Plymothian

In the passage below, Paul lays out clearly what Christians mean by the gospel.  Gospel means “Good News”.  Why would talk about Jesus’ death be in any way good?  I often wondered why Good Friday was called ‘Good’.  I have acepted that Jesus died for a good reason, to bring us back.  Like the apostle Paul, we are born corrupt to the core.  The apostle Paul’s corruption showed as he killed people.  I have seen my own heart of darkness when I check my motives even in doing good things.

Our sin is worthy of death.  Not a quick bullet to the head, but a tortuous death.  This doesn’t immediately make sense unless you understand the holiness and perfection of God.  In the light of unspeakable holiness our smallest sin is an unimaginable horror.  The horror of our sin is what Jesus took upon himself at the cross.

However, like Aslan in The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Jesus came back from the dead and was raised to a new life.  This story is the greatest ever told and is repeated in many stories where a Messiah figure passes through death to save his or her friends.  Think of Harry Potter in the last book, think of Gandalf and the Balrog.  Jesus not only takes the just punishment for our heart of darkness, but he is raised into a new life.  He gives us the chance to share with him in his life of light.  The fact that he rose was attested to by multiple witnesses.

We, like the Corinthians Paul is writing to, must choose to follow Jesus Christ in the new life that he makes available to us.  Although it is a choice made in an instant, the consequences of choosing to follow must last a lifetime.  The life of a Christian is not an easy one, but it is a life where the sin and the imperfections that we carry are ripped away year by year confirming the reality of the life we have received from Jesus.

Do you know the gospel?  Have you received it?  Do you walk in it?  Can you communicate it?

1 Corinthians 15: 1-11

 ¹Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ²By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

 ³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Peter,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

 ⁹For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ¹¹Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

Questions

1. In verse 1, what three things does Paul say are true about the gospel?
2. Who were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection?
3. Why would the Corinthians need to be reminded of the gospel?
4. Why do you need to be reminded of the gospel?
5. How can you spread the good news?

Going Deeper

Each person has a testimony.  It is a story of how the gospel works out in each person’s life.  Here is mine:

I was born into a household where my mother was seeking God and my father was not.  At age 8 an old woman in our church, Mrs. Leonard, gave me a worksheet asking if I was a Christian.  My mother explained what that meant and I decided that I should become one.  I started a journey that day with Jesus that I have continued to this day.

I thought that God was in my life to make it better:  better in ways that I would define: comfortable, stable, self-assured.  I had a united home, loving family, food on the table and a fairly rigorous moral code.  I thought that I was better for all these things.  However, God has shown me over the years that the life of a Christian is about an ever deepening relationship with Him.

This means that he has taken me through some times when things that are very dear to me have been ripped away.  There are times when I had doubts I couldn’t answer, but God drew me on.  There are times when it seemed that I was all alone in the world, but God drew me on.  Right now, I have endured a number of pressures over the past two years.  I have become anxious and a little depressed.  But in all of this I see the hand of God.  The anxiety highlights some deep seated fears and wrong beliefs that God wants to heal and remove.  Like a surgeon he cuts deeper to remove my imperfections.  By his mercy I still endure.  By his grace I will walk stronger and more resolute. 

In my life, this is the gospel.  What is the good news in you?

How do we decide how to run a worship service?  How do gifts, especially tongues, fit together to make the perfect combination?  Paul emphasizes orderliness in chapter 14 of 1st Corinthians.  Chaos and disorder in a service do not glorify God.  However, we should see that there is room for creativity.  It can be argued that a well organized service can have the guts organized out of it.  Do your worship services combine creativity and order?

1 Corinthians 14

 ¹Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ²For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.^{[b] 3}But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. ⁴He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,^[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

 ⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? ⁷Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ⁹So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. ¹²So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

 ¹³For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. ¹⁶If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand^[e] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

 ¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

 ²⁰Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹In the Law it is written:
   “Through men of strange tongues
      and through the lips of foreigners
   I will speak to this people,
      but even then they will not listen to me,”^[f] says the Lord.

 ²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. ²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand^[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand^[h]comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, ²⁵and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

 ²⁶What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

 ²⁹Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³²The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
      As in all the congregations of the saints, ³⁴women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. ³⁵If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

 ³⁶Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.^[i]

 ³⁹Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Questions

1. Which way governs how a Christian worships?
2. What should be done after two or three prophets speak?
3. How is the importance of order emphasized by Paul?
4. What is your reaction to churches that use liturgy?
5. What is your reaction to charismatic or pentecostal worship?

Going Deeper

Observation

1. Who is someone speaking in a tongue speaking to?
2. What must there be for a flute and a harp to create a tune?
3. What should someone who speaks in a tongue pray?
4. What should happen if a revelation comes to one who is sitting down?
5. What should not be forbidden?

Interpretation

1. Is there a case for two gifts of tongues:  a public and a private gift?
2. Whose role is it to keep prophets in check?
3. How does a musical instrument illustrate Paul’s point?
4. What does the passage from Isaiah teach us?
5. How was a Corinthian service organized?

Application

1. How much should a worship service today try and resemble worship services from the early church?
2. Does your church look like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzqaITA3IO0 ?  Is that a problem?
3. Should people in the congregation be able to join in the worship service spontaneously?
4. What can other denominations learn from charismatics?
5. What can other denominations learn from high church?

I wrote a proposal for worship that I shared with my church (My Worship 7 proposal is outlined in Going Deeper below).  It took the ideas of 1 Corinthians 14:26 and applied them to the modern church and a congregation that is growing.  The principles are simple to grasp.  One underlying principle in particular is:  The church should encourage active participation by its members in the worship service.  Think of how services have become performance by a few on the stage.  Think of how many people in church are passive.  This is not just the fault of worship-as-amusement.  When we come with nothing to offer we share the blame.  How would you encourage your church to involve more people in worship?

1 Corinthians 14: 26-27

²⁶What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

Questions

1. What different things can Corinthian believers bring to a church service?
2. Which of the answers to question 1 must be done for the strengthening of the church?
3. How is tongues integrated into the service?
4. What active part do members bring to your church worship service?
5. How will you be active in church worship this coming week?

Going Deeper

Read this proposal for modernizing 1 Corinthians 14:26. 

Worship 7

Foundational Scripture: 

What shall we say, brothers?  When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.  (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.  (Ephesians 4:19)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3: 16)

Rationale

These verses lay responsibility on the members of the church to come prepared to be active participants in worship.  Not only are they participants when they arrive, they are participants in the planning.

Recent marketing campaigns have shown that people take ownership of a product when they participate in its formation.  Examples would be Coke:  Make it Real (as a reinvention of Coke:  The Real Thing);  Burger King:  Have it Your Way;  Yahoo is Under New Management:  You!;  and I am a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.  This is a rediscovery of truths that God used in the formation of the early church.  Participation in planning leads to increased ownership.

With worship, this becomes increasingly difficult as size increases.  A small church of 20 or 30 people can plan on the spot together and make up a service as they go along.  A church of 9,000 on multiple campuses cannot do this.  To engage the congregation in worship as mandated above, a new approach needs to happen.

Worship 7 would be a good name for this venture because 7 is the complete number in scripture and we want complete participation.  This proposal is an upgrade from previous styles of worship and so the cosmetics could be linked with the marketing campaign of Windows 7.  The present marketing campaign for windows and the ancient church’s desire to have each member participate also have close parallels.

We are ministering to millennial/mosaics.  What would be more appropriate than drawing from a variety of sources to construct a mosaic presentation featuring them?

This would create quite a shift in the worship world if this was pulled off.  I believe it would position us at the cutting edge and it is very doable.  I would suggest starting small with Wednesday night communion.

Implementation

• Worship director decides a broad list of songs that the worship team is able to play.
• Worship director decides whether congregants can bring testimonies or words from scripture, etc. to the congregation if vetted by him/her.
• Web team constructs a website allowing congregants to vote on:
  • A theme of worship
  • Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs from a selection provided by the worship leader
  • Web team adds to a Worship 7 website
    • A space where people share stories of God’s provision
    • A space where people share what God has been teaching them from scripture
    • A space where people can make suggestions about art and drama
    • A space for other multi-sensory suggestions to enhance worship
    • The worship director brings together a team that processes the data from the website and constructs a mosaic of worship that gives glory to God.
    • This is promoted as Worship 7:  I am The Chapel and Worship 7 was my idea.  Similar videos could be made to the ones that Microsoft is using now.

How could you make a plan for your church?

Apparently tongues is a sign for unbelievers.  What does that mean?  In context it can not mean that speaking in tongues is a gift that unbelievers will see and become saved.  The passage clearly states that if unbelievers see tongues without interpretation it is not going to help them.  People will think that those speaking in tongues are out of their minds.  In the Bible a sign is frequently a negative thing, an omen of sorts.  Tongues are a sign of judgement on the unbeliever who can not accept that this is a work from God.  It confirms their position on the outside of the people of faith.

1 Corinthians 14: 18-25

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

 ²⁰Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹In the Law it is written:
   “Through men of strange tongues
      and through the lips of foreigners
   I will speak to this people,
      but even then they will not listen to me,”^[f] says the Lord.

 ²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. ²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand^[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand^[h]comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, ²⁵and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Questions

1. What does Paul accuse Corinthians of thinking like?
2. When tongues are used what will the people do according to the quotation?
3. What is the overall argument of this passage?
4. How do some Pentecostals reverse this teaching?
5. Are you looking for something sensible to communicate with unbelieving friends?  How would they react if you spoke in tongues?

Going Deeper

1. What does Paul claim to do more than the Corinthians?
2. How many intelligible words are worth how many words in a tongue?
3. For whom is prophecy?
4. What will the unbeliever say upon hearing prophecy?
5. What will the unbeliever do upon hearing prophecy?

Interpretation

1. Why would Paul boast about speaking in tongues?
2. If 10,000 can be translated myriad what does that tell you about the ratio 5:10,000?
3. Look at Isaiah 28:11.  then look at Isaiah 28:10 and the NIV footnote.  What does this tell you about why Paul is using this verse in light of verses 10 and 12?
4. In Isaiah are the tongues positive or negative?
5. Why does Paul imply that every unbeliever will be blown away by prophecy when that is clearly not the case in reality?

Application

1.  When might you boast about a spiritual gift?
2. If Paul uses hyperbole, what does that say about a ‘literal’ reading of some passages?
3. Listen to The Police http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGax9i8k2_U&feature=related How does this relate to Paul’s argument?
4. Should people speak in tongues for a while as they mature toward prophecy?
5. How might some Pentecostals try and claim that unbelievers should hear tongues?

I can sometimes check out in a church service.  The music might be rocking, the preacher might be dynamic – but I sometimes check out.  I think about … I don’t even remember what I think about.  In today’s passage Paul talks about how mindless worship (especially with tongues) is a complete waste of time.  We should be present in spirit and mind.  We worship in spirit and in truth.  Sometimes I have sat in old-school congregations with tears running down my face as I contemplate the words of “How Great Thou Art” or “When I Survey”.  Sometimes a dusty old preacher has rocked my world with his profound words.  Sometimes we come into church that seems to be full of life, but

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.” (Macbeth)

The style of worship can be quite varied for my tastes.  It is the substance that is essential.  The substance of my worship starts with me as I come prepared to think about who God is and worship him for it.

1 Corinthians 14: 13-17

¹³For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. ¹⁶If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand^[e] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

Questions

1. What should anyone who speaks in a tongue do?
2. What two entities should be engaged in prayer in public worship?
3. Why is intelligible worship important to the Corinthian church?
4. How intelligible is your worship at home and at church?
5. How intelligent is your worship at home and at church?

Going Deeper

http://www.hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymn.php

http://www.christian-lyrics.net/#axzz0zVrJie8n

Look through Christian Hymns and Songs and think about them.  What are they saying about God?  What are they saying about man?

Which songs or hymns connect the most with your situation right now?

What is the point of coming together as a church if no-one understands what is going on?  I have been in churches where everyone spoke in tongues without translation.  In 1991 and 1992 I used to go to The Plymouth Christian Center in England.  After being in a number of worship services where everyone spoke in tongues at the same time, I went to the pastor to ask what he thought of 1 Corinthians 14.  He read the passage below and said, “That’s not how we do things here.”  Within a few months I had been hounded out of the church.  I regret how things unfolded, but I do not regret bringing this passage to the pastor.  Do you think there was any point to everyone singing and speaking in tongues without interpretation?

1 Corinthians 14: 6-12

⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? ⁷Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ⁹So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. ¹²So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Questions

1. What needs to accompany tongues in the Corinthian church?
2. What kind of gifts should people in Corinth excel at?
3. What simple point is Paul making above?
4. How would you respond to a church where people spoke in tongues without interpretation?
5. What gift would you seek in a church like Corinth?

The way of love speaks sense.  If there is a choice of desire – we should choose what benefits others.  Prophecy is greater than tongues, as a spiritual gift, because it enables us to love more effectively.  Prophecy is a combination of forthtelling and foretelling.  Those who pore over God’s word see the signs of the times and portents for the future.  Ancient wisdom speaks to modern dilemmas.  With most of our moral failings, it is not that we never knew, it is that we have forgotten.  This leaves us with a need for prophets and visionaries.  If the truth is revealed to us in an alien tongue, no-one is brought back from the abyss.  If the truth is revealed to us by a clear-talking prophet, we have no-one to blame if we choose not to respond to the tough words of love.

1 Corinthians 14: 1-5

¹Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. ²For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.^{[b] 3}But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. ⁴He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,^[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Questions

1. What way is to define our lives?
2. What pursuit grows from the way of love?
3. How would you summarize the relative value tongues compared with prophecy?
4. How can someone who knows history well be useful in predicting the future?
5. How can someone who knows the Bible well guard and guide others in the church?

Going Deeper

Observation

1. To whom does a person speaking in a tongue speak?
2. What does a tongue-speaker utter?
3. What three things does prophecy bring?
4. What would Paul rather have people do than speak in tongues?
5. What is the exception to Paul’s preference for prophecy?

Interpretation

1. Does speaking in tongues have a recognizable syntax or grammar structure?
2. If the Corinthians learn scripture, will prophesy and tongues diminish?
3. Is it possible to use a God-given gift selfishly?
4. If we all need each other, how can one person’s gift be greater than another?
5. What was the Corinthians’ order of service if multiple people could prophesy?

Application

1. Many martial arts end in -do, for example Judo.  The suffix means way.  For example, Judo is the gentle way.  What do martial arts teach us about following a way?
2. Bushido is a broader way of life.  It is like chivalry as a code for living.  What would be the essential rules of conduct for someone whose life is dictated by love?
3. Gandalf is a popular image of a prophet.  He can see the future because of his wisdom.  He speaks te truth to those around him because of his study.  Which heroes from film or literature remind you of a prophet?
4. Are there courses that you could take on-line or in class that would increase your growth as a modern prophet?  Does your church offer classes that will take you deeper?  http://www.chapel.org/adults/women/   ( I will be teaching the men’s group at The Chapel in October) http://www.moody.edu/distancelearning/
5. How can you grow as a prophet?

“You cannot deny the existence of hell. You live in it. It is a place without love.” (The American)  I found hope in  the words of the priest in The American.  Jack is trapped in a sordid world scarred by sin.  He wants to be free.  He wants to find redemption.  Jack is rich.  He pays for beautiful women.  However, he has nothing because he is not free to love.  When he finally breaks free he receives redemption and justice.  I was reminded of Flannery O’Connor’s heroine who is pursued by Christ, represented by a bull, and finally the bull pierces her heart with one horn and cradles her with the other.

Love is a mystery.  1 Corinthians 13 begins to open it for us.  However, the breadth of understanding of love is only touched on.  God pursues us in ways that are humbling, troubling, and redemptive.  God loves us.

1 Corinthians 13

¹If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Questions

1. Which gifts does Paul contrast with love?
2. Which verses describe love?
3. Which virtues remain?  Which is greatest?
4. How could issues in the church be solved by pursuing love?
5. How could you be more loving and bring harmony in your home?

Going Deeper

Use a concordance to find verses where love is mentioned.  Start to read the verses in context to build a better understanding of love.  Famous passages apart from 1 Corinthians 13 are Romans 12 and 1 John 4.

Today I spent the day in court.  The goal for our foster son was changed from return home in 12 months to terminating the rights of the birth parent.  At the end of the day I am coming back to my devotions.  “Now these three remain:  faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”  Isaw a birth mother in anguish because of her love for her son.  I could not feel triumphant at the changes.  I had to try and comfort her.  She looked up to me and said, “You are a pastor.  How could God let this happen?”  I did not talk about faith.  I tried to offer hope.  However, as my sister in Christ I hope I showed the birth mother Christ’s love.  I suspect I failed.  What would you have said?

Love is never failing it goes the distance.  I like William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 to reinforce this:

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

The irony of this sonnet is that I loved it as a teen and as a twenty-something.  I hated the inconstancy in the love I received.  I tested it to see if it would last.  And I was more changeable in my love than anyone else.  That love was not love because it altered when it alteration found.

1 Corinthians 13: 8-12

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Questions

1. What words show the longevity of love?
2. What words show the completeness of love?
3. What did the Corinthians see?  How would their vision change?
4. How has your love proved itself not love?
5. How wil your love endure?

Going Deeper

Romeo and Juliet; Anthony and Cleopatra; St. Peter and Jesus;  Mary and Jesus;  Watson and Holmes:  Which of these famous pairings show true love?  Which show a false love?