THE SIGNS OF A LOVING CHURCH (53 OF 53)
by Mike Stone
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:15-24
This content is part of a series.
The Signs of a Loving Church (53 of 53)
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 16:15-24
After a lengthy but profitable series, I want to ask you for the final time in this context to turn to the book of First Corinthians. We conclude today in the 16th chapter. Backing up to verse 15, I want to talk about the characteristics and signs of a loving church.
I preach in a lot of different churches. I can tell a lot about the church when I walk in the door. Sometimes, when I walk in, I instantly smell old carpet, Ben Gay, and musky Sunday School literature from 1973. I know it's going to be an OLD church.
Sometimes, I see afghans and blankets spread out over the sanctuary. I know it's going to be a COLD church in more ways than one.
Sometimes, I walk in and see the pictures of all the old pastors. And some of them change preachers every few months. I mean the church is 100 years old and there are 57 pictures in the foyer. I know it's going to be a MEAN church.
Someone said, ''You know it's a COUNTRY church when you call on BUBBA to pray and 7 men and 2 women stand to pray.''
But what are the signs of a LOVING church? And how will we know if we are one?
Many commentators have pointed out that verses 15-24 are just examples of how to live out verse 14, namely, that everything we do as a church should be done in love, or in what the King James calls, ''charity.''
1. There's a love for the sinner (15-18)
Most people love their church. And they think their church is a loving church. But the reality is, the church is not a loving church. It's just filled with people who love EACH OTHER.
In revisiting verses 15-18 we are reminded that Paul opens this ''farewell section'' with a reminder about his evangelistic ministry in Corinth. And it started with the Jesus-addict we looked at last week...Stephanas.
Acts 18:8 - Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Numbered among them, of course ...
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 16:15-24
After a lengthy but profitable series, I want to ask you for the final time in this context to turn to the book of First Corinthians. We conclude today in the 16th chapter. Backing up to verse 15, I want to talk about the characteristics and signs of a loving church.
I preach in a lot of different churches. I can tell a lot about the church when I walk in the door. Sometimes, when I walk in, I instantly smell old carpet, Ben Gay, and musky Sunday School literature from 1973. I know it's going to be an OLD church.
Sometimes, I see afghans and blankets spread out over the sanctuary. I know it's going to be a COLD church in more ways than one.
Sometimes, I walk in and see the pictures of all the old pastors. And some of them change preachers every few months. I mean the church is 100 years old and there are 57 pictures in the foyer. I know it's going to be a MEAN church.
Someone said, ''You know it's a COUNTRY church when you call on BUBBA to pray and 7 men and 2 women stand to pray.''
But what are the signs of a LOVING church? And how will we know if we are one?
Many commentators have pointed out that verses 15-24 are just examples of how to live out verse 14, namely, that everything we do as a church should be done in love, or in what the King James calls, ''charity.''
1. There's a love for the sinner (15-18)
Most people love their church. And they think their church is a loving church. But the reality is, the church is not a loving church. It's just filled with people who love EACH OTHER.
In revisiting verses 15-18 we are reminded that Paul opens this ''farewell section'' with a reminder about his evangelistic ministry in Corinth. And it started with the Jesus-addict we looked at last week...Stephanas.
Acts 18:8 - Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Numbered among them, of course ...
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