Scripture Text (NRSV)
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not
have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 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 do not have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body
so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
13:4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful
or arrogant
13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful;
13:6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an
end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come
to an end.
13:9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;
13:10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end
to childish ways.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face
to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I
have been fully known.
13:13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and
the greatest of these is love.
Comments:
The gospel text smacks of a contrast between Jesus' gracious words
(and the people's appreciation!) AND the tough truth (and the people
are suddenly enraged and ready to stone him!). Somehow this "love"
chapter always gets the spin that it's about: being nice; biting one's
tongue; reserving words that might offend until one's own spirit is in
the right place; pursuing patience, tolerance, longsuffering.... BUT
there's another orbit to the spin: "tough love"; "speaking the truth
in love"; "rejoicing enough in the Truth and Goodness to confront
things that need confronting".
Here's where the church could use some good training so that "love"
can be known and claimed in forums where the truth is BOTH something
that builds up and empowers AND brutal enough to nudge us toward
places of healing and hope when we're headed off in other directions.
The gosepel has always had a particular "sting" to it -if it's been
preached well- How do I find my place of integrety between honouring
and dignifying people and naming the truths which are sometimes very
far from honour and dignity???
Perry in Kitchener Waterloo
The gospel text smacks of a contrast between Jesus' gracious words
(and the people's appreciation!) AND the tough truth (and the people
are suddenly enraged and ready to stone him!). Somehow this "love"
chapter always gets the spin that it's about: being nice; biting one's
tongue; reserving words that might offend until one's own spirit is in
the right place; pursuing patience, tolerance, longsuffering.... BUT
there's another orbit to the spin: "tough love"; "speaking the truth
in love"; "rejoicing enough in the Truth and Goodness to confront
things that need confronting".
Here's where the church could use some good training so that "love"
can be known and claimed in forums where the truth is BOTH something
that builds up and empowers AND brutal enough to nudge us toward
places of healing and hope when we're headed off in other directions.
The gosepel has always had a particular "sting" to it -if it's been
preached well- How do I find my place of integrety between honouring
and dignifying people and naming the truths which are sometimes very
far from honour and dignity???
Perry in Kitchener Waterloo
Just as Jeremiah is called and commissioned, so too the Corinthian
church and the church today are also called and commissioned. In this
passage, this call is defined: love. Paul writes that despite their
great differences, God can be known in the love that members of this
church share with one another. In the previous 12 chapters, Paul has
carefully considered the challenges facing the Corinthian church. In
the midst of all of this, Paul is reminding them that God calls them,
first and foremost, to love.
These verses are often read at weddings. Consider Paul's encouragement
to not forget - God know us and therefore we can be sure that God will
give us what we need to persevere in love, just as God gave the young
Jeremiah all he would need to fulfill his calling.
Wonder why the lectionary writers left out 12:31a, which is a great
introduction to this whole thing-"but listen, and I will show you a
more excellent way"
Another thought- on grown-up thought, speech, and action - I know an
elderly genleman who has been through a lot in the past two years- He
lost his wife, one of his sons, and he has cancer (again) The last
time I visited with him, he admitted that he had been in a great deal
of pain. But he said that God is still good, and that he planned to
enjoy whatever time God saw fit to give him.
There is a simplicity that may come from a lack of harsh experience
(or even refusing to experince it)-so how precious is a simple, firm
faith on the other side of suffering, someone who has faced the
questions and complexity of life, and can still proclaim gladly that
God is good.
By the way, my friend may be the happiest man I know.Gee, I wonder
why!
revgilmer in Texarkana
So familiar of a passage - yet so hard to live by.
In the context of chapter 12 through 14, it has a whole new meaning
(in contrast to the usual meaning found in wedding ceremony). Here,
love is the foundation for every other gifts and services.
What interested to me today was the last part, about how love can help
me to bear, to believe, to hope, and to endure all things; knowing
that everything was partial and temporal. Growing in love, I will
become an adult, and no longer behave like a child. (Wait a minute,
didn’t Jesus want us to be like children? Not really, that is only in
the relationship aspects toward God; toward others, He wanted us to
grow in love and be an adult).
v.12 reminded me about the limits of the mind. The more I learned from
the scholars, the more I got confused and dissatisfied; however the
more I observed the lives of the saints, the more I am hungry to
experience what they have. Elsewhere in this epistle Paul wrote that,
"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up". Was that where the
breakdown: knowledge without love? May God help me to strive more for
love, and less for knowledge.
Coho, Midway City.
Perry - gosh, you've got my juices flowing today!
A caveat about "tough love:" make sure there's "love" and not just
"tough." I recall revgilmer's post on the OT page - about the pointer.
We preachers can slip into being the "pointer" more often than we care
to admit.
Sally in GA
This has begun some thinking in me. How to use verses 11 and 12, in a
communion service at a retirement home. I'm thinking also in
relationship to Yahweh's words to Jeremiah "I knew you before you were
born." There is wisdom in childhood or how else does a child first
learn. With all the mistreatment of children throughout world, could
the words of verse 11 contribute to this problem, where adults think
less of children? How do we keep a balance between our respect for
childhood and adulthood? Perhaps Erik Erickson's 8 stages, and their
relationship to each other could prove helpful. These are just very
preliminary thoughts as I prepare for Sunday.
Shalom
bammamma
An update, and then I'll bore you no more with it. Thank you to all
who offered moral support and sound advice last week. It's ironic
that, though I was very frustrated the day I wrote the initial post,
it really was short-lived (excepting my reaction to bammbmma for which
I apologize). However, the discussion went ON and ON!!! A little
embarrassing, really! Somehow an everyday frustration got magnified
into a major case on the DPS!
Anyways, it's still good to see that I'm not alone in my frustrations.
After concluding that there is no "right" way to de-triangle this, I
did the best I could and made it public. And in the best
non-anxious-presence I could muster encouraged people to see me
directly or see the PPR because I can't possibly clear up confusion if
I don't know who it is.
All the more reason to strive for the greater gifts - faith, hope, and
love. And ain't it difficult sometimes?
Sally
Some early thoughts:
If love abides (never fails), why do so many marriages fail?
“Love does not create a marriage; marriage teaches us what a costly
adventure love is." (author unknown)
There must be a rejection of domestic violence – a marriage without
love Just because he says I love you – if he hits it is not love!
There might be Eros, passion, sex appeal, but don’t confuse that with
true love.
Steve Hermes, Lander WY
Last week I used the text from Luke, touching on the 1 Cor 12 text for
the children's sermon, using a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head to demonstrate
how difficult it would be if the "parts" were not in their proper
place. Our church is in a crucial period where we are identifying
gifts and passions for particular ministries, looking for places to
serve in the community, and building a "Culture of Service," rather
than a culture of being served.
I will touch on 1 Cor 12 briefly and then move into the more excellent
gift, love. It is Communion Sunday and I like the idea of Love being
the foundation for all of the other gifts, in much the same way as
Worship is the foundation for any and all ministries that flow from
the church. Love and Worship go hand in hand, do they not?
PastorBuzz in TN
Here are some sermon Helps I found on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Central Ideas 1. Love (agape) is eternal and never fails. It defines
God’s relationship to creation: God is love. God’s love is a gift,
freely given. Humankind experiences birth and death as part of the
life cycle, but God’s love endures through all time, reaching beyond
physical death. 2. An encounter with the Divine illuminates our
humanness and the unending love of the Creator for us. When
approaching the Lord’s table with seriousness of purpose, we can sense
God’s love through the specialness of the sacrament. The sacramental
symbols of bread and wine remind us of the Lord’s death and
resurrection—historical reminders of the depth of God’s love. Our
response must be to help others find that love.
Questions for the Speaker 1. When bad things happen to people, how do
you explain that God’s love never fails? 2. How can you give
expression to that kind of all-powerful love? 3. What experience have
you had that affirms God’s constant love for you? 4. When thinking
about the Christian Church, what evidence can you cite that we are
sometimes like the people of Nazareth, expecting special attention
because of our unique calling? 5. How do the sacraments witness of
God’s faithfulness and love? 6. What should be our response to God’s
grace as shown us through divine love?
Ben in Orangeville
I plan to look at this text in its context, between 1Cor 12 and 14
about spiritual gifts. There is a lot of hype and excitement about
spiritual gifts (still) as if they were the end all. God gives them
and they are important, “for the common good” as Paul wrote but they
are no measure of spiritual maturity as some may think. And they are
certainly not a sign of greater spiritual importance as some also
think.
So I plan to take some of the romantic sentimentalism out of 1 Cor 13
and look at what it says about love, the more excellent way. And then
look at what it may mean applied in my very small church context
RevJHC
First there's last week's ending; "strive for the greater gifts" and
then "I will show you a still more excellent way."
That means that ch. 13 is the most excellent way. OK, Sally, Duh! What
I can't get out of my mind is Garth and Wayne (Wayne's World skit on
SNL) "Most Excellent!" and "We're not worthy!" It won't preach in my
congregation, but I still thought of it.
Isn't that how many think of communion? Not worthy? In our
denomination there is some serious discussion about what "OPEN"
communion really means.
I'm thinking of (finally) trying my hand at sourdough bread. I'd
mentioned it at a meeting once that I'd always wanted to try it but
never had the starter and that I looked up how to start starter and
found that it took a long time. A couple weeks later, Marge N, our
communion steward and bread-baker, brought me a container of starter.
That's been a year ago.
I thought I might use it as a symbol of her simple kindness - a small
but sweet act of agape - and put it into the communion bread, baked by
my hands... The starter is a year old so it ought ot have a pretty
good bite to it!
Sally in GA
Many people notice I Cor 13 is in the context of chapters 12 and 14
about spiritual gifts. But really this chapter is the key to the whole
letter.
The Corinthians were squabbling about their favorite pastors and
personalities (chapter 1). But love is not envious or boastful.
The Corinthians were tolerating sexual misconduct, incest and
prostitution. But love does not rejoice in wrongdoing.
The Corinthians were suing one another in court. But love does not
insist on its own way.
While some were sexually profligate, others were avoiding marriage and
commitments (chapter 7). But love risks involvement in others' lives.
Some were hung up on being vegetarians and looking down on the
carnivores. But loves is not boastful or arrogant.
Some were not sharing in church suppers and making a mockery of
communion. But love serves with generosity.
This is all before we even get to chapter 12 and the spiritual gifts.
Chapter 13 is really the key to the whole letter. St. Paul is telling
the Corinthians to put aside childish ways and grow up!
Mike in Maryland
Sally I love your idea. I wish I had some special bread for Sunday at
the retirement home. But thats ok, the woman playing for me is giving
of her talents. We need to be satisfied with what God gives us.
Shalom
bammamma
Clang, Clang Clang with the trolley! Ring, Ring, Ring went the bell!
Zing,Zing,Zing went my heartstrings.... AH LOVE! When a young man's
heart turns to folley! (ROTFL)
February, we think about LOVE, Valentine's day, eh? (I am single, but
you married preachers don't forget the spouse! LOL) We like the
marriage relationship to help us understand the relationship to God.
The Oneness with The Godhead. When are a part of the Body of Christ.
Does one really understand that LOVE. Not Eros...Agape...that's what 1
Cor. 13 speaks about. Well, verses 1-3 says LOVE and FAITH are
important Factors.
But, God knows our little brains, knows that we can't conceive the
concept, so in verses 4 -8a HE TELLS US What Love is! GOD IS GOOD!
But, to really grasp that understanding verses 11-13 you need to grow
up! Spiritually... How many of us are grown up? We've chatted about
the Holy Spirit here all month... This is why we need the Holy
Spirit---spiritual maturity helper...So, we can Love the way GOD wants
us to!!
In the words of those 4 great theologians George,John,Paul and Ringo
"ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!"
~@#$%^&~ (formally Clerically Blonde of west ohio)
The last couple posts have given me a title idea - but one I won't
actually use, however tempting it is:
"Oh, Grow Up!"
How about "Oh, Get Over Yourself!"
Sally
To formally Clerically Blonde: I just finished listening to a song by
one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists, Larry Norman, who
wrote: "The Beatles said 'all you need is love'/and then they broke
up" from "Readers Digest," on "Only Visiting This Planet" I had to
laugh when I read your post! Love, Love, Love ... PastorBuzz in
Tennessee
I love it!
Sue - don't be surprised if your sourdough is dead after a year of non
use. You should set it out about once a month or at least feed it a
teaspoon of flour and water each month. To get a good "bite" set it
out (put the starter away the next morning) but leave it out for
several days simply adding a quarter cup of flour and water each
morning. By the fourth day you should have a good sour sourdough.
Sally in GA I have a sourdough starter that is over 30years old. You
just need to use it once in awhile to keep it primed. If it does not
bubble after being left out of the refrig. add a couple of table
spoons of sugar. Bill in PC ILL.
From the contributions, I feel like I need to say: Make sure you are
preaching to, not preaching at. I found myself doing the latter in
this scripture! Blessings!
Thank you for the anonymous writer who contributed recently. To
preaching to and preaching at, I would add preaching with. That is one
reason I like cultures where responses are made to what th preacher is
saying during the sermon. I have been asking the group to which I
bring a sermon to repeat with me the last verse of Psalm 19, so it
really is a group process.
Also my contribution this week wrestled with what the use of child in
verse 11 means I found the answer in the Basic Bible Study Library,
these words: "For now, we are all little children. Paul's use of the
term child does not reflect immaturity as much as naivete or a sense
of not yet being fully aware. Thus speaking, thinking, and reasoning
are now done without full awareness and maturity. However, someday the
believers in Corinth will outgrow these limitations and restrictions."
Shalom
bammamma
When I do premarital counseling I often will read I Cor. 13:4-7 with
the couple and note that in this definition of love there is not one
single verse that refers to a feeling. No warm fuzzies. No Hallmark
honey and sweetness. It refers to ACTION. Being patient-- when you
FEEL im-patient. Being kind -- when you feel like being un-kind.
Keeping no score of wrongs -- when you feel like holding a grudge.
This is how Christian marriage can not only survive but thrive. But
not just marriage but any relationship where both are willing to love
each other as defined by this passage. Hence Jesus' command to "LOVE
your enemies"! Impossible -- yet, empowered by Christ's Spirit within
us, lived out, first as action. Then quite possibly lived out as
feelings which follow the actions. Quite the opposite of what society
teaches about "love"...
Happy Valentine's Day, in Christ, L'Anni in the Hague, NL
Thanks for the sourdough advice, everyone. I looked up the recipes the
other day and discovered that the starter CAN go bad (I didn't know
it). So, I tested it and, thank goodness, it bubbled just fine. I'll
try the bread later today.
Sally
Cute joke that applies - in case you're looking for "tag points."
(ironically, my atheist friend sent it to me from their atheist
website - haha)
"I was testing the children in my Sunday school calss to see if they
understood the concept of getting to heaven. I asked them, "If I sold
my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to
the church, would that get me into Heaven?"
"NO!" the children answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept
everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?"
Again, the answer was, "NO!"
By now, I was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun! "Well then, if I
was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my
husband, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again.
Again, they all answered, "NO!"
I was just bursting with pride for them. Well, I continued, "then how
can I get into Heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out:
"YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."
- Sally in GA
i don't know if everyone can have love, some desperatley want it and
others desperatley need it and they don't know it. but i truly believe
that the absence of love is evil and leads to evil. evil also begets
evil as in hurting and being hurt, it spawns from your wounds. you
never see this from a good person's standpoint.....
EVERYONE HAS LOVE TO GIVE AND RECEIVE. THE PROBLEM IS WE ALL WANT TO
CONTROL WHO WE GIVE AND RECEIVE OUR LOVE TO AND FROM. WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT LOVE DOES NOT REALLY BELONG TO US. AND IT CANNOT BE
CONTROLLED. THE PERSON OR PEOPLE WE THINK WE LOVE THE MOST IS
UNATTAINABLE. THE PERSON WHO LOVES US THE MOST REALLY GROSSES US OUT.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT LOVE IS TO BE GIVEN FREELY AND RECEIVED
FREELY BECAUSE IT IS OUR GREATEST GIFT. WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THE ONE
THAT GOT AWAY. IF YOU REALLY SIT DOWN AND ASSESS HOW AND WHY THEY GOT
AWAY YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO ENDED THE RELATIONSHIP
BY TRYING TO CONTROL THE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF LOVE. ALSO THE ONE
THAT YOU THINK IS "THE ONE" MAY NOT BE THE ONE THE GOD INTENDS FOR US
TO HAVE. SO HEY LOVE ON.
The main point of the 1-13 is to teach us what love is. If we can use
all of these, or some of these definitions about love in our lives, we
are taking the attitude of Christ.verse 13 states that faith, hope,
and love remain, and the greatest of these three is love. Love is
greater than faith, and greater than hope. Jesus said to love our
neighbor as ourselves. By commanding this, he is stating what verse 13
talks about;love is the greatest thing we can convey to one another.
It is the new commandment! james Leonard in Idaho
