Rethinking "The Love Chapter"

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy it does not boast… Did you know that I Corinthians 13 was not actually written for wedding ceremonies??? :)  It was actually written with worship gatherings in mind…the local church.  Paul wanted to make sure believers within the church were treating one another (and “outsiders”) with Christ-like love.

Isn’t it interesting to think that God’s pleasure in our worship is more dependent on how we treat others than on how well we play or sing or engage in the worship service?  In fact, the apostle Paul states quite clearly that, if we do not have love, we are only “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (kinda funny that he singles out the drummer there, huh? HA!!!). Get it? If we make beautiful music, if we sing out really good, if we pray really hard or even listen to the WHOLE message....but treat each other (or the student who’s annoying us by talking the whole time--or the outsider who clearly didn’t dress for church--or the family who stole our seats--or the guests who no one will talk to) without love, we’re just noise to God.

I want to challenge you to read I Corinthians 13 while keeping the context in mind…consider what it means for you and your church here in 2013.