Brushwood Press

Back

Back

BRUSHFIRES | WEEK 10

A Discipleship Series from Brushwood Press | BrushwoodPress.com

Core Doctrine: The Glory of God as the Chief End

​

Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB)

​

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

​

Book Context:

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians around A.D. 55 to a deeply divided church in Corinth. The letter addresses issues ranging from sexual immorality to division, idolatry, and spiritual gifts. In chapter 10, Paul deals with Christian freedom and the conscience, reminding the church that love—not liberty—should guide their choices. This verse serves as a summary principle for all of life: no matter how mundane the task, it should be done for the glory of God. It’s not just about what we do—it’s about why we do it.

​

Core Doctrine:

​

The doctrine of The Glory of God as the Chief End teaches that the ultimate purpose of creation, redemption, and every moment of life is to magnify the worth and wonder of God. This is not a peripheral truth—it’s the center of reality. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36).

​

In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul strips away the illusion that only “religious” activities are spiritual. Even eating and drinking become acts of worship when they’re done to reflect the goodness and greatness of God. Glorifying God means living in such a way that His beauty, power, mercy, and holiness are made visible in your life.

This doctrine gives meaning to both suffering and celebration, to both ordinary chores and extraordinary callings. There is no higher aim than to live for the One who made you—and no greater joy than knowing your life echoes back His glory.

​

Danger of Not Holding to the Core Doctrine – Week 10: The Glory of God as the Chief End

If God’s glory is not our highest aim, then even our most sincere efforts—our obedience, our ministry, our worship—can quietly become about us. The danger here isn’t always blatant rebellion. Often, it’s the slow shift from seeking God’s face to seeking His benefits, from desiring His will to desiring our success.

We can do the right things with the wrong center. We might lead a small group to build community, serve in the church to feel useful, or share the gospel hoping for revival. These are all good things. But if they are not ultimately driven by a desire to see God glorified, we will settle for outcomes rather than worship—and people rather than God will become our measure of success.

Even our good intentions can betray us. We want to see people healed, saved, and restored. But if we’re not careful, we’ll want those things more than we want God Himself. And that is the beginning of idolatry. We start to live for impact instead of intimacy, for results instead of reverence.

When the glory of God is not our chief end, everything becomes fragile. Our emotions rise and fall with outcomes. Our identity becomes tangled in how well things are going. And our vision becomes small—limited to what seems urgent instead of what is ultimate.

But when God’s glory is the aim, everything changes. Ordinary tasks become acts of worship. Disappointments become opportunities for deeper trust. And ministry becomes less about what we achieve and more about reflecting who He is.

To miss this is to miss the point of life itself. But to embrace it is to align our hearts with heaven—and to live with joy that cannot be shaken, because it rests not in what we’ve done, but in who He is.

​

Conversational Evangelism:

​

People long for meaning. They ask, “Why am I here?” and often land on vague answers like “to be happy,” “to find love,” or “to make a difference.” Try asking, “What if you were created for something bigger than yourself?” That kind of question opens hearts to hear the truth that we were made not just to exist—but to glorify the God who gave us life.

This conversation doesn’t have to sound lofty or abstract. Even in everyday conversations—at work, at dinner, in the mess of life—you can point people to the God who transforms everything into worship when He becomes the aim of everything we do.

​

Call to Action:

​

This week, slow down and examine your motives. Are you seeking your own comfort, image, or praise—or are you aiming to glorify God? Ask yourself this in the big things and the small things. In the way you respond to conflict. In how you speak to your spouse. In how you drive, eat, work, rest, and speak. Every moment is an opportunity to put God’s greatness on display.

Invite your group to hold each other accountable not just to do the right things—but to do all things for the right reason: the glory of God.

​

Fire Starter Question:

​

What’s one ordinary moment in your life that God has transformed into worship—and how can that help you lead others to live with His glory as their aim?

Want to Print or Share This Lesson?

The full content of this week’s Brushfires lesson is available right here on the page. But if you’d like to print a copy or share it with someone, you can download the PDF by clicking the button to the right.

Prefer to listen? We’ve also provided an audio version of the lesson bellow—just click the link to listen anytime.