Not the end of the world

Today we were back into the discussion of spiritual gifts, specifically in the context of how our gifts must be used in love. The gifts themselves are not the end all be all of our spiritual life, but sometimes we lose focus of the long-term view. We have spiritual gifts, and while they are important, only love endures.

Sermon, October 31

Love is...part 4

In this passage of I Corinthians 13, Paul makes some sweeping statements about the extent to which love goes. Like our fascination with heroes, we want to see this love in action, but it's hard sometimes to think that it can really exist in such radical ways. Nevertheless, Paul still gives us the definition of God's limitless love, and encourages us to imitate it.

Sermon, October 24

Love is...Part 3

One verse at a time we're making our way through this chapter. In the context of serving with our spiritual gifts, we need to serve with love. Love must delight in what is true and right and good. Love cannot rejoice in what is wrong, unrighteous. That's a high standard as we think about the ways we like to tolerate certain kinds of evil. But there is no place for it in the body of Christ.

Sermon, October 17

Love is...part 2

Last Sunday, we were gone on vacation, a rare vacation actually spent vacationing! At any rate, we're back at it this week, and back into 1 Corinthians. More thoughts on love, more things to ponder through.

Oh, and if anyone is reading this, there is a concert at Kendrick coming up on this Friday evening, the 15th, at 7:00. Come hear some great music by Ernie Couch and Revival!

Sermon, October 10

What is love? Part 1

Today we looked at verse 4 of 1 Corinthians 13, and tried to examine what love is really supposed to be about. Paul uses some very specific and action-oriented terms to show us that love is seen in its fruits. A feeling or a declaration of terms isn't what God's love is about. Love needs to be expressed concretely.

Sermon, September 26

Authenticity

What is authentic Christianity? What is authentic Christian service? Can we minister "for God" and actually miss the boat somehow? Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, says that without love, a Christian could have amazing spiritual gifts, but they would count for nothing. That's a pretty harsh idea, but if we are lacking true love, we are only serving to serve self.

Sermon, September 19

Not All the Same

In the body of Christ, each person has different gifts. This is necessary so that we have full functionality of the whole body. We need to be able to serve as God has directed each one of us, and that involves understanding that we are not all the same, and that the diversity of gifts extends further than we like to think sometimes.

Sermon, September 12