THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN LOVE

1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

A Perspective on Love from Corinth…
Spiritual gifts are significant, but love is supreme.
Love is the necessity apart from which nothing in the Christian
life matters.
Love is the field in which everything in the Christian
life flourishes.
Spiritual gifts are temporal, but love is eternal.
The Nature of Love in the Church…
Love is essentially selfless.
It seeks its joy in the good of others to the glory of God.
Love is inevitably active.
It is not conveyed by words as much as it is shown by behavior.
The Marks of Love in the Christian…
Are you kind to others?
Are you envious of what others have?
Do you boast about what you have?
Are you ever arrogant before others?
Are you ever rude to others?
Do you want things your own way?
Are you irritable when things don’t go your way?
Do you keep any record of others’ wrongs?
Do you find any pleasure when others do wrong?
Do you experience only delight when others do right?
Do you tire of support for others?
Do you hold onto faith for others?
Do you lose hope for others?
Do you endure trials with others?
The Power to Love in Christ…
So what is the definition of Christian love?
To love is to be toward others the way God
in Christ is toward us.
We receive His love.
We reflect His love.
And what is distinct about Christian love?
Christian love is exemplified in the cross of Christ.
It is based on mercy in the lover, not merit in
the beloved.
Christian love is empowered by the Spirit of Christ.
It is not natural, but supernatural.
Christian love is enamored with the return of Christ.
It can’t help but to serve others in the present because it can’t wait
to see Christ in the future.

Thanks pastor David!

The Cross and Christian Gifts: The Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.


Spiritual gifts are the supernatural ways God’s Spirit works
through God’s children to make God’s Son look right.


(1 Corinthians 12)
The tension of desiring, discovering and developing spiritual gifts:
Jesus’ body works right when its members avoid self-deprecation.
(1 Corinthians 12:14-20)
Do I think, “They don’t need me!”? (1 Corinthians 12:14-17)
Do I think the sovereignty of God is actually an error? (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Do I think unity and diversity are mutually exclusive? (1 Corinthians 12:19-20)

Jesus’ body works right when its members avoid self-exaltation.
(1 Corinthians 12:21-31)
Do I think, “They can’t do without me!”? (1 Corinthians 12:21)
Do I desire to be sensational or beneficial?
(1 Corinthians 12:22-24, 31)
Do I foster factions more than fellowship?
(1 Corinthians 12:25-26)
Do I prefer independence over dependence?
(1 Corinthians 12:27-30; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 18; 1 Peter 4:10)
Do I want the Spirit’s gifts more than His fruit?
(1 Corinthians 12:31; cf. Galatians 5:16-26)

The task of desiring, discovering and developing spiritual gifts:
1. Ask God’s Spirit to guide you on your journey.
2. Stop being concerned with labels and definitions.
3. Explore how God’s wired you to build faith in others. (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-10)

Passions – What lights you up?
Reputation – What do others see in you?
Interests – What intrigues you?
Experience – What have you done?
Success – What have you done fruitfully?
Talents – What abilities do you have?

4. Look for general themes that keep showing up.

5. Do some trial-and-error with related ministries.

Thanks pastor Jim!

Speak To Us Lord

Ps. 63:1-4 

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  

4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Everyday is a precious gift! 
I see You Lord, working in the hearts of man! 
I hear Your words coming out of those who have been roaming away from You and my heart sings with joy at Your faithfulness! 
When we should be destroyed for our disobedience, You show mercy! 
How can it be that we are forgiven when we deserve judgement? 
Oh Lord, You are too marvelous for words! 
I will praise Your name for You alone are worthy!
You alone are the water that sustains us! 
Give us eternal life according to Your word through Jesus Holy Blood!
Wash us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness by Your power!
Awaken Your people!

The Cross and Christian Gifts: The Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1-13

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

The truth about spiritual gifts…
They are easily misunderstood and misappropriated.
(1 Corinthians 12:1)
They often cause disunity and division in the church.
(1 Corinthians 12:1)
They should be desired, discovered, and developed. (1 Corinthians 12:1, 31; cf. 1 Corinthians 14:1, 12, 39;
1 Peter 4:10)
The theology of spiritual gifts…
Believers are immersed in and indwelt by God’s Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:13)
God’s Spirit joins believers together to form Jesus’ body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
Believers receive grace from God’s Spirit to make Jesus’ body work right. (1 Corinthians 12:2-31)
Spiritual gifts are the supernatural ways God’s Spirit works through God’s children to make God’s Son look right.

The test for spiritual gifts…
God’s Spirit works through believers to proclaim Jesus’ glory. (1 Corinthians 12:3; cf. John 16:14; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
God’s Spirit works through all believers in many different ways. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
God’s Spirit works primarily to benefit the body, not the believer. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10; cf. Romans 1:11-12;
1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 12, 17, 26; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Peter 4:10)
God’s Spirit works through believers according to His sovereign plan.
(1 Corinthians 12:11; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:18, 28; Romans 12:3-8;
Ephesians 4:7)
Thanks pastor Jim!

THE CROSS AND THE CHRISTIAN GATHERING

1 Corinthians 11:2-34

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
The Lord's Supper
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another--
34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.


Characteristics of Christian Gatherings…

Glad submission to loving authority.
We are all submissive to the Word.
Men are specifically submissive to the Lord.
Women are specifically submissive to men.
Beginning at creation.
Look at God’s order in creation.
Look at God’s design in creation.
Based upon the nature of God.
The persons of the Trinity are equally divine.
The persons of the Trinity are positionally different.
This is loving authority and glad submission in
beautiful relationship.
Because of the angels.
Godly understanding of gender mutuality.
We complement one another.
Men and women have equal value.
Men and women have unique roles.
We celebrate our differences.
Clear commitment to physical modesty.
Profound sense of spiritual humility.
Drawing attention to the glory of God.
Deferential accountability to the churches of God.
Selfless devotion to covenantal unity.

The Corinthian version of the Lord’s Supper…
Neglected the needy in the church.
Deserved the discipline of Christ.

The Christian version of the Lord’s Supper…
Who?
Christians (followers of Christ walking in repentance and faith)
share in the work of Christ as they partake of
the Lord’s Supper.
Non-Christians see the work of Christ as they
watch the Lord’s Supper.
What?
A traditional misunderstanding: a change of substance
that results in salvation.
A biblical understanding: a symbolic meal that
reflects salvation.
When?
The only biblical expectation: observe it often.
Where?
The only biblical requirement: gathering of the church.
Why?
To remember the body and blood of Jesus.
To reflect upon our sin and His salvation.
To renew our commitment to Christ, the church, and
the Great Commission.
To rejoice that Christ has set us free and is coming back.
How?
Look within.
Look to others.
Look to Christ.

Thanks pastor David!