paul taught the Corinthians the importance and purpose of spiritual gifts. Invite students to read 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 and highlight the gifts they find. You could write on the board the gifts they find and ask:
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What gift stands out to you? Why?
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Why does the Lord give us spiritual gifts? (Students may identify a truth like the following: The Lord gives spiritual gifts to each member of His Church so they can bless others.)
Point out that Paul’s list of gifts is not exhaustive. To find additional gifts, invite some students to search Moroni 10:8–18; others could search Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–26, and others could search the handout “Less Conspicuous Gifts.” Invite students to write on the board any additional gifts they find.
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Why is it important to recognize and value all spiritual gifts, including those that are less conspicuous?
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When have you experienced one of these gifts for yourself or been blessed by someone who has one of these gifts?
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How do you feel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ knowing that They have blessed us with such a variety of spiritual gifts?
Invite students to record how they would now answer Sister Craig’s question, “What gifts has God given you?” To help students identify their gifts, you could read together the following statement by Elder John C. Pingree Jr.:
So how do we come to know our gifts? We can reference our patriarchal blessing, ask those who know us best, and personally identify what we are naturally good at and enjoy. Most important, we can ask God (see James 1:5; D&C 112:10). He knows our gifts, since He gave them to us (see D&C 46:26). (“I Have a Work for Thee,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 33)
To help students see why each of us and our spiritual gifts are needed in the Lord’s Church, read together 1 Corinthians 12:12–27.
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What impresses you most about Paul’s message?
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How might Paul’s message be applied to the following statements?
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“I have nothing to offer my ward; I am just not that talented.”
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“Sister Brown is such a greater leader; I could never match what she does.”
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“I am so new to the Church and inexperienced that I don’t have much to contribute to my ward.”
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If helpful, you could watch “Is There a Place for Me?” (3:59). Then you could invite students to ponder the following question:
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How might the Lord want you to use your spiritual gifts and talents to bless those in your ward, branch, or family?
How can the gift of charity change my life and others’ lives?
You could begin by inviting students to share a few examples of how Jesus Christ showed love during His mortal ministry. If helpful, you could show some pictures of the Savior that demonstrate His love.
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How did the Savior’s love impact those He ministered to?
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How has His love impacted you?
Point out that in the scriptures the word charity is often used to describe “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). Invite students to read 1 Corinthians 13:1–3, looking for what importance Paul placed on charity.
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What is Paul’s message about charity?
Consider reading together the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then a member of the First Presidency:
True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it—but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” [1 Corinthians 13:1].
Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. (“You Are My Hands,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 70)
Explain that in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, Paul provides important insights about the nature of charity. Students could use the handout “Charity: The Pure Love of Christ” to deepen their understanding of charity. Invite students to select two or three aspects of charity they would like to better understand. Emphasize that the best way to understand charity is to learn from the example of Jesus Christ.
After giving students time to study, have them form small groups. Invite each student to select one word or phrase they focused on and share what they learned from their study. Encourage them to focus on what they learned from the example of Jesus Christ.
You could end class by inviting students to share examples of how they have experienced Christlike love. You could also watch “Pure Love of Christ” (2:07).
Invite students to act on any promptings they receive.
Handouts