Reading With the People of God - #6 LOVESample

Memorization Challenge: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Reading Primer: Building Up The Church

By now, we know division was like mother’s milk to the Corinthian believers. As Paul gives his passionate plea for love in chapter 13, he turns to confront the erroneous claims of the tongue-speaking enthusiasts. He did it by comparing the value of 2 speaking gifts: prophecy and speaking in tongues. I don’t have the bandwidth to break down everything in this chapter, but as you read, you will discover that Paul presents both gifts as Holy Spirit-inspired utterances. Prophecy is intelligible, but tongues are not. Though some may treat tongues as the ability to speak in foreign languages, the context here does not support this sense. May we be careful not to infringe on the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, who alone determines the whom, what, when, and where of all His gifts (v.11)!

Paul validates both gifts as real, but not of equal importance. Why? Paul will share that prophecy builds up the whole church, whereas tongues build the self. Unless it is accompanied by the gift of interpretation, prophecy cannot build up the congregation. Prophecy can also be understood by all. Paul claimed he spoke in tongues, but he would rather speak five instructional words than countless words in a tongue. This should keep any modern-day tongue-speaking enthusiasts from exaggerating the value of this gift.

Lastly, Paul said prophecy inspires conviction, confession, and worship (vv.20-25). He concludes this chapter with some practical instructions on public worship. This is something we have always done and will always do. Heaven will be the greatest worship service we can hope for. For now, let’s keep hearing a word from the Lord—like maybe this Sunday! The Bible is the Holy Book; let’s open it up and take a look!

- Brian Mott, Preacher, Middle School Bible Teacher, Aspiring Rapper on Fridays