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TIES THAT BIND II – LOVE INTRODUCTION: Aren't you glad you are in church today? I'll bet you're glad you're here and not in church with the pilgrims. I came across an interesting description of church services in Jamestown, VA, that first permanent English-speaking settlement in America. The colony was founded almost four hundred years ago. Jamestown was where the well-known story of John Smith and Pocahontas happened. Our kids learn about these names in their lessons on the first Thanksgiving. The hundred or so colonists who first settled at Jamestown built small huts for their family homes. Yet right in the middle of the village, they erected an imposing church building. The settlers wanted everyone to know that church was important to them. It was important! The Jamestown settlers had worship services every day of the week. Two-hour worship services! Attendance was mandatory. If you didn't show up for the service, your day's ration of food would not be given you. Their reasoning was, if you were too sick to go to church, you were too sick to eat. Works for me! On Sunday, they really had church. For five hours! Not five different service times, five hours of service! You were expected to be there all five. People stayed awake, too. You would have, too! Special ushers were equipped with long poles. One end was fitted with a brass knob and the other a feather. If a lady dozed off, the feather would tickle her awake. If a guy fell asleep, he was bonked on the noggin' with the other end. If you missed church for three weeks without a good reason, you would be put in stocks on the church lawn. Needless to say, attendance was pretty consistent. That's probably a little bit over the top for most of us. There has to be a better way to hold a church together. There is…its called love. I’m in sermon series entitled “The Ties that Bind”. Paul wrote the I Corinthian letter to a church that was at war with itself. Part of the problem was that some of the church members had supernatural gifts such as prophecy, healing, miraculous powers and speaking in tongues, while others did not. The “haves” were acting all superior to the “have-nots.” The “have-nots” were envious and jealous of the “haves.” In his letter Paul gives principles that will bind a church together if internalized and applied; ANY church. Friends we need to study this letter hard and make sure we’re practicing these principles; not as cure but as PREVENTION. We do not ever want to get ourselves into a situation like the Corinthians where we are broken, divided and stymied by bad attitudes and immaturity. The best way to prevent that from happening is to learn from OTHER people’s mistakes. Last week we studied I Corinthians chapter 12 and we talked about TEAMWORK as a tie that binds the church together. Teamwork comes from a great coach (God), a common identity, respectful chemistry and fierce loyalty. Today we’re looking at I Corinthians 13 and the principle of love. The last verse of chapter 12 should really be the first verse of Chapter 13: “And now I will show you the most excellent way” I Corinthians 12:31. Love does three things for a church that binds us together. |
