How can we apply the principle of "leaven" to our daily Christian walk? The Text: 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leaven, so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Leaven in Scripture—A Quick Tour • Exodus 12:15 – Leaven removed during Passover to picture a clean break from Egypt’s bondage. • Luke 12:1 – Jesus warns, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” • Galatians 5:9 – “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” • Matthew 13:33 – Leaven illustrates influence that quietly permeates. Across these passages, leaven consistently highlights how something small—good or bad—spreads until it shapes the entire whole. Why the Principle Matters Today • Sin seldom stays small; tolerated attitudes or behaviors spread into every corner of life. • Conversely, truth and Christlike character can also spread when intentionally nurtured. • The Lord calls believers to be “new dough,” displaying a purity bought by His sacrifice. Practical Ways to Keep Leaven in Check 1. Daily heart-inventory • Ask: What thought, habit, or relationship is quietly shaping me? • Compare everything to “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (v. 8). 2. Swift confession and repentance • Psalm 139:23–24 — Invite the Lord to search and uncover hidden pockets of sin. • 1 John 1:9 — Confess immediately; don’t let leaven rise. 3. Selective intake • Mark 8:15 — Guard against teaching or media that smuggle in compromise. • Philippians 4:8 — Feed on what is true, honorable, and pure; that is “good leaven.” 4. Intentional community influence • Hebrews 10:24 — “Stir one another up” toward love and good deeds; let righteousness spread. • Choose friends who help you stay spiritually “unleavened.” 5. Ongoing celebration of Christ our Passover • Remember His finished work when temptation whispers, “A little won’t hurt.” • Live like people already cleansed, not striving for purity but protecting what He purchased. Everyday Picture to Keep in Mind Just as a teaspoon of yeast quietly works through an entire loaf, so one tolerated sin or one nurtured virtue will eventually flavor your whole life. Keep scooping out the old leaven; keep kneading in the Word and the Spirit. The loaf you become will witness to everyone around you. |
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