DON’T CARE MORE ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK THAN HOW YOU LOVE.

INTRODUCTION

• Self-centeredness seemed to define the Corinthian church. They were obsessively following human teachers. They were constantly getting into bitter quarrels.

• They were selfish in their financial and sexual lives. While all of that is awful, it got worse.

• Their dysfunction moved from outside the walls of the church to within.

• Their reckless way of living had morphed into a reckless way of worship.

• By the time Paul penned this letter, his beloved church was looking more like a three-ring circus than a ministry.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about how circuses had to one-up themselves every year during their peak of popularity.

• When the traveling circus was the peak of entertainment, there was a noticeable trend. The shows progressively got more dangerous and deranged as time passed.

• They started adding freak shows, stunts, and even spiritualism to attract the crowds. Why is that? Well, circuses have always been about one-upmanship, as in your show was more over-the-top than the one down the street.

• What’s more, you had better be bigger and better than you were last time you were in town.

• While the trend was fun at first, the obsession with the strange, weird, and bizarre eventually faded. People got sick of it.

• Strangely, the same thing was happening in the church at Corinth. No one was breathing fire or being launched from a canon, but their services certainly had the pageantry of a circus.

• The church only had room for one celebrity, and his name was Jesus. Since Paul was frustrated with the way the Corinthians were taking attention off Jesus, he offered them a solution to their problem.

• Bluntly, the Corinthian believers seemed to be obsessed with their appearance.

• They all wanted to look impressive during the service.

• They’d preach over each other, they’d strive to perform miracles for the sake of creating a scene, and they’d worship in a downright wacky way.

• Paul had to stop it, so he explained, “I will show you the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

• Then he went on to write one of his most famous passages of all time—1 Corinthians 13.

The Problem—Your Intentions Are Wrong

• If you’ve ever attended a Christian wedding, you likely heard 1 Corinthians 13 recited during the ceremony. It’s the pinnacle of romantic passages.

• These words are perfect for a wedding, but as you can guess, that’s not why the reason Paul wrote to them.

• First Corinthians 13 isn’t a passage of affection; it’s a passage of correction.

• The Corinthian church had allowed self-seeking vanity to get in the way of its worship. Let’s keep this simple. Our worship isn’t about how we look but about who we’re worshipping and how we’re living.

• Paul argued, “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” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

• He was saying that it didn’t matter if you can preach with power or have faith that moves mountains if you refuse to love your neighbor. Talk about a gut check.

• He was saying that the Corinthians’ obsession with being the most spiritual made them miss what was pivotal—love.

• We all have to be real with ourselves here. Is our worship sometimes more about us than God?

• Just like the Corinthians, we can deeply desire to seem impressive or spiritual, so we turn worship into a spectacle.

• You may think that praying passionately will make people respect you.

• You may think that lifting your hands high in the front row will make that cute girl notice you.

• You may assume that looking extra sad during communion will make you seem more spiritual.

• If you are focused on your appearance, you are not focused on Jesus.

• Paul would tell you that selfish worship is a significant problem, but it has a simple solution.

The Solution—Love Others

• Paul leveraged this beautifully written chapter to set his friends in Corinth straight.

• He identified some deep-rooted character flaws that acted like cracks in their foundation.

• Selfishness has no place in the sanctuary.

• We need to love others like Jesus loves us.

• That’s where Paul steps in. He explains love by describing what it is and what it is not.

• Use this list as a checklist for life. Each sentence is a crucial element of worshipping and living in a way that honors God.

• Paul identifies seven crucial ingredients of love: patience, kindness, rejoicing with the truth, protection, trust, hope, and persistence.

• Recall this list every day.

• Be patient; most people are fighting invisible battles.

• Be kind; you have no idea how much a nice word could change someone’s day.

• Don’t get angry; it’s such a waste of energy.

• Don’t be self-seeking; Jesus is your foundation and the star of the show.

• When we worship this way, a blessing is inevitable. Take a look at what Paul promises.

The Blessing—Returning to the Gospel

• Many scholars argue that 1 Corinthians 13 is the summary of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. How is that?

• If they were just to love others instead of living selfishly, everything would fall into place. Love isn’t just helpful; it’s supernatural.

• Paul points out that God’s love “never fails” in the crescendo of his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:8).

• The love that comes from God is not an emotion.

• God’s love is not something you feel, say, or think about. It’s something you do.

• Looking back at this chapter, you will see far more actions than feelings.

• Love celebrates, perseveres, trusts, and hopes.

• Love is something you do. Don’t try to live without God’s help.

• Understanding the Gospel will help you grasp God’s love and share it with others.

LANDING

• Paul sums our lives up the same way Jesus does—love God, love people. When we follow this central commandment, everything falls into place.

• Let’s strive to trade our egos for love and embrace the power of the Gospel in our lives, just as Paul urged the Corinthians to do.

• True worship is not marked by theatrics but by loving relationships—both with God and with others.

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

**Ice Breaker: **Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week, and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What’s one thing that stood out to you from today’s message?

Q2: How can our worship be self-centered if we are not careful?

Q3: The issues the Corinthians were facing were symptoms of prideful motivations. What can happen when we do what we want instead of what God says is best for us?

Q4: Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. Which of these is the hardest for you? (e.g., patience, not keeping a record of wrongs, etc.) Why is that?

Q5: What are some ways we can make sure our church is rooted in love like Paul desires? Brainstorm ways to foster a culture of love together

Q6: Paul’s solution to the Corinthians’ problems always went back to embracing the core message of the Gospel. What does the Gospel message of Jesus’s resurrection mean to you?

Next Step: Examine different areas of your life this week (work, family, hobbies, friends, etc.). What areas in your life are you not living in light of the Gospel? What are some proactive steps you can take to change that?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

1 Corinthians 14:1-40

1 Corinthians 15:1-58

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Romans 1:15-16

1 John 4:7-8 Psalm 109

1 Corinthians 13 (Re-read it to finish)

Do the following with each passage:

**ASK– **God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

**REFLECT– **on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

**RESPOND– **to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.