Chasing Love @ the Church Gathering
Let's Be a Christ-Centered Church • Sermon • Submitted
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While it is true that we should have been enabled to live Christian lives no matter where we are at the moment, there is something special about the gathering of the church. The gathering of the church is important, and it should be the place where we show forth, at a peak level, what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
The church gathered should be a place where Christian love, as opposed to the romanticized idea of love, is shown. This is the kind of love that we see in the gospel. It is this kind of love that Christ spoke of in It is this love that Christ spoke of to the small assembly on the night of his betrayal.
All of the assemblies from this point would be commanded to show forth this kind of love to each other. I am afraid though that we have misunderstood what it means to show this to each other when we are gathered together.
Notice
1. What should Christians want and do at the church gathering? (v. 1)
1. What should Christians want and do at the church gathering? (v. 1)
(a) This is a clear command to “Follow charity” - Paul’s command here is with the idea of pursuing something to see it fulfilled or accomplished.
(b) This is something to be done with passion or zeal. When the church is gathered, Christians should want to love each other and be jealous for the strengthening of other believers.
Illustration:
Have you ever wanted something so badly for another individual? A young man, selected #1 overall draft pick in 1983 to the NFL. By 1987, he had led his team to the Super Bowl, but they were soundly defeated. They lost again in 1990. By this time, John Elway was getting the reputation as someone who could not win the big game. Finally, at the end of his career he pulled off 2 Super Bowl wins.
Maybe, for you, you are jealous for the success of your grandchild in school or for a child.
As Paul is writing, he is commanding that they be zealous for gift giving or the benefit of others.
(c) This verse ties together , , and this passage.
Principle: Christians should want to chase love - to see others built up at church.
There is a level of humility that is required to accept this.
Are you willing to accept that you are not as devoted to loving others at the assembly as you once thought?
Illustration:
Lips get chapped this time of year, so I tend to carry chapstick. I typically have one in my back, one in my car…etc I found an extra one in my drawer at home last week, so I put it in my pocket on Friday.
After completing some things for work, I went to get a hair cut and remembered I had this in my pocket, so I pulled it out and put it on.
During the hair cut, I noticed that the trimmings were sticking to the abundant chapstick on my mouth. It was then that I looked in the mirror only to realize that my lives were glittering and silver. I immediately wiped my mouth.
Later, I pulled the chapstick out of my pocket and saw that it was “Shimmering Silver” chapstick.
Becoming aware of something that is wrong is one thing, but actually being humbled and doing something about it is another.
We will never chase love amongst each other, if we are not first willing to be humble enough to admit our need for growth in this area.
2. Why should Christians be devoted to chasing love when they are at the church gathering? (v. 2 - 5)
2. Why should Christians be devoted to chasing love when they are at the church gathering? (v. 2 - 5)
(a) Christians should chase love, in ways intelligible to others, when they are at church because then everyone gets the benefit (v.2 - 3)
(b) Because then it manifests Christlike selflessness rather than selfishness (v. 4)
(c) Because the building up of many is what determines the primacy of the gift (v. 5).
We cannot overlook that fact that in Christ’s exaltation, the Spirit of God has come to indwell believers so that they could use their gifts to edify the body. Thus, true Spirituality are those who:
First, we see in Christ’s ministry the priority of preaching and teaching to the masses.
Second, we note that in Christ’s actual life, he lived for the edification of others, but in particular we see Him speaking to the disciples in or 15 where He gives his life for his friends. The small body of disciples were recipients of Christ’s selflessness - Christ himself being the message that was proclaimed for the edification of the believers.
Third, we cannot overlook that fact that in Christ’s exaltation, the Spirit of God has come to indwell believers so that they could use their gifts to edify the body. Thus, true Spirituality are those who:
(1) Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, declare Jesus as Lord
(2) Have the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by God’s Holy Spirit as evidenced by how they
(3) Affirm the primacy of gifts that edify the church gathered (word proclamation)
(4) Advance the church by giving themselves for the edification of the church gathered.
Principle: Christians have been enabled to chase love at church. Spirit-controlled Christians are committed to preaching that strengthens people. Spirit-controlled Christians are committed to being selfless among the body of Christ.
Illustration 414
What Really Matters
Topics: Accomplishments; Courage; Love; Priorities; Success
Reference:
The question to ask at the end of life’s race is not so much “What have I accomplished?” but “Whom have I loved, and how courageously?”
—Geoff Gorsuch, “Journey to Adelphos,” Discipleship Journal, issue 14 (March/April 1983)
Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 234). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
3. What does it mean for Christians to chase love at our church gathering?
3. What does it mean for Christians to chase love at our church gathering?
(i) it means that we are humble in heart and practice (willing to accept the command given) (v. 1)
There is a level of humility that is required to accept this.
Are you willing to accept that you are not as devoted to loving others at the assembly as you once thought?
Illustration:
Lips get chapped this time of year, so I tend to carry chapstick. I typically have one in my back, one in my car…etc I found an extra one in my drawer at home last week, so I put it in my pocket on Friday.
After completing some things for work, I went to get a hair cut and remembered I had this in my pocket, so I pulled it out and put it on.
During the hair cut, I noticed that the trimmings were sticking to the abundant chapstick on my mouth. It was then that I looked in the mirror only to realize that my lives were glittering and silver. I immediately wiped my mouth.
Later, I pulled the chapstick out of my pocket and saw that it was “Shimmering Silver” chapstick.
Becoming aware of something that is wrong is one thing, but actually being humbled and doing something about it is another.
We will never chase love amongst each other, if we are not first willing to be humble enough to admit our need for growth in this area.
(ii) it means that we communicate to others in ways they can understand (v. 2-3)
This means that something may be convenient for you but not convenient for the one you are serving.
This must not just be understood as verbal communication.
Saying “hi” to a student who was brought to church may be meaningless, but sitting with them or asking them about their lives may communicate much more.
(iii) it means that we put the strengthening of the whole over ourselves (v. 4)
Our tendency is towards activities that love self over others
This means that those activities which force you to be anti-social or to segregate yourselves should be avoided at the church gathering.
This means that pre-service times are not times to be gaming, but they are times to be chasing the strengthening of others
This means that post-service times are not times to be running for the hills but they are times to be chasing the strengthening of others.
This means that those activities that cause you to interact and edify should be chased.
Our tendency is towards independence over community
This means that congregational singing time is meant for the edification of each other - See
This means that you should do all possible to help others be edified by the preaching and teaching of the word.
An individual who is intentionally distracting someone from the Word is chasing self rather than chasing love.
(iv) it means that we highly esteem the teaching and preaching of the word (v. 5)
The ministry of proclaiming the Word must be the priority at the time of church gathering.
Our tendency is to shy away from monologue preaching
This means that the tendency some individuals have to stay out of the preaching service is not consistent with an effort to chase love.
These individuals not only present a distraction but they are not chasing love in the lives of the believers in that they are not promoting the primacy of preaching.
This means that the tendency that some individual have to do work during the preaching is not promoting the primacy of preaching.
Note that when you are influencing others in this manner, you are NOT chasing love in their lives.
Concluding thoughts:
(1) Humble yourselves under the command of this passage
(2) Commit to give yourself for the strengthening of others at the church gathering
(3) There is an assumption that the people are there. Will you be faithful and committed to a local congregation?
(4) Repent of the selfish, anti-social activities you often engage in?
(5) Yield yourself to the priority of the preaching of the Word of God.
Illustration 762
Turtle Racing
Ironman Attitudes
Topics: Emotions; Enthusiasm; Joy; Praise; Worship
Topics: Advice; Bitterness; Complaining; Counsel; Cynicism; Discouragement; Encouragement; Guidance; Motivation; Optimism; Perseverance
References: ; ;
References: ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ;
Nisswa, Minnesota, is known for its turtle races. Every Wednesday afternoon in the summer, the people of Nisswa and the surrounding communities gather at a designated parking lot for the races.
I discovered the importance of healthy counsel in a half Ironman triathlon. After the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike ride, I didn’t have much energy left for the 13.1-mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. I asked him how he was doing and soon regretted posing the question.
Vendors rent turtles; others sell “turtle products.” And the fans gather early, placing their chairs and blankets in the best viewing sites. In a recent contest, 435 turtles raced in fifteen heats over a six-foot course.
“This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.” He had more complaints than a taxpayer at the IRS. My response to him? “Good-bye.” I knew if I listened too long, I’d start agreeing with him.
The announcer calls the turtle holders to the mark and gives them the “Go!”—and the crowd goes wild as the handlers release the turtles and scream at them, jump up and down, wave furiously, and throw water, trying to urge the racers to the finish line. The winners of those heats then race their turtles in the championship race.
I caught up with a sixty-six-year-old grandmother. Her tone was just the opposite. “You’ll finish this,” she said. “It’s hot, but at least it’s not raining. One step at a time … don’t forget to hydrate … stay in there.” I ran next to her until my heart lifted and my legs were aching. I finally had to slow down. She waved and passed me.
The winning handler receives $5—along with a turtle necklace. It’s an uncharacteristic frenzy of emotion for the normally reserved folks of northern Minnesota. And to think that some people get upset when Christians are too expressive in church on a Sunday morning.
Which of these two describes the counsel you seek?
—Per Nilsen, Burnsville, Minnesota
—Max Lucado, Facing Your Giants (W Publishing Group, 2006)
Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 41). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 420). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Everyone is chasing something. At the church gathering, we should be diligently seeking to strengthen the body of Christ. Does this describe you?