Is this really a church of Christ
filled with people who love one another the way God has loved
us in Christ Jesus and paid the price for our sins? You see,
what Paul is saying here in 1 Corinthians 13 is not just trying to define
love for us, but is saying to us, if you don't have it, you
have no ministry at all. You're a big zero. Oh, you may have all the religious
trimmings. You may go through all the formality
of church-anity, but you're just a big zero. It profits you nothing. I want to be a church that's
filled with people who can minister because, you know, this world
needs Christ-like ministry. where you know you've been saved
by the grace of God and you are a debtor to God. And the love of God overwhelms
you. And you have that Christ-like
love in you. If you don't have love, you're
not a minister. You can't be a minister. You
can have a gift. He's such a great speaker. Yeah,
but he doesn't like people. He doesn't have love. He's not
patient. He's not tender. He's not kind, not forgiving.
then don't blow religious smoke. You know what I mean? The Corinthian
church was in a state of jealousy about these gifts. And so they
coveted these gifts. And the apostle Paul said, I
wanna show you a better way. Instead of you being worried
and always tooting your horn about your gift, just shut up
and bless somebody. Love somebody. Be tender. What if we were not? I know some
of you have never used crack cocaine. So? Some of you have never used
heroin. Some of you have never been drunk.
So? How about this? Do you love the
heroin addict? How come it's getting quiet in
here? What about you never sold your body in prostitution to
buy your drugs, but people in here have. Do you love those
people? Do you see them as just maybe different kind of sinners
than you, but you know Christ died for sinners? Or are you
seeking a gift? I mean, you want to be a big
shot in the church. You want to be somebody. In fact, the
apostle says this, Some of you folks in the Corinthian
church are nothing but windbags. Literally, that's what he said.
You're a bunch of windbags. Don't be telling me how spiritual
you are. Those who are spiritual don't
talk much about it. They just quietly love people
and go about ministry. Amen. Do your children see that
in you? My mom and dad love people. My
mom and dad loved us. My mom and dad told us the gospel. And you live out before your
children Christian love. Let's suppose I could speak in
the tongues of all men. I understand all language. And
I could even speak in the tongue of angels. I could do angel talk. If you don't have love, you're
nothing. You're just a big bong.