SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; 13:1-13 (ESV)
DATE: 11-3-19
“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. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV)
Gateway family, it’s always good to be with you. And one thing I always want you to know is that God loves you and that I love you too.
So I’m well aware that the email you received from me has caused confusion. It’s made some of you upset — maybe even angry with me. I know that some have questioned the wisdom in sending the email. Now this evening isn’t about the email — or the situation that caused the email to be sent — but here’s what I hope you would trust: Sending the email was not taken lightly.
So imagine the seriousness of the situation that must be behind such a decision to send out the email when I knew that some of you would be upset, angry, and question why it was sent.
But here are a few things that may bring some clarity — maybe even build some trust with you.
First, my email did not make things public. Again, I know not everyone — even now — is aware of what’s going on, but documents were posted publicly online, social media outlets had picked up on the documents and the story, and it was because of these things that I started getting phone calls and texts asking if I and Gateway were aware of the situation. And we had no idea about any of it until we were contacted by some of you — and some of you were contacted by people who have nothing to do with Gateway but were aware of the situation.
But what I did know is that informing you — the congregation — that a situation was going on — even before details can be shared — and even though confusion is about the only guaranteed outcome — I knew that informing you that something was going on was the only way to go. Churches that keep things silent, that go on as if nothing’s happening until the situation is even more in the public’s eye, only come out looking like they were trying to cover something up.
So I wanted you to be aware that something was going on — early on — even if we can’t be specific about what is going on.
Second, some were concerned about the people who are directly involved in the situation. I have not reached out to anyone that’s specifically named in the public documents, to be clear — this is for the sake of any lawyers involved — I’ve not spoken to any of the parties involved, I’ve not emailed them, texted them, called them, etc…But I did call someone close to the situation just to let them know that we’re praying for all involved and are grieving with them. They were thankful for our support.
Finally, some of you may wonder if this is some kind of new standard for dealing with our stuff as a congregation? Man I hope not. And I think that our track record — and the reason why the email was such a shock — is because this isn’t the normal way we do things and that’s because this isn’t a normal situation.
Many in our congregation are hurting, grieving, and at a loss. And their pain is our pain. Their hurt is our hurt. Their grief is our grief. Their loss is our loss.
As Paul says a chapter earlier — in 1 Corinthians 12 — “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ESV)
The more excellent way being love — and love is what many in our congregation need right now.
And we can’t love one another when we’re unaware of what’s going on in each other’s lives or — at the very least — know that something’s going on even if we can’t know all of the details. And we’re interconnected — Paul says — many members joined in one body. And we’re to — in love — fight for unity — we’re to fight against division. But our unity — our oneness — our love for one another — comes with a price.
“If one member suffers, all suffer together.” As Jesus’ love for us cost him much — his love for us led to his suffering — so our love for one another is costly. And not only can we not love one another — when we’re unaware of what’s going on in each other’s lives — but we’re also blindly suffering — unaware that we’re all hurting because others are hurting among us. And though you may not know exactly why we’re suffering right now — you are suffering because others are suffering. That’s what it means to be part of a body — a church — a family — that’s what it means to be part of this congregation.
Gateway, when I pray for you — which I do every single day — I pray that God’s glory would be what’s most important to us. I pray that we would be a congregation that has unity. I pray that we would be concerned about the interests of others. That we’d be known for our love and faithfulness. That our identity would be in Christ. That God would protect us. That the Spirit would send revival in our hearts and heal us. That we’d choose risk over comfort. That we’d be a praying church — dependent upon God for all things. And that we would practice messy grace.
Or as Paul says it — that our love for one another would be patient and kind — even when we’re not sure what’s going on. That we would lean in towards one another and not insist on getting our own way. That we would not rejoice in wrongdoings but rejoice in truth. That our love for one another would bear each other’s burdens, believe the best about one another, have great hope as we trust God’s work in each other’s lives, and that our love for God and one another would endure all things — where no matter what we face — we face it together. And where we thank God that his love for us never ends — and may our love for him and for each other follow suit.
But tonight isn’t about a situation as much as it’s about admitting that we’re hurting. Admitting that we’re weak. Admitting that we’re dependent upon God and each other. Tonight’s about letting down some of our defenses — where we say that “everything’s fine” when everything’s not. Where hurts and pains and fears and shame are admitted without being judged — but are admitted while being loved. Can we be this kind of church? I hope we can.
What kinds of hurts and pains and fears and shame are we carrying?
- We’ve got folks with serious health concerns and major surgeries coming up.
- I know that some of you have friends with health scares that are heavy on your heart and mind.
- Prodigal sons and daughters who are running from God.
- Work visas that may not go through in time and the real possibility of having to leave the US.
- Marriages that are struggling — some without hope.
- College and high school students stressed out by unrealistic expectations that are placed on them by others and even by themselves.
- Addictions plaguing families in our church — to drugs, to alcohol, to porn.
- We have families who are struggling financially, families who’ve experienced miscarriages, and families who’ve experienced the death of loved ones and feel all alone.
- Marathon is in the midst of some major transitions that will affect many among us.
- You’ve got elders who are trying to figure out how to shepherd a church during an anxious time.
- You’ve got a staff who’s trying to navigate difficulties behind the scenes while trying to serve and lead you.
- And you have a pastor who doesn’t know what to do — other than to be faithful as best I can and leave my reputation in God’s hands.
And I realize that none of what I just said may be your reality right now — but these are your struggles — because — as one member suffers all suffer together.
And when it’s not your season to suffer — it’s your season to love. And when it is your season to suffer — it’s your season to be loved.
So — tonight — can we love one another? Can we be loved by one another? Did you see Paul’s warnings? If we don’t love, all that we do is just noise. If we don’t love, we amount to nothing. If we don’t love, we gain nothing in the end. Maybe the way I’ve handled things is right and what you’d have done is wrong — but if I don’t love you — it doesn’t matter. And maybe the way I’ve handled things is wrong and what you would have done would’ve been better — but if you don’t love me — it doesn’t matter either. So can we practice loving one another and being loved by one another?
I’ll even go first. Can you all pray for me? Like right now. Can you pray that I will walk in God’s wisdom? Be led by his Spirit. Be faithful, endure well, cast all of my cares on him knowing that he cares for me, loves me, and is with me. Can we take some time — and have some of you pray for me — you don’t have to know all that’s going on in my life — just know that I — your pastor — need you to love me and pray for me.
So let’s take some time in silence and then maybe two or three of you pray for me — we’ve got a microphone up here — so make your way down front if you want to pray for me — but after a few minutes of silence can a few of you pray for me and then we’ll continue?
PRAYER FOR JOSH
I’m not the only leader at Gateway who needs your prayers. Your elders and staff are all carrying different kinds of burdens right now. So if you’re a staff or elder would you stand where you are? And if you’re near them, would you pray for them? We’ll take a few minutes and in groups — around the staff and elders who are standing — would some of you pray for them? Love them? Encourage them?
Let’s pray for the elders and staff. And after a few minutes, I’ll close this time with prayer.
PRAYER FOR ELDERS AND STAFF
Dear God, thank you for our elders and staff. Thank you for their faithfulness. For your calling on their life. For their wisdom and talents. Most of all, thank you for their love for you and for this church. Bless them, Father. Protect them. Smile on them. Be gracious to them. Show them your favor. And give them your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Now that we’ve had an opportunity to pray for me and for our elders and staff, if you’re hurting, in pain, depressed, lonely, addicted, afraid, suffering, are burdened, if you’ve got something going on in your life and what you need most is to be loved. Would you be vulnerable and stand where you are? No one even needs to know why you’re standing they just need to know that you need to be loved.
And if someone is standing near you, would you pray for them? A few of you gather around them and love them by praying for them. Again, we’ll take a few minutes to pray for one another. We’ve got folks who are hurting for all kinds of reasons and when one of us is suffering we’re all suffering. And what a sufferer needs is to be loved. So let’s demonstrate our love for one another. And like a moment ago, after a few minutes, I’ll close this time of prayer.
PRAYER FOR ONE ANOTHER
PRAYER
Father of love, our God who is love, we pray that by your power and grace, we would love one another. We pray as Paul wrote to the Philippians that our love may overflow more and more for each other. That we would love one another with the affection you have for each of us.
God may we see our interactions with one another as opportunities to grow in our love.
When we’re tempted to be impatient with each other, help us to love with patience. When we’re tempted to be unkind to each other, help us to love with kindness. When we’re tempted to be prideful and arrogant, help us to love humbly so that you receive glory through our love for each other. When we’re tempted to be rude, help us to love with gentleness. When we’re tempted to become angry, help us to love with forgiveness. When we’re tempted to criticize others, help us to love them by seeing the work that you’re doing in them. And when we’re tempted to take pleasure in the faults of others, help us to love them by praising their accomplishments.
God may my life — may our lives — and this church be evidence that your love for us has not been in vain. Spirit empower us to love each other as we have first been loved. Loving each other with a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
BENEDICTION
May you go knowing that you are loved by God and by this congregation. And may we all go loving one another for without love nothing else we do matters. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.