Choosing Love Over Being Right
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone! Today, we explored the theme of "Greater Love" and how it surpasses the need to always be right. We began with a humorous reference to the movie Zoolander, illustrating how sometimes, even when someone is clearly wrong, they are affirmed rather than corrected. This ties into our human obsession with being right, which often leads to stress, anxiety, and damaged relationships.
We delved into 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul addresses the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul acknowledges that while some Christians are right in saying idols are not real and thus the meat is fine to eat, he emphasizes that love is greater than knowledge. Knowledge can puff us up with pride, but love builds others up. This principle is crucial in our information-driven culture, where being right often takes precedence over being loving.
Paul's message to the Corinthians is clear: even if you are right, it is more important to act in love. This means sometimes laying down your rights for the sake of others, to avoid causing them to stumble. We are called to build people up, not just build our case. This is echoed in Romans 15, where mature believers are described as those who embrace others in their immaturity, aiming to bring them to spiritual maturity.
We also discussed the importance of self-examination. When we are triggered or in disagreement, we should do an "ear check" to ensure we are listening graciously, a "heart check" to understand our own emotions, and an "eye check" to recognize our blind spots. This helps us to respond in love rather than react out of pride or hurt.
Finally, we took communion, reflecting on Jesus' ultimate act of laying down His rights for our sake. His example calls us to do the same in our relationships, prioritizing love over the need to be right.
### Key Takeaways
1. Love is Greater Than Knowledge: Paul teaches that while knowledge is valuable, love is far more important. Knowledge can lead to pride, but love builds others up. In our quest for truth, we must ensure that our knowledge leads us to be more loving and compassionate towards others. [41:49]
2. Building People, Not Cases: Our culture often values being right over being loving, leading to division and broken relationships. Paul encourages us to focus on building others up rather than proving our point. This means sometimes laying down our rights for the sake of others' spiritual growth. [50:00]
3. Self-Examination in Conflict: When faced with disagreements, we should perform an "ear check" to listen graciously, a "heart check" to understand our emotions, and an "eye check" to recognize our blind spots. This helps us respond in love rather than react out of pride or hurt. [01:04:02]
4. Identifying Idols: Our strong commitment to being right can sometimes reveal underlying idols in our lives. These areas of pride and division may indicate misplaced priorities. Paul warns us to flee from idolatry and to be mindful of how our actions affect others. [01:00:32]
5. Following Jesus' Example: Jesus laid down His rights and humbled Himself for our sake. As His followers, we are called to do the same, prioritizing love and service over the need to be right. This sacrificial love is what truly makes us right with God and others. [01:11:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:23] - Introduction and Humor
[33:07] - The Obsession with Being Right
[34:57] - The Stress of Always Being Right
[36:07] - Relationships Suffer from Being Right
[38:22] - 1 Corinthians 8: Meat Sacrificed to Idols
[41:10] - Love is Greater Than Knowledge
[45:27] - The Greatest Commandment
[47:44] - A Greater Knowledge
[50:00] - Building People, Not Cases
[54:02] - Be Conscious of Conscience
[57:03] - Laying Down Rights for the Gospel
[59:38] - Considering We Might Be Wrong
[01:00:32] - Identifying Idols
[01:04:02] - Self-Examination: Ear, Heart, and Eye Checks
[01:10:13] - Communion and Reflection
[01:21:24] - Closing Remarks and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Paul's discussion on food sacrificed to idols and the importance of love over knowledge.
2. Romans 15:1-3 - The call for mature believers to embrace others in their immaturity and build them up.
3. Philippians 2:5-8 - Jesus' example of humility and laying down His rights for the sake of others.
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul say about the relationship between knowledge and love in 1 Corinthians 8:1? How does he describe the effects of each? [41:49]
2. According to Romans 15:1-3, how should mature believers treat those who are less mature in their faith? [51:23]
3. In Philippians 2:5-8, what actions did Jesus take to demonstrate humility and love? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about laying down our rights? [01:11:35]
4. What are the three self-examination checks mentioned in the sermon, and what is their purpose? [01:04:02]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that love is greater than knowledge in 1 Corinthians 8? How can knowledge without love be harmful? [41:49]
2. How does the concept of "building people, not cases" challenge our natural inclination to be right? What might this look like in practical terms? [50:00]
3. What does it mean to perform an "ear check," "heart check," and "eye check" during conflicts? How can these practices help us respond in love? [01:04:02]
4. How does Jesus' example in Philippians 2:5-8 serve as a model for us in our relationships? What specific actions can we take to follow His example? [01:11:35]
### Application Questions
1. Think of a recent disagreement you had. How could you have applied the principle of "love is greater than knowledge" in that situation? [41:49]
2. Reflect on a time when you prioritized being right over being loving. What was the outcome, and how might the outcome have been different if you had focused on building the other person up? [50:00]
3. When you are in a conflict, do you naturally perform an "ear check," "heart check," and "eye check"? If not, what steps can you take to incorporate these practices into your responses? [01:04:02]
4. Identify an area in your life where you might be holding onto your rights too tightly. How can you follow Jesus' example of humility and lay down your rights for the sake of others? [01:11:35]
5. How can you be more conscious of the idols in your life that might be causing division or pride? What practical steps can you take to flee from these idols? [01:00:32]
6. Think of someone in your life who is less mature in their faith. How can you embrace and build them up this week, following the guidance of Romans 15:1-3? [51:23]
7. Reflect on a relationship that has been damaged due to a disagreement. What actions can you take to seek reconciliation and demonstrate sacrificial love, as Jesus did? [01:11:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Love Over Knowledge
Description: In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. While some Christians correctly argue that idols are not real and thus the meat is fine to eat, Paul emphasizes that love is greater than knowledge. Knowledge can puff us up with pride, but love builds others up. This principle is crucial in our information-driven culture, where being right often takes precedence over being loving. Paul’s message is clear: even if you are right, it is more important to act in love. This means sometimes laying down your rights for the sake of others, to avoid causing them to stumble. We are called to build people up, not just build our case. [41:49]
1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (ESV): "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you insisted on being right. How could you have approached it differently to prioritize love over knowledge?
Day 2: Building People, Not Cases
Description: Our culture often values being right over being loving, leading to division and broken relationships. Paul encourages us to focus on building others up rather than proving our point. This means sometimes laying down our rights for the sake of others' spiritual growth. In Romans 15, mature believers are described as those who embrace others in their immaturity, aiming to bring them to spiritual maturity. This approach fosters unity and growth within the community, rather than division and strife. [50:00]
Romans 15:1-2 (ESV): "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is struggling with their faith. How can you support and build them up rather than focusing on correcting them?
Day 3: Self-Examination in Conflict
Description: When faced with disagreements, it is essential to perform an "ear check" to listen graciously, a "heart check" to understand our emotions, and an "eye check" to recognize our blind spots. This helps us respond in love rather than react out of pride or hurt. By examining ourselves, we can better understand our motivations and approach conflicts with a spirit of humility and love. This practice not only helps in resolving conflicts but also in growing spiritually and emotionally. [01:04:02]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict you had. How could you have used the ear, heart, and eye checks to respond more lovingly?
Day 4: Identifying Idols
Description: Our strong commitment to being right can sometimes reveal underlying idols in our lives. These areas of pride and division may indicate misplaced priorities. Paul warns us to flee from idolatry and to be mindful of how our actions affect others. By identifying and addressing these idols, we can align our priorities with God's will and foster healthier relationships. This self-awareness helps us to act in love and humility, rather than out of pride and self-righteousness. [01:00:32]
1 John 5:21 (ESV): "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel a strong need to be right. Could this be an idol? How can you surrender this to God?
Day 5: Following Jesus' Example
Description: Jesus laid down His rights and humbled Himself for our sake. As His followers, we are called to do the same, prioritizing love and service over the need to be right. This sacrificial love is what truly makes us right with God and others. By following Jesus' example, we can build stronger, more loving relationships and grow in our spiritual maturity. This approach not only honors God but also fosters a spirit of unity and love within our communities. [01:11:35]
Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV): "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you struggle with the need to be right. How can you follow Jesus' example of humility and sacrificial love in this relationship?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "There's actually something greater than being right. And that's what we're going to talk about today as we dive into this letter to the Corinthian Church that was very, very, even though they were all right, very divided. Because we all seem to love this thing, being right. It unites us all. And yet, there's this tension that's involved. Because being right, it would seem, is actually fairly divisive as well. It's not the most important thing. And in fact, sometimes, being right can actually... It can actually be hurtful. It can be harmful. It can be counterproductive to what we're actually trying to accomplish." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Love is greater than knowledge. Knowledge is okay. But there's something... Greater even than knowing. And a lot of us approach Christianity, faith, this way too. It's all about knowledge. I want to learn more. I want to go to a Bible study. Nothing wrong with going to a study. But there's something greater. It should actually do something in you. Love is greater than knowledge." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In this information-obsessed culture, we seem to be less loving than ever before. In this great population, the possibility of the internet, knowledge readily available, education more accessible to more people than ever before, and yet, we're more divided. We're more unhappy. It seems that the truth is more elusive than it's ever been." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The greatest thing is that you would love God and love other people. That's the second. Love. The greatest of these is love. Your aim in all things should be, love. Why? Because of what you know. It's not in spite of what you know. Love should come out of what we know. It's what we know. More importantly, who we know that actually drives us to love other people. It's greater than knowledge." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "How many of us are more concerned with winning the argument than we are with winning people to Jesus? In fact, sometimes winning the argument means that you will never win the argument. You will never win them to Jesus. The obstacle that you've put up, the wall that you've put up, the division that you've created is just too great." (21 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When we're right all the time, we actually lose out. We miss out on the opportunity. We need to grow. Think of it this way. You know who loves to think that they're right a lot other than me, other than you? Babies. Baby... Okay, you guys. I'm going to offend a lot of people today, okay? So just buckle up. Babies are right about everything. They know everything. They know what they need. They know when they need it. They know what they don't want. In a way, you respect babies. Very comfortable in their own skin. They... They ask for what they want, okay? And they're always right." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Paul says, Now, concerning food offered to idols. You asked about that. We know that all of us possess knowledge. He's admitting, right? Everybody knows it all. But knowledge puffs up. This is pride, you know? It's like in the animal kingdom. Everybody's always trying to be bigger. Everybody's always trying to be louder. Everybody's always trying to be more right. Knowledge puffs up. See how big and scary I am? I've really done my research. Okay? Knowledge puffs up. But love builds up. There's a difference. He's saying you can do one of two things. All right? It's not about... It's not about being right. Even if you are right, that has a tendency to puff you up. To make you big and scary and intimidating. But love actually builds someone else up. Makes them bigger." (54 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Now, those of you who are mature in your faith can easily be recognized, for they don't live to please themselves, but have learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity. Just, just, let's pause there for a second. The mature ones among you have actually learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity. They're not the ones that are screaming, I'm mature. I'm right. I know best. They're saying, hey, I know what that's like. I know where you're coming from. I understand. I want to embrace you in your immaturity and help build you up so that there wouldn't be a wall of division or offense or anger or resentment or hurt between us, but that maybe we could build a relationship and more importantly, maybe I could point you to Jesus." (53 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Paul says, I have become a servant to all. You know what a servant says? Servants show up and they go, how can I help? I want to serve you. I want to help you. I want to bless you. How can I not put you down, not tear you down, not destroy you, but say, I want to serve you. I know you're wrong. How can I help? Right? Here's how he finishes. 1 Corinthians 9, 23. Why does he do that? Why does he lay down his rights? Why does he serve others? So that he might win people to Jesus." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Do an ear check. Am I being a gracious listener? It's been said that you have two ears and one mouth, because you're supposed to listen twice, twice as much as you speak. Am I really listening? Am I hearing? Am I understanding? Or am I just thinking about what I'm going to say next? Do an ear check. Am I being a gracious listener? What is the heart of what is being said? Even if it's not being said well. How many of you have had this, right? You say something, you're trying to make a point, you're right, and then somebody else comes in, and they find that one word that you said, maybe it was a mistake, maybe you just didn't say it very well, but now instead of talking about this, you're off arguing about that." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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