WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.220 Corinthians 13, if you're looking in one of the few Bibles, page 959, you're looking at 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:18.339 this famous chapter of the Bible, sometimes called the Great Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:22.699 13. We're going to be looking especially at verses 4 through 7 today, but I'm going to 00:00:22.699 --> 00:00:30.539 start reading at verse 1 and read through verse 7. So 1 Corinthians 13, let's start at 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:38.700 verse 1 and read through verse 7. Paul, the Apostle Paul wrote these words, 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:45.560 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:50.820 cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:58.259 and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:06.579 all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:18.159 and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:28.539 way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:38.900 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:50.060 Well nearly 50 years ago, on June 25 of 1967, the first live international satellite TV program called 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:57.020 Our World was aired. 14 countries and over 10,000 technicians, producers and interpreters participated 00:01:57.020 --> 00:02:04.380 in the broadcast, gathered the largest TV audience up to that time, 400 million people or perhaps more, 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:09.000 and to conclude the broadcast, the Beatles performed their song for the first time. 00:02:09.799 --> 00:02:15.340 All you need is love. Love, love. And love is all you need. 00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:20.639 In the midst of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, the Beatles' song struck a chord. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:26.280 For many people, it quickly soared to number one on the song charts when it was released. 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:30.180 Isn't love what we need, more than anything else in the world? 00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:36.099 Many of us both then and now have a deep sense that yes, what we need most of all, 00:02:36.819 --> 00:02:38.840 maybe all that we really need, is love. 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:44.599 But of course, along with the Beatles' optimism that love is all we need, 00:02:45.540 --> 00:02:51.379 there are many people who have despaired of ever finding love for themselves or seeing love triumph 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:52.780 in this world. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.860 For several years, there was a professor in the English department at Yale 00:02:56.860 --> 00:03:01.700 who taught a course entitled Doomed Love in the Western World, 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:08.580 looking at why so many love stories end in betrayal and heartbreak and separation and frustration. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:15.260 On the personal level, maybe you've experienced the fallout of a fractured friendship 00:03:15.260 --> 00:03:19.760 or a dysfunctional upbringing or a broken marriage. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:24.159 Maybe it feels hard to love and trust anyone again. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:28.139 Or maybe you've seen the failure of love on the social level. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:34.739 While the Beatles sang about love, Dr. Martin Luther King preached about love for enemies 00:03:34.739 --> 00:03:39.280 and nonviolent resistance in the pursuit of justice, and then he was assassinated. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:44.919 And many times and places, it can feel like love doesn't get you very far 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:49.319 in this world full of injustice and oppression. 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:54.159 Or maybe you've been burned by past experiences in the church. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:04:00.459 Perhaps you've seen church communities become shallow or self-serving. 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:06.060 Maybe you've been part of a church that's split apart because of gossip or envy. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:11.280 Maybe people in the church turned their backs on you when you most needed their help. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:16.379 And you still believe in the love of Jesus, but it's hard to believe that the church 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:19.379 will actually embody that love in any meaningful way. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:27.639 In a world where love seems scarce, can we still sing a song about the sufficiency of love? 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:30.660 In a world where love seems temporary, can we still persevere 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:34.720 all the way to the end in living a life of love? 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:38.680 Well, this morning we're looking at the middle section of 1 Corinthians 13, 00:04:38.880 --> 00:04:44.420 which some people have called a hymn to love, a song in praise of love. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:50.580 It's written in poetic language, which short phrases, forceful verbs, and vivid metaphors. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:54.220 It's one of the most memorable descriptions of love that has ever been written 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:55.560 in the history of the world. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:04.920 But as one writer pointed out, this song about love is the rhapsody of a realist, 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:11.779 someone who has known full well the disenchanting life of the churches that he dealt with, 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:12.860 the Apostle Paul. 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:19.420 The Apostle Paul was not, when he wrote this, a naive young man who had just fallen in love. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:26.939 He was a middle-aged single man, either never married or perhaps married and then widowed. 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.199 We can never know for sure. 00:05:31.020 --> 00:05:33.500 And he knew very well what it was like to be mistreated. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:37.040 He wrote in 2 Corinthians, 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.240 Five times I received 39 lashes. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:42.840 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:43.860 Once I was stoned. 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:48.040 I've been in danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:49.379 danger from false brothers. 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:54.480 Paul knew what it was like to be the object of envy and rivalry and backstabbing. 00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:56.540 He knew what it was like for the churches. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:00.500 He had personally started to descend into shallow self-promotion 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:03.220 and sexual sin and shameful squabbling. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:07.620 In fact, as we've seen, that was exactly what happened with the church in Corinth. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:13.520 And yet, having gone through all that, Paul still commended to the Corinthian church 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:19.160 and the Holy Spirit still commends to us, through his words, the way of love. 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:26.240 Verses 1 to 3, which we looked at last week, emphasize the necessity of love. 00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:32.020 That we need love is what gives meaning and purpose to our activity. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:36.959 Verses 8 to 13, which we'll look at next week, point us forward to the permanence, 00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:40.599 the enduring, lasting permanence of true love. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:45.740 And today, what we're looking at, Paul focuses on the nature of love. 00:06:45.979 --> 00:06:48.159 What love looks like in action. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:53.519 Paul wants us to understand clearly what love is and what love isn't. 00:06:54.919 --> 00:06:58.479 Because when we talk about love, we can bring in all kinds of assumptions 00:06:58.479 --> 00:07:00.639 about what love is. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:05.620 Sometimes we think of love as a gut-level romantic feeling, 00:07:05.719 --> 00:07:09.379 a mysterious force that you can't totally explain that comes upon you 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:12.639 and gives you a desire to be united to another person. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:17.819 When others talk about love, they mean something more universal, 00:07:18.659 --> 00:07:23.180 a general attitude of goodwill toward everyone in the world. 00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:30.240 For others, love is a personal affirmation, being not just recognized and tolerated, 00:07:30.340 --> 00:07:32.939 but appreciated and cherished for who you are. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:39.000 In Paul's time, just as in ours, there were many different ideas about what love is. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.699 And even different words used to describe love, 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.460 whether it was romantic love or friendship or family loyalty. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:53.120 And so Paul doesn't just say we need love, he goes on to explain what kind of love he's talking about. 00:07:54.339 --> 00:07:57.839 So I want to focus on three questions today as we look into our passage. 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:00.099 First, what kind of love is Paul talking about? 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:03.679 That's the most obvious question that's answered in verses 4 to 7. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.459 But we're also going to ask a second question, is do we have that kind of love? 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:11.779 Because Paul has just said in verses 1 to 3, we need love. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:14.060 Otherwise, we're nothing. 00:08:15.239 --> 00:08:18.060 We won't have any, we won't last. 00:08:18.719 --> 00:08:22.539 And the third question, which I'll ask at the end, is how do we get and grow in this kind of love? 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:24.579 So what kind of love do we have it? 00:08:24.859 --> 00:08:26.319 How do we get it and maintain it? 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.079 Now, this passage is often read at weddings. 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:33.000 Perhaps that's where you've heard it read. 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:34.679 And if you're married, let me encourage you, 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:42.379 this would be a helpful passage for you to read and meditate on and pray through and seek to display to your spouse. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.919 But that's not Paul's primary focus. 00:08:46.839 --> 00:08:53.939 When Paul wrote this chapter, he was speaking primarily about the church and what it means for us as God's people 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:57.159 to display his love to one another and to the world. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.759 So first, what kind of love is Paul talking about? 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:09.019 If you want to summarize this section in three words, you can summarize it in this way. 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:09.840 Love is tender. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:12.360 Love is truthful. 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:14.819 And love is tenacious. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:19.980 Verse 4 to 5, Paul begins with statements about the tenderness of love. 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:22.679 Verse 6 emphasizes the truthfulness of love. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.740 And verse 7, the tenacity of love. 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:30.500 So we'll sort of go through those three categories as we see what kind of love Paul is talking about 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:33.519 and do we have those qualities of love. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:40.000 Now, when we read this section, in this translation or in most English translations, 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.299 it sounds like Paul is giving a definition of love. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.720 What love is and what love isn't. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:49.320 But actually, it's more like a picture of love. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.360 What love does and what love doesn't do. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:58.360 Because in every phrase in this paragraph, even though some of these are translated as 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:03.139 love is blank, an adjective, they're actually all action verbs. 00:10:04.180 --> 00:10:08.139 Now, Paul uses an action verb to describe what love looks like. 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:14.779 So when it says love is patient and kind, it's hard to translate it because it's simply one word. 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:17.340 But we might even say love waits patiently. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:20.220 Or love shows kindness. 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:26.460 It's an action that Paul is referring to in each of these phrases in this paragraph. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.379 And many of these verbs, as we'll see, contain vivid images. 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.620 So let's dive into this list. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:35.540 First, verse 4 and 5, love is tender. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:38.820 Paul begins with two positive statements. 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:40.780 Love is patient and kind. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:46.459 And patient emphasizes the restraint of love. 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:50.620 In other words, love is willing to put up with a lot. 00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:56.579 Or as the King James translation says, love is long-suffering. 00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:58.779 Slow to anger. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:00.620 Forbearing of others' faults. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:03.759 Willing to wait until the time is right. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:09.899 Literally, the word translated patient means having a long spirit. 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:11.659 It's a compound word. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:16.059 We might say long-tempered as opposed to short-tempered. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:26.799 In the Old Testament, the word that's most commonly translated patience is never translated literally because literally it means having a long nose. 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:33.360 In the Hebrew way of thinking, when you get angry, your nostrils would become inflamed. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:34.360 Right? 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:40.860 And so if you had a long nose, it meant that you were slow to anger. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:45.320 As an expression in English would be to have a cool head. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:52.340 So being patient, having a long spirit, being long-tempered emphasizes the restraint of love. 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:58.420 But being kind, showing kindness, emphasizes the active initiative of love. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:02.500 Kindness, offering generous hospitality. 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:05.159 Extending a warm welcome. 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.579 Asking a thoughtful question. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.879 Giving a helping hand. 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.740 Kindness recognizes that everyone carries a heavy load. 00:12:13.599 --> 00:12:16.299 And so it responds by offering to help bear it. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:20.659 Someone described kindness as sweetness to all persons. 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:27.939 Soothing and comforting to cure the sore and heal the wound of excessive passion. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.399 Interestingly, the word kind or kindness was often used as a noun or an adjective. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:36.959 This is the first time that we know of where it's used as a verb. 00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:40.600 So Paul may have taken an adjective and actually just made it into a verb. 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:45.319 To emphasize the active nature of showing kindness. 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:47.959 Waiting patiently and showing kindness. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:55.200 But then, if you notice, the rest of verse 4 and 5, Paul goes on with seven negative statements. 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.200 Two positive statements and then seven negatives. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.480 What love doesn't do. 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.639 Let's go through these briefly. 00:13:01.780 --> 00:13:02.580 Love doesn't envy. 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:06.560 The image of this verb is of burning or boiling. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:10.080 In other words, love doesn't burn with envy. 00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:13.840 Or jealousy of other people's position and status. 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:17.160 Next, love doesn't boast or glory. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.259 We've heard that verb before in 1 Corinthians. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.919 In one's own status and achievements. 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:21.939 Love is not arrogant. 00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:24.839 Literally, that means love does not puff itself up. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.259 Like a balloon. 00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:30.360 It doesn't over-inflate its own importance. 00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:32.899 Or seek attention for its own sake. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.339 Love is not rude. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.719 That word could also be translated love. 00:13:37.819 --> 00:13:39.679 Does not behave shamefully. 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:42.039 Or disruptively. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:43.220 Or improperly. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:45.759 5. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:47.379 Love doesn't insist on its own way. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:49.500 Or literally, love does not seek its own. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.440 Seek its own way. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.779 Seek its own interests. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:55.740 The love that Paul is talking about is a self-giving love. 00:13:57.220 --> 00:14:00.700 And if you want to say, what's at the core of the nature of love that Paul is talking about? 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.060 I think that's what it is. 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:07.079 It's a self-giving love that lives for the sake of others. 00:14:08.979 --> 00:14:15.000 And really, you could argue that that's the major theme that runs through every single section of 1 Corinthians. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.539 You know, we've seen all these different issues that Paul has addressed in 1 Corinthians. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:21.639 In the beginning, divisions in the church. 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:27.179 And Paul says, don't puff yourself up. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:30.379 Instead, seek to build up the body. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.419 And God's the one who builds the church. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.539 Then we looked at the section about sex and marriage. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:43.559 And part of what Paul is saying there is don't seek your own pleasure above all else. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:46.539 Seek to honor one another in the body of Christ. 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:49.980 And then we've seen the section about food sacrifice to idols. 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:56.459 Where Paul says, don't just eat whatever you want because you're propelled by your own cravings. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:00.099 Love your brother or sister for whom Christ died. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.620 Consider their interests above your own. 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:05.179 And then this section about spiritual gifts. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.879 Which we're in the middle of here. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:10.559 Paul says, you can have all the gifts in the world. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.199 But what you need even more than that is love for your brothers and sisters. 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.980 Love for the other. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:21.059 That's perhaps a theme that runs through 1 Corinthians more than anything else. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:27.039 Going on, number six, love is not irritable. 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:30.279 The image here is of a sharp edge or point. 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:32.299 You could say love isn't touchy. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:33.339 It isn't prickly. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.639 It doesn't get easily exasperated and try to bite your head off. 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.379 Love isn't irritable. 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:41.360 Finally, love is not resentful. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:46.539 Literally, it says love does not count up wrongs. 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:48.259 It's an accounting word. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:55.980 Love doesn't keep records and calculate all the injuries that have been done to you. 00:15:55.980 --> 00:16:00.360 And look for how you could possibly seek to make the offender pay. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:07.740 It doesn't just wait for your chance to bring up all that list of grievances. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:15.120 In a court of law or in a court of public opinion or simply to throw them in someone else's face. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.480 Love is tender. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.080 It waits patiently. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.220 It shows kindness. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:29.500 Now, you might want to wonder, why did Paul spend so much time on the negative side, all the things that love is not? 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.620 I think part of the reason is this. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:39.259 Almost every one of the negative characteristics Paul listed was specifically present in the Corinthian church. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:44.679 So, if you go through the list, love does not envy. 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:49.500 Well, in chapter 3, he said there is envy or jealousy, same word, and strife among you. 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.080 Love does not boast. 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.439 Paul's already said chapter 4. 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.819 What do you have that you didn't receive? 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:59.179 If then you received it, why do you boast? 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.919 As if you didn't. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.259 Love is not arrogant. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:08.819 Chapter 4, verse 18, Paul says, some of you are arrogant or literally puffed up. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.339 Others were rude or behaving shamefully. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:22.559 Chapter 5, Paul says, it is actually reported there is sexually immorality among you of a kind that's not tolerated, even among pagans. 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:29.140 And others were seeking their own interest, as we've seen, seeking their own interest at the expense of others. 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:38.660 Now, Paul isn't directly getting in their face and just directly rebuking them for all their ungodly behaviors. 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:40.400 He's done that at times. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.360 We've already seen that. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.000 He's willing to boldly, directly rebuke people. 00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:47.340 But what he's doing is he's painting a picture. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:52.600 He's showing the beauty of love. 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:59.379 But it's also meant for them to ask a question and say, do I have this kind of love? 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:02.799 Does this kind of love characterize me? 00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:04.819 Does it characterize us as a community? 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:11.759 Are we a people who are content to wait patiently for what we don't yet have? 00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:14.240 Or do we want to have it all now? 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:22.599 Are we characterized by acts of kindness, generously loving one another and others? 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.920 And what about us? 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:34.000 Are we characterized by some of the flaws that characterize the Corinthians, seeking to make ourselves look good at others' expense? 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:47.000 One writer said this, how much behavior among believers and even ministers is actually attention-seeking, designed to impress others with one's supposed importance? 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:52.799 Some parade their gifts, while others nurse their hurts. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.079 Does either side genuinely put others before self? 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:08.139 Or perhaps the last two things, being irritable and resentful, being sharp and prickly, or calculating and unwilling to forgive. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.279 Paul says that is not what true love is. 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.019 Love is tender. 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:18.299 And then he goes on in verse 6, love is not only tender, it's also truthful. 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:22.899 It doesn't rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:32.840 Paul wants to say love is not unconditionally affirming whatever someone may choose to believe or however they may choose to live. 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:40.720 In the church of Corinth, some people were happily engaging in lawsuits with one another over financial disputes. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.740 Making a big stink of it. 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:50.680 Some people were happily engaged, it seems, in visiting prostitutes and other forms of sexual immorality. 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:58.960 Others were happily gorging themselves at church meals while letting others go hungry. 00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:01.660 Others were happily going on and on. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:09.700 In unintelligible words, making a big scene and not actually saying anything that would build up their brothers and sisters. 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:12.120 And Paul says that is not true love. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:14.600 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.160 It rejoices with the truth. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:24.360 Love rejoices in the unchanging truth of the gospel that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again, 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.560 and that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:37.040 Love rejoices whenever someone confesses and forsakes sin in order to walk in the light and in the truth of God. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:48.980 Love rejoices whenever truthfulness and trustworthiness and transparency prevail over manipulation and self-justification and denial. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:59.159 In my experience, I think one of the hardest things for Christians to practice today is speaking the truth in love to one another. 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:04.980 Jesus said to his disciples in the gospel of Luke, he said, pay attention to yourselves. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:08.019 If your brother or sister sins, rebuke them. 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.860 And if they repent, forgive them. 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:17.740 According to Jesus, we should be characterized both by honest rebuke and by generous forgiveness. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:25.740 And if we're really having meaningful fellowship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:29.059 you know, it's inevitable that we're going to see one another's flaws sometimes. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.839 That's normal. 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:36.559 And our knee-jerk reaction should not be to immediately rebuke someone whenever you see a little flaw. 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:42.880 It should be patience and kindness and all the other things described in verse 5, verse 4 and 5. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:51.060 But if we see an ongoing pattern, if someone claims to follow Christ who's engaged in an ongoing pattern of wrongdoing, 00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:58.480 or even to something where you see someone who's probably offending and hurting other people even if they don't realize it, 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:04.300 the loving thing to do isn't just to avoid and ignore the person and say nothing, 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:09.480 but it's to go to them and speak the truth in love to them. 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:18.579 Not bite their head off and just throw it all in their face, but to speak the truth in love so that they can grow. 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:24.039 So they can grow in walking in the way of truth and righteousness. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:27.019 Love is tender. 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.779 Love is truthful. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.299 And finally, love is tenacious. 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:38.900 Verse 7, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:42.960 Now part of this verse is sometimes misunderstood. 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:50.599 Especially the middle two phrases, love believes all things and love hopes all things. 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:54.579 Paul is not saying that we should be naive and gullible. 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:59.360 Believing whatever anyone tells us because that's the loving thing to do. 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:03.480 And neither is Paul promoting wishful thinking. 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:09.519 The reality is wishful thinking, that is hoping for something that's completely unrealistic, 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:16.140 often leads to despair when what you were hoping for doesn't actually happen. 00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:22.420 So Paul's not promoting wishful thinking or naive trusting everyone. 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:33.120 What Paul does mean is that love can go through all things, holding on to faith and hope in God. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:35.120 And in God's promises. 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.200 Love is tenacious. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:39.240 Love holds on and doesn't give up. 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.360 One person put it this way. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:42.840 Love never gives in, bears all things. 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:45.120 Love never gives in to the pressures of the world. 00:23:45.800 --> 00:23:48.120 Never gives up its faith in the Lord. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:52.379 Never loses hope in the future God has planned for us. 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:54.319 And never fails to endure. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.599 All the way to the end. 00:23:57.699 --> 00:24:02.179 Long time ago, Shakespeare described the tenacity of love. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:05.140 In one of his sonnets, when he wrote, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:09.019 Love is not love, which alters when an alteration finds, 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:11.779 Or bends with a remover to remove. 00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:15.860 Oh no, it is an ever-fixed mark, 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:19.000 That looks on tempests and is never shaken. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.480 It is the star to every wandering bark, 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:26.460 Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:30.940 Love is not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:33.660 Within his bending sickle's compass come. 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:37.420 Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:41.240 But bears it out even to the edge of doom. 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:45.519 In other words, love holds on and doesn't let go. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.840 Love perseveres all the way to the end. 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.579 Love is tender. 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.900 Love is truthful. 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.400 And love is tenacious. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.920 It's a compelling picture of love. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:57.700 I think that's why this chapter is so often read at weddings. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.539 Because it's so beautiful. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:03.680 But I think as we've seen, it's also deeply challenging 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.240 Because it's really hard to live this way. 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:11.580 This is not simply the natural way that human beings act toward one another. 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:16.759 The love that Paul is talking about is not just a gut-level romantic attraction 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:19.019 That mysteriously comes upon you. 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:21.120 Yes, that kind of love is real and wonderful. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.539 And it can draw two people together, but it cannot keep two people together for a lifetime. 00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:29.459 You need more than that. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:36.399 And the love Paul is talking about is also more than a general attitude of goodwill toward everyone in the world. 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:39.439 That's a nice ideal for philosophy class. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:42.779 But it won't get you very far beyond philosophy class. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:48.400 In a world where people betray and hate and dehumanize each other, 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:51.420 You need more than a general ideal of goodwill. 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:56.120 So we need to ask the final question. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:59.900 Where do we get this kind of love that Paul is talking about? 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:03.920 This tender, truthful, tenacious love. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.860 And how do we grow in that kind of love? 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:11.140 Romans 5 verse 8 says, 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:13.080 God demonstrates his love for us in this. 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:17.440 While we were sinners, Christ died for us. 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.820 Christ gave himself for us on the cross. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.300 You know, if you've been coming to Trinity for a long time, 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:26.940 You probably guessed that answer when I asked that question. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.340 How do we get this love? 00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:29.940 And how do we keep it? 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.860 It comes back to Christ on the cross. 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.400 Almost every sermon gets there. 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:34.340 Here. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:37.480 And if you've noticed that, we have that pattern for a reason. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:40.400 Because what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:43.259 We believe is the central message of the Bible. 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:46.060 And so whatever we're preaching on, 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:48.080 We're always going to come back to that at some point. 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:49.259 Or in some way. 00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:53.259 Because that's where we get the power to obey the commands God gives us. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.140 That's where we find forgiveness. 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:58.220 That's where we find, it's the core of all that we need. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.980 And everything else radiates from that. 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:03.440 And so where do we find love? 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:11.259 Well, certainly we see it in God the Father being willing to send his son for our redemption. 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:15.279 And in Jesus Christ willingly laying his life down for us on the cross. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.819 And in the work of the Holy Spirit applying it to us. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:21.960 But think of Christ in light of this passage. 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:27.000 Christ waited patiently in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.799 Not my will, but yours be done. 00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:33.960 And when people shouted to him as he hung on the cross, 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.759 You saved others. 00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:37.460 Why don't you save yourself? 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:40.380 And he waited patiently. 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:46.900 And he showed kindness, reaching out in love to us when we didn't deserve his mercy and his help. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.200 He looked beyond our sin and he came to us in our need. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.240 And he showed kindness. 00:27:56.740 --> 00:28:01.880 He didn't puff himself up with pride, but he humbled himself and washed his disciples' feet. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:08.000 As a picture of how he would take the lowliest role in order to cleanse us. 00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:13.240 Christ didn't insist on his own way or seek his own advantage. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:16.060 But he prioritized our redemption. 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:21.520 He didn't count our sins against us. 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:24.780 He didn't count up all the wrongs. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:31.059 And just wait for an opportunity to display them to us. 00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:34.379 He went to the cross and paid the price. 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:39.819 Paid the price for our sins. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:45.519 The love of God in Christ never gives in. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.619 And never gives up. 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:50.079 And never loses hope. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:52.039 And never fails to endure. 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:56.519 This is the love that you can rely on if everything else fails. 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:59.559 The love of God in Jesus Christ. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.680 So come to Jesus. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:06.379 Find security in his love for you. 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:09.940 Don't we all seek security in something else? 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:13.839 This is something you can find security in. 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.500 And never lose. 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:21.899 In Jesus Christ, you can have a love that never fails. 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:24.079 You can't give what you don't have. 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:29.940 Come to Christ and receive this love that he offers. 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:40.779 But from that, the Bible also says God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit whom he has given us. 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:50.839 Not only did God send his Son, he also sent his Holy Spirit who takes what Christ did 2,000 years ago on the cross and applies it to our hearts. 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:58.220 And dwells within us personally today so that we can be shaped into the character of Christ and display this love personally. 00:29:58.220 --> 00:30:07.339 You see, one of the ways that the love of God in Christ becomes more deeply rooted in our hearts. 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:14.899 And that we see how real it is as we see its effect on other people's lives. 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:21.560 That we see these words displayed in someone's life. 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:29.000 You know, several years ago, a few of us from this church went into New York to see John Stott speak. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:32.759 I think it was one of the last times he ever came to the United States. 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:35.559 That was the only time I've ever seen him speak in person. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:39.259 But I remember exactly what he said, even though it was probably 10 years ago. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:44.180 He spoke about one verse from Colossians that said, 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:55.560 Now, most sermons that I heard 10 years ago, I don't remember. 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.299 I don't know about you. 00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:03.480 I think hopefully they sink in and become part of your life even if they fade into the unconscious part, right? 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:07.100 So they can still have an effect on you even if you don't explicitly remember them. 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:09.640 But most sermons I don't remember, but I remember that one. 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:14.940 And the reason I remember it is because that's what John Stott spent his whole life doing. 00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:17.540 Proclaiming Christ. 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:28.780 As a pastor in London, as someone who wrote over 40 books that were translated into 70 different languages for the benefit of the church throughout the world. 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:35.740 He started a ministry to help pastors and church leaders in the developing world. 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:45.299 His message about proclaiming Christ and admonishing and teaching everyone, seeking to make believers mature in Christ. 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:49.960 That was, his message carried not just the weight of his words, but the weight of his life. 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:55.839 Now, when the Corinthian Christians heard this chapter that Paul wrote, 00:31:56.539 --> 00:32:00.779 I think Paul's words would have struck them in a very similar way. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:04.779 That Paul had lived what he preached. 00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:09.700 Paul had been patient and kind. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:16.180 And he didn't envy or boast or puff himself up. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.879 He was willing to humble himself. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.960 He wasn't irritable or resentful. 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:24.700 Through many sufferings, he kept his faith and maintained his hope in God. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:29.559 And so the Corinthians could see in Paul the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:34.039 The power of the cross of Jesus Christ that had transformed his life. 00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.620 And so when they heard those words, 00:32:37.080 --> 00:32:41.259 they had a weight to them. 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.720 That's why Paul said in chapter 11, 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:46.779 be imitators of me as I am of Christ. 00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:48.259 Paul wasn't perfect. 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:54.500 In fact, I think it's pretty clear that Paul was not naturally a patient and kind person. 00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:57.039 He had persecuted Christians. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:59.799 He was naturally a truth person. 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:02.980 He was not naturally very tender, but God had made him both truthful and tender. 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:08.980 And he was a living example of the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:19.079 May we, by the grace of God, become people whose lives reflect these words. 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:26.819 So that when we speak these words about love, 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:31.980 that they would not only be truths that are eternally true in Scripture, 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:36.019 but also truths that have come to be reflected and embodied in our lives 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:38.700 and that people can see the power of the Holy Spirit in us. 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.740 Let's pray. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:49.559 Father, we thank you that you demonstrated your love 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:52.539 in sending your Son to die on the cross for us. 00:33:54.180 --> 00:34:00.519 We thank you for all the ways that you're patient and kind to us, day by day. 00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:07.980 Lord, we thank you for not only presenting us this beautiful picture of love, 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:17.280 but even giving us people, people in this church, people that we can look to as examples 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:22.139 of how your love can make an impact and be displayed. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:27.920 And Lord, we pray that you would make each of us individually, in our families, 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:35.800 in our friendships, and in us as a church, Lord, to be characterized by this kind of love, 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:38.680 this kind of self-giving love. 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:50.859 Lord, we pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit, that would be more and more evident in us. 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:55.239 And we pray that we would abide in you, that we would abide in your love for us, 00:34:55.279 --> 00:34:59.799 for it is only in knowing your love for us that we are enabled and empowered 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:06.400 to display and extend that to others, even in very hard situations. 00:35:06.600 --> 00:35:08.760 Lord, we pray that we would abide in your love for us. 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.580 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:35:12.060 --> 00:35:12.340 Amen. 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:12.440 Amen. 00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:21.680 As the music team comes forward, we're going to conclude by singing a song. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:29.480 So let's stand as we sing Love Divine, All Love's Excelling, about the love of God 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:31.079 and how it comes to dwell in us. 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.079 Amen. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.079 Amen. 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.579 Amen. 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.079 Amen. 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.079 Amen. 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:36.079 Amen. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:37.079 Amen. 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.079 Amen. 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.079 Amen. 00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:40.079 Amen. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.079 Amen. 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:42.079 Amen. 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:43.079 Amen. 00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:44.079 Amen. 00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.079 Amen. 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.079 Amen. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.079 Amen. 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:48.079 Amen. 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:50.079 Amen. 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.079 Amen. 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.639 Amen. 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:51.659 Amen. 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:53.679 Amen. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.679 Amen. 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:23.679 Amen. 00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:27.679 Amen. 00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:28.679 Amen. 00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:29.639 Amen. 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:29.859 Amen. 00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:30.679 Amen. 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.679 Amen. 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.699 Amen. 00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:35.679 Amen. 00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:37.799 Amen. 00:36:37.799 --> 00:36:37.960 Amen. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.239 Amen. 00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:39.859 Amen. 00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:40.119 Amen. 00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:41.739 Amen. 00:36:41.759 --> 00:36:43.659 Amen. 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:43.759 Amen. 00:36:43.759 --> 00:36:43.980 Amen. 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.639 Amen. 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:44.739 Amen. 00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:45.059 Amen. 00:36:45.899 --> 00:36:47.419 Amen. 00:36:47.419 --> 00:36:47.779 Amen. 00:36:47.779 --> 00:36:47.919 Amen. 00:36:47.919 --> 00:36:51.139 Amen. 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:51.659 Amen. 00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:53.399 to sin 00:36:53.399 --> 00:36:54.639 thou 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.399 found 00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:55.980 and 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.559 thou 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.259 made 00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:57.899 of 00:36:57.899 --> 00:36:58.799 me 00:36:58.799 --> 00:36:59.859 and 00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.440 all 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.119 faith 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.799 as 00:37:01.799 --> 00:37:02.480 it's 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.759 beginning 00:37:03.759 --> 00:37:04.980 set 00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.659 our 00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.359 hearts 00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:06.980 at 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.379 liberty 00:37:08.379 --> 00:37:13.839 thou 00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:15.079 almighty 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.119 to 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:17.539 deliver 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.719 and 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.480 also 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.639 thy 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.299 life 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:22.300 may 00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:22.700 see 00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:23.300 suddenly 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:25.300 we 00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.300 turn 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:26.880 and 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.300 ever 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:28.300 ever 00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:29.300 more 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.780 white 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.440 and 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.300 holy 00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:33.300 may 00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:34.300 live 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.300 and 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:35.980 be 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.300 always 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.300 blessing 00:37:38.300 --> 00:37:39.300 serve 00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:40.000 me 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.640 as 00:37:40.640 --> 00:37:41.280 thy 00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:41.900 who 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.900 subpo 00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:43.900 me 00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:44.620 pray 00:37:44.620 --> 00:37:45.180 and 00:37:45.180 --> 00:37:45.880 praise 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.519 me 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.200 without 00:37:47.200 --> 00:37:48.300 ceasing 00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.300 glory 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:50.300 in 00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:51.300 thy 00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:52.300 perfect 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.300 life 00:37:53.300 --> 00:37:54.300 in 00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:55.300 thy 00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.300 perfect 00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:57.300 life 00:37:57.300 --> 00:37:59.300 love 00:37:59.300 --> 00:38:00.300 creation 00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:01.300 my new 00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:02.300 creation 00:38:02.300 --> 00:38:03.300 pure 00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:04.300 and 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.300 spotless 00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:06.300 let 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.300 us 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.300 see 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.300 let 00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:10.300 us 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:11.300 see 00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:12.300 thy 00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.300 great 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.300 salvation 00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:15.300 love 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.300 love 00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:17.300 and 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:18.300 grace 00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:19.300 love 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:20.300 and 00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:21.300 love 00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.300 and 00:38:22.300 --> 00:38:23.300 love 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:24.300 and 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:25.300 love 00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:26.300 and 00:38:26.300 --> 00:38:27.300 love 00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:28.300 and 00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:29.300 praise 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:30.300 hope 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:57.300 and 00:38:57.300 --> 00:39:02.860 things happening. In the Fellowship Hall classroom, starting in about 15 minutes, there's going to be 00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:08.580 a meeting for any men interested in being involved in men's ministry with John Dunlop and Jeff 00:39:08.580 --> 00:39:15.100 Stevens. So go down there. It'll be a brief meeting, just about 15 minutes, just to get some input and 00:39:15.100 --> 00:39:23.560 ideas. Or talk to one of them if you can't make the meeting. We also invite you, Pastor Matt, 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:31.340 invite you to a picnic in the park with him and his family. And it's going to be in Worcester Square 00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:36.519 Park, which is just a few blocks away. The address is in your bulletin. If you need directions, it's 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:42.099 just about a 5-10 minute walk. It's bring your own lunch. So they'll head over there and you can meet 00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:49.639 over there anytime after 12 noon if you want to just join for a casual lunch together. Tonight, our 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:54.299 evening service, Peter Almo is preaching. You can come back for that. And Tuesday is our congregational 00:39:54.299 --> 00:39:58.279 meeting. At 6 o'clock, we'll have dinner. If you can bring a side if you're going to join for dinner, 00:39:58.339 --> 00:40:04.480 that'd be great. You can park across the street as usual. And the agenda and proposed budget are on the 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:11.339 back table and have been emailed out to all members. So members, if you feel free to take note of that 00:40:11.339 --> 00:40:17.579 and be prepared for that meeting on Tuesday. All right, go with this word of blessing. May the Lord 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:22.559 make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all so that he may establish 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:27.179 our hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus 00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:31.519 with all his saints. And all God's people said, amen. Go in peace.