WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:05.540 While the ushers are finishing taking up the offering, if you're new, let me just say welcome. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:10.460 If you're back, it's great to see you. Welcome back. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:20.039 This morning we are looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verses 13 through 24. 00:00:22.339 --> 00:00:26.199 That's page 962 in the Pew Bible. Go ahead and turn there with me. 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:31.579 In your own Bible or you can turn there in the Pew Bible. 00:00:33.879 --> 00:00:40.600 1 Corinthians 16, verses 13 through 24, page 962. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:49.200 All right, let me read our text for us. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:01:03.440 Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:13.079 Now I urge you, brothers, you know that the household of Stephanus were the first converts in Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:18.000 Be subject to such as these and every fellow worker and laborer. 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:28.019 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus because they have made up for your absence, for they have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:31.019 Give recognition to such people. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:34.920 The churches of Achaia send you greetings. 00:01:35.619 --> 00:01:39.539 Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:41.759 All the brothers send you greetings. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:45.079 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:49.079 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:52.939 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:54.439 Our Lord, come. 00:01:55.620 --> 00:01:57.439 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.700 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:01.780 Amen. 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:03.200 Let's pray together. 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:09.139 God, we're so thankful for the ways in which you're at work in our city. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:15.860 God, we thank you for the mentoring program and for the men and women who make that up and for the families and for the children who are a part of it. 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.539 God, we just want to pray again for your blessing upon that ministry. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:23.659 God, we pray that that would be an expression of the love of Christ for our city. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:31.139 God, would you stir our hearts now as we come to your word, as we come to the end of this great book of 1 Corinthians. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:38.180 God, would you open our hearts to hear this final exhortation that you have for us in this book. 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:42.659 God, would you come and would you be present by your spirit. 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:53.560 Lord, help us to hear and in hearing, to grow in our trust and love of you and so be changed for your glory. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:55.280 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:55.900 Amen. 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:00.659 Well, here we are. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:05.219 We've come to the end of our series in 1 Corinthians. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:05.460 1 Corinthians. 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:11.159 How many of you were here last September when we began our journey through this book? 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:14.159 Okay. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.419 We lost half the church during that time, but more people came back. 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:18.879 Good. 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:21.180 Well, here we are. 00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:24.659 We've come to the end and we've come to Paul's last word. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:31.979 What is the one thing that we should have ringing in our ears and stirring our hearts as we come to the end? 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:37.359 And I think verse 14 really sums up the main thrust of Paul's conclusion. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:41.939 Let all that you do be done in love. 00:03:44.859 --> 00:03:51.120 And, you know, as I've been reflecting on that verse and as I've been sort of talking about it with Matt and Greg during the week, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:55.599 I mean, hasn't that been the underlying theme for this whole book? 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:03.979 If you turn back all the way to chapter 1, to Paul's intro in the book, verses 1 through 9 of chapter 1, 00:04:04.019 --> 00:04:10.159 you'll notice that as he's greeting this church in his customary way and as he's giving thanks to God for his work in their midst, 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.620 there's one thing in that greeting that's noticeably absent. 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:18.040 In most of the letters that we have from Paul, he begins by thanking God, among other things, 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:21.860 for the love that that church has for one another and for all the saints. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:27.180 And yet here in 1 Corinthians, the silence is, as it were, deafening. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:32.620 Paul can thank God for their gifts as he opens this letter, 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:37.980 but it seems at that point he cannot thank God for their love. 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:48.080 And hasn't that absence of love been at the root of nearly all the troubles this church was in? 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:52.779 We've seen kind of week in and week out that Corinth was a church that had a lot of issues. 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:58.939 As they were torn apart over issues of unity and holiness and worship, 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:01.539 under it all, it seems, was a failure of love. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:08.699 John Chrysostom, the fourth century church father, put it this way, reflecting on verse 14 of our text, 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.000 and he really summarizes the main issues of the book. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:11.419 He says, 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:33.639 There's chapters 8 through 11. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:38.099 And they would not have boasted about their spiritual gifts. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:40.399 There's chapters 12 through 14. 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.599 It all, it seems, comes down to love. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:46.439 If love had been present. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.779 But isn't that true for us in the church today? 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.860 It's easy to look at a church like Corinth and think, 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.500 Wow, they were really messed up. 00:05:55.579 --> 00:05:56.719 I'm glad we're not like them. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:06.940 And yet, amidst all our activity, it's easy for love to be absent. 00:06:08.880 --> 00:06:12.380 And you know, if there's one thing that we've learned in 1 Corinthians, 00:06:12.580 --> 00:06:15.600 it's that love is never just absent. 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:19.580 It's always replaced by something else. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:29.899 Instead of doing all that we do in love, we let something else drive us and something else define us. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.180 Again, think back over this journey that we've been on in 1 Corinthians. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:41.419 When they were torn apart by factions, they had replaced love with eloquence. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:45.219 A desire for worldly showy wisdom. 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:52.380 And when they despised the weak and ate meat sacrificed to idols, 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:56.240 they had replaced love with a concern for their rights. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:02.300 And when their worship services had descended into unedifying chaos, 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.440 love had been replaced with their gifts. 00:07:08.640 --> 00:07:09.780 But how about us? 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:13.800 How do we replace love today? 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:20.120 Sometimes I think it's our overriding desire to look good. 00:07:20.760 --> 00:07:21.920 To win approval. 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:23.200 To be thought well of. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.360 And so the church becomes a group of people where everyone hides everything 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.280 and puts on a show and tries to look good. 00:07:33.960 --> 00:07:36.360 But the result is that we never really change. 00:07:37.580 --> 00:07:40.200 Because it's not the real us who shows up on Sundays. 00:07:40.380 --> 00:07:43.900 It's the, you know, my own best projection of myself. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:47.379 It's a sort of holy hologram that I put out for everybody to see. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:52.120 Instead of my own real honest heart that needs help and needs change. 00:07:55.179 --> 00:07:59.459 Or maybe in our midst we replace love with a desire to have control 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:01.620 and to run things our own way. 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:06.579 And so the church as a whole or the ministries that we're involved in 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:09.579 end up being not embassies for the Lord Jesus, 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:12.519 but they end up being our own little personal fiefdoms. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:16.159 My own little kingdom where I call the shots and trample on everyone else. 00:08:20.599 --> 00:08:25.099 But you know, love isn't just replaced by these obviously problematic things 00:08:25.099 --> 00:08:26.899 like the need for approval or control. 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:28.199 Love can be lost. 00:08:28.299 --> 00:08:30.339 It can be replaced in the name of good things too. 00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:33.959 In the name of efficiency. 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:36.279 We need to get more things done as a church. 00:08:36.339 --> 00:08:37.299 Let's go, go, go, go, go. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.519 Or we can lose love in the name of excellence. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:45.879 We want to make sure everything is as best it can possibly be. 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:49.000 And we have this perfectionistic spirit that drives everything 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.600 and crowds out real biblical love. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:57.320 Or it can even happen in the name of evangelistic effectiveness. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:08:59.759 We want to reach people fruitfully with the gospel. 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:05.019 So we end up just trampling on one another and losing love. 00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:09.040 Now all these things in themselves are good things, right? 00:09:09.040 --> 00:09:12.240 We want to be effective and excellent and evangelistically effective. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.879 But if we're not careful, they can squeeze out the thing that ought to characterize 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.360 and drive all that we do, which is love. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:25.879 And of course, it's easy to see that love is easily replaced, 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:27.680 not just in our relationships at church, right? 00:09:28.420 --> 00:09:31.000 Think of all your other relationships with your family members, 00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:34.159 with your spouse, with your work colleagues, with your roommates. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:39.960 Are not most of the troubles at root a result of the absence of real, 00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:43.639 biblical, resilient love? 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.680 And so Paul's going to tell us three things. 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:54.399 Paul's going to tell us about this love as he ends this book, 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:55.719 which is about love. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:10:00.120 And the first thing he's going to show us in verse 13 through 14 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:02.419 is that we have to fight for it. 00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:09.059 Let all that you do be done in love is not something that just comes naturally, right? 00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:11.259 We don't just sort of drift into it. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.039 The tides will take us in every other direction, 00:10:15.459 --> 00:10:18.659 into the directions of approval and control or just mere permissiveness. 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:20.059 We don't just drift into love. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.579 We've got to fight for it, Paul says. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:23.480 And that's why he begins by saying, 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:24.519 be watchful. 00:10:25.339 --> 00:10:26.799 Stand firm in the faith. 00:10:27.219 --> 00:10:28.240 Act like men. 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.699 Be strong. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.439 That's what it takes to do all that you do in love. 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:41.879 Paul here is exhorting us like we're a group of soldiers going into battle. 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:47.179 He's looking at the church and he's like the coach of a football team 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:48.740 in the final seconds of the game. 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:50.759 And they're up by six. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:53.419 And we're making our last stand on the one-yard line. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:54.220 And there it is. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:55.700 The last play of the game. 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:58.039 And they're coming at us with one last drive. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.340 One last charge into our end zone. 00:11:00.419 --> 00:11:02.159 And Paul says, you need to stand your ground. 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:04.360 Dig in and fight for this. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:10.300 Well, let's unpack verse 13 a little bit. 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:13.560 How do we fight to keep love in the driver's seat of all that we do? 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.740 First, he says, be watchful. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:24.100 And watchful here, not just for outside attack or things that can come in and trip you up. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:24.960 Yes, that's true. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:27.500 But Paul, I think, means something more. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:32.240 I think he probably means here, be watchful for the Lord's return. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:39.180 The same language of being watchful is used very regularly in Paul's letters of being expectant 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:41.039 and looking forward to Christ's coming. 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:43.519 The king is coming. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:45.320 Victory is on the way. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.180 That's what chapter 15, right before this, was about, right? 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:50.940 Keep your eyes fixed on that great day. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:55.779 And it will keep you from falling prey to all these love replacements. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:01.860 Because if something that great and that good is coming, 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:06.120 and if we're assured our place in it through the resurrection of Christ, 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:12.740 then friends, we don't need to worry so much about what people think of us 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:15.180 or whether we're calling the shots 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:19.899 or any of those other selfish replacements for real love. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.600 Focus on that day in the future, 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:26.879 and it will keep you focused in the present, Paul says. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:32.179 But then we're charged to stand firm in the faith. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:34.759 Or as we might say today in our lingo, 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:38.820 keep your identity rooted in the gospel. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.519 Stand firm in it. 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:44.700 Don't let the other prevailing winds knock you from it. 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:50.460 Martin Lloyd-Jones, a great 20th century preacher in London, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:50.960 once said, 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.500 Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:57.620 is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:59.780 instead of talking to yourself? 00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:03.639 What he means is this. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:05.000 We go through most of life 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.280 just listening to whatever our inner self happens to be saying. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.320 I'm no good. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.920 I'll never measure up. 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.379 No one loves me. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.540 I'll never change. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:16.480 God couldn't use someone like me. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.800 This is just the way I am. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:22.279 But instead of listening all the time, 00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:25.740 we need to take ourselves up 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:27.879 and be talking to ourselves a bit more. 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:31.419 We need to be preaching the gospel to ourselves. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:33.599 We need to be telling ourselves what's true. 00:13:36.099 --> 00:13:37.839 That we've been bought with a price. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.559 That we're adopted sons and daughters of God 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:42.759 through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.839 That we're beloved children of the king 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:48.180 and ambassadors for his kingdom. 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:50.720 That not a single hair will fall from our heads 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.100 without the father's notice. 00:13:54.680 --> 00:13:56.340 God's apparently been noticing me a lot 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:57.420 over the last few years. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.519 Okay, three sermons in a row 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.820 and I made a bald joke every time. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.259 I'm done. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.280 That we're indwelt by his own spirit. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.600 Given new hearts to love him 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.920 and serve him in the world. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.740 That we're sealed for the day of redemption. 00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:15.120 That we're guaranteed a place 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.320 in the new heavens and the new earth. 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:19.320 And not just some sort of side marginal place, 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.139 but a place with Christ 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.740 where we will see God face to face 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:24.240 and reign with him forever. 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.220 Paul says, 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.139 stand firm in the faith. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.340 This is the faith. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.820 And by the way, 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.340 just as sort of a little bit of an aside here, 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:37.299 this is why you need to be in a small group. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:42.899 So we can help each other stand firm in the faith. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.819 Because you can't do this by yourself. 00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:48.719 And this is why we should read 00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:51.120 and study the Bible regularly on our own. 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.659 So we can stand firm in the faith 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:53.919 because we're forgetful. 00:14:54.099 --> 00:14:55.120 And we drift. 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.399 And we lose our footing. 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:59.439 We need these means of grace. 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.259 Not as tokens of our righteousness. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:04.480 But we need them as means, 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:08.100 as engines to keep us rooted 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.740 in what's true about who we really are 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.939 and who God really is. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:19.819 Lastly, we're exhorted here to act like men. 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.019 Be strong. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.519 Or as the NIV translates it, 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.519 be courageous. 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.299 Be strong. 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:30.759 Now the strength here isn't the sort of strength 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.620 that some of the Corinthians thought they had 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.500 when they called themselves strong 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.819 and others weak. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.919 That was really just self-serving pride. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.939 Rather, as you hear this exhortation 00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:45.459 to be courageous, be strong, 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.139 think of Joshua in the Old Testament. 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:51.819 The newly minted leader of God's people 00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:53.919 standing on the verge of the promised land 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.879 being charged to lead God's people into battle. 00:15:56.979 --> 00:15:59.699 And what does God come and say to Joshua 00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:02.000 as he stands there fearful, 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.579 maybe even a bit overwhelmed 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:06.500 and paralyzed by what God is calling him to do? 00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.599 God comes and says, 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:10.279 be strong and courageous. 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.500 Why? 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.620 For I am with you. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:18.899 And I won't leave you or forsake you, Joshua. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:25.059 And if that's true of Joshua then, 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.159 then friends, it's true of us today. 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:30.600 Because the risen Lord Jesus has promised 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:33.100 to be with us even to the end of the age. 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:35.159 And if the one who has all authority, 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.039 the Lord Jesus Christ, is with us, 00:16:37.079 --> 00:16:39.899 then we too can be courageous and strong. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.079 So if we're going to do everything in love, 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.319 we'll need to fight for it. 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:48.500 Love is not for the faint of heart. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.940 Especially biblical love. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.600 It's easy to be nice, isn't it? 00:16:54.260 --> 00:16:56.280 It's easy to just let people do and be 00:16:56.280 --> 00:16:57.680 whatever they decide to do and be 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:59.160 and never offer loving correction. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.540 It's easy to merely tolerate each other 00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.540 or just ignore each other, 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:04.180 but it's not easy to love. 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:11.100 And it's easy to talk about love, isn't it? 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:15.980 You know, the danger with such an all-encompassing command, 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:19.279 let all that you do be done in love. 00:17:19.679 --> 00:17:22.740 The danger with that is that it will just remain an idea. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.519 Some sort of high-floating ideal 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.859 that never really hits the ground and takes action. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.139 You know, often we can think, 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.579 well, I should be loving to everyone. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.379 And as we think about being loving to everyone, 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.859 we end up being loving to no one. 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:40.979 But the rest of Paul's conclusion here 00:17:40.979 --> 00:17:42.759 won't let us off the hook so easily. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.899 Yes, we have to fight for it. 00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:46.779 That's the first point. 00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:48.539 But verses 15 through 22 show us 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.899 that we have to exercise it as well. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:54.119 You have to exercise it. 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:55.719 And where do we start? 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.519 Where do we start to let all that we do be done in love? 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.500 Start here, Paul says. 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:00.799 Exercise it in real ways, 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:03.500 in the real relationships right in front of you. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.759 Where do we start exercising this resilient, 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.440 steadfast love? 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:10.160 Paul says, maybe a little uncomfortably, 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:13.920 first, take the true leaders in your midst, 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:17.579 the ones who are serving and working among you. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.319 Verses 15 through 18 mention Stephanus 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.759 and Fortunatus and Achaicus. 00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:29.259 These three were members of the church in Corinth 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:31.700 and they were now visiting Paul in Ephesus 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.140 and they were most likely the ones 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.080 who were going to come back 00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:35.480 with this letter of 1 Corinthians 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.920 and deliver it on Paul's behalf. 00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:38.480 And Paul says to the church, 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.040 be subject to these guys 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:43.820 and give recognition to them. 00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.540 In other words, 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:48.100 start acting toward them 00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:51.440 in genuine biblical love. 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.660 Now that's a risky thing for Paul to ask, isn't it? 00:18:56.660 --> 00:19:01.660 The Corinthian church struggled with idolizing leaders. 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:05.460 And Paul doesn't want a repeat of that. 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:08.240 But you know, as you read between the lines here, 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.980 one gets the impression that Stephanus 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:14.000 wasn't a rock star public speaker like Apollos. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:17.700 And we know he wasn't an apostle like Paul or Peter. 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:19.340 So in other words, Stephanus and these other guys 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:21.019 weren't the sort of famous leaders 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:23.180 that the Corinthians were tempted to idolize 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.440 and create little factions and fan clubs over. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.480 Stephanus probably didn't have a blog. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:32.019 And he probably didn't have a leadership podcast 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.400 that everybody tuned into. 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:37.080 And he probably wasn't invited to speak at conferences. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.480 None of those things are bad, right? 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.380 But at the end of the day, 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.960 what made Stephanus and these other guys 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:50.400 real leaders in the church? 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.860 It was that they had devoted themselves, Paul says, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.680 to the service of the saints. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.400 They were workers. 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.519 They were laborers, Paul says. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.539 What is it that makes a real leader in Christ's church, 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:09.799 the ones who love Christ and his word, 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:11.619 who faithfully teach the scriptures 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:13.859 and who serve, who work, 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:16.460 who labor for the sake of the saints? 00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.460 The old saying goes, 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.119 how do you tell who the real shepherds are? 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.119 And the answer is, 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:26.519 the ones that smell like sheep. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.319 That's one of the questions we ask 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.599 when we consider new elders. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.659 And you should prayerfully ask it too 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:38.579 as you think of people to nominate for the eldership. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.539 Who's already shepherding 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:44.259 and laboring and discipling 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.680 even without the title? 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:48.700 Who's eldering already? 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.740 Who's devoted themselves to the service? 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.559 Who smells like sheep? 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:58.220 You know, you get close to Matt and Greg. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.279 You hang out with James. 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.740 You get to know Jonathan and Jeff. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:06.059 And I'll tell you, 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.680 they smell. 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:13.960 And if you want to be a leader in Christ's church, 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.660 friend, you need to smell too. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.579 But Paul's point here is that 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:24.120 we should start to exercise resilient love 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.759 by loving our leaders. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.859 And even though I'm a pastor, 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.259 this applies to me too. 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.879 I'm a member before I'm an elder. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.900 So I need to do this as well. 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:37.039 And so for all of us, 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:40.640 we should recognize faithful servant leaders. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.960 That is, we should encourage them. 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.140 We should honor them. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.039 We should pray for them. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.160 We should thank them. 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:49.140 Leadership can be a very discouraging role 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.680 in the church. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.799 And Paul goes on and says, 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:55.279 we should be subject to faithful servant leaders. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.920 That is, we should heed their warnings 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:59.420 and take to heart their encouragements 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.660 and we should seek their counsel. 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.860 No, this doesn't mean that leaders in the church 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.620 are infallible. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.039 It doesn't mean they're above correction. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.980 It doesn't mean they're the absolute authorities. 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:10.600 No, only God and God's word is that. 00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.779 That's one of the beauties 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:14.120 of having God's authoritative word 00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:17.440 is that it demotes every other human authority 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.519 and puts us all under the same thing. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:24.400 No, church leaders aren't perfect, 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.980 but they're here for our good. 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.620 They've devoted themselves 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.720 to the service of the saints 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.620 and we should act toward them in love. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.720 But not just leaders. 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.980 In verses 19 through 20, 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.519 as Paul is sort of sending greetings to Corinth 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:40.039 from the churches in Ephesus 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:42.640 and reminding this very self-centered, 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:43.799 self-elevated church 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:47.160 that they're not doing this on their own, 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:49.259 but they're a part of a worldwide network 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.920 of churches, 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.859 as he's sending those greetings, 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.240 Paul reminds the Corinthians 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.879 to start loving one another. 00:22:58.779 --> 00:23:00.740 Exercise love with the people 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.019 right in front of you, 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:04.279 your living, breathing fellow church members. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:06.079 Start putting flesh on the bones 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.259 of your love right there. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.660 Where do we see that in those verses? 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.440 With the very end. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:10.920 Paul says, 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:14.279 greet one another with a holy kiss. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:17.279 Now what does that mean? 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.440 Well, if you grew up in an Italian family, 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.379 you probably get it. 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.339 No offense to Italians. 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.859 When you come home to family, 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.700 what do you get? 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.599 You get a big embrace. 00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:31.259 You get a kiss on the cheek. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.579 Maybe you get the double kiss on both cheeks. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.039 You sit down, 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.799 you eat some lasagna, 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.160 whatever. 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.779 So translation, 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.680 Paul is saying that you need to greet 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.320 one another like family. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.539 Like you actually love one another. 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.620 Now, 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.360 not everyone grew up in a big Italian family, 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.460 so not everyone is comfortable 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.980 with a literal kiss, right? 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.840 I come from a German background. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:55.000 We're not big on the physical affection thing. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:58.100 I'm still not so sure how to respond. 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.940 When people go in for the polite, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.480 socially acceptable kiss on the cheek, 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.320 I get really awkward. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.120 You know, 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.779 that's not my thing. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.100 But, 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:08.680 even if we're not literally giving a holy kiss, 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.080 we can translate it, right? 00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:12.699 What communicates the embrace 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:15.419 and acceptance of family here in our place 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.779 and in our time and in our church? 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.679 The holy handshake, maybe? 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.799 The holy bro hug? 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.879 The holy high five? 00:24:27.419 --> 00:24:28.699 That's the one I give at youth group. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.699 But, you know, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.799 whatever we do, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.019 friends, 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.699 it's actually a very powerful symbol, 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.879 as simple as it seems. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.359 If we'll see it for what it is, 00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:45.639 it's a symbolic act that says, 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.439 here in this place, 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.500 under Christ, 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.859 we're family. 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:55.679 Even though we come from wildly different backgrounds, 00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.779 in Christ, 00:24:58.419 --> 00:25:00.419 we are brothers and sisters, 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.920 brothers, 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.820 and I'm going to start loving you 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:05.539 like a brother or a sister should be loved. 00:25:07.560 --> 00:25:09.100 Even though I have a busy schedule, 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.220 I'm going to make time for you. 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:14.900 I'm going to rearrange some of my priorities 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.100 so we can get to know each other 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:17.100 and encourage each other. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:20.100 I'm going to ask how you're doing 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:22.400 because I really care about how you're doing, 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:24.259 and I want you to give me an honest answer. 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:28.920 I'm going to pray for you, 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.319 and I'm going to say, 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.220 I'll pray for you, 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:34.019 not just as a way of ending our conversation. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.279 I'll pray for you, 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.559 over and out. 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:38.839 No. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:43.039 I'm going to take time to actually serve you 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.660 and meet some of your needs 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.619 when I have the opportunity, 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.160 even when it's inconvenient. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:52.019 I'm going to seek forgiveness and reconciliation 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.839 when there's a rift between us 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.240 or when there's an offense. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:57.220 I'm not going to sweep stuff under the rug 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.099 and hope it goes away. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:00.019 I'm going to address it in the right way 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.819 at the right time. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:05.099 I'm going to see you as a brother or sister, 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.879 and I'm going to treat you accordingly. 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.579 And again, 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:13.519 this is where practically getting involved 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:16.379 in a group that's smaller 00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.680 than our gathering on Sundays 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.420 is so critical, 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.559 whether it's a small group 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:21.960 or whether it's serving on a ministry team together, 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.599 you need to get to know 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.480 your fellow church members well enough 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.639 so you can actually start to serve them 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.599 and love them 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.700 and encourage them 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.599 in personal and real ways. 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:35.299 The ideal of loving one another, 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:36.599 of doing all that we do in love, 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:38.139 can't just remain an ideal. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.619 It has to be put into practice. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.019 And in order for that to happen, 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.579 we have to actually get to know each other. 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.660 And we've got to find the times 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.319 and the places 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.220 and make the sacrifice 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.259 to make that happen. 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:52.500 But you know, 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:52.940 at the end of the day, 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.079 it's not just love for our leaders 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.480 or for our fellow church members. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:57.379 In verses 21 through 22, 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.200 as Paul takes up the pen 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.039 from his scribe 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.339 and scribbles a few words 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.200 in his own hand, 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.839 he shows us that our love, 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.960 above all, 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.519 must be for the Lord Jesus. 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.700 He states this principle 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:13.200 in a negative way in verse 22. 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:15.160 If anyone has no love for the Lord, 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.119 let him be accursed. 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.679 In other words, 00:27:17.939 --> 00:27:19.799 what's the necessary mark 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.359 of a Christian? 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.899 How do you know 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:24.099 someone has saving faith 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.759 in the Lord Jesus? 00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:28.119 Well, one of the ways you know 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:30.179 is because they love the Lord. 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.259 They see Jesus 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.979 not just as a means to some end, 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.739 but he is the end. 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:41.079 He's not just their savior 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.359 who brings them good things, 00:27:42.439 --> 00:27:43.339 but he's their treasure. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.399 Paul prays at the end of verse 22, 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.959 our Lord, come. 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:53.939 That's the cry of a heart 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:55.139 that loves the Lord. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.459 And it's actually 00:27:57.459 --> 00:27:59.119 one of the most ancient prayers 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.099 that's come down to us 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.979 from the early church. 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:04.079 We want him to come 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.399 to make things right, 00:28:05.939 --> 00:28:07.979 to complete the victory 00:28:07.979 --> 00:28:08.599 that he's won 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.000 through his death and resurrection. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.899 We want him to come 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:13.000 and put an end to sin and death. 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.819 We want him to come 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:15.220 and we want to be with him, 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:16.960 the one who loved me 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:18.119 and gave himself for me. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.299 We want him to come 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:23.359 so we can see his glory on display, 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.419 not just by faith, 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.279 but by sight, 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:27.039 so we pray with hearts 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.879 that love the Lord. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.319 Come, Lord Jesus. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.720 Let all that you do 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.579 be done in love. 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.480 First, it's something 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.539 we have to fight for. 00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.480 We won't just drift into it, 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:40.899 but second, 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.339 it's something we have to exercise. 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.899 We've got to put it 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.459 into practice 00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:45.480 in concrete ways. 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.220 We can't let it 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:47.480 just be a nice idea. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.559 But of course, 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.279 as soon as we start 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.179 fighting for it, 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.240 and definitely 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.879 when we start exercising it 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.959 with real people, 00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:59.720 we realize how hard it is, 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.079 don't we? 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.779 We realize how costly it is 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:04.299 to let all that you do 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.039 be done in love. 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.839 And if we try to attempt this 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:10.119 on our own strength, 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.480 friends, 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.339 I guarantee you, 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.000 we will fail. 00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.959 What Paul has been 00:29:15.959 --> 00:29:16.699 laying out here 00:29:16.699 --> 00:29:17.599 is impossible 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:19.220 if it just came down to us. 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.359 Because we'll fall back 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.199 into our old habits 00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:23.819 too often. 00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.599 Our old motivations 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.139 will constantly dominate. 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.919 And we'll do all that we do 00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:29.559 for approval 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.419 or for control 00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:31.339 or we'll do all that we do 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:32.000 for comfort 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.720 or for pleasure. 00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:33.859 So we need something 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.659 to change us 00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:35.139 and we need something 00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:37.500 to keep on changing us. 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:42.200 And as Paul puts 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.680 the final words 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.240 onto this lengthy letter, 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.500 he comes back again 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.319 to the only thing 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:50.259 that will radically change us. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.500 The thing that we need 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.640 to keep coming back to 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:54.700 in order to really do this. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.180 And what is it? 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.960 It's the grace 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.140 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.220 Christ. 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.600 That's what Paul reminds them 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.420 of in verse 23. 00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.280 And in verse 24, 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.340 he sends them his love, 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.460 not just generally, 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:10.960 but he says, 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.200 my love to you 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:14.140 in Christ Jesus. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.780 It's in him. 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:20.639 So he's telling us again, 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.940 he's reminding us again 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.059 that real love 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.960 flows from our status, 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.519 not just of being people 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:28.119 who resolve to be loving, 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.740 but from people 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.660 who are in Christ. 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.579 If we're in Christ, 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.619 if we're experiencing 00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.440 his grace, 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:36.279 if we're in Christ, 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.019 then more and more 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.680 all that we do 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.000 will be done in love. 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.059 You see? 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.079 Because here's the reality, 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.799 and this is the third 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.359 and final point 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.220 we need to make this morning. 00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:49.019 We can't really fight for it 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:51.079 and we can't really exercise it 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:53.339 until we've received it 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:55.539 in a real, 00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.179 radical, 00:30:56.439 --> 00:30:57.159 personal way. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.740 And that's why, 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.539 again and again 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.039 in this letter, 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.419 no matter what the problem 00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:04.859 or the issue has been, 00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.839 whether it's unity 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.359 or whether it's holiness 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.519 or whether it's 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.480 how they care about 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.039 weaker members 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.679 in their church 00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.199 or whether it's 00:31:11.199 --> 00:31:12.279 how they conduct themselves 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.720 in worship, 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.139 again and again 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.699 and again, 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.580 Paul has brought 00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:16.100 their sights 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:18.000 back to the gospel. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.580 He's brought before 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.500 our eyes again 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.500 the Lord Jesus. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.559 Jesus who lived 00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:29.279 a life of perfect love, 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.080 the life that we couldn't 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:34.440 possibly hope to live 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.140 and who in love 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:39.900 went to the cross for us 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:43.360 where Christ exchanged 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.460 places with us, 00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.460 the unrighteous 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.960 and the unloving 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.660 for the righteous, 00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:49.480 the loving one 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:51.140 to bring us to God, 00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:53.220 1 Peter will say. 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.420 Christ exchanged places 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:58.340 with us on the cross 00:31:58.340 --> 00:32:00.220 and then God raised him 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.680 from the dead 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.240 on the third day 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.600 as Lord and as King 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:04.160 so that all who trust in him, 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.100 so that all who come 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:05.820 to him in faith 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:07.880 receive a new life 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:09.120 and a new heart 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.980 and forgiveness 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.800 of sins 00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:13.700 and then in a relationship 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.180 with him, 00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:15.240 seeing that our sins 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.260 have been taken away 00:32:16.260 --> 00:32:17.440 and he's done all that 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:17.960 for me, 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.660 we begin to start living 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:21.020 a life of genuine love. 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.460 Because you see friends, 00:32:24.520 --> 00:32:25.180 to be sure, 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.560 love is costly 00:32:26.560 --> 00:32:29.360 and to do all that you do 00:32:29.360 --> 00:32:30.680 in love is very costly. 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:33.340 It will cost your time 00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:34.380 and your energy 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.519 and your resources 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.700 but when you live 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:39.279 in light of what Christ 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.420 has done for you, 00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:44.860 that he's bought you 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.779 with a price, 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:49.259 that he's bought you 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:51.100 from sin and death 00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:52.380 with the price 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.320 of his own life 00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:54.340 given as a sacrifice, 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.880 when he's expended 00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:58.120 and lavished on you 00:32:58.120 --> 00:32:58.820 that cost 00:32:58.820 --> 00:32:59.900 because he loves you, 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:03.560 and when you're united 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:04.460 to him by faith, 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:06.160 when you're in Christ Jesus, 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.580 the implication, 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.620 as Paul points to here, 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:11.400 is that there's no question 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.779 then of loving 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.580 in return. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:15.759 I mean, 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.380 isn't it amazing 00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:17.500 that Paul ends this letter 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.039 by saying, 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:20.039 my love be with you all 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.940 in Christ Jesus? 00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.279 Corinth was a mess. 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.200 It was a total mess. 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.960 They were defaming 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.799 the name of Christ 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.640 left and right 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.480 in their life together 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.819 and Paul still turns 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.519 to them and says, 00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:33.680 I love you guys. 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.140 Certainly, 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.259 nothing in Paul's 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.059 human makeup 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.900 would have driven him 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.480 to say that. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.839 But Paul knew 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.759 that he was a sinner 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:46.019 saved by radical grace. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.559 And if that was true 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:48.099 of him, 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:49.440 then how could he not 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.420 look out at others 00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:52.200 and love them 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:52.980 just the same? 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:58.180 let all that you do 00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.059 be done in love. 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:00.920 Friends, 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:01.579 as we conclude, 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.680 I wonder when people 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.360 think about us 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:05.019 as a church, 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.039 if they spend time 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.559 with us, 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:10.079 if they are in our 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.900 sort of orbit 00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.920 for any length of time, 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.639 what is it that we want 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.300 them to see? 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.679 What is it we want 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:15.760 them to go away with? 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.800 The church of Corinth 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:20.360 was a very gifted church, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:22.400 a very vibrant church, 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.340 a very culturally 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:25.200 and socially connected church. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.260 But what Paul wanted 00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:30.280 was that they become 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.480 a loving church. 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.680 Without love, 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.160 we are nothing, 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.660 as Paul says 00:34:37.660 --> 00:34:38.360 so memorably 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:40.579 in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.920 Without love, 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.840 we're nothing. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:46.680 Because without love, 00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:47.460 our life together 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:47.940 as a church 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.440 will produce 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.500 no lasting fruit. 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.960 Converts will be few. 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.220 Disciples will be 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:52.860 malnourished. 00:34:53.640 --> 00:34:54.980 But even more tragically, 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.620 without love, 00:34:55.680 --> 00:34:56.100 we're nothing 00:34:56.100 --> 00:34:57.559 because our life 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.280 together 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.960 will reflect 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.059 nothing of the glory 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.600 of God 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.880 without love. 00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.539 Because the glory 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.240 of God 00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:07.340 is displayed 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:09.160 supremely 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:11.180 at the cross 00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.259 where God 00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:12.759 in grace 00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.960 poured out 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.679 his love 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:16.739 upon undeserving 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.480 sinners 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.319 like you and me. 00:35:22.419 --> 00:35:23.359 But the good news 00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:23.980 is that Christ 00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:25.279 has not left us 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:26.719 devoid of love. 00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.659 He's not left us 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.679 to our own resources. 00:35:29.859 --> 00:35:31.599 He has lavished it on us 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:32.259 that we've done 00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:33.119 nothing to deserve it. 00:35:36.839 --> 00:35:37.460 So friends, 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.219 as we seek 00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.519 as a church 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.980 to foster 00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.860 a movement 00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.719 of the gospel 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.500 here in New Haven, 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.900 as we seek 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:46.179 to see God's glory 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.079 resound 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:48.380 more and more 00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:49.000 and more 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.840 in our neighborhoods 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.980 and on our campuses 00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.239 and in our workplaces 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:53.420 and in our friendships 00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:55.059 and in our playgroups 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.980 on the playgrounds, 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.699 as we want to see 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:58.039 Christ exalted 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:59.659 and made much of 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.759 and have it roll 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.980 like ocean tides 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.840 throughout our city, 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:05.719 as we seek 00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:06.920 to see God glorified 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:08.000 here in our place 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.719 and our time, 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:11.599 the good news 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.759 is that as we stay 00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:14.719 close to Christ 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:16.860 and as the Spirit 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.840 keeps kindling 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.659 that fire 00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.320 of His grace 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.039 in our hearts, 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:22.820 then we will do 00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:23.739 all that we do 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:24.199 in love. 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.360 It will begin 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.820 to flow 00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:29.119 and our fruit 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.940 will last 00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:32.139 and God's name 00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:33.119 will be praised. 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:36.360 Let's pray. 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:36.400 Let's pray. 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:44.099 Lord Jesus, 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:44.940 we do ask 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:47.340 that as we begun 00:36:47.340 --> 00:36:48.039 this service, 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:50.019 as we begun 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.599 by praying 00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:50.980 that You would 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.860 open the eyes 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.559 of our hearts 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:54.079 to see how wide 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.739 and long 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.219 and high 00:36:56.219 --> 00:36:56.659 and deep 00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.159 is Your love 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.719 for us. 00:36:59.159 --> 00:37:00.079 As we begun 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.619 by praying 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.639 for strength 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.500 to grasp 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.159 how deep 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:03.559 Your love 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:04.199 is for us, 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:04.940 Lord Jesus, 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.980 that's how we end 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.539 this morning, 00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:09.260 that You would 00:37:09.260 --> 00:37:09.740 help us 00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:10.760 to get hold 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.039 of it 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.860 in fresh ways 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.420 this morning. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.519 Oh Lord, 00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.240 break through 00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:16.539 our calloused hearts. 00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:18.039 Lord, 00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:18.579 break through 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.440 the familiarity 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:23.420 and help us 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.179 to see it anew. 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:26.679 And Lord, 00:37:26.720 --> 00:37:27.440 as we launch 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.380 out on a new 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:29.460 season, 00:37:30.700 --> 00:37:30.900 Lord, 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:31.519 as the fall 00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:32.159 begins 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:32.780 and as we 00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:34.000 come back 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.599 to school 00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:35.860 or as we 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:36.460 re-engage 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.559 our workplaces, 00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:40.240 God, 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:40.880 we pray, 00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:41.480 oh, 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:41.940 we pray 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:42.380 that You would 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.059 let us 00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:44.119 do all 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.579 that we do 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.059 in love. 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.820 And may the world 00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.340 see it. 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.740 And may their 00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:51.480 hunger for You 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:51.880 grow 00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:54.139 until they 00:37:54.139 --> 00:37:54.559 come to 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.420 confess Jesus 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.800 as Savior 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.280 and Lord. 00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.139 We pray 00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.599 in His name, 00:37:59.720 --> 00:37:59.920 Father. 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:00.700 Amen.