2016.8.7 礼拝

2016.8.7 礼拝

2016.8.7 　1 Corinthians 13:1-13 「愛を実践する－１」”Putting Love of Christ into Practice”

August is a month to remember three main events in Japan; August 6 – Atomic bomb on Hiroshima, August 9 – Atomic bomb on Nagasaki and August 15 – end of the war. The number of people who experienced the war is getting smaller every year. Most agree that war is bad without excuses, however, generations have changed to argue its right or wrong through theory. Past history shows neither reasoning nor sound arguments brings about lasting peace in the world. Jesus commanded “love one another” (John 13:34), “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and “forgive other people” (Matthew 6:14), which we believe is the only solution.

Main passage: John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

We come to the service because we love Jesus Christ, which is our prayers, praises and worship.

Understanding the word from 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is the motive for everything,

・Spiritual Gifts, Knowledge, Faith, Action/Works mean nothing without Love.

1. １Corinthians 13:1-3

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

All above may be what we wish to have, but more that we need to have Love. When we come to the service, do we do so because we love Jesus or is it for our own sake?

2. What Love looks like.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Without patience you would immediately want to what you lose while envy leads you to long for what others have. And people with strong pride especially tend to lose endurance. Living with Love of Jesus is a must.

“Putting Love of Christ into Practice”

➀ Admitting your Love is not good enough.

1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love” yet hates is brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Not many may have love as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. We should not act as if we have such love but admit our love is not that good enough and don’t blame others for their shortcomings. It does not mean we should give up pursuing Love of Jesus Christ.

➁ Replacing your motives with Love.

Are Spiritual Gifts, Knowledge, Faith, Action/Works moved by Love?

It would be good to ask ourselves if our actions are moved by Love of Christ. Do we come to the service because of fear – fear of being disliked or punished? We cannot always be perfect since we are not perfect.

➂ Believing your Love will change your family, church, workplace, and even the world.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have faith and start with your nearest person, your family.