I Corinthians 13 1-3 reminds us that the greatest truths spoken in the greatest way fall short if they are not spoken in love. To proclaim the truth of God without love is not simply to be less than you should be, it is to be nothing. To often knowledge makes us arrogant, and love is the essential ingredient for edification. Agape love is always self-sacrificing, but self-sacrifice does not necessarily come from love. The real focus of such practices that outlined in verses 1-3 is not our love for God or our love for others, it is us – either in the form of legalistic fear of not doing those things or for the praise and imagined blessing for doing them. The real motivation is love! No matter what we do, or what we say, or even what we know. If those things are not dispensed with love for God and love for others, it is truly meaningless. No matter what we do we have no spiritual gain if our witness and work are not ministered in love. Paul is going to move forward from here and talk about what that love looks like. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and … READ MORE

The Bible’s simplest description of God is found in 1 John 4:16 “God is Love” However, throughout history it seems that the church has found it difficult to be loving. It is easier to be orthodox than to be loving, and easier to be active in church work than to be loving. Yet the supreme characteristic that God demands of His people is love. In opposing that love the enemy of the church makes some of his supreme efforts. Love is so much an absolute of the Christian lfie that Jesus said in John 13;34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” Jesus left no doubt that self-sacrificing love (agope) is the supreme mark of discipleship to him. Our love of others starts with our love for God, and we cannot truly love God if we do not love others. It is important to remember that Love is not primarily an emotion, but rather a decision, to do three things: 1. Recognize others as a … READ MORE

Today, tongues are often viewed as an uncontrollable impulse, but the reality according to 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 they could be controlled, This section gives four regulations for the use of tongues: 1. Only two or three people should speak at one service – Often in services there are multiple people speaking 2. They should speak in turn – Often we see multiple people speaking at the same time. 3. What they say should be interpreted – The implication is that one person speaks, someone interprets the message, and then another person can speak. 4. If no one has the ability of interpret, people should not speak.  – This indicates that the gift of interpretation is not a spontaneous gift either, but people will know that they have the gift. As we deal with the confusion that the current tongues movement brings to our culture and world, we see that according to this passage that the guidelines are cear. The gift was not given to the church so that we would know that we have received the gift of the Spirit. Rather , tongues were given to convince the unbelieving Jews that there was going to come a judgment upon the, … READ MORE