God's Church: Faith, Hope, and Love
This is the thirteenth sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘Faith, Hope, and Love’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13
Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church · The Rev'd Michael Calder
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Show Notes
Sermon & Small Group Resources
This is the thirteenth sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘Faith, Hope, and Love’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13
DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).
Next Steps this Week
BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. t does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
CONNECT: Who is one person who you could encourage in the active use of their gifts for the Lord?
WARM-UP
If you were to ask a friend who wasn’t Christian what they thought love meant, what do you think they would say?
If a friend who wasn’t a Christian was to ask you what you thought love was, what would you say?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
According to this passage, how are we meant to use our gifts? Why? What is the danger of not using our gifts in this way?
What does Paul mean by him being only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal, him being nothing, and him gaining nothing?
In what areas are you serving? What attitude do you have towards using your gifts?
Practically, how could you remind yourself of the importance of love wherever or whoever you serve?
What sort of love are we to have and serve with?
Where have we seen the elements of this list before? How is love the ultimate solution to the problems of the Corinthians?
Re-read V4-7 and put your name where love is described. Is this an accurate description of your life?
Where do we see this love lived out completely? How are we recipients of this love? How can we grow to be more like this in all that we do, especially as we take our part in building up God’s church?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
What is the role and purpose of our gifts now? What will happen to our gifts and even our human knowledge when Christ returns?
How is it that we can know God right now? Why is our knowledge currently only in part? How can we still have confidence in what God has revealed to us?
How does God know us now? How will we know God in the New Creation?
Why is love the greatest of all virtues?
APPLY: How could you demonstrate Christ’s love on your frontlines this week?
PRAYER
oving Lord, thank you for how you have selflessly loved us in Christ Jesus. How you have been patient, kind, how our sins have been forgiven because of the cross, and life is assured by the resurrection. Help us to always have this love when we use our gifts, as we seek to build your church for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GOING DEEPER
On Your Frontline This Week: What opportunities do you have to show God’s love towards those who might be in lockdown?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
Series Resources:
Some helpful resources for our Series:
WITH CHILDREN
Grow as Families
Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.
Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray
High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions
Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk
eBook: Watch the eBook