The Corinthian church was a church marked by envy and pride. But in the "dirt" of this church, Paul plants the flower of Love; a flower containing 15 petals, each describing an aspect, or description, of love.
In today's lesson, Paul describes love in the negative, in other words, describing love by what love is not. It is as if Paul is saying to the Corinthian church, "You are envious of one another, but that is not love. You are arrogant, boastful and selfish, but that is not love."
In today's lesson, we contrast love with envy, pride and boasting; that which should not mark the church.
1 Corinthians 13 is perhaps one of the most well known chapters in the Bible. Aptly referred to as the, "Love Chapter," it is often highlighted in weddings, urging the couple to be patient, kind, putting the needs of the other above the interests of self.
But is there more to this chapter; a greater motivation and example than mere human love? Some have outlined the chapter in this way:
- The Prominence of Love (Why love matters) - verses 1-3
- The Perfections of Love (What love looks like) - verses 4-7
- The Persistence of Love (How love lasts) - verses 8-13
In this lesson, we begin to explore the perfections of love; what love looks like. Of the 15 characteristics of love highlighted in this chapter, we focus on patience. We will learn how the church is to be characterized by love as expressed in patience. Because God, in Christ, has demonstrated patience to us, we are called to show patience to one another and to those outside the church.
The French existential philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, noted that it is impossible for finite man to penetrate the infinite; it is impossible for finite man to understand an infinite God. While this is true, Sartre did not go far enough for he missed that the infinite God can reveal Himself to finite man.
This lesson explores the ways in which God has revealed Himself to man, specifically through the Bible. As we consider the Bible, two questions need to be answered:
- Is the Bible really God's Word?
- Is the Bible we have today a reliable copy of God's Word?
Myopia; We all have it in some sense. Some suffer from this condition physically, and we all suffer from it spiritually.
Myopia is simply the medical term for nearsightedness or shortsightedness. The dictionary defines myopia as a visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred. It can also mean a lack of discernment on long-range perspective.
In today's lesson in Psalm 73, Asaph invites us into his journey through spiritual myopia. Asaph was the chief Levite appointed by David to be the worship leader for Israel. In Psalm 73, Asaph admits to losing perspective in relation to the lives of the wicked, who seemed to prosper while he, in striving to live righteously is met with suffering. Only when he gazed upon who God is could he see the world around him in a proper perspective. As it were, spiritual myopia is corrected through the corrective lens of the character and nature of God.
The journey takes takes us through three phases:
- Orientation - Asaph confesses that God is good to Israel and to the pure in heart
- Dis-Orientation - But if God is good to the pure in heart, then why do the wicked prosper but the righteous suffer
- Re-Orientation - As Asaph enters into the sanctuary of the Lord, his vision is corrected and he is reoriented in regards to the wicked and their destiny. But he is also reoriented regard God, concluding that "As for me, the nearness of God is my good.
The book of Revelation was written at a time when the first century church faced intense persecution from the Roman Empire. The Church's worship of Jesus Christ stood in stark contrast, and in opposition to, the State worship of Caesar. I such a setting what hope did the church have. The same question can be asked of the church today. As persecution of the church increases, whether social or political in nature, what comfort is given to the church?
In Revelation 4, the Apostle John, from his exile to the Isle of Patmos, receives a vision of the throne room of God. In this vision, and throughout the book of Revelation, the throne of God becomes a central focus of the book. We see that God is on His throne. God is the sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe. All of history is under God's sovereign rule.
In today's lesson, we see three purposes of the vision John receives in Revelation 4 and 5:
- To Ground the readers' worship in the worship of heaven
- To contrast the magnificence of God with the earthly "glory" of Caesar and all earthly rulers
- To show that the judgment of God (coming in chapters 6 thru 20) is grounded in His holiness.
And as the vision unfolds, we see God's greatness displayed in three ways:
- In God's centrality (Rev. 4:2-4)
- In God's holiness (Rev. 4:5-6a)
- In the worship of His creatures (Rev. 4:6b-11)
