Love: The Foundation of Christian Life and Ministry

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound teachings of 1 Corinthians, particularly focusing on the famous chapter 13, often referred to as the "wedding verse." This chapter, while commonly associated with romantic love, delves much deeper into the essence of love as the guiding principle for Christian life and ministry. The church in Corinth, known for its moral challenges and cultural influences, was a place where Paul emphasized the importance of love amidst spiritual gifts and community dynamics.

Paul's letters to the Corinthians address various issues, including immorality and the misuse of spiritual gifts, urging the church to prioritize love as the foundation of all actions. Love, according to Paul, is the rudder that steers Christian ministry, ensuring that our motivations align with the teachings of Christ. This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that build up the community and reflect the character of God.

We also touched on the historical context of Corinth, a city likened to the "Las Vegas of the ancient world," where the predominant religion was centered around a goddess of love. This backdrop highlights the significance of Paul's message, as he calls the church to rise above cultural norms and embody a love that is patient, kind, and enduring.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of understanding the context of Paul's letters, recognizing that his instructions were often specific to the situations faced by the early church. For instance, his guidance on women speaking in church was a response to particular disruptions, not a blanket rule for all time. Similarly, the use of spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues should be exercised with discernment, ensuring that they contribute to unity rather than division.

Ultimately, the message challenges us to examine our motivations and align them with the love of Christ, which is the only thing that will endure. As we grow spiritually, we are called to abandon personal preferences and embrace a love that seeks the greater good, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Love as the Foundation: Love is the guiding principle for all Christian actions and ministry. It is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that build up the community and reflect God's character. This love is patient, kind, and enduring, steering us towards unity and peace. [34:22]

2. Contextual Understanding: Understanding the historical and cultural context of Paul's letters is crucial. His instructions were often specific to the situations faced by the early church, such as addressing disruptions in worship. This helps us apply biblical teachings appropriately in our own contexts. [39:32]

3. Discernment in Spiritual Gifts: The use of spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, should be exercised with discernment. They should contribute to unity and not cause division. Reading the room and understanding the context is essential to ensure that our actions align with the love of Christ. [43:21]

4. Abandoning Personal Preferences: Spiritual maturity involves abandoning personal preferences and embracing a love that seeks the greater good. This requires humility and a willingness to prioritize the needs of the community over individual desires. [45:47]

5. Enduring Love: The love of Christ is the only thing that will endure until the end of time. While prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will cease, love remains. It is the intent of the gospel message and the foundation of our faith, calling us to act courageously in love. [48:23]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:59] - Introduction and Sad News
[31:03] - The Challenge of 1 Corinthians
[31:58] - Understanding Love in Context
[32:57] - The Church in Corinth
[34:22] - Love as the Rudder
[35:40] - Reading Paul's Letters
[38:41] - God of Peace
[39:32] - Contextual Instructions
[42:42] - Speaking in Tongues
[44:30] - Pentecostal Traditions
[45:11] - Embracing Women Preachers
[45:47] - Building the Body
[46:58] - Personal Preferences vs. Love
[48:23] - Enduring Love
[50:07] - Growing Up Spiritually
[51:49] - Love's Call to Action
[53:29] - Prayer for Love and Courage

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 13 - The famous "wedding verse" that delves into the essence of love as the guiding principle for Christian life and ministry.
2. Acts 18:1-17 - The foundation of the church in Corinth and the context in which Paul's letters were written.

#### Observation Questions
1. What were some of the moral challenges and cultural influences faced by the church in Corinth? [32:57]
2. How does Paul describe love in 1 Corinthians 13, and why is it significant for Christian ministry? [34:22]
3. What specific issues was Paul addressing in his letters to the Corinthians, and how did he suggest they be resolved? [39:32]
4. How does the historical context of Corinth as the "Las Vegas of the ancient world" influence the message of 1 Corinthians 13? [32:57]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize love as the foundation of all actions in the Christian community, and how does this relate to the misuse of spiritual gifts? [34:22]
2. How can understanding the historical and cultural context of Paul's letters help us apply biblical teachings in our own lives today? [39:32]
3. In what ways does Paul suggest that spiritual gifts should be exercised with discernment to contribute to unity rather than division? [43:21]
4. How does the concept of enduring love in 1 Corinthians 13 challenge us to examine our motivations and align them with the love of Christ? [48:23]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your personal preferences conflicted with the needs of your community. How can you prioritize the greater good in similar situations? [45:47]
2. How can you practice love as a deliberate choice in your daily interactions, especially in challenging situations? [34:22]
3. What steps can you take to better understand the context of biblical teachings and apply them appropriately in your life? [39:32]
4. Identify a spiritual gift you possess. How can you use it to promote unity and peace within your community? [43:21]
5. Think of a relationship or situation where you need to exercise more patience and kindness. What practical actions can you take to embody these aspects of love? [34:22]
6. How can you ensure that your motivations align with the teachings of Christ, especially when faced with cultural norms that contradict biblical values? [32:57]
7. Consider the enduring nature of Christ's love. How can this perspective influence your long-term goals and actions in your spiritual journey? [48:23]

Devotional

Day 1: Love as the Compass of Christian Life
Love is the guiding principle for all Christian actions and ministry. It is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that build up the community and reflect God's character. This love is patient, kind, and enduring, steering us towards unity and peace. [34:22]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you acted out of obligation rather than love. How can you approach similar situations with genuine love and kindness in the future?


Day 2: Understanding Context in Scripture
Understanding the historical and cultural context of Paul's letters is crucial. His instructions were often specific to the situations faced by the early church, such as addressing disruptions in worship. This helps us apply biblical teachings appropriately in our own contexts. [39:32]

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a biblical teaching you find challenging. How might understanding its historical context change your perspective or application of it today?


Day 3: Discernment in Exercising Spiritual Gifts
The use of spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, should be exercised with discernment. They should contribute to unity and not cause division. Reading the room and understanding the context is essential to ensure that our actions align with the love of Christ. [43:21]

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a spiritual gift you possess. How can you use it this week to promote unity and serve others in your community?


Day 4: Embracing Selflessness for Spiritual Growth
Spiritual maturity involves abandoning personal preferences and embracing a love that seeks the greater good. This requires humility and a willingness to prioritize the needs of the community over individual desires. [45:47]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a personal preference you often prioritize. How can you set it aside to better serve your community or family this week?


Day 5: The Enduring Nature of Christ's Love
The love of Christ is the only thing that will endure until the end of time. While prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will cease, love remains. It is the intent of the gospel message and the foundation of our faith, calling us to act courageously in love. [48:23]

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship or situation where love seems to be fading. What steps can you take to rekindle and sustain Christ-like love in that context?

Quotes

"First Corinthians, hey? Okay. I am so excited. I am so excited about this series because there's nothing easy in First Corinthians to preach. You could make it easy and just skim code everything, but it is so powerful. Every ounce of First Corinthians is powerful. Charles and Karen did an amazing job these last two weeks, and then Amberly before that, kind of walking us through. We're going to talk about the beginnings of First Corinthians, and I get to land today on what we mostly know as the wedding verse. First Corinthians chapter 13." [00:31:03] (49 seconds)


"So the church in Corinth, if you're taking notes, go back later today and take a look at Acts 18, 1 to 17. This is the foundations of this church. This is where this church was planted. We have two church planters that were exiled from Rome, Priscilla and Aquila. Now, they were there, and Paul was like, you know what? I'm going to go visit them and see what's going on, and maybe I can encourage them. And he ended up staying a year and a half." [00:32:57] (37 seconds)


"Corinth at that time was known as the Las Vegas of the ancient world. To Corinthianize something means to live in drunken immorality. Now, we see a lot of writings from Paul when he's addressing the church in Corinth. We see a lot of writings that are very specific around the topic of love, very specific around the topic of immorality, specifically sexual immorality. There's a really good reason for that. The predominant religion in Corinth at this time was essentially sex." [00:34:22] (46 seconds)


"When we act on behalf of God, when we represent God in what we do, what's the end result? Because the end result is going to tell us what our motivation was. Is it disunity, or do we cause peace? And we'll go on a little further just because it's what we're going to do today. Okay, are we ready for this one? Women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate." [00:39:32] (42 seconds)


"Now, for the record, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, which is who we are affiliated with, believes very strongly in empowering women. To be preachers. In fact, our fellowship was very much so founded on the curt tales of some amazing, amazing women. Ellen Hebden, who started the first Toronto Blessing, who came over from England and God's spirit poured out. That was our birthplace as a movement in Canada." [00:45:11] (38 seconds)


"Everything we do needs to build the body. Otherwise, it's self-indulgent. We all have this preference-driven use of gifts and use of scripture that we really want to see everyone else absorb and identify with. We all have a perfect church scenario. A list of things that would make church, well, more like us. More like me. I could give you a list of things that I would rather see on a Sunday morning than what we do." [00:45:47] (40 seconds)


"Paul's point is that in every situation, only one thing matters. And that's the thing that will endure until the end of time. And that is the love of Christ. It's something that will last forever versus everything else that is temporary. Everything fades except for the intent. The intent of the gospel message. Which is love. Our delivery is going to change again in five years. Because that is the way it goes." [00:48:23] (36 seconds)


"Everything you thought you once knew about him has to be brought to him. Everything you thought you knew about science or history comes to the cross. Everything we think we know meets Jesus one day. Every half-truth, every conspiracy theory will come to the cross. The why behind the what, however, will sustain. Love just takes on a new shape when we're gone. Have you ever thought about that?" [00:49:33] (36 seconds)


"Where there is a need for love, there will always be a love response waiting for someone courageous enough to act. The next piece, the verses 19 to 13. And this is where we'll end. Growing up spiritually. I'll just leave that up there for you. Karen's already read it. When we're growing up spiritually, we have to look at what is our purpose. What is our those to build up the church. Abandoning preferences. Abandoning childish reasoning." [00:50:07] (52 seconds)


"It is a humble call to us to give up our desires and our need for a me church. And to change our motivations to that of love. It is interesting how love manifests itself depending on the venue with Christ. Do you remember how harsh he was with believers? Paul just kind of seems to pick that up and keep going. Like, oh, Jesus is love. Yeah, until you step out of line. And then it gets a little weird." [00:51:49] (45 seconds)


"Love calls us to something greater. In our actions and how we portray him to the world around us. Love calls us to put on our big boy pants and get the job done. Challenge of the Corinthians today. To examine our motives. Search our hearts. And let the Holy Spirit transform us. Let the Holy Spirit speak to us and say, okay, hey, is that love that in you we find perfect love." [00:53:29] (107 seconds)

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Transcript
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