sunday, october 4, 2009 speaker: dr. david dawson
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In Everything, Love 1 Corinthians 13 Concluding message in our 4-part series called Growing in Grace. Sunday, October 4, 2009 Speaker: Dr. David Dawson. Extending Grace. King David shows kindness to Mephibosheth. In Essentials, Unity. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
In Everything, Love 1 Corinthians 13
Concluding message in our 4-part series called Growing in Grace
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Speaker: Dr. David Dawson
Extending GraceExtending Grace
King David shows kindness to
Mephibosheth
In Essentials, UnityIn Essentials, Unity
““In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” liberty; in all things, charity.”
Rupertus MeldeniusRupertus Meldenius German Lutheran theologian early 17German Lutheran theologian early 17thth century century
In Non-Essentials, In Non-Essentials, LibertyLiberty
““Non-essentials” are not unimportant; they are Non-essentials” are not unimportant; they are importantimportant
““Non-essentials” do invite personal convictionNon-essentials” do invite personal conviction But “non-essentials” also invite God’s grace to But “non-essentials” also invite God’s grace to
rule rule In some “disputable matters” (Romans 14), the In some “disputable matters” (Romans 14), the
more legalistic believer was considered the more legalistic believer was considered the weaker believer who needed to be accepted, weaker believer who needed to be accepted, whose burdens needed to be carried and who was whose burdens needed to be carried and who was not to be looked down on because of his not to be looked down on because of his reservations.reservations.
On the other hand there are some “disputable On the other hand there are some “disputable matters” where there is no strong or weak matters” where there is no strong or weak believer, just two brothers or sisters whose believer, just two brothers or sisters whose understanding is different. understanding is different.
In Everything, Love - 1In Everything, Love - 1
1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13 ““Hymn of love”Hymn of love” ““From a literary viewpoint, it may be From a literary viewpoint, it may be
the greatest passage Paul ever the greatest passage Paul ever penned.” penned.”
An oasis in a desert of problemsAn oasis in a desert of problems The dysfunctional church in CorinthThe dysfunctional church in Corinth
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Spiritual gift confusion – 1 Corinthians 12 and Spiritual gift confusion – 1 Corinthians 12 and 1414 People were not using gifts to serve others (12:7)People were not using gifts to serve others (12:7) People were parading gifts as if they were their People were parading gifts as if they were their
own and not given by God (12:11)own and not given by God (12:11) People had labelled others’ gifts or roles as People had labelled others’ gifts or roles as
“lesser” making them feel inferior (12:14-20)“lesser” making them feel inferior (12:14-20) Others were wearing their “greater” gifts Others were wearing their “greater” gifts
pridefully like badges of “super spirituality” pridefully like badges of “super spirituality” (12:21-26)(12:21-26)
Others were using their speaking gifts in a Others were using their speaking gifts in a disorderly way (14:9-12, 23, 28-31,40)disorderly way (14:9-12, 23, 28-31,40)
In Everything, Love - 3In Everything, Love - 3
1. The necessity of love (vv. 1-3)1. The necessity of love (vv. 1-3)
2. 2. The character of love (vv. 4-7)The character of love (vv. 4-7)
3. 3. The permanence of love (vv. 8-The permanence of love (vv. 8-13)13)
In Everything, Love - 4In Everything, Love - 4
1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 13:4-713:4-7
Love is patientLove is patient
Love is kindLove is kind
It does not envyIt does not envy
It does not boastIt does not boast
It is not proudIt is not proud
It is not rudeIt is not rude
It is not self-It is not self-seekingseeking
It is not easily It is not easily angeredangered It keeps no record of It keeps no record of wrongswrongsLove does not delight Love does not delight in evil in evil But rejoices with the But rejoices with the truthtruthIt always protectsIt always protectsAlways trustsAlways trustsAlways hopesAlways hopesAlways perseveresAlways perseveres
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Love is Love is enduringenduring
(not fragile)(not fragile)Love is patientLove is patient
It always protectsIt always protects
Always trustsAlways trusts
Always hopesAlways hopes
Always Always perseveresperseveres
Love is humble (not proud)It does not envy It does not boastIt is not proudIt is not rude
It is not self-seekingIt is not easily
angeredIt keeps no record of
wrongsLove does not delight
in evil Dr. John Piper
In Everything, Love - 6In Everything, Love - 6Applications:Applications:1. Learn to give “answers to anyone who asks you to 1. Learn to give “answers to anyone who asks you to
give a reason for the hope that you have. But do give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)
2. “Speak the truth in love” … always! (Eph 4:15). This includes tone and attitude. Arrogance or superiority (1 Cor 13:4-6) have no place, especially if one is “right”. 3. Listen carefully and respectfully to others’ opinions – love dictates that we listen in precisely the way we would like to be heard by others. (Luke 6:31)
4. Recognize with humility our own fallibility in being completely right on every Biblical doctrine. More light may still break from the pages of God’s Word.
In Everything, Love - 7In Everything, Love - 75. The church leadership takes seriously its charge to “guard 5. The church leadership takes seriously its charge to “guard
the good deposit that was entrusted to you” (2 Tim 1:14) the good deposit that was entrusted to you” (2 Tim 1:14) for the church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” for the church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1Tim 3:15).(1Tim 3:15).
6. Find a way to build somebody up as you discuss essentials and non-essentials. (Ephesians 4:29)
7. If a fellow Christian differs with you, * Do acknowledge strengths in the other person’s opinion * Don’t say, “God told me this directly.” * Do discuss with conviction, but preserve the bond of love with humility and endurance. (1Corinthians 13:4-6)
8. Realize with humility that sometimes what we consider to be doctrinal pillars are more personal preferences based on a combination of Scripture, tradition and other factors.
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9. Praise God that we are on a trail of lifelong learning 9. Praise God that we are on a trail of lifelong learning with diverse and extraordinary co-travelers whom He with diverse and extraordinary co-travelers whom He has sovereignly provided to help us grow in His has sovereignly provided to help us grow in His amazing grace! (2 Peter 3:18)amazing grace! (2 Peter 3:18)
10. Thank God for His grace and pray that He will allow us together to faithfully carry the wonder and the power of His agape love to a lost world in desperate need. (Matthew 28:18-20)
In essentials, unity;
In non-essentials, liberty;
In everything, love