Today's passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Helpful thoughts:
- The “Love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13 is written for the context of a church which was envying spiritual gifts for their own selfish pleasure.
- It didn't matter how amazing the gifting was (No matter how “cool” or “spiritual” we might look), if we don't utilize what the Lord has gifted us to do with love, it's pointless.
- Our gifts are given to us for the benefit of others.
- To get the full effect of what verses 4-7 are teaching, insert the opposite terms and consider how the church (And other relationships) would change for the better or worse with love and with selfishness.
- e.g. Selfishness is hasty and rude; selfishness envies and boasts, etc.
- Spiritual gifts are needed for a time (And some of them only lasted for a short time), but all of them are only exercised rightly when they are motivated by what will outlast them all, love.
Questions to consider:
- How did God commend (Or show) His love toward us (Romans 5:8, John 15:13)? How do we find the example and the motivation to give of ourselves sacrificially to others (1 John 4:19)?
- What are some specific benefits of a church that loves one another? How have you loved others? How have others loved you? Why can we thank the Lord for the church?
- What point do you think Paul was making with the illustration of thinking like a child, then becoming a man and giving up childish ways? What has that progressive sanctification looked like in your life? What spiritual maturity (In fullness) are you looking forward to when you see Jesus face to face?