Friends, it’s good to be back with you after an intense and transformative couple of weeks at the General Conference in Charlotte, NC. Our United Methodist Church has made significant decisions that will shape our future. Amid these changes, I remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13. In a world that often feels driven by division and self-interest, Paul challenges us to reorient our lives around love. As we navigate this new landscape together, love must be our guiding light. Love calls us to see one another as God sees us – with patience, kindness, and compassion. So, as we dive into Paul’s powerful message today, open your hearts to the transformative power of Christlike love.
The scripture passage we will be discussing today is part of a larger biblical narrative that points to Jesus. These texts may be ancient, but they are still alive and active today. The Holy Spirit communicates with us through them, and I hope you can sense God’s presence while exploring them today. Please take a moment to jot down any thoughts or reflections. Before we dive into today’s passage, let’s revisit the scriptures we covered in the past few weeks.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been on a journey through the early church and the transformative power of faith. Two weeks ago, we explored the story of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica from Acts 17 and the fruit of their ministry as evident in 1 Thessalonians 1. Despite facing persecution, we saw how the Thessalonian church became a model of faith, hope, and love. Their lives were a testament to the power of the gospel to transform hearts and communities.
Last week, John Paul’s message from 1 Corinthians 13 took us deeper into the theme of love. He reminded us that our current understanding is limited, like seeing through a glass darkly. We don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. What matters most is love—a love that is patient, kind, and endures all things.
Today, as we reread 1 Corinthians 13, we’ll explore what embodying this transformative love in our daily lives means. Just as the Thessalonian church became a model of faith, hope, and love, we, too, are called to let love be our defining characteristic.
So, let’s dive into the rich context and meaning of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This passage was written by the apostle Paul around 55 AD to the church in Corinth, a bustling city in ancient Greece. At that time, Corinth was a melting pot of cultures, religions, and social classes, all under Roman rule. People worshiped various gods and valued wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual gifts.
In this setting, the Corinthian church struggled with division and misplaced priorities. They were getting caught up in elevating certain spiritual gifts over others and losing sight of what mattered most: love. That’s where 1 Corinthians 13 comes in. It’s nestled right in the middle of Paul’s discussion about spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14. Paul interrupts his teaching to remind the Corinthians that no matter how impressive their gifts may be, they are meaningless without love.
The passage is a beautiful and poetic description of love. Paul personifies love, describing the characteristics of true, selfless, Christlike love. It’s patient, kind, humble, and enduring. This kind of love isn’t just a warm feeling but a choice to put others first and reflect God’s love to the world.
This message of love echoes throughout the Bible. From God’s loving creation in Genesis to Jesus’ ultimate act of love on the cross, Scripture reveals a God who is love. As followers of Christ, we’re called to embody that love in all we do.
Paul ends the chapter by reminding us that our current knowledge and understanding are incomplete, but we will see God face-to-face one day. In the meantime, faith, hope, and love remain, with love being the greatest. It’s a powerful call to make love our highest priority because it will last for eternity.
So, what does this ancient passage do with our lives today? More than we might realize. In a world that often feels driven by success, achievement, and self-promotion, 1 Corinthians 13 challenges us to reorient our priorities around love.
Think about your daily interactions—with family, friends, coworkers, and strangers. How often do we get impatient, keep score, or insist on our way? Paul’s words remind us that love calls us to a higher standard. It’s about being patient and kind, even when it’s complicated. It’s about celebrating with others rather than being envious. It’s about letting go of pride and choosing humility.
In our social media-saturated culture, getting caught up in crafting a perfect image is easy. But Paul reminds us that love isn’t about appearances or performance. It’s about authenticity, vulnerability, and putting others first.
When we face challenges or disagreements, love calls us to react not with anger or bitterness but with forgiveness, grace, and a willingness to seek understanding. That’s not always easy, but it’s the way of love.
Ultimately, love reflects God’s character in the world around us. It’s about living with compassion, generosity, and selflessness. And here’s the beautiful thing—making love our priority has a ripple effect. Love can transform our individual lives, our communities, and our world.
How can you embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13? How can you choose patience over frustration? Kindness over indifference? Humility over pride? In ways big and small, we each have the opportunity to make love our legacy. And that, Paul tells us, is what matters most.
The good news is that we are deeply loved by a God who calls us to embody that love in all we do. The message of 1 Corinthians 13 isn’t just a nice sentiment – it’s a powerful call to action. It’s an invitation to let love transform how we live, interact, and make a difference.
So here’s my challenge this week: put love into practice. Start each day with a simple prayer, asking God to help you love well. Then, look for opportunities to demonstrate that love in tangible ways.
Maybe it’s a kind word to a struggling coworker or a patient response to a frustrating situation. Perhaps it’s a selfless service for a neighbor or a heartfelt apology in a strained relationship. Maybe it’s advocating for justice or extending compassion to someone who feels unlovable.
Choose one specific way you can practice Christlike love each day this week. Write it down, pray about it, and commit to following through. And here’s the thing—as you do this, you’ll start to notice a change—not just in your own heart but the world around you.
Living out the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 makes us conduits of God’s grace. We bring light to dark places, hope to desperate situations and heal broken relationships. We show the world a different way to live—a way marked by patience, kindness, humility, and enduring love.
So go out there and love boldly, love selflessly, love unconditionally. Let your life be a testament to the transformative power of God’s love. And trust that as you do, you’re participating in God’s redemptive work in the world. That’s the good news, and that’s our calling as followers of Christ.
Just as Paul called the Corinthians to put love at the center of their lives, we, too, are called to embody that love in all we do. The decisions made at the General Conference will undoubtedly bring change to our denomination, but our mission remains to love God and others. So, as you go out into the world this week, remember that you are deeply loved by God and called to share that love with everyone you meet. Let your life be a testament to the power of Christlike love – a love that is patient, kind, humble, and enduring. Will you pray with me?
Loving God, send your love to guide, unite, and transform us. Give us the courage to love as Christ loves, now and always. Amen.
In crafting today’s sermon, I employed AI assistants like Claude and Grammarly, yet the ultimate responsibility for its content rests with me. These tools offered valuable perspectives, but the most influential sermon preparation hinges on biblical study, theological insight, personal reflection, and divine guidance. I see AI as a supportive aid to enrich the sermon process while ensuring my own voice in proclaiming the Word of God.
Rev. Andrew Conard 