In Everything, Love 1 Corinthians 13 Concluding message in our 4-part series called Growing in Grace Sunday, October 4, 2009 Speaker: Dr. David Dawson

Extending Grace King David shows kindness to Mephibosheth

In Essentials, Unity “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Rupertus Meldenius German Lutheran theologian early 17 th century

In Non-Essentials, Liberty “Non-essentials” are not unimportant; they are important “Non-essentials” are not unimportant; they are important “Non-essentials” do invite personal conviction “Non-essentials” do invite personal conviction But “non-essentials” also invite God’s grace to rule But “non-essentials” also invite God’s grace to rule In some “disputable matters” (Romans 14), the more legalistic believer was considered the weaker believer who needed to be accepted, whose burdens needed to be carried and who was not to be looked down on because of his reservations. In some “disputable matters” (Romans 14), the more legalistic believer was considered the weaker believer who needed to be accepted, whose burdens needed to be carried and who was not to be looked down on because of his reservations. On the other hand there are some “disputable matters” where there is no strong or weak believer, just two brothers or sisters whose understanding is different. On the other hand there are some “disputable matters” where there is no strong or weak believer, just two brothers or sisters whose understanding is different.

In Everything, Love Corinthians 13 “Hymn of love” “Hymn of love” “From a literary viewpoint, it may be the greatest passage Paul ever penned.” “From a literary viewpoint, it may be the greatest passage Paul ever penned.” An oasis in a desert of problems An oasis in a desert of problems The dysfunctional church in Corinth The dysfunctional church in Corinth

In Everything, Love - 2 Spiritual gift confusion – 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 People were not using gifts to serve others (12:7) People were not using gifts to serve others (12:7) People were parading gifts as if they were their own and not given by God (12:11) People were parading gifts as if they were their own and not given by God (12:11) People had labelled others’ gifts or roles as “lesser” making them feel inferior (12:14-20) People had labelled others’ gifts or roles as “lesser” making them feel inferior (12:14-20) Others were wearing their “greater” gifts pridefully like badges of “super spirituality” (12:21-26) Others were wearing their “greater” gifts pridefully like badges of “super spirituality” (12:21-26) Others were using their speaking gifts in a disorderly way (14:9-12, 23, 28-31,40) Others were using their speaking gifts in a disorderly way (14:9-12, 23, 28-31,40)

In Everything, Love The necessity of love (vv. 1-3) 2. The character of love (vv. 4-7) 3. The permanence of love (vv. 8-13)

In Everything, Love Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient Love is kind It does not envy It does not boast It is not proud It is not rude It is not self-seeking It is not easily angered It keeps no record of wrongs Love does not delight in evil But rejoices with the truth It always protects Always trusts Always hopes Always perseveres

In Everything, Love - 5 Love is enduring (not fragile) Love is patient It always protects Always trusts Always hopes Always perseveres Love is humble (not proud) It does not envy It does not boast It is not proud It is not rude It is not self-seeking It is not easily angered It keeps no record of wrongs Love does not delight in evil Dr. John Piper

In Everything, Love - 6 Applications: 1. Learn to give “answers to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) 2. “Speak the truth in love” … always! (Eph 4:15). This includes tone and attitude. Arrogance or superiority (1 Cor 13:4-6) have no place, especially if one is “right”. 3. Listen carefully and respectfully to others’ opinions – love dictates that we listen in precisely the way we would like to be heard by others. (Luke 6:31) 4. Recognize with humility our own fallibility in being completely right on every Biblical doctrine. More light may still break from the pages of God’s Word.

In Everything, Love The church leadership takes seriously its charge to “guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you” (2 Tim 1:14) for the church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1Tim 3:15). 6. Find a way to build somebody up as you discuss essentials and non- essentials. (Ephesians 4:29) 7. If a fellow Christian differs with you, * Do acknowledge strengths in the other person’s opinion * Don’t say, “God told me this directly.” * Do discuss with conviction, but preserve the bond of love with humility and endurance. (1Corinthians 13:4-6) 8. Realize with humility that sometimes what we consider to be doctrinal pillars are more personal preferences based on a combination of Scripture, tradition and other factors.

In Everything, Love Praise God that we are on a trail of lifelong learning with diverse and extraordinary co-travelers whom He has sovereignly provided to help us grow in His amazing grace! (2 Peter 3:18) 10. Thank God for His grace and pray that He will allow us together to faithfully carry the wonder and the power of His agape love to a lost world in desperate need. (Matthew 28:18-20) In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, liberty; In everything, love