Broadcaster And the Greatest of These Is Love 1 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings as a starry-eyed couple beam with joy in their love for each other. This provides a lovely sentiment to their marriage covenant and reminds them of the deep commitments that love calls them to make. Such a use of Paul’s famous “Love Chapter” is certainly appropriate, yet a wedding between two young lovebirds is not the context in which Paul wrote these beautiful, pressing words. Paul wrote this chapter on love to a church that was experiencing deep conflict and division among her members. The first application of 1 Corinthians 13 is not to a newly wedded couple, but to church members who are called to live life together in community before a world that does not know God. When we read this “Love Chapter,” the first application to consider is, “Am I
loving other members of my own local church in this deep, lasting way?” Paul begins his encouragement for us to love each other in the church by reminding us that love is not a nice add-on to the ministry of the church in bringing glory to God’s name. Rather, love among the members of Jesus’ church is essential to any church’s worship of God. Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Continued on page 2
Dr. Ritch Boerckel
Senior Pastor 3
March Calendar Highlights KidZone
4
Children’s Ministry Youth Events & Engage
5
Women’s Ministries Men’s Basketball PrimeTime Fellowship Bethany Movie Night
6
Open Hearts Open Homes RESOLVEDto The Gospel Institute
7
Is Disciple a Noun or a Verb?
8
Sign up for myBETHANY First Prayer