Christianity Still Makes Sense

Love Is the Final Apologetic 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

Love Is the Final Apologetic

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

 

 

"Upon his authority he gives the world the right to judge whether you or I are born-again Christians on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians...

 

[If] people come up to us and cast in our teeth the judgment that we are not Christians because we have not shown love toward other Christians, we must understand that they are only exercising a prerogative which Jesus gave them." Francis Schaeffer

 

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements.

Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

 

 

“Love that person who rubs you the wrong way. Love the unfaithful. The immature. The obnoxious teenager. The grumpy father-in-law. The noisy neighbor. The nosey neighbor. The fruit cake making old aunt. The unfair boss. The inconsistent friend.

 

The lazy worker. The worrying wife. The hateful husband. The wannabe hipster. The argumentative church member. The unruly two year old. The angry atheist. The bitter, unattractive single women. The unwise college student. The blatant homosexual. That snippy sister-in-law. The Muslim. “Love them”, Jesus says. “No, really. Show them who I really am by bringing some agape their way.”

Yours Truly, The Fifth Gospel

 

 

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:44-46).

 

"Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.

If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

If We Are the Body 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

 

If We Are the Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

 

“If we are the body why aren’t His arms reaching?

Why aren’t His hands healing?

Why aren’t His words teaching?

And if we are the body, why aren’t His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?”

Casting Crowns, If We Are the Body, chorus.

 

 

"'If We Are the Body' addresses a problem I've seen in churches all over - that churches are a lot like a circle. Circles are great if you're in the circle, but most people find themselves outside that circle for whatever reason.

 

There's not a sign on the door but you get the feeling they've got everybody they need. You're welcome to come, but you're not really ever going to be part of the circle and that's certainly not what the Bible teaches." Mark Hall

 

“I love this song. I agree with it completely. I've been to a lot of different churches where I just didn’t feel welcome whatsoever. That’s why I ended up in the church I'm in because people opened up to me and made me feel like I belonged.” Shebalba8

 

“My church that i grew up in had cliches and... it felt really uncomfortable. the church I am at now... it’s like a 180. all it takes is a simple introduction to make a person feel at home. it won't kill ya...” Itzadoozy

 

“I really love the lyrics for this song. How often do people judge others who come to their church or judge other Christian’s b/c they have beliefs slightly different from theirs? We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and we must stand together or perish.” Singmesweet

 

1. If we are the body, we will value unity and diversity.

 

2. If we are the body, we will recognize the inestimable worth of each part.

 

3. If we are the body, we won’t elevate one set of gifts above another, but we’ll be mutually dependent on one another.

 

4. If we are the body, we won’t divide over our spiritual gifts, but rather we will use them to build each other up and to care for each other.

 

5. If we are the body, we will rally around Christ, our ultimate unifying member of the body.

 

6. If we are the body, we will be driven by something far greater than our giftings, we will be driven by our love for one another.

Unwrapping Spiritual Gifts 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

“Many of us who affirm and practice spiritual gifts would feel more comfortable among anticharismatics who are at least grounded in Scripture than among such flaky charismatics.” Craig Keener

 

 

1. Spiritual gifts are meant to be unwrapped.

 

2. Spiritual gifts and those who profess to have them should be tested.

 

3. Spiritual gifts come variously packaged.

 

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8, emphasis added).

 

 

4. Spiritual gifts are given for the good of others.

 

“We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

 

5. Spiritual gifts are just that, they’re gifts. they shouldn’t puff us up, but they should humble us.

 

“Our gifts and talents should also be turned over to Him. They should be recognized for what they are, God’s loan to us, and should never be considered in any sense our own. We have no more right to claim credit for special abilities than for blue eyes or strong muscles. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:17).– AW Tozer –The Pursuit of God

 

 

6. Spiritual gifts are sovereignly distributed by the Spirit of God and should be gratefully received.

Approaching Communion Sacredly 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

Approaching Communion Sacredly

1 Corinthians 11:17-32

 

1. Approach communion with a heart of gratitude

 

2. Approach communion by remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf

 

"And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

(Ex 24:8).

 

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt,

 

my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord:

 

I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Je 31:31–34).

 

3. Approach communion by realizing how it dramatizes the Gospel

 

4. Approach communion by examining your posture toward the Gospel

Hats Off! 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Hats Off!

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

 

Five Reflections to Chew On:

 

First, when reading the Scriptures, be careful to discern between the timeless and the timely.   

Second, value the cultural traditions of other cultures without necessarily assuming them as your own.

Third, honor the cultural traditions of your own culture where you can without compromise by refusing to be a stumbling block. 

Fourth, realize that male and female are created equal but different and for unity’s sake learn to value God’s order of things.

Fifth, remember, gender distinctions aren’t too blurred, but instead, we are to celebrate our God-given genders.

 

 

Sermon Link

https://imagechurchlive.churchcenter.com/episodes/288754

Preventing A Moral Wipeout 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

1. Learn from the immoral examples of others verses experiencing a moral wipeout for yourself.

 

2. Never think you’re above a moral wipeout. It can happen to any of us.

 

3. Know how to overcome temptation when it comes your way.

 

4. Eliminate the idols in your life that can ultimately take you down.

The Most Watched Episode of 2023

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The Second Most Watch Episode of 2023 Is...

We are counting down the most-watched Christianity Still Makes Sense Episodes of 2023. As we approach the end of the year, please remember your support fuels our efforts to reach a wider audience, bringing comfort and encouragement to those doubting the Christian Faith. By backing our channel, you become an integral part of this ministry, impacting lives and fostering a sense of community. Your contributions enable us to create more meaningful content and provide resources that nourish the soul. Together, let's amplify the light of Christ in the digital space. Whether through prayers, donations, or simply sharing our content, every gesture makes a difference. Join our mission and help us continue this faith journey, spreading God's love far and wide by visiting ChristianityStillMakesSense.com and clicking donate. Together, we can touch hearts, inspire change, and make a positive impact on the lives of many. Thank you for being a beacon of support in our shared mission.

The Third Most Watched Episode of 2023 Is...

We are counting down the most-watched Christianity Still Makes Sense Episodes of 2023. As we approach the end of the year, please remember your support fuels our efforts to reach a wider audience, bringing comfort and encouragement to those doubting the Christian Faith. By backing our channel, you become an integral part of this ministry, impacting lives and fostering a sense of community. Your contributions enable us to create more meaningful content and provide resources that nourish the soul. Together, let's amplify the light of Christ in the digital space. Whether through prayers, donations, or simply sharing our content, every gesture makes a difference. Join our mission and help us continue this faith journey, spreading God's love far and wide by visiting ChristianityStillMakesSense.com and clicking donate. Together, we can touch hearts, inspire change, and make a positive impact on the lives of many. Thank you for being a beacon of support in our shared mission.

The Fourth Most Watched Episode of 2023 Is...

We are counting down the most-watched Christianity Still Makes Sense Episodes of 2023. As we approach the end of the year, please remember your support fuels our efforts to reach a wider audience, bringing comfort and encouragement to those doubting the Christian Faith. By backing our channel, you become an integral part of this ministry, impacting lives and fostering a sense of community. Your contributions enable us to create more meaningful content and provide resources that nourish the soul. Together, let's amplify the light of Christ in the digital space. Whether through prayers, donations, or simply sharing our content, every gesture makes a difference. Join our mission and help us continue this faith journey, spreading God's love far and wide by visiting ChristianityStillMakesSense.com and clicking donate. Together, we can touch hearts, inspire change, and make a positive impact on the lives of many. Thank you for being a beacon of support in our shared mission.